lookin' up maybe

I had a single ampoule (sp?) of blood taken last Friday at Motol, as opposed to the usual eight, for a CBC (complete blood count) and then went to see my oncologist. She was very impressed with my progress, or rather lack of serious chemo side effects, that is, and said I probably wouldn’t lose my hair after all.

She prescribed the Kytril (pack of 5), which turns out to be CZK 300 ($19) a pill, but I didn’t fill the prescription for the 1500 obvious reasons. I can think of better ways to spend 1500 crowns. It’s incredibly effective, but works only by tricking your brain into thinking you’re not nauseous. I have a problem with that concept, as well as with the cost, and will wait until I really need it (or insurance pays for it, whichever comes first) to fill the prescription. That said, if any of the new baby boom mothers have any leftover morning sickness pills, I’d be much obliged.

The blood count came back normal, so I’m on track for my second cycle on the 9th (next Wednesday) with another blood test scheduled for Tuesday morning at 7. I threw up again Saturday morning, but the nausea wasn’t as bad as the first time. I tire fairly easily these days and am all the way down to the energy level of a normal person ;-) - I only go out every other night.

Jon left Saturday morning after a really fun week. I had a great time with both Jon and Tommy and am very glad they came. I’ll let them comment themselves to put future visitors’ minds at ease that I'm not a tyrant ;-) Jon even got into the ear candle thing:

It looks like my triple-play treatment at Motol will be one tenth the cost of the proposed mono-chemo at Karlák. It’s the difference between paying $8 for a hamburger and $80 for one third of that same $8 hamburger, like in a French restaurant. Who the hell would pay $80 cash up front for a third of a hamburger? Not me. The Dartmouth Regime(n) has an 18% success rate, compared to 13% for DTIC on its own.

My former insurance company, Slavia, paid the outrageous (but finally materialized) Karlák invoice, so maybe they’ll get off my back now. I’ve had a fair amount of translation work and even a casting this past week. The paresthesis (slight tingling) in my hands goes much more often than it comes. Shiner’s completely gone and my arms have healed up nicely - on the outside at least. I think some of the chemo leaked through my pin cushion veins, as I have a burning sensation in several places in my arm. But things are sort of looking up and it looks like they may have finally removed that “cosmic ‘kick me’ sign” [Mary came up with that] I’ve been wearing for the past few months.

I don’t know who came up with that ‘no calls, no e-mail’ crap, although I think it might have been me. It’s just me and my cat right now and I wouldn’t mind hearing from some of you from time to time :-) So don’t hesitate to get in touch. If I don’t answer, it either means I’m asleep or at the movies or most likely both. I should have more time as I wrap up some of the bureaucratic bull I’m currently knee-deep in.

That said, it looks like I’ll last the month and then some, which brings us to this year’s MikeFEST™: I’m looking for volunteers for individual days and nights, as well as an overall MC. Before getting too excited about the coveted MC title, please realize that:

1. it’s a thankless job


2. you would have all of the responsibility and none of the authority


3. no one has ever done it twice for good reason


4. I’ve lost friends over this, so you can either be someone I don’t really care to lose or just someone above that sort of nonsense


5. you will make mistakes and I will yell at you, but I will eventually apologize, provided you apologize first ;-)
   
   Just kidding - it’s not that bad and I’ll have bigger things to worry about. I’ll leave you with a kitsch picture from this year’s Matějská pouť :

Yes, that does indeed say 'WARM HE' and although this bear(? dog?) was by far the cutest prize available at this stand, plus points for correct spelling; points off for not making any sense whatsoever. Try to choke on this one: