Health progress

[Orestes Munn]

Well, if your appetite comes back at all, you are in the midst of the best takeout food in the world.

[BeauV]

Larry, that's great news. You can party all night without those pesky Hospital folks telling you to keep the stereo down! LOL!

[Ajax]

Larry's right about one thing- He needs a nice, soft riding car to the apartment.

I was driven home after my abdominal surgery in my GMC Canyon pickup truck. I felt every pebble and imperfection in the pavement. Very painful.

[LarryHoward]

Larry's right about one thing- He needs a nice, soft riding car to the apartment.

I was driven home after my abdominal surgery in my GMC Canyon pickup truck. I felt every pebble and imperfection in the pavement. Very painful.

Well, I ordered a Uber Black and what should arrive? Suburban. Plenty of room and reasonable to get in and out of but not soft on the NYC roads. Pretty long 10 minute ride. Time to get my walking shoes on and start pounding the pavement - tomorrow.

[Rob McAlpine]

That thing looks like a zipper. Yikes!

[LarryHoward]

That thing looks like a zipper. Yikes!

I think he used it like one. He said he had to go deep inside to get access so pretty much everything in the belly bag got pushed around somewhat.

2 pain lock up high, just below the ribs where the aorta involvement and nearby where the tumorr was attached to the diaphragmatic crux and he took real tissue margin, not just fatty tissue and stomach/gut where he had to punch it around a lot to get access. Incision actually not bad unless it try to lie on my side, forcing it out of line or try to do crunches getting up. I think 60-75% of the remaining pain is stomachs/gut and something they say will take a few days to clear up as my system gets fully up to speed. Docs are recommending a few bites several times a day rather that trying to do the Breakfast, lunch dinner routine. We’ll see. Pretty easy to not eat or stop after a couple of bites.

All in All, I’m good with where I’m at at this point. A bit better each day. Things could be so much worse and there are plenty of patients at MSK who can attest to fighting uphill battles every day.

[Orestes Munn]

No way of knowing this, but the word is “crus” or Latin for “leg.” There are two diaphragmatic “crura” or tendons attaching it to the spine, so the muscle has something to work against.

I’ve seen surgeons scoop all of the guts out and pile them up under a wet cloth while they worked. That takes a big incision.

[LarryHoward]

No way of knowing this, but the word is “crus” or Latin for “leg.” There are two diaphragmatic “crura” or tendons attaching it to the spine, so the muscle has something to work against.

I’ve seen surgeons scoop all of the guts out and pile them up under a wet cloth while they worked. That takes a big incision.

That part, I don’t want to envision but suspect it may have happened at least to some degree. In any case, tumor is gone. I’m healing and we have good hope for a solid pathology report. I’m expecting a very merry Christmas with my family and friends. This year and many more.

[Tucky]

I'm on the squeamish side, but this is all great news. Absolute best wishes.

[JoeP]

No way of knowing this, but the word is “crus” or Latin for “leg.” There are two diaphragmatic “crura” or tendons attaching it to the spine, so the muscle has something to work against.

I’ve seen surgeons scoop all of the guts out and pile them up under a wet cloth while they worked. That takes a big incision.

Is that near where the stomach joins the intestine? My surgeon said he could not remove my tumor laparoscopically because it was in a hard to access spot so he gave me the big zipper and went in manually. He must have rearranged some of my piping because now I get some really loud gurgling at times.

[Ajax]

No way of knowing this, but the word is “crus” or Latin for “leg.” There are two diaphragmatic “crura” or tendons attaching it to the spine, so the muscle has something to work against.

I’ve seen surgeons scoop all of the guts out and pile them up under a wet cloth while they worked. That takes a big incision.

JFC... I'm not sure I wanted to know that.

[kdh]

I’ve seen surgeons scoop all of the guts out and pile them up under a wet cloth while they worked. That takes a big incision.

I had an exploratory after my Hodgkins 1B diagnosis and that's how the surgeon described it. The incision goes from my belly button around to my lower back on my left side.

[LarryHoward]

Staples out. Path showed 99% dead tissue and 1% live. Good we made the decision to have it out because it’s 100% gone. Surgeon very satisfied with both surgery and path. Said it’s how they like to do things. Home tomorrow. Probably start chemo again the end of the first week of January.

Celebrated with a walk up to Rockefeller Plaza with my sweetie to see the tree and watch the lights at Saks. One of those NY tourist gotta do things.

[Slick470]

Good news Larry. Safe travels back home. I'm sure that it will be nice to sleep in your own bed again.

[Orestes Munn]

Good news and when your docs are happy and you’re happy, we’re happy. Sophie’s room is yours and Lynne’s, as usual. No family visiting after New Year.

[kimbottles]

Great news Captain!

[JoeP]

Good to hear Larry.

[Ish]

Merry Christmas, Larry. Good news.

[BeauV]

Larry, what a great holiday present. Great news!!

[Ajax]

Staples out. Path showed 99% dead tissue and 1% live. Good we made the decision to have it out because it’s 100% gone. Surgeon very satisfied with both surgery and path. Said it’s how they like to do things. Home tomorrow. Probably start chemo again the end of the first week of January.

Celebrated with a walk up to Rockefeller Plaza with my sweetie to see the tree and watch the lights at Saks. One of those NY tourist gotta do things.

Agent M showed me the photo. You guys look great.
You have a month and a half before you start chemo again. Surely that is enough time to indulge in a celebratory scotch. Sounds like we can really plan that weekend guy's cruise to San Domingo Creek!

[LarryHoward]

Speaking of Christmas presents. Just got home. We had pretty much written off any Christmas decorations this year. Seems a band of elves brought in a tree and did some inside and outside holiday decoration.

We are blessed with great kids and wonderful friends.

[Jamie]

Larry; it's a real treat to hear such good news. Blessed is the right word for it.

[Orestes Munn]

Must feel great to be home.

[LarryHoward]

Speaking of Christmas presents. Just got home. We had pretty much written off any Christmas decorations this year. Seems a band of elves brought in a tree and did some inside and outside holiday decoration.

We are blessed with great kids and wonderful friends.

And about 30 minutes ago, the same friends showed up in the front yard singing Christmas carols to welcome us home.

I am massively humbled by their love.

[kimbottles]

Good people get loved Larry.

[kdh]

A lot of love for you even in this little corner of the internet, Larry.

[LarryHoward]

A lot of love for you even in this little corner of the internet, Larry.

How well I know, Keith.

[LarryHoward]

Well,

Mostly recovered from the surgery and saw the clinical today. Good news and other. Wants to restart chemo (so much for feeling good and energetic) and try to get at least 4 more rounds into me starting he 8th to chase down any remnant nasty cells. Not excited about treatment stretching until mid May, but this guy has been extremely effective with my treatment and I have to listen to his advice. Foolish to do otherwise.

I may enjoy a scotch or two this next week.

[Rob McAlpine]

Sounds wise. Don't want to lick that cat twice, as we say in Texas.

[BeauV]

Larry,

When my Mom was going through her chemo treatments a Doctor friend said: "It's like saturation bombing, you have to kill everyone of the little bastards you can!"

It's not fun, but I think you're right to listen to the Doc.