Health updates first and buckle up, as there are a few. My latest blood test took place on Monday. The variable health situation continued throughout the week, with most of it impacting what I was doing. Monday, Friday and Sunday ended up being the only ‘normal’ feeling days of this past week. Every other day resulted in variable impacts which included lack of appetite, digestive system issues and lethargy. The results of the blood test on Wednesday have confirmed that my PSA level has now increased to 0.4, the third rise. As a result, they have already booked me another blood test for the end of the month. Due to the digestive system issues and general overall current feeling, I have requested a phone call with the cancer unit, to discuss everything and try to get some more insights; that will take place this coming Thursday.
As you may imagine, the confirmed rise in the PSA level (I was anticipating this, based on how I am feeling), has sent me straight back to where I was at the start. Every single negative rabbit hole, with regards to what this may mean for my story, has been revisited in the past few days. It has been an absolute emotional struggle and, at times, a physical one, as the psychology takes over. I have no confirmed answers yet, but have certainly devised a load of them whilst I wait on some! One of the toughest weeks that Sandra and I have had for a long time. I know that I have technically not been told anything ‘new’, with regards to my ultimate prognosis, but over the more recent timeframe of dealing with the AD world, we have gotten used to a degree of normality. That is changing over the past weeks and it is a reminder of what situation we are in and where it is going to end; dealing with this mortality thing, is not much fun.
With the physical differences this week, I have not felt like exercising much. However, as Friday turned out to be a reasonably normal day, I managed to get a long walk in, with a time of 12:59. Then another on Sunday afternoon, with a time of 12:49 I am currently assessing how I feel each day, then deciding on what to do after that.
I had arranged to meet with Howard on Tuesday morning (forgot to get a photo!), and went ahead with that, with me travelling to his neck of the woods. A very nice couple of hours was had and a good catch up overall, done in Sandwich, which is a very picturesque historic town in Kent, with 1,000+ of recorded history. Alanna joined me on Wednesday afternoon, then also Thursday, just for some emotional support and distraction, from the challenging mental situation going on in my mind at the moment; it was half-term here, so the grandkids were there too. She brought with her a nice surprise, which was a Hotwheels Vespa SS90, but the recently released white version. That has allowed me to complete that collection and was a very welcome uplift, just 2 hours after my not so welcomed news. I did write to them at the start of the year and asked them to release a white version, so all of us Vespa / scooter enthusiasts could complete our collections and match the original colour releases in the the late-1960s, of red, white or blue. Small things that give us happiness, without costing the earth, or causing harm to anyone. Sunday was another ‘normal-feeling’ day, so Sandra and I took a few hours out shopping and some nice lunch (with the second walk done after that)
In amongst all of the above, I focused heavily on Volume 7, as that was where my creative flow felt like being. The result was the completion of the remaining biographies - done on Saturday, meaning that that first main key stage of that book has been completed by the end of May. The individual unit histories will be the next focus for that book, but I have no idea how long that phase will take; updates to follow. Prior to that, I will now focus on wrapping up the veteran book, as it is almost there. I will also be making initial enquiries with my trade customers, for reprints of Volume 5, Volume 6 and Fritz Witt, aiming for an end of June confirmation of quantities, with an August delivery to me.
In summary, a tough week, due to the unwelcomed news, but one where I am adjusting and trying to focus on what I can do, around the health impacts.
Thanks for the consistent interest and support from you, it’s a key weapon in this ongoing battle.
Regards
Peter