Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Doctor Visit

We went to the doctor today. I gained weight and I am progressing well. One of the muscles of my shoulder, the trapezius, is recovering rather strangely. Cranial nerve 11 was removed and yet I can move my arm over my head which (according to the doc that removed the nerve) I should not be able to do. My shoulder looks weird and hurts like the dickens but should recover better than I thought. I still am only able to hang on the pull up bar. The doctor told me to shift my paradigm and think of recovering and returning to flying in the spring. I have been imagining I would be able to start back in two weeks then four weeks…now it is coming up on six weeks after treatment and I still have the endurance of an old weak man. Good advice, I will still try to push it.
We talked about depression because head and neck cancer patients have a high rate of reported depression. I am dealing with it but I am pretty happy go lucky anyway. The cold wet rainy weather is more depression inducing for me.
We spoke about the pain medication realities and alternate methods. The drug oxycotin is highly addictive and has withdrawal symptoms that mimic many of the side effects of chemotherapy, radiation and pain associated with surgery. There is a huge drug problem with these and other narcotic opioids. It is no wonder they call it hillbilly heroin because it is a pharmaceutical heroin equivalent. I have been four days without. Pain sucks but some of the peripheral neuropathy symptoms have subsided. I am now experiencing “honest” pain. I still would not fly (or ride motorcycles) but I am starting to feel safe with driving. The doctor said Tylenol and Ibuprofen are somewhat effective pain killers so I am going to try using those. Fixing my disrupted sleep schedule is part of the solution. The narcotics made it easy to sleep.
My surgical oncologist is retiring and will live in a 37 foot sailboat. I was blessed to have her as my surgeon. My taste buds are returning and my lovely wife continues feeding me delicious food. Being able to taste food really enhances its appeal. As Thanksgiving approaches I count my blessings even more often. Thank all of you for the good vibes, prayers and practical help.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Latest news from the doctor

Monday we went to see the doctor. My blood work was good, my weight was down 1.6 lbs. I am not really worried about the weight loss since the appointment was about lunchtime and I had not eaten yet. Healing of the neck seems to be going according to schedule. The radiation was still frying stuff probably for at least two weeks after the last dose. We discussed pain and pain management. The pain in the neck and shoulder will lessen steadily and the throat pain should disappear. The pain from maladjusted neck and shoulder will stabilize at some point…time and physical therapy should assist.
The doctor was surprised and happy to hear my progress reducing my medication intake. At the peak of this process I was taking a dozen pain pills a day and a pain patch every three days. I am down to three or four pain pills a day and no patch for a week. We discussed the safe “bottle to throttle” options with the pain pills. I think twelve hours is a good safe bet. I drove home (supervised by my lovely bride). I was fatigued by the end but was safe.
I am not able to valsalva right now so I would not be well equipped for pressure changes. The doctor seemed to think that like the rest of the sinus system it will return to pre-treatment operation. I can PT with no restrictions. That is one of the stark realities I am dealing with. I was very inactive since April or so and my muscles have atrophied. I do not have much endurance yet. I have been able to work in the garden. I am able to do so for up to ninety minutes lately. I was able to paddle a canoe around today. Thanks Len! I am able to hang on the pull up bar. It will be a while before I can knock out a bunch of calisthenics and go for a run but I am progressing in that direction.
Alex and Tina stopped by today. That is truly a healing experience to see my wife and children all together. We ate and talked and laughed. We are going over to Tina’s for Thanksgiving. This year has been challenging but when I start counting my blessings I realize how awesomely abundant and rich my life is…
Thank all of y’all for your prayers and well wishes.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

28 days after

It has been a month since I was last irradiated or chemo infused. I am recovering some taste and appetite and thus gaining some weight and getting my strength back. The pain is still very pronounced but I am weaning myself off the drugs. I was taking a dozen pain pills a day and a pain patch every three days. That was about two weeks ago. I am now down to about 3 or 4 pain pills a day and no patch for a week!
The primary source of pain is my shoulder and neck. The removal of the sternocliedomastoid neck muscle and the removal of cranial nerve XI mean that two of the muscles that stabilize my neck and left shoulder are out of action. That is also the same shoulder that I broke and dislocated years ago. The peripheral neuropathy is also a variable that makes thinking kind of hard without a chemical to reduce some of the sensory input.
I have been exercising and working in the yard. This drives up my appetite but since I was so inactive over the last few months I am weak. I have been increasing the intensity and duration of my therapy sessions. Slow but steady wins the race. Today I was out in the back yard and I found a Supermodel fishing. She let me join her. It was awe inspiring to be alive and with my lovely bride doing something other than going to the doctor. Thank all of y’all for your support and prayers. I go to the doctor next week for an update.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Good news from the Philippines

Our family in the Philippines safely weathered the typhoon. As we thank God for our blessing we pray for the thousands who are enduring hard times.

Beautiful Weekend

This was a wonderful weekend. I was able to see many of my flying buddies at the re-opening of the wings of Carolina Sanford facility. http://www.wingsofcarolina.org/
My first flight instructor student was there. Steve is now a check airman at a regional airline. It is one of the most satisfying feelings for an instructor to see their students excel beyond where they are. If we did not produce students that could exceed the "master" then we never would have gone to the moon or broken the sound barrier. At the stage that I teach of my students don’t have to break the sound barrier to pass up my level of expertise but three of them have interned at NASA, two are check airmen at the regionals and at least two are military aviators. I am proud as punch to have been able to help them in their journeys. I am honored that several of them have elected to make their living as professional flight instructors.
When Steve said he wanted to become a professional pilot I was happy to help him. He started his instrument training with me in March and had finished his instrument, commercial, and flight instructor by December of the same year. It is a pleasure to teach serious students. I realized I was going to have to step up to my best “A” game to give him the training he needed. One of the endorsements a flight instructor has to get is a “spin endorsement”.
The endorsement reads: “I certify that (First name, MI, Last name) has received the required training of section 61.183(i). I have determined that he/she is competent in instructional skills for training stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery procedures.”
I realized I did not have the level of expertise to give this endorsement so I signed up for an aerobatic course. http://www.aceaerobaticschool.com/ This is how I was bitten with the aerobatic bug. That was 2006 and I have loved every minute of the journey ever since.
It was very emotional to see all my flying buddies. Sunday was also very satisfying. After church my wife and I relaxed and enjoyed the gorgeous fall weather. Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes. I will post news of the family in the Philippines as soon as we get any. They were not in the center of the typhoon but the power is out. It is interesting that the kids on facebook will likely provide us with the first news.



Thursday, November 7, 2013

Flying and teaching

I spoke to AOPA and here is my current plan. I can teach and fly with certain students. If they can act as pilot in command (PIC) then I am authorized to teach. My good friend and mentor, Jim Bauer, did this for several years. He had some medical issues but was still able to instruct for quite a few years. I truly miss him; he passed away early this year. As former Navy Blue Angel he was full of stories and never let an opportunity for a joke pass him by. When I get a “cancer free” scan I can submit my information to an Aviation Medical Examiner and then the FAA will determine if they will grant a special issuance. The current backlog is 90 days. They let me know the FAA tends to have a certain period of time they will have me grounded.
I still have to heal to the point of being able to provide a safe learning environment to my students. This may be next week or may be longer. I need to complete an annual club proficiency check. I look forward to being able to teach again.

Update from the doctor


I am feeling much better and yesterday’s doctor visit confirmed many things. I gained six pounds and my blood work was good. I am trying to go drug free. The pain is fairly intense but, it would not be wise to drive (or fly) using the pain medications. I miss my freedom so I am trying to learn how to deal with the pain. I have several more appointments this year. I will see one of the treatment team about every ten days. The scan that will declare "cancer free" or "we have more work to do" will occur sometime in January. The team seems confident and I share their enthusiasm.
Today I was able to plant some winter greens and dig on the sunset. I am blessed in multiple ways. Good friends and family keep my spirits up. I can feel the healing hand of God. Please pray for my family in the Philippines as the typhoon passes.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Rest and recovery

I am beginning to feel much better. Pain management is still an issue but I have been increasing the interval between doses. Food is starting to taste like food again. Thank God! Food is one of the great pleasures in life. For the last few months most everything tasted like cardboard and kerosene.
I am going to explore the requirements for returning to flight status. Until I am healthy and drug free there was not any incintive to finding out the steps. I long for the freedom of the air. I also really look forward to riding my motorcycle again. Much of my time lately has been watching youtube videos and I have found some very interesting subjects. I like history and the following is almost like a college course in American history. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x58MR-McptM