One Loose Pebble Can Cause an Avalanche

Or something like that....it's been and interesting day. This morning I was up at 6 AM. I had been fasting since yesterday in anticipation of my visit to the doctor today at 10 AM. I wake up slow. I have to stare off into space a bit until the brain has completed its reboot. After that, I hit the shower, brushed my teeth and took my atorvastatin (cholesterol medication). After drying and tending to my dermatologist induced wounds of May 13th, I checked my phone. At around 8 AM I received a call from the dermatologist. One of my biopsies came back as "inconclusive" for a disease called sarcoidosis.

I have never heard of this disease and I am wondering what it is, meanwhile the nurse at the dermatology clinic is telling me I need a chest x-ray in the next two weeks since the disease most often manifests on the skin, lungs and heart and less frequently the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. I told the nurse I was going to the doctor at 1000 AM and would she send this information immediately to my physician. And she did. 

I had some time before I needed to leave, so like any hypochondriac with an Internet connection, I looked up sarcoidosis. The Wikipedia says this...

"Sarcoidosis is a disease involving abnormal collections of inflammatory cells that form lumps known as granulomas.^[2]The disease usually begins in the lungs, skin, or lymph nodes.^[2] Less commonly affected are the eyes, liver, heart, and brain.^[2] Any organ, however, can be affected.^[2] The signs and symptoms depend on the organ involved.^[2] Often, no, or only mild, symptoms are seen.^[2] "

And this....

"The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown.[2] Some believe it may be due to an immune reaction to a trigger such as an infection or chemicals in those who are genetically predisposed.[12][13] Those with affected family members are at greater risk.[4] Diagnosis is partly based on signs and symptoms, which may be supported by biopsy.[6]"

This is not the best news to wake up to, but it certainly changed my doctor's plans during my physical. Not only did I get the usual blood draw and poking and prodding at both ends; I also got an EKG and a chest x-ray. To this point, the only test results I have gotten came from the radiologist. His report said the following:

"Both lungs are expanded and clear and the cardiopulmonary structures and pleural surfaces overall appear unremarkable. There is minor prominence of the pulmonary artery conus regions, could reflect underlying pulmonary hypertension. No chest mass or adenopathy noted."

So based on what you see in Italics above, my doctor has referred me too a pulmonologist for a future appointment. I may end up getting PET scanned. We shall see. Meanwhile, I have to go back to the dermatologist on Monday so they can look for more granulomas on my skin.

All of this was caused by one inconclusive biopsy of a skin lesion. A lot of money is getting spent on something inconclusive. The worst part is that this disease is incurable and nearly untreatable, except with Prednisone which knocks down your immune system and keeps it from attacking your body. I have had that before in other situations. Not sure I am going to do that. It makes one puffy, causes weight gain and acne...it's a steroid. And since this disease seldom kills the victims, I may opt out of treatment.

The only good news today is that after a month of being off my blood pressure meds, my BP is still normal.

I think I'm fine. Let's see them try to make me sick

Writ Large For All To See...Laurie Is Saying She Was Here

I Need a Helper Monkey

Last Monday I went to the dermatologist. I Had not been there since 2012 and I paid dearly for that lapse. When you are fair skinned and out in the sun a lot and when you do not wear sunscreen or at least forget to, a trip to the skin doctor can be a painful event. I had nine lesions removed from various places on my face and head, mostly left of center on the cheek and forehead, and one on the crown of my head. I also had suspicious growths on my left arm, on the middle of my back between my shoulder blades and my lower left leg. These were removed with a scalpel and sent to the lab. So far, no report back. That's good. If they don't call, that means the tests were negative.

Anyway, by Tuesday my face looked like it had been grazed by a light saber. I don't remember my acne making me look that bad as a teenager. They used liquid nitrogen in a spray can on my face. It was like getting stung by bees. In the days since, I have healed nicely. By this time next week, it should not be noticeable.

The places where a scalpel was used is a different story. These are healing more slowly. The surgical wounds look like they were made with a potato peeler - you know, the end you might use to dig out the potato eyes. Ya, like that.

For those wounds, I have had to change dressings (band-aids) daily, applying Bacitracin ointment. This was easy for the left arm and the back of the lower leg, but doing the one between my shoulder blades proved very difficult indeed.

I better understand the need for a life partner after this experience. A mate could have helped me with that place I can barely reach. Instead, I stood with my back to the bathroom mirror, holding a hand mirror in the air with my right hand so I could place the new band-aid on the wound with my left hand in the correct place.

Such a task should be in the battery of tests for drunk drivers. The only thing that could have made it more difficult would be a "standing on one foot" requirement. Maybe I will try that one in the morning since I've already had so much practice. If I fall down and break my neck, you will know how I died before my obit makes the morning paper.

Since I do not have a life partner or roommate or significant other to help me with such things, perhaps I should get a helper monkey. There are so many other things a helper monkey could do for me in addition to attending to my health care. He could get me a cold beverage from the fridge or get things from the top shelf of the kitchen cabinets or open hard to open bottles and jars. I could teach him how to dust furniture and pull weeds in the garden. He could clean the gutters and answer the door.

It might be fun to have a monkey. What could possibly go wrong?
 

A Good Day Fishing

Today I went to Redfield, Iowa and fished below the dam on the Middle Raccoon River. The fishing was better than expected. Here are a few examples. It was fun and relaxing. There is something about the sound of the water pouring over the dam that is very relaxing, even though it is loud.

Smallie

Largemouth Bass

Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Baby Walleye

Smallie

Snagged this carp in the tail

The LGBT Sandwich

Marks and Spencer, a retail outlet store in the United Kingdom, is virtue signaling to social justice warriors just in time for Pride month in June. I believe it has already failed.

Yes, they've created the LGBT sandwich. Apparently LGBTQ rights groups are appalled that anyone would turn the pursuit of civil rights into a money making opportunity. “Shame on the good folks over at @marksandspencer for turning our culture and identity into a sandwich,” one woman wrote on Twitter. “Making an absolute mockery of lgbtq people.”

I think the whole thing is hilarious. I'm wondering if there will be a pro choice sandwich. Maybe Planned Parenthood Pastrami. We will see.

Rinse Out Your Mind With This

"I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."

Isaiah 44:22

I'm No Longer On Facebook

If you are looking for me on Facebook this morning, you will not find me there. I gave a brief warning last night prior to deleting my account and then I was off. 

I had joined Facebook in September of last year so I could be part of a Facebook group for SSA Christians. I left the group two weeks ago for personal reasons and decided there was no reason to continue with FB either. Their censorship policies are annoying. Mark Zuckerberg is annoying and frankly, I think his platform is dying. I say that only because FB tends to be a 'boomer' platform and as we all know, boomers are facing extinction in the next two decades. 

Whatever the case, I am out of it. I hope it stops my endless phone checking and constant worry about offending someone...actually, I never worry about that and that's part of the problem I suppose. So I will be leaving my offenses here from time to time. Please enjoy them in the spirit intended...if you can figure that out...sometimes I can't.  

Reflections On My 40th Anniversary- To My Brethren and to the Leadership at the Rising Sun Church of Christ

Those that know me will realize immediately that this is not about my 40 years of marriage. They will also know all too well that this is not about my 40^th birthday. No, this is one of those strange anniversaries that only Jesus Christ can make possible. It is, in many respects, a happy occasion for me, but it has also been a trail of tears and suffering with more than a little spiritual and mental anguish and loneliness.

It was 40 years ago, at the age of 21 in May of 1979, that I said I would never have sex again.

Prior to that, it had been crisis time for me. I had come to grips with the fact that I was same sex attracted and more and more I knew that this was never going to change. My anger about this with my Creator was indescribable. I rebelled in a big way. At the first opportunity, I took up with a young man of nearly my own age and we were together for about 18 months. At the end of it, which came at my graduation from college, I said to myself that it would never happen again.

I was in no condition, at that time, to be making vows. My faith was exhausted; it was based on a flawed theology and a spiritual condition that reflected more death than life. And even though I was not talking to God in those days, He seemed to be reaching out to me, protecting me and loving me as a father should. He protected me and enabled my promise and helped me find my way back to His church. And I know now, as surely as my hair is turning white, that He will bring me to the finish line.

So how do I celebrate such a strange and wonderful anniversary? With thankfulness and gratitude to Jesus Christ who saved me all those years ago and to some others. I want to thank the leadership of my church and my brothers and sisters in Christ, my extended family and my friends.

Indeed, to all those that continue to accept me in fellowship as a brother while knowing the best kept secret of my life, please know this. I love you all more than you know and I would encourage you to continue pushing yourselves to continually expand the borders of your grace and love and most especially in the face of those that say you’ve gone too far. Thanks so much my friends.