04/05/08 - Still Plugging Along

Last Friday I went down to La Jolla for my IVIG infusion and a blood test. The infusion was uneventful, but the blood test was pretty positive. My Hemoglobin went up from 13.9 to 14.4. My White Count went from 40,000 to 29,000. This was all after being completely off of the Prednisone for about 11 days. My White count is the lowest it has been since June of 2003, which is a good thing. I have noticed that my lymph glands in my neck are still getting larger, but that is expected because the Prednisone was keeping them down in size.

Next week I go for an annual physical, which is the first one I have had in about 3 years. I don't expect anything major to come out of it, but you never know. I will take all of my updates and reports to my doctor and let him know what has been going on. He knows a little about what has been going on, but doesn't have the full picture. I am sure it will be an eye opener.

I have been playing golf, and started going to the gym. I went to the gym yesterday, and I may have overdone it (but maybe it was the two cups of STRONG coffee I had a breakfast). I didn't seem to have much energy all day, so I am hoping that is all it is. I seem to be pretty tired at night, and need my sleep. I will go and have a blood test tomorrow after my doctor appointment to just make sure my numbers are holding up. We are speculating that perhaps the Prednisone was artificially keeping me up, and I even though my blood numbers are better right now, I am still recovering from the ordeal.

I don't have another La Jolla visit until the 22nd of April, when I have both a doctor appointment and an IVIG infusion. I would expect that there will not be much going on until that time.

Next week also begins my 8th season as the Commissioner of the City of Long Beach Twilight Golf League. I was going to retire from that job at the end of last season, but decided to stay on one more year. My partner is my son Jeff, who works at the LB Water Department. As the Commissioner, I take care of the schedules, coordinate with the golf courses, and update all the scores. I have a great program that automates most of the chores, and after 7 years it is not very time consuming. Everything is handled over the Internet and thru email. Being retired, it gives me something to do, and really is kind of fun. Plus, it is kind of nice being King.

Fore,
Terry