Good news for my kidneys

We just met with the cancer Dr. today. He says my numbers are going down, and we will still have treatment starting Sunday. We will also be adjusting medication to try and give my kidneys a break through this series. While we will probably only get 2-3 doses, he is confident that, the one to two doses will be adequate to maintain the progress that we have seen so far with my treatments. So it looks like I will be back in the hospital on Sunday and starting dosing on Monday. We hope that my kidney numbers stay at a manageable level. So bring on the pain and misery!!! If I didn't have a long term perspective on this, it would be really hard to put myself through all of this discomfort and for lack of a better word, crap. But with the high possibilities of this working and my cancer going away for several years, it is worth it. Especially if it gives me enough time for them to come up with a more responsive treatment. I know I say this a lot, but I really mean it, thanks for the prayers and thoughts offered in our behalf. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you as well, and we hope your days are a little brighter, and your burdens a little lighter. Keep smiling, Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy

Real Kidney update

I just met with the specialist today. He said that while my numbers were high, they were not alarming. Based on what I have been through, my kidneys have sustained an "injury." We won't know for sure how long it will take to get better or if they will get better until I am done with the IL2 treatment. So it looks like there is a potential of having to wait until July or August, and possibly longer, to see what my kidneys are going to do. So while this isn't the greatest news, he didn't think that there is a reason that would stop me from resuming treatment this Sunday. So woo hoo, that was good news for us! Also, I am feeling a lot better and will try to resume my normal schedule tomorrow, so I should be able to return to work for a while. Woo Hoo for that too. Anyway, thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts. I almost forgot, Shaeli played guitar in church and her and I sang it was really neat to do that with her. Seeing her use her talents and sharing them with others. Ok gotta run, Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

Update on the kidneys

I got my labs back and talked with the doctor. There definitely is a problem but not something that I need to stress over just be concerned about. Believe it or not there is a difference. I am waiting to hear from a specialist that I will be meeting with on Monday. I have to go back to the Huntsman Clinic to see them. So I hope that it all works out by then. Wouldn't that be great if I get down there Monday and they say, "All your labs look normal, go home." That would be so awesome. If not, I am not sure the path that will need to be taken. That will be discussed on Monday and I will update you more then, unless tomorrow I get a lot more information from the specialist. Merry Christmas and Have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

Hey..... How are ya....?

Ok, still have about 10lbs of water weight on. I am going to the hospital in a few minutes to get some lab work done to see if my kidneys are working yet. So wish me luck. On the bright side I am sleeping semi-normal again. I feel well but am having problems driving, so I am being chauffeured around. The doctors don't want me doing too much until the kidney thing is resolved. Everyone here is doing fine, did I mention how proud I am of Morgan for passing his Hunters Ed? Anyway, For the kids today is the last day of school before spring break. They are hoping for a really long spring break, its only until Tuesday. I think they are all ready for summer to be here. Well, thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, We pray for all of you everyday, and hope your burdens are a little bit lighter as you face the day. Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

woo hoo its monday

Ok, I made it through the weekend with no major bumps. I survived a fun 70th birthday party for my father-in-law Joel. I even survived a short stint after that at my parents just to say high to the fam. Then I went home and crashed. So today, I had to go and get a blood test that told me my kidneys still aren't working right. The prognosis for now is to watch it and just keep going. Not in real danger yet just worry area. So I have to wait a few days and then go back for another test to see if my kidneys are back to normal yet. its a good thing I have a lot of blood. I spent the day with my dad, teaching me the magic art of Wii Golf. We had a lot of fun, and i got out of the house, sort of. At least out of my house. Not much progress on the water weight loss this time. So I hope you are having a great day, and Buffy, I hope your Easter Contata went as planned. Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

Weight coming of slowly

Ok, so I am a whiner, since Friday morning I have lost 10 lbs. The only problem is that I am still huge, well huger than normal. I think the lasiks are starting to work, but tomorrow I have another lab that will be run to let us know. If it doesn't work, I am not sure what direction they will go. But either way, I am home with my family so it is a good day. But I think the kids are over missing me. OH HEY, I almost forgot, the best news of all. Morgan passed Hunters Ed. Woo Hoo for the boy! When the weight comes off I will take a couple more photos and post before and after, or is it after and then more after..... Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

First full day home

Ok, this was my first full day home. While it is really a relief to be home, I feel like crap. (yes, for my bro, soft and squishy literally.) While a gained 23 lbs in the hospital I have gained another 3 lbs of water weight since leaving the hospital. One of the side effects from this treatment is kidneys not working properly. Guess what, that is where I currently am, in kidneys not working world, anyone know the way out? I have been drinking cranberry juice, water, and Gatorade. Making sure I stay hydrated. I have a blood test in the morning that will hopefully let me take my lasiks that really get the water off. But you probably saw the pictures, so I won't dwell on this. Other than the water thing I am doing awesome. My wife actually let me go for a ride in the car today, I rode shotgun, boom, boom!!! I think it will still be a few days before I can drive and with the kidney thing it may be longer than I am currently anticipating. My sleep patterns are really messed up as well. I think part of it is the discomfort from the water gain. I can only sit or lay in a position for a couple of hours, then I have to move, which means wake up, and getting to sleep is not easy. So this time even though I was in the hospital shorter has its own little quirk's to get used to. But the good news of the treatments working get me through the hard times like this. That and the prayers and thoughts that are going out for me. Merry Christmas and Have a lovely day.
Love Andy. ps, I will let you know when I start lasiks.