[Important] North_Ranger's Wacky Tumor Thread

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Mathias, I may be your biggest fan, but I couldn't disagree with you more on a) your general beef with NR b) and your comments in this thread. It's clearly therapeutic for him to talk about this. I can honestly see where talking about it with a crowd of people who sort-of know you would be a lot easier than talking to real life friends.

 

[Mathias]

My apologies. Continue sharing with us the inner workings of your body. It seems you do in fact have an audience for it.

 

[doomdragon6]

I'm actually very interested. It's a place for you to get out what you need to, and it's very educational for someone who's never known anyone with cancer to learn what happens in case I or someone I know gets it.

And Mathias seems to have come to an understanding, but seriously. Don't wanna read it, don't click it.

 

[Chibibar]

My apologies. Continue sharing with us the inner workings of your body. It seems you do in fact have an audience for it.

I tend to skip over the gory part, but I do support the therapy of writing It is surprising how easy to share stuff with total strangers of your inner workings (literally or figuratively) than telling your best friends, family members, or your co-workers.

 

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I don't think it's about the inner workings of his body so much as it's about talking through it.

 

[North_Ranger]

Yesterday evening: temperature down, clear urine meaning no blood and the kidney is working fine, the surgery scar had stopped itching and a nasty case of sore throat had died down. In other words, feeling exceptionally fine.

Today:

Spoiler

I pee partly congealed blood.

In other words:

Goddammit, body, you're supposed to be on my side. Stop fuckin' throwing these curveballs at me!

 

[Espy]

Hang tough man. I can't imagine what you are dealing with but you say whatever you damn want inside this thread, especially if it helps you get it out of your head for a bit.

 

[Enresshou]

Holy crap, I can't believe I missed this thread for over a month and a half...

I'm glad you're doing good under the circumstances, NR; and i'm impressed by your ability to keep a good attitude and a smile. I don't think I could do that. I'm pulling for you (as little as that might do), but you've got my thoughts and best wishes (as well as my axe).

 

[North_Ranger]

Thanks, espy... I was a little uncertain about writing that, considering what happened the last time I did. I just don't have the desire to get into online pissing contests anymore.

Anyways, some good news: went to the hospital for some blood works to see if there was something seriously wrong. But no; the results were good, so at least there's nothing in my cardiovascular system that's causing this. Either the old infection is acting up or the tumor is breaking up/bleeding. But no need for blood transfusions or anything like that. I knew the worst was over when the colour turned from cherry red to chestnut brown

In other good news, any evening-time boredom will be negated by two picks from the local DVD retailer: Expendables and Thor.

 

[Biannoshufu]

I knew the worst was over when the colour turned from cherry red to chestnut brown

In other good news, any evening-time boredom will be negated by two picks from the local DVD retailer: Expendables and Thor.

is it sad that I laughed at the color change comment? Been there, done that.

 

[Chibibar]

Thanks, espy... I was a little uncertain about writing that, considering what happened the last time I did. I just don't have the desire to get into online pissing contests anymore.

Anyways, some good news: went to the hospital for some blood works to see if there was something seriously wrong. But no; the results were good, so at least there's nothing in my cardiovascular system that's causing this. Either the old infection is acting up or the tumor is breaking up/bleeding. But no need for blood transfusions or anything like that. I knew the worst was over when the colour turned from cherry red to chestnut brown

In other good news, any evening-time boredom will be negated by two picks from the local DVD retailer: Expendables and Thor.

Good to hear buddy. Personally this is YOUR thread. do what you like. I rather you tell us about it and make YOU feel better which is the main goal

 

[North_Ranger]

is it sad that I laughed at the color change comment? Been there, done that.

Nope. In fact, I'm glad you laughed. I had to stop and thinking for a second, "Is this TMI?", but then I figured eh, like I'm the only person who sometimes see what colour they pee

 

[Chibibar]

Nope. In fact, I'm glad you laughed. I had to stop and thinking for a second, "Is this TMI?", but then I figured eh, like I'm the only person who sometimes see what colour they pee

Heh. My family always tell me to make sure my pee are clear (which is a good sign)

 

[North_Ranger]

Holy crap, I can't believe I missed this thread for over a month and a half...

I'm glad you're doing good under the circumstances, NR; and i'm impressed by your ability to keep a good attitude and a smile. I don't think I could do that. I'm pulling for you (as little as that might do), but you've got my thoughts and best wishes (as well as my axe).

Thanks, buddy. I admit, I don't always post here when I'm feeling pissed-off or otherwise stressed out (like in the last few days when I was afraid my temp would go up and I'd end up back in the hospital), because let's face it, there's enough ranting here as is But yes, generally I try to keep a positive outlook and focus on the good things that are happening - and put a spin on the bad things.
Hell, I'm even glad about the frickin' Republican primaries, 'cause apparently Herman Cain's a cancer survivor. Hell, if Republicans can make it, well goddammit, so am I!

 

[North_Ranger]

Third round of chemo comin' up... Tomorrow, blood tests and meeting with the doctor. Come home for the night, go back Tuesday morning.

Yeeeeaaaahhhh... Not really looking forward to it. Horrible food, peeing in a bottle, getting a line in my chest, peeing in a bottle, roommate likely going to be farting like a lactose-intolerant elephant on all-cheese diet... oh, did I mention peeing in a bottle? Just gotta focus on the fact that it's only for 3-4 days after that. Wouldn't really be so bad if the stuff they put in me wasn't so strong it takes more than a week to recover, leaving me three or four days - tops - of feeling relatively normal before I have to go in again.

Welp... what doesn't kill ya, I suppose...

 

[Emrys]

Get better so we can play arrow-tag.

 

[doomdragon6]

I hate cancer.

 

[bhamv3]

Threaten to pee on your room mate. Tell him it's cancer pee.

 

[North_Ranger]

Threaten to pee on your room mate. Tell him it's cancer pee.

Considering I'm gonna be on a cancer ward, that's kinda like threatening to throw loose body parts at someone in a leper colony

Also, just learned that they want to check my bone marrow for stem cell harvesting. You know, that when the treatment's over, they can jump-start my tired bone marrow with an infusion of new material. So apparently they're gonna cut and shove a needle in my pelvis for some specimens. Oddly appropriate; last time they cut my chest for the infusion port, now they want to work on my ass.

 

[strawman]

At least they fiddled with your heart before your rear. Some docs work too fast and just go straight for the rear without working up to it. Then they spout some nonsense like, "Don't hate the doctor, hate the game."

The pastiches.

 

[North_Ranger]

Thank you so much for that, stien. As if having to lie on my belly and take a needling in my backside wasn't enough...

 

[doomdragon6]

At least they fiddled with your heart before your rear. Some docs work too fast and just go straight for the rear without working up to it. Then they spout some nonsense like, "Don't hate the doctor, hate the game."

The pastiches.

Just replying because I couldn't like the post twice.

 

[Enresshou]

Well, look at it this way, NR: if you have to have something all up in your ass, it may as well be science.

Hope it's going well for you, and that your pee's back to a normal, healthy shade!

 

[North_Ranger]

Ugh, back from the hospital again...

Yeah, I certainly got screwed in the keister alright - 'cause apparently they put some kind of a screwdriver there to get a sample of the bone marrow. However, since I'm overweight the doctor wasn't sure if she had gotten enough - we're talking about lengthness of less than a quarter inch here, after all. So I got a(nother) hole in my backside and uncertainty whether they'll have to do it again or not.

Chemo went okay this time around, except my appetite is still a bit slow to come back. For some reason, everything still tastes a little weird for me. Like everything's been doused with a sprinkling of powdered salmiakki (or salty liquorice for you English-speakers) - which I don't really like. Even the water I drink tastes hairy. I know that sounds weird, but that's the best way I can describe it; like it's full of fur or something. Otherwise doing okay, and yes, Enresshou, my pee is at least for the time being of the normal shade

 

[Espy]

Stay strong man. Stay strong. It's going to take more than a few holes in ones backside to stop you.

 

[Officer_Charon]

So now they can REALLY call you an asshole? *ducks*

Seriously though, way to tough it out, man... hopefully your appetite comes back soon, sans salmiakki

 

[sixpackshaker]

Good luck again mang, I'm pulling for you. Sorry that you have to go through the rough treatment for cancer, where I was basically a cancer tourist.

 

[North_Ranger]

The patches are off, and the first time I've properly showered since Monday has been unaccompanied with an angelic choir singing "Hallelujah".

How the hell those winged freaks got into my shower I'll never know...

 

[strawman]

I thought a little celebration was in order, so I got them for you. Sorry I could only get male "angels", but, you know, tough economy and all...

 

[North_Ranger]

Well... I guess it's the thought that counts. But next time lemme know, 'cause they broke the sauna bench.

Also, sometimes it's the little things that piss me off. Ever since this whole cancer thing it seems everywhere I look there's something about cancer. Science Illustrated writes a 20-page article about it from a scientific point of view; the title character of Amy's Law worries about it; every goddamn women's rag tells about creepily smiling turkey-necked women who survived cancer... and more often than not I come across cancer as a synonym for 'delayed death' in media. Heck, I found myself stopping reading Watchmen and not wanting to watch the movie in my freetime because terminal cancer is such a big element in it. Yes yes, spoilers, but c'mon, really, is there anyone who hasn't read or watched that yet?

I know it's just oversensitivity, but somehow I just find it irritating... and definitely not something that lightens my spirits or any of that jazz. I guess it's just dramatic conventions; if you want a character that's slowly dying, what do you do? Say they've got cancer. No explanations needed and you can keep making them look like they've taken make-up and hair-dressing lessons from Gollum.

I don't think about this all the time, but there are just times when my cup runneth over. Therefore this short rant, tryin' to just get it out of my system. It actually made me feel a tad better. *sighs and smiles*

Okay, I think I'll head out and make myself a sandwich and watch some Master Chef USA. I loves me some cooking shows... can't wait for Kitchen Nightmares to start again

 

[Chibibar]

I think you just notice it more than usual since you are going with treatment, but stay strong buddy!

I love cooking shows too. My wife and I watch Chopped A LOT cause those guys put some of the weirdest stuff in the basket. A new show that is pretty cool is Sweet Genius.

 

[makare]

I think you just notice it more than usual since you are going with treatment, but stay strong buddy!

I love cooking shows too. My wife and I watch Chopped A LOT cause those guys put some of the weirdest stuff in the basket. A new show that is pretty cool is Sweet Genius.

I love those shows. (I promise I wont hijack the thread about it). I only like to watch Chopped on dvr though. When I watch, it goes, what are the ingredients- who is getting kicked off- repeat. I don't want to sit through the whole show. I love my dvr. The Sweet Genius judge is so fun and I look forward to referencing him a lot and having no one have any idea what I am saying.

 

[North_Ranger]

Okay, technically I enjoy watching MasterChef, Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares because I enjoy the ranting personality of Gordon Ramsay. Top Chef I like to watch 'cause the personalities in the competition are usually great, too.

Funny thing? I actually started watching those because I wanted to give my one-time Changeling: the Lost character - a Darkling chef - something to cook in-game. But I digress... uuuhh... nothing out of the ordinary today.

 

[North_Ranger]

Crap.

Started to get a temperature yesterday. Without chemo, that wouldn't be so bad... but because I'm undergoing chemotherapy, it means that for a time right after the hospital stay my white blood cell counts drop to abysmal levels (hence the earlier reference to anemic baby birds). Because of that, the doctor told me to get back to the ward, where I'll be given antibiotics intravenously. Which means I'll be stuck here for at least a few days, until the fever and my CRP values come back down to normal levels again.

Not that bad compared to chemo; I'm not tethered with a line up my chest 24/7, and the antibiotics I took before getting called back here have already cut down the fever, but there's some things that still make me frown with disappointment:
(1.) the general feeling of not being able to do much to get better. Essentially all I can do is keep myself hydrated.
(2.) boredom of the ward. Granted, I got my computer here, but it's still boring as hell to be here. The fact that the janitor hasn't fixed the TVs here isn't helping; there was a general switch of channel broadcasting frequencies about six weeks back - and they still haven't fixed that here in the hospital. So all we get are two news channels and that's it.
(3.) the likelihood of having to spend a number of days here. CRP values do not actually tell you how bad of an inflammation you have - they tell you how bad of an inflammation you had a while ago. Meaning I'll be stuck in here until Saturday, the least.
(4.) lack of privacy. I'm a pretty private man, not quite a hermit but I like being by myself. Having nurses run around and such is a bit of a bore.
(5.) hospital food. 'Nuff said.

I know I'm ranting about things that will help me get better; but trust me, when you end up spending roughly about one week out of every three weeks in a hospital, and live the interval two weeks in a constant hypochondriac state (checking the temp, watching your pee, worrying about meds-induced stomach aches and diarrhea), you don't want to spend any more time at the ward than you absolutely have to.

 

[Biannoshufu]

music + writing stories bud.
*hugs*