Really?

I drove out to 139th and SE Stark this morning for a consultation with the endodontist that took less than a minute. My gum tissue looks fine. And that's all he wanted to see. But they'll need to see me again in six months for a check up.

I also scheduled my six-month check up with my regular dentist.

So.....looks like I now have a team of dentists. Much like my team of doctors.

Next appointment: Dr. Bader, the radiation oncologist, on December 7th.

It would be soooooo great to go a year without having to see any doctors.  But that's soooooo not possible after one turns 40 apparently

More dentistry

First, I'm embarrassed that I haven't blogged since July 19. Pathetic. Not that anyone's desperately hanging on for my next gem....but I really should be diligent for my own good.

I do have tooth news. The root canal didn't take. I bit into a delicious piece of pork crackling while in France (where they are not afraid of animal fat) and the ensuing pain led to dental surgery during which they cut into the gums above the offending tooth to do something (cauterize?) the offending nerve.

I had this done under local anesthetic - the second surgery I've had under local and I realize now that I'd always naively believed that surgeons were very gentle with their patients while operating. Not so. Once the anesthetic takes effect they stab and saw, chop and sew. Its barbaric. Well, almost.

Four days later, the swelling has gone down but I still look like the victim of domestic abuse with black eye and bruised cheek. I hope this procedure takes.

A Meaningful LIfe

"Knowing their life has meaning and that it will continue beyond them seems to lessen the white-knuckle grip on life and give them a sense of peace."

This came from something I just read in the Wall Street Journal about a series of classes Sloane Kettering offers for cancer patients. I think there might be applicable learnings for everyone. The curriculum is as follows:

• BC and AD (before cancer and after diagnosis): think about the past and what cancer has taken away. Find ways to still enjoy things.
• Historical sources of meaning: reflect on family, the era in which you grew up and even the meaning of your name. Remember the times you have been brave.
• Encountering life's limitations: you can still choose your attitude. Discussion question: what would be a meaningful death?
• What could live on beyond yourself?
• Resolve issues from the past.
• Transcend the limits imposed by cancer. Make life meaningful even if you're just lying in bed.
• Experience life: list the things you love or find beautiful.
• Work on a "legacy" project: write a book; create a piece of art; pass down a family recipe; "be the courageous person people think I am."

Recommended reading:
Frankl - Man's search for meaning
Death of Ivan Ilyich - in which he becomes the person he wants to be in the last five minutes of life.

And now, my teeth.

I'm thinking that broadening the subject matter of this blog might serve it/me well. So instead of reflecting only on cancer treatment, it'll now include observations on other physical failings. As I've noted elsewhere, once one turns 40 the wheels really do fall off.

This week: my teeth. I had a root canal. Two weeks ago, my dentist asked how things are going and after confirming that everything was fine, I made an off-hand remark about occasional sensitivity to cold in the tooth behind my canine tooth on the upper-right side. Cut to last Friday, and I'm Novocained up to the eyeballs (well, almost - I lost sensitivity in my nose) at the endodontist. I was referred there after they discovered that the root in this tooth is shaped like an "S" as opposed to the more conventional/desirable "I." Tricky.

Side note: during the procedure, the endodontist discussed the UofO football team, the Seattle Mariners and the fact that he'd just found his cell phone after ordering two alternates from Verizon - he was most anxious for his staff NOT to sign for delivery of the new phones. I think he's a good dentist - just very chatty....

But I survived my first root canal relatively unscathed, although the Novocaine hangover is still with me. Now all that remains is for me to go back to my dentist to get the temporary filling made permanent. Pity, then, that his office is closed for a week. I'll have to get used to chewing everything on the left side of my mouth for a while.

Diversions - Encore Une Fois

Just got back from Evoe. As you may recall, its had a few mentions in this blog throughout the year. It still ranks as my most favorite eating experience of all time. Yes, even in front of the brunch at Beast.

My friend Heather and I enjoyed a magnificent chevre over arugula, a warm pea salad kinda thing on brioche (peas on toast) and some delicious scallops with a lemony vegetable thing which I can't put a name to, but was bloody good. Then we had a cheese plate. Clearly, I am a terrible restaurant critic, but you should surely try this place based on the knowledge that I am quite a picky eater.

I have only one health update: I am, apparently, very deficient in vitamin D. My ob-gyn is insisting I take 4000 IU per day (which is, like, 1000% of what one needs according to those that count these things.) Current thinking is that vitamin D deficiency is a contributing factor to breast cancer (really?) and (more likely to my mind) a factor in risk for osteoporosis - something I have to look out for now I'm in early menopause. So I'm vitamin D-ing it up. If I remain 5' 8" well into my 80s we'll know its worked :)

One Year(ish) On

Had annual mammograms on Friday. I got quite anxious waiting around for a doctor to look at them and relay the message back to me that they looked OK. Plus the changing rooms at Providence are the size of small broom cupboards. Talk about claustrophobia. I was glad to learn that they're opening a more swanky diagnostic facility soon.

And I just came back from my 6-month check in with Dr. Bader. Not much to report other than we studied the scar tissue on the mammograms for a while and talked about gardening.

It is, actually, one year almost to the day since I was diagnosed (June 11 to be precise.) I'm trying no to dwell on that. I get a bit emotional if I think about it too much.

But Dr. Bader looked me directly in the eye and told me I'd be fine.

I'm holding him to that.

95%

That's about where I'm at in terms of how I'm feeling. Most things are functioning normally. Only two residual side effects: digestive system has yet to find its groove and I wake up every morning with really stiff, painful hands and feet.

It may be that 95% is as good as its going to get.

It may be that 95% is as good as anyone ever feels.

We're coming up to the anniversary of my diagnosis. So I'll be having mammograms and a consultation with Dr. Bader at the end of next week. I have to say I'm quite anxious about this, although the likelihood of anything having recurred are less than general population at this point. Its probably just that I don't want to find out how much I weigh......