Good luck to you, OJ.

That is discouraging!

O.J>, I'm really surprised the Urologist didn't go into probable causes. Knowing what's causing something makes it a lot easier to deal with than not knowing. Even if he said I'm not sure, could be a, b, or c. Anything to put your mind somewhat at ease. I hope you're feeling better.

I hope you're feeling better soon, that's got to be uncomfortable and we know you have things to do. I'm not sure what 'see the urologist later' meant, how much later before this can be resolved. Feels like you put in your time with treatment already, I hadn't expected this for you this summer. Sending positive energy your way, may the rest of your weekend go well....

Greetings all.

The visit with my doctor that was rebooked last week when I was to see the urologist finally took place, this (Monday) morning.

She has been in contact with the various agencies with which I've been involved. She agrees with the urologist that it was likely an issue resulting from the radiation of the prostate early last year that caused the bleeding. Neither seems too worried about it. She says that when I visit the urologist in a couple of weeks they plan to send in a little camera to take some pictures.

Not much said about the possibility of a recurrence ... maybe it's one of those things that they happen when they happen. They'll have a better idea of the percentages of possibility than I - that'll go on the list of things to ask, next visit.

Removing the catheter soon isn't part of her battle plan at present ... so it looks as though, barring some complication, I'll be hosting it for a couple of weeks until the next visit to the urologist.

Is it something like visiting friends having one thing at least in common with fish ... welcome for about three days (and after that they stink)?

Not a lot more answers than before ... but I'm feeling more comfortable with the situation. Feeling more like myself, with a bit of lack in the line of energy.

My sweet niece the nurse (in Alberta) called a couple of nights ago - they'd been camping when I'd called - and we had a good chat. She had some suggestions and we had a good chat.

And... I have some weeds in the garden that have grown high enough to shake hands with the catheter (and some higher than my waist ... but we won't go into that)!

Library closes at 4 ... in about 12 min. What a shame - to put such a bridle on an old chatter box's tongue!

Yesterday at church the lay leader told how his great-grandfather had been a tax collector for some big landowner and did such a fine job that he was granted a knighthood ... and ole joyful's hand went up. On being recognized, he asked whether one should call that a sirtax, which caused a ripple of laughter, including the leader's, and after service he called me Mr. Surtax.

Your good wishes and kind thoughts have been and are appreciated ... as are your prayers.

ole joyfuelled

I'm so glad you are doing better. You sound a lot more cheerful. Hope things continue to go well.

Thoughts for you. Glad you are feeling more comfortable.

Glad you haven't lost your sense of humor, old Joyful!!!!!!

Feeling happy for you.

Prayers for this to be resolved soon. At least you have a reasonable cause now.

On one recent afternoon I decided that it'd be a good idea to have nap, so went to bed ... with leg bag on.

In about an hour and a half, when I began to rise, something felt odd ... there was liquid on my leg, and the sheets, etc.

I've had two kinds of leg bag - one that has a screw to close the drain valve, and one with a plastic thing to flip. I'd had a slight bit of trouble with a screw one before, and this time, though the screw had held through seven hours or so of travelling ... it got enough pull on it to open during the nap, it seems, and drop several hours' worth of urine right there.

Sheets were wet, as was fake sheepskin mattress pad below, and eggcrate foam rubber mattress pad under that ... and top of mattress (but not the bottom, or boxspring). Washed the sheets and fake sheepskin mattress pad, (water was some dirty) so things pretty well back to normal.

So - one lesson learned: next time ... empty the dang bag first, O.K.?

Did that yesterday - all went well.

Hopefully ... one gets smarter as one ages, right?

Looks like it worked, this time, at least.

Thanks for you good wishes and prayers.

Landlord's to go in for more surgery on his arm and shoulder tomorrow, more repairs on nerves and tendons.

Good wishes to all of you.

ole joyful

Ooops! Glad it all came out in the wash! Take care and know that you are always in my prayers.

I thought I posted here again. I've been off my feed though lately and my brain acts up with no fuel.

Love the humour Mr. Surtax. ;) Or is that Sir Surtax...

Yes most accidents do come out with the wash. Glad you've got a plan for future mishap prevention which sounds much better than extra laundry.

I wish you the best of course and hope you recover from whatever this is. Prayers continuing.

Hi kittymoonbeam,

Thanks for the suggestion about cranberry juice. I'd heard that somewhere, too, and opened a bottle that I had at home and have been imbibing for a few days.

I got a smile out of the worship leader calling me Mr. Surtax at coffee hour following service. There'd been a ripple of laughter slide across the congregation at the comment.

Not much to report regarding the illness investigation. Except that the urine stays pleasingly yellow, without adulteration. Homecare nurse called today for an update and gave some suggestions as to keeping my bags cleansed (flush with 1/3 vinegar, 2/3 water after use) when I'm to be using them for a while.

I've been pulling a few weeds in the garden ... found that the corn's in tassel and forming cobs, and there's a zucchini that I'll pass on to the landlord - he had surgery yesterday and family will be heavily occupied for a few days.

I pull a few weeds and sit for a while.

One nice thing about weeds of a substantial size (and I should be embarrassed to report that a few are as high as my head), after one pulls the cultivator through, to deter the ones just sprouting, as one pulls them, when one lays some of them alongside the row of produce, they help to retain the moisture after a rain, and they make it more difficult for new weeds to come forth. Anything that deters new weeds from appearing receives a "thumbs up" from me.

Thanks again for your good wishes and prayers.

ole joyfuelled

Dear OJ - thanks for keeping us up to date on your situation. You are an amazing person and I'm so glad that you're still able to stop by here every now and then to fill us in. I'll keep you in my prayers and hope that you have a speedy recovery.

Do I understand that your problem is not a return of the cancer? I hope this is the case, OJ. Glad you're opting for the surgery and will have good hopes that it is successful. You've got my prayers. :) I hope you have a wonderful visit with your daughter!

I am so sorry to hear that the issue hasn't resolved by now. Of course, you have my prayers!

I'm betting the surgery goes well for you. You're a tough ole bugger. ; )

I hate to hear that you have to be 'reamed out'. I hope your procedure goes well and your potty time goes back to normal shortly.

Best wishes for a successful surgical outcome and for a happy visit with your daughter and the family.

Best wishes OJ.

Keep up your fluid intake. It is easy to back off during a situation such as yours.

Hope your surgery goes well.

As always, you (and your surgeon) are in my prayers. Hope all goes well. Meanwhile, enjoy your daughter's visit.

Best wishes to you!

Thinking of you and wishing you the best. I hope you enjoy time with your daughter and that you'll have good memories of the visit to help you through the waiting time before your surgery.

Thank you for keeping us updated. Of course, caring thoughts are going out to you, as always.

Weather up here,about 6 hours NE of you has been wet-everyday since May,so our gardens leave a lot to be desired,Ed.

Happy to hear that you are feeling fairly well....keep pulling up those weeds!

Hope things are going well for you OJ.

I can't begin to tell you how much I admire your continued upbeat attitude during these trying times! And I'm praying that your surgery will go well, and will accomplish the job with no complications. And that you will have the very best surgeon for the job, and his hands and eyes, will be sure and steady during the surgery.

I am a bit concerned about your comment that your urine is quite yellow. Are you sure you are drinking enough water? What does your doctor say about the color, and does he recommend more water? I have just one kidney, and my doctor continually tells me to drink more water, he recommends at least 2 liters a day. That's hard to do sometimes, I know. But the color of the urine is an indication of whether or not I am drinking enough. He tells me it should be quite clear and colorless. I should drink more water at the first sign of any yellow.

Please, keep us updated about your progress, and take good care of yourself!

Rusty

You'll let us know when your surgery is scheduled, right?

You can adapt "The Drinking Song" from The Student Prince operetta, and keep lifting those glasses of water or juice (instead of beer)!

(((( Ed ))))

I'm saying prayers for you. You know I love you! We need you at the KT Table and in the World.

All the best to you OJ! I hope you have great results from your procedure. You continue to amaze us all with your positive attitude and outlook on life in general. Blessings to you!

ask about a urolift proedure-worked great for a friend

Hhmmm ... "urolift" ... that wouldn't have anything to do with euros, I expect?

We've just put together a free trade agreement with the Euro nations ... would that mean that I'd have to pay for the procedure in Euros?

Oh, right - I haven't paid for anything, yet, except for a leg bag that was proving unsatisfactory.

... and as for "lift" ... in many places that's the term used for a people/freight-carrying elevator, isn't it? Am I in for some kind of a big heist ... not ready for the ultimate being hauled upstairs, I think!

As for "free trade" ... the NAFTA-upgrade people just got busy in Washington yesterday ... so hope things go well, there.

I thought that likely I'd be busy with daughter today, but she and partner are busy with business and other things today ... so here I am, sharing with you ...

... hope your noses aren't out of joint, learning that you're low-(men)/persons-on-the-totem-pole (or is that "poles"?)!

The first (for some years widowed) cousin's husband worked for years assembling Fords in a nearby plant (closed a few years ago - recently being torn down) was a boat enthusiast and his family have continued in that interest.

Yesterday I was to have a blood test, as the antibiotics that the urologist prescribing after the viewing of the (part of the) body (called the bladder) concerned the hematologist who's dealing with the Warfarin.

I'd talked to my offspring on Tuesday night about the matter of them being older than McDonalds in Canada, as McDonald's was celebrating their 50th anniv. in Canada by offering a hamburg yesterday for 67 cents ... so should I get some? Daughter said she wouldn't eat one if it were for free ... and son said, "No".

I was a bit tight for time, and as I neared the Costco where I was to meet them to shop for food to take to the party, as I approached a red light ... there was a McDonald's a few hundred feet to the right, so, with five minutes to go, I took the right lane ... and got into a traqffic jam at McDonald's ... so made a "U"ee and headed back for Costco. The old guys at the Old Farts' club said this morning that there was a traffic jam at other McDonald's ... and that it was just a patty and a bun.

After parking at Costco (luckily, near the door ... I waited for about 15 min, asked whether there was another door ... and the three family members showed up and we did the shopping for snacks, veggies, dips, etc., then headed for the 45 min. drive to the lake.

The year-younger-than--I cousin's son has a beatiful 40 foot cruiser, and they did a lifetime-long anticipated tour from their Port Franks, south-east corner of Lake Huron, down through Lake St. Clair, Detroit River,Lake Erie, Welland Canal, Toronto, Lake Ontario, Trent-Severn waterway/canals, back to Georgian Bay and their home port about a month ago. Delightful trip.

We went about 6 miles up the lake to Grand Bend, a resort and back on a beautiful summer afternoon ... with several taking a swim about a quarter mile from shore, near Pinery Provincial Park.

Great barbecue in the evening, then home ...

...and I have less than 3 min. left here in computer in city library.

"Bye, all. Hope you're having a lovely day.

ole joyfuelled

That sounds like a lovely party!

There were about a dozen of us, all adults, the youngest being a univ, grad. who's working at the nearby marina for the summer. The cousin's niece's husband had operated their Dad's farm for years then drove truck for several years after the farm was sold, and recently they moved to that lakeside community to be near her aunt: her parents departed this earth a number of years ago.

One of the packages of dip that they bought had seven layers (they seemed able to identify only about six), which was a much more complex diet than this old fart is used to ... but the variety was quite interesting. Cutting corn from a cob is much less interesting than removing it with one's own teeth - but the corn was delicious, if it took some time to get it taken care of.

There's a short rural road north of the village where I go to church that bears my mother's family name, not far from the farm where I grew up, south of the village, and I remember visiting Grandma and an uncle who lived on that road, mostly during Mom's illness and after her death. We're to have a visit with that uncle's daughter tomorrow ... at 90+, in reasonably good health. She began singing in the village church choir about 75 years ago ... as did I, a couple of years later (before my voice changed - can you imagine a young lad sitting and singing with the sopranos?). That cousin, their family's only child, took voice training and she and her husband built a beautiful home right beside a creek that ran beside her Dad's farm - but our family connection there was finished a number of years ago.

Mom's family began holding reunions, usually about every three years or so, upwards of 40 years ago (Dad's family has done it annually for nearly 120 years). It was at my brother's farm in Saskatchewan about five years ago, two years ago was at a campground about 50 miles from here and next year's is to be near Calgary ... so I have that to plan on for next summer: maybe that cousin and I could drive out, visiting friends and family en route?

I had a blood test for the cancer doc last week and am to have my third 6-mo. checkup with him next week, so we'll see what messages he has to offer. He was happy that the P S A numbers were down at the first two checkups, so am hoping that the upcoming one will continue in similar fashion. Sometimes I favour letting sleeping dogs lie ... if, indeed, they're sleeping.

It looks as though I'm about out of news ... so I guess I'll say, "Amen!".

Once again ... thank you for your concern, good thoughts and prayers. I appreciate them.

Hope you're all having some happy and worthwhile times.

ole joyfuelled

Thanks for the update and Blessings to you OJ. Good luck on the upcoming. Prayers and healing thoughts still winging your way.

We don't eat McDonald's but our son and nephew who live with us both do. Still I dislike lineups so will avoid them when I can.

That sounds like a wonderful time with your family. My sister and BIL sail and enjoy their sailboat immensely. They bought property on Orcas Island so they could sail more regularly. Their home base was in Houston for many years and they want to breathe sea air daily for retirement.

Politics are tough to fathom for me at the best of times. I have no idea how more people can be made happy or at least content these days. I hope the powers that be are guided to doing right for their countries. With an eye on the world picture of course.

Not clear to me if you are back on the warfarin (I would guess not), but if you are, you need to avoid cranberry juice. It is known to potentiate warfarin.

That sounds like it was a great way to spend your day. I'm happy you enjoyed it!

A slight reduction in the warfarin, according to my hematologist, and altered after I had some antibiotics prescribed following the camera angling into the bladder (quite a few varying camera angles, actually).

Thanks for the info about the cranberry juice, as I've been using it, trying to take a glass some time before breakfast, to let it get some good work in, as well as at other times. Will have to ease off some.

Some more blood since yesterday, but my retired doc. relative tells me not to worry unless I feel light-headed (no comments, please) or otherwise a bit off, for the weekend ... if so, head to emerg.. I asked her whether, if I smiled pretty, I could drag her kicking and screaming out of retirement for about 5 min. - she smiled as she said, "O.K.".

ole joyfuelled ... with some fuelling help from cranberry juice

Blood ran for threee days, Thurs. - Sat. ... then, all of a sudden, only yellow ... then a bit more red ... then only yellow, and it's been that way since (Mon 5 p.m.).

Third six-month visit to cancer doc this afternoon - first visit P S A was 5. something, second was 4. something ... and today it was 0.3. Doc's happy - I'm happy.

Daughter visited some distant friends over the weekend, back in town today, having another visit with them in under an hour ... they're staying in an AirBnB. Returning to Phoenix tomorrow. Sure has been great to see her ... and partner.

Ole joyfuelled's feeling pretty well his usual self.

Again - thanks for your good wishes. Prayers, too.

ole joyfuelled

Prayers and good wishes continue!

Great PSA readings. It's wonderful to hear you're feeling better, and please enjoy your daughter. Prayers and good wishes continuing from here too ;0)

Great news!! Enjoy all the fun.

Visited regular doc this morning ...everything seems to be in order.

When she's not worried ... I figure that there's little need for me to be.

Two minutes left - bye, all.

ole joyful

Great.

Thanks for the update with your last two minutes ;0) If you are not worried and she is not worried, I would think it's OK if we are less so too....Continue to feel well!

Glad to hear your good news, OJ. Stay well!