Off to see the wizard, toting a jug with 2.1 liters of urine collected over the previous 24 hours. Wait in the waiting room for about 15 minutes. Arm stick, five little vials of blood, the nurse tells me that the total quantity is about two tablespoons. I doubt it's that much, the vials are so small. She's quick and efficient. I ask her to wrap the cotton ball onto my arm, since I'm allergic to adhesive, and she's glad to do it.
I'll see the
real wizard, my oncologist/hematologist Dr AP, on July 5. Then we'll find out what has happened since I stopped taking thalidomide a couple of months ago.
Meantime, the curcumin regimen starts
NOW. Two grams today, ramping up carefully to eight grams per day over the next two or three weeks.
Dessert: Organic strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, slight drizzle of honey. Estimated Weight Watcher points = 1.
Well done, Don! I wish you super good luck with curcu. I also had my lab test two days ago (with Margaret). Reading your notes I realized that here in Italy even lab tests are different. For exemple, we do not carry the whole jug to the lab. We are asked to take only a sample of it in a vial and tell how much urine was in the jug. I bet your system is more precise than the Italian one!
ReplyDeleteAs for the blood, well, the vials are not so small as you describe them... as big as a finger I would say.
Before ending this comment I would like to know if you are taking Vitamin D and, if so, how much.
Have a great day, Ana.
I forgot to ask which brand of curcumin are you going to take? And are you taking some oily supplement too?
ReplyDeletethanks
Ana
Hi Don,
ReplyDeleteYou've been tagged for “8 Things About Me.”
It's a fun blog game that's been sweeping the Internet, and I got tagged, so I have to pass it on. :)
The Rules are:
Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.
The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.
At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
Hi Ana,
ReplyDeleteI'm taking vitamin D, 1000 IU per day, and of course as a runner I do get a lot of actual sun.
Interesting that you take your own sample. I don't blame the lab technicians; who wants to deal with 2 liters of urine? They might be heading in that direction here, because the newest jugs have, in addition to the wide opening on the top, a small port for withdrawing a little fluid.
I am taking two brands of curcumin right now: Doctor's Best and NSI, equal amounts, and 1 gram of flaxseed oil for each two grams of curcumin.
How about you?
Don
How about me? That's an interesting question Don. My doctor suggested not to take anything. My tests until February resulted in lower IgG and M spike, so I agreed with him. In May I did other tests for another issue (bones) and of course I also checked my IgG. Well, they are rising now. I'll have the result of my June tests by the 9th of July and then see the doctor. If my IgG and M spike are still rising I intend to start curcumin. I don't know what my doc will say. You see, this is my third doc, the best I've ever had (and a first-rate researcher) and I would like to keep a good relationship with him. I think it's important.
ReplyDeleteAs for the flaxoil, could you tell me how is it? Are pills or liquid?
Which brand? I will be travelling across the States in August and would like to buy various supplements.
I'm taking 1,000 iu of vit. D too. I've read a lot on vit. D and believe is one of the best things we can give our bodies. Luckily here there is vit.D in drops. The base of the drops is olive oil (no nasty eccipients) and 4 very small drops are 1000 iu. I take them early in the morning.
It's interesting what you say about the new jugs. I bought one of those (plastic) many many years ago and keep using it.
Have a nice day,
ana
Hi Ana,
ReplyDeleteRight now I'm using Members Mark brand certified organic flaxseed oil from Sam's Club. Yup, Sam's Club - I can hardly believe that myself. 1000 mg capsules. Total list of ingredients: flaxseed oil, gelatin, glycerin. Very easy to take - I just toss it down with four curcumin capsules. Comes in a plastic bottle of 225 capsules.
You must be a member to buy at Sam's Club, but that's not too expensive, around $35 I think. Or stop by here and we'll get some for you :-)
A good relationship with your doctor is important, I agree. We should make them really want to keep us alive and healthy. And even if we treat ourselves, with curcumin or whatever, we can't do the blood tests ourselves.
Have a good afternoon. Don