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Posted 12/20/2013 7:09 AM (GMT 0)
First, some here here have really tested what little patience I have left this week with aggressive and rule 3 violating posts on some threads.

But I'm leaving a lot of that to the 'new' mods, as I've having a week from the dark side.

I literally forgot that my 3 month PSA was due, and had to make a low-flying trip to the doc when they called asking where I was. No PSA anxiety here. Forgot it completely.

I was due for a 6 month Prolia injection, and possibly a Lupron shot. We had a bit of a battle with the insurance company, as in the end, we discovered that they were trying to push the 'medical procedures' to the new year so that I would have to pay it from my deductible, rather than have them pay, as I've maxed out this year.

So I went to war, literally, and won. I cost them a lot more than they expected, as they had to arrange a next day delivery from their pocket.

My PSA has gone from 0.3 to 0.7 with an 83-day doubling time (Sept - Dec). I decided to hold off the next Lupron shot until March. My pre Lupron doubling time was about 24 days. All considered, I'm thinking I'll be at 3 by March. And in March, Lupron (again) will be likely.

And to really screw with my mind, my T has fallen 100 points since the Sept test, when I was 6 months off Lupron. Now I'm 9 months off, T is down, PSA is up. Give me a break.

So today I got my Prolia shot, and have a scenario for the next Lupron shot.

And I went to the range afterward. I'm trying to teach myself to shoot my .45 southpaw, as my right hand is being eaten away by gout & arthritis, and I can't shoot with it anymore. May have to buy new holsters. I'm all on a small paper target at 25 yards, so that is the high point of my day.

What does not kill you does not make you stronger, it just comes back tomorrow to try again.
Posted 12/20/2013 8:43 AM (GMT 0)
And I've cranked up Bud's disk on the stereo.
Posted 12/20/2013 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
142, sorry to read of your testosterone and PSA...sending you hugs and our best wishes that things will turn around for you soon.
Posted 12/20/2013 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
143,

Have you ever taken the empty Prolia or Lupron containers to the range for aeration? Might be GFMPH.
Posted 12/20/2013 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
142
Sorry to hear your latest results. I just read your previous post from 2010 for the first time. You have been through a lot over the past few years. Sometimes we forget that you Mods are having your own battles with PC.

This has been a roller coaster year on HW. I wish the handful of members that push their agenda here would make a New Year's resolution to be civil and remember that we all are in this battle together, even the Mods. We all have our opinions but don't try to force another member to think like you do.

I remember posting a thread the day after my surgery that I was 3rd out of 7 surgeries by Dr. Patel that day and several "expert members" were critical of him having so many surgeries in one day. And one of these members single day surgery failed. I was so mad and in pain that my wife had to keep the IPad away from me before I fired off my opinion of their comments.

We all make our choices with the best information we have at the time. We need to give more support to our brothers rather than fight with each other.

I do hope things get better for you and all the other members that are still dealing with PC after their initial treatments.

Happy "New" Year to all

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 12/20/2013 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
142, I'm having more and more trouble understanding the needless bickering and personality clashes here on HW. If I've offended anyone in the past, I apologize. I'm posting less and making a determined effort to just shut the hell up if I don't have something decent and supportive to say.

I was interested to read your comments about the range. I went to a range for the first time earlier this month and several times since, and find I can still shoot straight. It's only a .22 long rifle, but in 50 rounds, no shots were more than an inch and a half from the bullseye at about 30 yards. I grew up with a BB gun, rifle, or shotgun in my hand nearly every summer day, and in the service I was a Military Policeman and qualified Expert on the M-14 and the .45, and have always enjoyed shooting, though I haven't hunted since I was a teenager. There are some squirrels in my backyard I'd like to kill, but can't bring myself to do that either.

My Christmas present is a new Henry lever action .22. I feel like the kid in "A Christmas Story" with his Red Ryder BB gun. I saw one while we were in Alaska and told my wife that's what I want.

I'm very sorry to hear about your continuing struggles, and now the hand thing. But, congratulations on your victory over the insurance company.
Posted 12/20/2013 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
142,

Tell us about your .45.

When I think of that caliber it is my grandfather's service automatic that comes to mind. I think it is the only .45 I have ever fired. I've shot various .38 pistols; it is my dad's favorite caliber and there are several in the family. My favorite is the Colt Python .357 with an 8 inch barrel. Load that big boy up with .38 special ammo and you can shoot it all day without your hand getting sore or your wallet getting too flat.
Posted 12/20/2013 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
142, truly sorry to hear of t he disappointing parts of your new update here. PC has a mind of its own for some of us, and it's trying to beat you down. Don't let it. You are not PC, PC is not you.

Keep on keeping on doing the things you so love, i.e., your guns and shooting. Good way to burn off, or should I say, shoot off, some tension and frustrations.

Don't let the few bad apples here ruin your view of HW PC, most of the barrel is full of great, wonderful, caring, and supportive people.

Take care, and have a Merry Christmas, and let's hope 2014 will be a better year.

David in SC
Posted 12/20/2013 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
142 First thanks for what you do for us as a moderator and, importantly, as one of us. It would be novel if we all acted like the adults we profess to be with each other. But if that happened we would have no need for moderators, would we? Good luck on the treatment front.

I don't shoot often, but am also struggling as you are. I am trying to increase my shooting time to get better. With me, I am losing the sight in my right eye and no longer have the visual acuity to sight a target. Thus I am learning to shoot left handed. Any tips from your experience with the learning curve?

Regarding the insurance fight, well done.   We have been embroiled in a 6 month battle regarding an MRI for my wife last June.   The insurance company denied it as being Investigagtive.   Her docs have been watching a spot on her lung and have had 6 CT scans approved over the last three years, but not an MRI.   I have forced a Second Level Hearing today and will have 30 minutes to state our case in addition to the written material I have submitted.   The bill is for $19 large ones so it has my interest.   Our potential ace in the hole is that the hospital performed the MRI before it confirmed insurance authorization.   I made it clear to the hospital that if the insurance won't pay, the hospital gets to eat the bill.    They are working dilligently as well.


Jack

Posted 12/20/2013 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
I guess this has not been a good week for your numbers. I wish you the best.

I haven't heard "gun talk" in years. In one of my previous lives I was a reserve deputy sheriff in Palm Beach County FL. I went through the police academy and had full arrest powers when working with a fully certified deputy. At the time they were transitioning from wheel guns to autos. I carried a Model 66 Smith with a Model 36 Chief on my ankle.

Is your 45 a 1911? Nice kick and to keep all on a paper target at 25 yards with your non-dominant hand is quite an accomplishment. Give em hell!!!
Posted 12/20/2013 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to read that you had a dark week. I hope that future weeks will be brighter and better for you.
Posted 12/20/2013 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
142:

So sorry to read of your continuing problems with this disease.

Feel free to vent all you want on HW. As you know, this is a great place to express such frustrations.

Incidentally, if my PSA stays low in February, I will have an HT vacation. I THINK the thresshold to end that vacation is a PSA of 5. So, it looks like a good move on your part. You are way below that figure.

Mel

Post Edited (compiler) : 12/20/2013 8:44:42 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/20/2013 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
..Keep on shooting brother, that's what I do.. I do not have pistols but I can talk rifles for days..

.....Appleseed....
Posted 12/20/2013 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
142 - difficult to read of your troubles. Of all the things we should be doing on HW, supporting you and the others in you place is the most important thing. It's what I try to focus on when I come to this site.

For you my friend, I hope that things turn around.
you're in my thoughts and prayers this week,
Andrew
Posted 12/20/2013 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
142 -

I'm certainly sorry to hear of your bad week. Yes indeed, some weeks can be real rotters.

But one thing I have always noted about your online style is that you are always calm, collected, and in charge, and you perform your moderating duties exceptionally well. You have a great sardonic sense of humor as well, as is shown in many of your posts.

I do hope the spirit of the season will help to pick you up over the coming days, and that even some small words that we speak here on the forum to you may be of some help as well.

But I know you'll bounce back. You're the kind of person who is too strong not to.
Posted 12/20/2013 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there agent 142,

We're hoping for the best for you. I wish we had some of those nice bottles of scotch to help keep us warm up north!
Sorry about that rising PSA. Jim's PSA on Tuesday was 3.56 He's been off the lupron now for one year. We don't have to compute the doubling time to know its fast!
So now with the Clinical Trial and enzalutamide, his PSA should go down and the T is suppose to rise.
You (and Mel) might want to look into the [url]NCT01875250[url] if you're letting the PSA rise on intermittent and have clean scans. 16 all-expense-paid trips to Bethesda AND $21,000 worth of pills AND PROSTVAC immunnotherapy ($90K?) What a Deal. 29 guys still needed...
The enzalutamide is not without SE...yesterday Jim fell fast asleep and forgot to pick me up from work! HA.
We really miss you and can hardly wait for March to see you and all the rest of the gang!

Marie and Jim
Posted 12/20/2013 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
142, sorry about the PSA rise and the the T decline. I wish you a better 2014 year.
Posted 12/20/2013 10:12 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks to all for the comments and support. It is always appreciated.

The .45 I was shooting was a Kimber Ultra TLE II (3" barrel 1911). I have my service pistol, which is a 1943 1911A1, but I rarely shoot it anymore. It draws too much attention at the range - too many people ask if they can buy or shoot it. I'm shopping for a 9mm single stack, but can't find one of what I'm most interested in to shoot on loan.

Never having used my left hand to shoot, I find I am having to relearn everything, so I try to practice more with a 1911 frame .22 to keep costs down. But of course last night I had the pistol but not the key, so I punted. Expensively.

Posted 12/20/2013 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
You are one mentally tough dude, 142. Whoa.

Mikey
Posted 12/20/2013 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
142, I wish I could join you at the shooting range.  I'm left handed and shoot a rifle left handed (partly because of my lefthandedness but also because I don't see well at all with my right eye, can't possibly aim, and so there's no choice when shooting the rifle).  But, with a handgun, I've sort of experimented both right and left, even when learning to shoot at M. P. School.  I generally settled on shooting right handed with a handgun, but since getting one of my own this summer, I've been sort of alternating between right and left.  It seems to work about the same either way.

I couldn't shoot the machine gun at all in the Army.  There was no choice but to aim with the right eye, or get smacked in the head with hot brass, which was a non-starter with me, so I tried to fire it using my right eye to aim.  I couldn't see a darned thing, and  I remember the instructor yelling "Cease firing, cease firing!  Who's firing out over the tree line?" Oops.  It was me.

Posted 12/21/2013 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Just a note to let you know we are keeping your in our thoughts.

Anxious to see you in March.

Hang in there 142!
Posted 12/21/2013 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Oh man, 142... I'm sorry to hear about how the numbers are going for you. Here's hoping they can turn things around quickly for you.

Hang in there and shoot 'em straight. Try not to worry too much about your luck with the numbers, but this ain't the month to put your life savings on a lottery ticket. Things will turn around, though. Keep that thought firmly in mind.

Jonathan
Posted 12/21/2013 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
142,
Have you tried a lazer trainer? You can pick up a .45 for about $75. I got one a few weeks ago and can sit in my living room and shoot watching TV. Good practice for shooting left handed. It works with any .45 and saves a ton on ammo, you just have to cock the hammer like a single action.
Posted 12/21/2013 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
So sorry to hear of your difficult week. There must be something in the stars, the wind or the water. I've had similar difficulties. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Hubby had blood drawn for his PSA yesterday. Hoped the results would be in today, but, as usual, it'll be sometime next week. Also still waiting on the culture for his severe Kidney infection. When it rains it pours.
Hugs and blessings along with the prayers.
Posted 12/21/2013 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
142,

Sorry that this week has not been the best. Hope that next week will be better.

Regards,
An
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