Absent Friends & Missing Persons

[french frank]

All in all, I feel very lucky

That, at least, is a good place to be. Hope the effects of the various conditions are mitigated for as long as possible.

ff

[Petrushka]

That, at least, is a good place to be. Hope the effects of the various conditions are mitigated for as long as possible.

ff

[Nick Armstrong]

an update on my personal health. It is mostly good news. I have had extensive testing on the kidney mass, including a not so fun biopsy. It turned out to be a Lymphoma that had set up shop on my Kidney, not a Kidney Cancer. The good news is that I presently treat it by taking one (very expensive) pill a day and the latest scan shows it's gone. I should mention that I have had Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia for about 15 years ago, which has been asymptomatic and untreated since then, and the Lymphoma is a new stage. The bad news is that while it is still, Cancer ,My Hematologist is confidant that this will be a long lasting emission, possibly a cure. The main side effect of the medication so far has been on my wallet.
I was having severe back pain after a fall; that has resolved. I do have a lot of weakness in my legs that limits my abilities to climb stairs, hike, etc. Knee replacements are probably in the not to distant future, as my years of exercising has worn them into dust. I am contemplating retirement soon and selling our home and moving into a single level dwelling. All in all, I feel very lucky,
especially when I gaze about the World and see so many others dying to satisfy the violent whims of others

Good to read this Richard, taken all in all

[Historian]

an update on my personal health. It is mostly good news. ... All in all, I feel very lucky,
especially when I gaze about the World and see so many others dying to satisfy the violent whims of others

Very good news: best wishes for the future.

[Dave2002]

An update on my personal health. It is mostly good news.

...

All in all, I feel very lucky, especially when I gaze about the World and see so many others dying to satisfy the violent whims of others

Excellent. I'm very glad you're feeling positive about it all.

I hope you'll be able to enjoy music as well.

[antongould]

Very good news: best wishes for the future.

Indeed, very best wishes Richard ……

[kernelbogey]

All the best Richard; very good to have your news.

[Bryn]

an update on my personal health. It is mostly good news. I have had extensive testing on the kidney mass, including a not so fun biopsy. It turned out to be a Lymphoma that had set up shop on my Kidney, not a Kidney Cancer. The good news is that I presently treat it by taking one (very expensive) pill a day and the latest scan shows it's gone. I should mention that I have had Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia for about 15 years ago, which has been asymptomatic and untreated since then, and the Lymphoma is a new stage. The bad news is that while it is still, Cancer ,My Hematologist is confidant that this will be a long lasting emission, possibly a cure. The main side effect of the medication so far has been on my wallet.
I was having severe back pain after a fall; that has resolved. I do have a lot of weakness in my legs that limits my abilities to climb stairs, hike, etc. Knee replacements are probably in the not to distant future, as my years of exercising has worn them into dust. I am contemplating retirement soon and selling our home and moving into a single level dwelling. All in all, I feel very lucky,
especially when I gaze about the World and see so many others dying to satisfy the violent whims of others

Regarding the high cost of the medication, I would be tempted to sing the praises of the U.K.'s NHS, were it not for a worry that our NICE might not have approved funding for the drug in question. Damn it, I will praise our NHS, with just that caveat regarding the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), and bearng in mind the number of times U.K. citizens have had to crowd fund for treatment denied by the NHS, due to NICE decisions.

[RichardB]

Excellent news RF!

[Pulcinella]

Yes: good news, Richard.
Maybe you and Mario should arrange a house swap.
Give him a dose of culture in the windy city while you're dipping your toes in the sunny Mediterranean.

[richardfinegold]

Yes: good news, Richard.
Maybe you and Mario should arrange a house swap.
Give him a dose of culture in the windy city while you're dipping your toes in the sunny Mediterranean.

I like that idea!

[richardfinegold]

Regarding the high cost of the medication, I would be tempted to sing the praises of the U.K.'s NHS, were it not for a worry that our NICE might not have approved funding for the drug in question. Damn it, I will praise our NHS, with just that caveat regarding the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), and bearng in mind the number of times U.K. citizens have had to crowd fund for treatment denied by the NHS, due to NICE decisions.

A whole different discussion, perhaps for a different area. One of the Paradox of modern life is that while there have been revolutionary advances in medicine that really make a difference, their cost can be a limiting factor. I have had many patients though the years that work at jobs that they really hate just to keep medical insurance for them and their families and now I am feeling their pain more than ever. Yet as we saw with the Covid Vaccines, while Medical technology can do wondrous things there is a cost involved, and Companies that were incentivized financially to make these developments tend to be the most efficient.
Then there is the whole allocation of resources topic. Do we spend tens of thousands of dollars to keep my old carcass around or wouldn't that best be allocated to poor children in a developing country? I would have answered that question differently 30 years ago. At any rate it is currently my own earned money that is being spent, and presently while I grouse I can easily afford it, yet so many others would not be able to, let alone many National Health Systems that have to prioritize resources.

[richardfinegold]

[QUOTE=Auferstehen;883660]A wonderful post, rfg, and so good to hear that (thus far) the signs are good.

I think there was a Solti thread bobbing around here not long ago although I couldn't bring it up in the Search Engine. You do realize that it has been over 30 years since he died. I would say that despite the tenures of Barenboim and Muti and their differing philosophies the Orchestra has retained it's basic sound. Many of the brass players still date from the Solti tenure, the most notable loss being Bud Herseth on trumpet. No one gave them the kind of freedom that Solti did but they still have the power and musicality. The strings are still luxurious but nimble, and the winds characterful. I haven't yet formed an opinion on our new First Oboe (following the likes of Ray Still and Alex Klein is a tough act).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I think there was a Solti thread bobbing around here not long ago although I couldn't bring it up in the Search Engine. You do realize that it has been over 30 years since he died.

Not quite that long, Richard. Solti died in September 1997. In the UK, his death was largely overlooked, as it occurred just 5 days after Princess Diana. It was Pavarotti who brought this to our attention, when he was here to attend Diana’s funeral.

[Serial_Apologist]

A whole different discussion, perhaps for a different area. One of the Paradox of modern life is that while there have been revolutionary advances in medicine that really make a difference, their cost can be a limiting factor. I have had many patients though the years that work at jobs that they really hate just to keep medical insurance for them and their families and now I am feeling their pain more than ever. Yet as we saw with the Covid Vaccines, while Medical technology can do wondrous things there is a cost involved, and Companies that were incentivized financially to make these developments tend to be the most efficient.
Then there is the whole allocation of resources topic. Do we spend tens of thousands of dollars to keep my old carcass around or wouldn't that best be allocated to poor children in a developing country? I would have answered that question differently 30 years ago. At any rate it is currently my own earned money that is being spent, and presently while I grouse I can easily afford it, yet so many others would not be able to, let alone many National Health Systems that have to prioritize resources.

It's still down to how human affairs are organised that is wrong, notwithstanding your change of mind, Richard - and the world remains a better place for having your old carcass around. Good to hear you're doing OK.