Yes, Dr. Littrup is OK - he just had a bad cold the day after my procedure.
Today, I feel as good as I felt the next day after my last small cryoablation. Only minor pain on the deepest breaths. I still cough up some blood, but much less, and it's almost completely black. Also, the breath volume on the plastic trainer thing that they give out went up by 500 ml. I can definitely tell that the inflammation inside the lung is way down. It started to decrease a lot yesterday already.
Went to the gym last night, felt OK but weak. Obviously did very easy exercises, but it was nice to come back to a well known routine.
Ivan rocking it since 2003
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
So glad to hear you're doing better. Fingers crossed for your next CT scan.
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
Yeah, so I guess I've also been having a cold concurrently (mostly very stuffy nose) which could explain my weakness.
Still, felt much better at the gym yesterday. Doing light exercises and stretching, but it feels quite normal.
I've been trying to set up a follow up scan which Dr. Littrup has recommended to be done 1 month after the procedure. It's called "triple phase CT", which is two scans done one right after the other. The first one is without contrast, and the second one is with contrast. There are only around 60-120 seconds between the scans. The point of this is to see whether the ablated area lights with up the contrast dye. If it does, that indicates a blood flow to the tumor so it's probably alive. If it doesn't, the tumor is hopefully dead and not receiving any blood flow.
Still, felt much better at the gym yesterday. Doing light exercises and stretching, but it feels quite normal.
I've been trying to set up a follow up scan which Dr. Littrup has recommended to be done 1 month after the procedure. It's called "triple phase CT", which is two scans done one right after the other. The first one is without contrast, and the second one is with contrast. There are only around 60-120 seconds between the scans. The point of this is to see whether the ablated area lights with up the contrast dye. If it does, that indicates a blood flow to the tumor so it's probably alive. If it doesn't, the tumor is hopefully dead and not receiving any blood flow.
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
Today, I was able to complete my regular 30 minute cardio session at 90% of the regular intensity. I think that within the next week or two I can return close to 100%.
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MarietjievdMerwe
- Member
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- Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:59 am
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
Way to go, Ivan! Glad you're feeling good enough to excersise. 
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
Hello Ivan,
wow, I wish i had your drive i am still fighting to get to the gym ... Still have weird pain and stuff at SX site.Dont care it reminds me that huge thing in my rib is gone so i smile lol
I am very happy you are doing so well I talked to my Onc an he said right now no taking the things out because they SO far haven't changed... I feel like my chest is a china shop they are tip toeing around...
I miss your traveling pictures post some soon,,,,
Happy holidays to you and Olga
wow, I wish i had your drive i am still fighting to get to the gym ... Still have weird pain and stuff at SX site.Dont care it reminds me that huge thing in my rib is gone so i smile lol
I am very happy you are doing so well
I talked to my Onc an he said right now no taking the things out because they SO far haven't changed... I feel like my chest is a china shop they are tip toeing around...I miss your traveling pictures post some soon,,,,
Happy holidays to you and Olga
“Many times it is much more important to know what kind of patient has the disease, than what kind of disease the patient has”.
"The microbe is nothing, the soil is everything)""
Claude Bernard~
Amanda
"The microbe is nothing, the soil is everything)""
Claude Bernard~
Amanda
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
I think I'm at ~95% normal now. That stupid cold I had definitely goes a long way to slow down the recovery.
I would, but you see my 2 week trip to the Philippines got cancelled to accommodate the ablation. Imagine that, a fun 2 week trip to a tropical country for $1.5K gets replaced with a 1 week trip to a cold place for $15K. Looks like a losing proposition on paper, but the value is all in the service
I would, but you see my 2 week trip to the Philippines got cancelled to accommodate the ablation. Imagine that, a fun 2 week trip to a tropical country for $1.5K gets replaced with a 1 week trip to a cold place for $15K. Looks like a losing proposition on paper, but the value is all in the service
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
OK, my cardio is back to exactly 100% now.
I had my 1 month follow up scan on Dec 5, and it has been sent to Dr. Littrup on Dec 10. I don't believe he's had a chance to review it yet (not sure if they even received it, Barb is out of office today), but hopefully this week.
I had my 1 month follow up scan on Dec 5, and it has been sent to Dr. Littrup on Dec 10. I don't believe he's had a chance to review it yet (not sure if they even received it, Barb is out of office today), but hopefully this week.
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
So glad to see your recovery. Wish good news from Dr Littrup for you.
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
They've received the scans. Dr. Littrup was away this week, hopefully he will see it on Monday.
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
Good news from Dr.Littrup today:
"ablation zone next to the heart looks thoroughly hypovascular and resorbing @ ~4.0x2.4x3.5cm. Follow-up CTs should continue to use IV contrast since that ablation zone has higher recurrence risk next to big heat sink of heart, but so far so good.
Best wishes for a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Peter J. Littrup, M.D.
Professor of Radiology, Urology and Oncology,
Wayne State University School of Medicine;
Director of Radiological Research and Human Imaging Core,
Karmanos Cancer Institute
313-576-9786"
We understand that with such a complicated ablation there are no guarantee that it won't recur in the future if there is a small zone remained vital but so far so good, Ivan can continue to live his very active life and enjoy playing his favorite sports.
"ablation zone next to the heart looks thoroughly hypovascular and resorbing @ ~4.0x2.4x3.5cm. Follow-up CTs should continue to use IV contrast since that ablation zone has higher recurrence risk next to big heat sink of heart, but so far so good.
Best wishes for a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Peter J. Littrup, M.D.
Professor of Radiology, Urology and Oncology,
Wayne State University School of Medicine;
Director of Radiological Research and Human Imaging Core,
Karmanos Cancer Institute
313-576-9786"
We understand that with such a complicated ablation there are no guarantee that it won't recur in the future if there is a small zone remained vital but so far so good, Ivan can continue to live his very active life and enjoy playing his favorite sports.
Olga
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
Congratulations and a happy new year for you and Ivan!!!
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
It is the best New Year's present ！ 
Happy Happy new year ！
Happy Happy new year ！
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
Thank you for sharing the great news! What a New Year's present!
George is going to have Cryoablation this week. Hope we're as lucky as you.
George is going to have Cryoablation this week. Hope we're as lucky as you.
Re: Ivan rocking it since 2003
Thanks to all. In more moderate news, there are some smaller nodules (below 1 cm) which have grown over the course of the year.
There's one which came out of nowhere and is now 9 mm, another which grew from 4 mm to 9 mm, and there is one which grew from 4 to 7 mm. That's compared to Nov 2011. These aren't as critically located (two are kind of in the middle of the lung) and one is in the right lung compared to the big one which Is, hopefully, now taken care of.
I have to say that this is fairly concerning, but should be manageable. The plan is to ablate them as soon as they get to just above 1 cm, as targeting smaller nodules is difficult.
There's one which came out of nowhere and is now 9 mm, another which grew from 4 mm to 9 mm, and there is one which grew from 4 to 7 mm. That's compared to Nov 2011. These aren't as critically located (two are kind of in the middle of the lung) and one is in the right lung compared to the big one which Is, hopefully, now taken care of.
I have to say that this is fairly concerning, but should be manageable. The plan is to ablate them as soon as they get to just above 1 cm, as targeting smaller nodules is difficult.