Day 49

Healing nicely. Pain is unchanged. Nerve reaction is not as intense, but I'm not pushing it. The sensitivity though is enough that I believe I have decided to forgo any further treatments. I'm not sure at this point if that means a temporary, prolonged or permanent  cessation of treatments. I fear permanent nerve damage, or permanent debilitating pain or loss of arm control if I continue. 

 I hate to leave this undone, but I will continue to take the bloodroot black salve capsules internally in the hope we can kill it from the inside out. I will try some alternative methods as well as the recuperative power of the human body. Now that I am getting better, and the arm and muscle atrophy are showing signs of improvement, I will be starting a much too long delayed second round of P90X. As a 50 year old male, with a known spinal degeneration, nerve issues in the left leg/ lower back, and this elbow tumor removal and subsequent pain and tumor that remains...I will chronicle my efforts here. I also, hope to record a video of myself drumming within 2 years. This is my true love, and I believe was my calling, but I believe God allowed me to follow a different path in life other than what I desired in order to give me what I needed, not necessarily what I wanted, and in turn allowed me to live. Had I continued the path of my dreams, I believe I would not have lived past my late 20's, maybe into my early 30's.
I hope to share my love with my grandchildren, and in the lyrics of an old Jethro Tull song proclaim: 'No, you're never too old to Rock'n'Roll if you're too young to die'

Day 45

Looking better every day!

Superficial pain on the surface of the skin persists. So does the pain in the elbow area.

Day  43

Liftoff!!

Good progress. Still a little left though. Had to cut one tendril that didn't want to release from the eschar. 

Not as deep as I would have expected! I'm pleased. I do have concerns however. The pain in the elbow persists. The pain in the forearm skin is still there as well. The biggest concern is the fear of nerve damage. I barely touched a region where there there is still some white left. The entire arm lit up in intense pain that brought tears to my eyes. to make matters worse I did it not once...but twice!! The nerve is right at the surface of the new skin, and irritated.

 

Day  42
Liftoff soon!!

Day  40
Pain on the skin of the forearm. Worried about nerve damage. Skin is actually painful. The hair on the arm feels painful like 'hat hair' ...very sensitive.

 

Day  38
Swelling has gone down as eschar becomes looser. Also elevating the arm at night while sleeping at DCM's suggestion has helped.

Day  36

Feels Good laying the arm on a pillow while seated in the evening.

 Day  35

Arm swelling has gotten worse, and edema has set it. If I press the arm the indentation stays for longer than 5 minutes...so it's severe.

Side bay side comparison...notice swelling in forearm, especially the elbow.

Pitting edema. I did this indentation just by pressing my finger against my forearm.

Day  34

Cracks beginning to show in my resolve, and ability to deal with pain this severe. It was bad enough today that I had to call in sick to work i the hope that the worse of it would be easier to bear and I knew if it was still very bad, four days at work with it would be better than five. Decided to get a sling for the arm as it is too painful to use to any degree.

The area from the tip of my finger to the edge of the eschar is solid and hard. I fear the 'bad guy' is deeper and more invasive than I thought.

Day 33. 3:03 PM

I'm currently taking the max of acetaminophen and naproxen sodium, and loosing sleep from the pain. Pretty intense this time. Man I'll be glad when this is over! Arm is pretty much useless now. Pain is too severe in the inside of the elbow and on the outside to have any functional mobility.... 7 days to go. Hope this is the last round.

Day 32. 4:55 PM

After going by the office DCM and I decided to remove the bandage to see the status of the eachar. It came off with a little effort, and we cut one 'hanger on' that refused to let go on it's own without severe pain. I then used a pair of forceps to get as much of the 'bad stuff' out as possible. DCM then filled in the bad areas with more black salve. Pretty intense pain and tentacles at the site, and the the pain in the other tentacles increased, and started in new areas. The pain in each new application has been more intense than the last, and this is definitely not proving to be the exception.

Day 31  8:26 AM

Me: Good morning! Just a reminder, I'll be by the office around 12:15 to pickup more bloodroot caps. Thanks! 
DCM: Sure. K c u then.

Day 30  6:58 AM

Me: Looks like liftoff soon! Raised up on the same side as usual. I see a hint of white on that side but I can't tell if it's bad stuff, puss, or excess aftercare. Probably me being paranoid. If for some reason this goes into the weekend and GOD FORBID, I have any white left, and have to do a fourth round, will you be available? I'm praying for all pink. I'm sure your getting tired of me bugging you all the time as well.

Day 30  7:50 AM

DCM: U r not bugging me. Yes I will be available whenever :)

Day 30  6:26 PM

DCM: U doin ok? Major Tom to ground control. U still working?
Me: Just getting ready to soak the bandage off..

Day 30  7:46 PM
 

Me: Not Tonight... Probably Friday or Sat. Night at the very latest..pretty loose.
DCM: K. How was ur day? Hard to believe that would come out of the hole. Come out u evil rascal
Me: Not bad. Glad tomorrow Is Friday...how bout you?
DCM: U need silver or accream?
Me: What are your thoughts if there is no white? Is it done or do I do one last round just to make sure... And before you ask... No I'm not a masochist.
DCM: A few more times outta do it
Very funny! Good on silver and cream... Took the last of the capsules this morning... So if this continues, I'll need to get more.
DCM: U need one more bottle. Keep takin em anyway? Bill O'Leary would like u to show him this
Me: You think so?
DCM: Sure
Me: Ill come by.. Lunchtime tomorrow?
DCM: Sure. Yep.
Me: Praying for nuttin but pink!
DCM: Sure. If not, will be very small
Me: I hope your right.

Day 30  8:00 PM

DCM: Sure. Me too.
Me: One of the longest months I can remember... I know I'll be happy when the pain is a distant memory.... Will need to do a little at home physical therapy to protect the elbow joint and muscles... Haven't used the arm unless I've had to.
DCM: Sure. Just like being in a cast

Day 29  9:19 AM

DCM: Yep. Pulling away more today?
Me:  Yeah, there was considerably more blood last night than before... Kept filling in around where it was pulling away from the skin... Kind of like a moat. Nothing to worry about I think... Just wonder if it's the raw edges... Or if there's something else going on under the surface. I'll be surprised if I don't have lift off by Friday... Maybe Sunday at the latest, but we'll see...

Day 29  11:35 AM

DCM: K thanks for the update
Me: Everything going well with you I hope?
DCM: Yep all good.
DCM: Glad ur smart
Me: What do you mean?

Day 29  4:36 PM

DCM: Ur doin the right thing. Most would hv bailed out by now. Do u know ****** Health ****? She started doing this on her own and wigged outI did not know her thank God. She went to a western doc. Just found this out today. I'll find out the rest of story soon. Should be interesting.

Day 29  8:12  PM

DCM: U get cleaned up yet?
Me:  Arm in the sink as we speak.
DCM: This day 25ish.
Me: I think it is!

Me: No blood tonight, and pulling away from the sides more...pink all around that I can see... Maybe A little white, but may be the underside of the eschar... Can't tell.... All good signs... Good stuff.

Day 29  8:30 PM

Me: Did you ever get the full scoop on the lady from *******? I'm familiar with the place, but haven't been by in a few years.
DCM: Not yet
Me: Bet the western docs freaked out!

Day 29  9:07 AM

DCM: Isn't that absolutely magic, but seems like foorrreevveerr. Thank u Mr Hoxsey.
Me: It certainly is... Never ceases to amaze!

Day 28  9:38 AM

DCM: Hey there. What's going in now? U still out there?
Me: Yeah, was in a meeting. Didn't bother you yesterday. Figured you were busy. Gonna have the arm removed... Don't need it Anymore :)
DCM: ???
Me: It's ok other than hurting like hell... Started to separate a little at the edge as usual last night.
Me: You ok... Didn't freak you out with the arm comment did I? Just jokin around.
DCM: I'll cut it off for u
Me: I don't need no analgesic neither. I got balls as big as tumbleweeds.
DCM: Yes u do hv them

Day 28  5:11 PM

Me: Last night, after shower. See a little separation spot off to the left edge? Will update later tonight when I get home and open up the bandage.
DCM: Wow looks like a couple more times should do it
Me: Omg... I hope your joking!
DCM: Turnabout is fairplay :) Yeah, me too.
Me: Yeah you got me.
DCM: Bingo Batman. Is that baby mounding up yet?
Me: Wasn't last night. I'll let you know when I unwrap tonight. The eschar seems to get soft during the day after being wrapped up.
DCM: Sweat and no air circulation
Me: Bad combination... But what's a girl to do?


Day 28  7:28 PM

 Me: "non-stick" bandage off after soaking in the sink for 7 minutes. My beauty mark... Pre- cleanup

Day 28  7:53 PM
Me: Post cleanup... This thing is at warp speed. It's only been 5 days and this thing is pulling away from the sides already!!
DCM: We gotta take to Watson clinic to see if they can save u. Come on man don't be a Percy
Me: Roflmao!!!
Me: You mean to see if they can kill me...

Day 26  9:10 AM 
Me: Still very much a work in progress. Trying to post up thru today's date... We'll see. Go to the bottom and click on 'older posts'. You can see the posts are in reverse order from oldest to newest. Newest being at the top. Read ' My Black Salve Cancer? Story. Let me know if i've edited out your identity to your satisfaction. Thanks...Telosoftime.blogspot.com.
DCM: K will do. I'm in Chinese acup. Assn meeting now

Day 24  10:23 AM 

DCM: How ya doing?

Me: Trying to write the start of a blog about this. I'll send you the link when I get it going to see if you want me to edit any references to you that you might feel could be compromising. Pain/tentacles is more intense that anything that has come before... This must be getting to the heart of this thing. Whole arm hurts from the fingers to the shoulder. Feels good if I put it on a pillow, and rest it on my lap.. It's all good though. A little pain now is nothing to pay for what this thing might have cost me had I continued to ignore it and let it grow.

Day 24  10:49 PM 

DCM: Absolutely. This was the best & only way.

Me: I heartily agree.

DCM: Getting ugly again?
 

Me: Taken seconds ago...

DCM: Come outta there u evil bugger. Silver paper towel help?

Day 24  11:02 AM 

Me: Silver and after care helps a lot... Skin gets dry around the edges

Day 24  11:34 AM 

DCM: Yes keep taking herbs too. U still hv enough cream & herbs? I'm glad u had a little warm up before big daddy showed up. U might be freaking out if this happened the first time. Looks really good. Getting a grip on the bad guy.

Me: Yep on silver and herbs, might need to stop by for more capsules later next week... Yeah I think the seed is dying.

Day 21  12:33 PM 

DCM: What's happening today?

Day 21  12:52 PM 

Me: This shit must have gone deep....tentacles from between the knuckles of the first and second finger on the back of the hand up along the forearm to the elbow. Then from the hole along the top of the bicep muscle up to the crest of the deltoid at the top of the shoulder.... Intense to say the least....die sucker die!!

Day 21  1:18 PM 

DCM: Roger, goin deep.

Day 20  9:39 AM 
Me: Strange!!! Tentacles between knuckles of index finger and 2nd finger on the back of the hand!

Day 20  10:43 AM 
DCM: Yep round 3 begins. Entirely new creature. I wonder if big boys would hv gotten those.

Day 19  8:11 AM 

Me: No liftoff :( 

DCM: Prob good u didn't take off last night then. Maybe today

Me: Yeah, hopefully...

Day 19  10:43 AM 

DCM: Well......

Day 19  11:33 AM 

Me: Prob come off tonight with gauze... I'll soak it to remove though... Not just pull it off... We'll see.

DCM: K

Day 19  5:59 PM 

DCM: Hey there. Make it home yet?

Me: At my moms... He home I an hour to hour and a half

DCM: K holler when u can.

Me: Will do.

Day 19  8:24 PM 

Me: Warning... Graphic content...

DCM: That's what I live for big boy. I'm not scared.

Me: VERY good progress.. But not quite done. This shit was pretty aggressive apparently. Hitting it with silver now.

DCM: Good. Time for round 3.

Me: Yep round 3... Tomorrow?

DCM: The white part needs more. The pink part is healing/filling very nicely. Sure. Lunchtime? Or early?

Me: Where it's clean, I think it looks damn good! Early is good... What time?

DCM: What time do u need to be at work?

Me: I get there around 6:40 am.

DCM: Can u break away for breakfast at 9ish

Me: Sure. Meet u at the office at 9:00?

DCM: Fred's. How about Fred's? It's about half way

Me:Oh ok sure... Time?

DCM: 8:30?

Day 19  8:45 PM 

Me: Ok 

DCM: I'll hv everything we need.

Me: Ok... Thanks. See u then.

DCM: Put silver on then cream on pink. Will refill and wrap. Then a quick breakfast if u want

Me: Sounds good...

DCM: K see u then

Me: Okey dokey