Well, here’s what happened to me. We were in an art museum, in which M was so cold she had a sweatshirt on. I suddenly became incredibly hot—so hot I was drenched with sweat and it was rolling off my face into a little lake on the rail I was leaning against. My hair was as wet as it is coming out of the shower. I got very faint—graying out, but not completely passing out. It lasted about 45 minutes, and I was pretty miserable.

My oncologist couldn’t offer me anything, except to ask that I come to his office when it happens again. Not likely: I couldn’t possibly drive. He’s not sure it’s carcinoid…caused by the adrenal tumor. We know it’s not menopause. He wonders if it’s something else…maybe blood sugar too high or too low? Who knows. I think he honestly doesn’t know what to think. Neither do I.

I was just having a bad day. The orthopedist I’m seeing has wrapped up treatment for the arthritis in my knee. The next step, he says, is a knee replacement—ugh. I’m not going there if I can help it.

Meanwhile, I irritated my rotator cuff. So I’m seeing a PT for my cervical disks, my knee, and my rotator cuff. I sort of feel like I’m falling apart.

I don’t really get this…I’ve been so athletic all my life, and it just seems surreal to have these continuing, unrelated problems. The only sense I can make of it is that there was that extreme stress a few years back…maybe it’s an effect of that, or of the combination of the amputation pain and the stress.

At any rate, I am doing the best I can. Regardless of whether I feel like a nincompoop, I go to the doctor when I feel sick. I follow up on tests. I am doing literally every exercise every day that my PT has given me. I am working with a research dietician through the Berkeley screeing lab now, literally reporting everything I eat so we can design a diet that works for me. I’ve realized (sending in a list of foods I’ve eaten every night) that I’m eating less than 1300 calories a day. It’s not like I’m pigging out here. I do all these things because it makes me feel that I’m doing my best to make things better.

I’m already on a diabetic diet, followed absolutely strictly, so we’ll see what happens. I’m pleased that the PT has been able to find exercises that challenge me but don’t damage my injured parts.

Meantime, there is another development I just want to tell you about. My two brothers, my girl, and I are all going on vacation to a ranch near here for a few days! How’s that for a clear message from God that momentary problems will be taken care of in time. I never think about that difficult time with my brother without thinking of your kindness to me during it. It’s a wonderful thing to be helped along the way!