Well, it's been awhile, but insomnia has reminded me that there is much to be done in the Wee Small Hours of the morning. I have just been outside,on the first rain free night in awhile, to confirm that yes the Moon is still up there. I am going to try and catch the early morning planetary conjunction as dawn approaches. A Possum reminded me that the Bush behind my house is his/her domain. I hope any other insomniacs are enjoying the clear skies, if so please share what you are seeing, photographing, and drinking.*
If you wish to see the Planetary Parade, look east at 5am, Saturn will be 30 degrees above the horizon on the Celestial Equator, with Mars, and Neptune lined up below. Venus will be joining them at first light.
I went out on the 21st looking for a comet early evening and all I found was a moon (which I obviously photographed for the XXXXXXXXXXXX.X time).
People keep asking what's my obsession with the moon (besides my self confessions I'm a Lunartic), it's the perfect subject to check focus on various telescope/camera/extension/barlow/whatever combinations.
I figured if I got my little Megrez (80SD) with Nikon D810 focused on the moon if I could find a comet my focus would be fine. I didn't find a comet.
Tonight was nice and clear however presumably as a result of my chemo ( 3rd session completed yesterday) I have been experiencing extreme shortness of breath..walk a metre and totally stuffed requiring 5 minutes recovery time...the irony is when they went through possible side effects etc it was about fingers tingling and the danger of a fever, I really dont recall the shortness of breath deal....Anyways it hits, cough and near pass out etc and so debilitated I could not get to the other end of the van to go thru the symptom list ...so manage it mate...step one do not panic, take deliberate breaths as deep as not being uncomfortable, it will pass, it will pass...well that worked..I knew I was bullet proof...but much later looking at the list it said " report immediately to hospital if experiencing shortness of breath"....I talked to them today and they said well maybe next time right!!!
AND so going out tonigh was probably best passed up...I know a wippish cop out but what nailed it was the last time I started the mower, my transport to the observatory, it near failed, battery no doubt, so it hit me if this thing wont start at the observatory to come home and as I cant walk..it really would be a death sentence...so death was on my mind as the penalty of getting caught out and somehow that prospect really took the shine out of imaging tonight...so later if I can I will charge up the mower and place some water and food, and a blanket in the observatory to meet a worst case situation...
It is getting tuffer sure but you can work around things if you just think it thru...positive thinking on a negative assumption is the idea...I learnt that in some sales and motivation course...plan for the worse so you come out on top if it hits..used it many times and it is so sensible...he may not pay me so take a gun approach.
I do enjoy going into hospital for treatment...nice people to chat with and today I scored two chocolate mouses...and as a treat have sushi afterwards..I make what could be an unpleasant day a treat...life is so good..it really is.
I wish you well in your treatment and recovery Alex!
I have friends and relatives going through similar, a cousin with untreatable bowel cancer who has weeks to live (they keep telling him that), his younger sister just had her breasts removed after finding a lump and a kid I played snooker against when I used to play at the local club, now 40, poor fellow has incurable C spreading through his entire body. He was always a nice young fellow and has a great attitude, it's not treatable but it's manageable for the time being. Married with 2 little ones, I felt so sad when I recently saw him after a long period of not seeing him around and he told me. I think the biggest part I took from it was his attitude, he knows he won't beat it but he's doing his best and staying very positive.
I've got cancer in my ear (in the cartilage) the specialist said he didn't want to touch because it will spread rapidly (apparently it has an easy path to the brain, that made me comment "Ha, the thing will starve"!), . He wants to see me again next month. It's increased intensity of the migraines I've had daily my whole life ten fold and I'm lucky if I get 1 hour sleep per night, that's on top of strong sleeping medication. I get up and go about my day, go down the LOCAL PLAZA and smile as always and make people laugh (I'm quick witted and dim witted)), no one would know.
I wish you well in your treatment and recovery Alex!
I have friends and relatives going through similar, a cousin with untreatable bowel cancer who has weeks to live (they keep telling him that), his younger sister just had her breasts removed after finding a lump and a kid I played snooker against when I used to play at the local club, now 40, poor fellow has incurable C spreading through his entire body. He was always a nice young fellow and has a great attitude, it's not treatable but it's manageable for the time being. Married with 2 little ones, I felt so sad when I recently saw him after a long period of not seeing him around and he told me. I think the biggest part I took from it was his attitude, he knows he won't beat it but he's doing his best and staying very positive.
I've got cancer in my ear (in the cartilage) the specialist said he didn't want to touch because it will spread rapidly (apparently it has an easy path to the brain, that made me comment "Ha, the thing will starve"!), . He wants to see me again next month. It's increased intensity of the migraines I've had daily my whole life ten fold and I'm lucky if I get 1 hour sleep per night, that's on top of strong sleeping medication. I get up and go about my day, go down the LOCAL PLAZA and smile as always and make people laugh (I'm quick witted and dim witted)), no one would know.
You seem to experience far more suffering than me sadly Leo.
Besides astronomy we share a love of cheering up others.
Had a fright yesterday..went blind in my left eye for some 30 minutes...long enough to regard it as the future...but I did not let it worry me in the least ..."mmm the start of yet another adventure today"... but it occurred to me if both went ringing for help would not happen...but I thought I could make it to my car feeling the way, allowing for short breath knockups and send a SOS with the car horn...see positive thinking on a negative assumption...but makes you realise how lucky one is to have sight...
Anyways seeing my Oncologist today.
If it's not one thing etc.
I have not moved but once within the van so held off the shortness of breath at least...but happily feeling good, no suffering, sleeping better than usual and enjoying movie after movie and science videos...what is not to like.
But even though it has passed it could be a hint of a stroke, for example,
Alex I hope your sight recovers and it's nothing major.
My son is deaf, only 80% from a young age (born totally deaf and we didn't know till he was 4, neither did the neurologists and specialists who did MRIs and other tests when he was a baby).
Six months back he hit his head now he's lost the small amount of hearing he had. I pleaded with doctors who are IDIOTS and the ENT, well, the referring doctor has to send the referral through and the GOD in Orange will triage the referrals based on doctors words and decide who he will see and when. And he's been on holidays all of April.
My sons condition which we were always warned a bump on the head could deafen him for life, Large Vestibulal Aqueduct Syndrome, it may be too late to have a chance of recovering his hearing.
I had one new doctor scream "a bump on the head can't cause pressure in the Eustachian tube", I nearly dropped the conceited PIG. I did drop off a 7 page PDF document from medical specialists on the condition the very next day.
My son has suggested two options to relieve the pressure himself, slam his nose into something and break it or punch a needle through his own ear drum. I've been pleading with him not to do either but I'm getting screwed by an overworked system and doctors who wouldn't know their heads from their @rses. My own doctor recommend I take my son for a hearing test, he was born with congenital deafness (In saying all of this my son won't go to the doctors and my doc who did know him retired a few years back BUT, it's all in my sons records at that clinic we've been attending for 24 years). I've never been fond of doctors (55 plus years in the system) but I respect many who are extremely smart. The smart ones listen.
My son needed the pressure relieved just after the incident and now there's little chance of ever recovering the small percentage of natural hearing he had and he'll spend the rest of his life in near silence. Though the way he talks the rest will only be months.
And yes, he has other issues and I'm his carer and always on edge.
That is so sad Leo.
However you are so close to the matter it will not be easy for you to see the solution.
Your Son is deaf and one is best living in that world with resignation and acceptance and leave behind the annoyance that plagues you that can come from the system and those in it which finally can never deliver decent hearing even if all the ducks line up...divert all your energy into making the situation as good as it can be..accept the unacceptable and make it work as best you can...believe me that my suspicion that life will be better building upon what is rather than what could be..or may be ...but almost certainly will never be...you will both be happier I tend to think...
It ain't that bad ... you just play the cards you are dealt cause you are still in the game and finally that is all that matters if your attitude is winning
the game.
alex
There's still a very slim chance slight hearing can be recovered but it won't do it without intervention. Getting in to see those in the know is the problem, ENTs in Sydney have a 6-12 month waiting list, no such entity locally and the one in Orange well, I'm hoping he phones soon since he's likely back from holidays. The longer it's left the less chance of any hearing recovery.
Yes Glen alerted me to that possibility and I saw my doctor and was told if it happens again go to hospital.
A most unusual occurrence last night.
I have been taking morphine to ease the wease, only 3 doses so far, but it seems to help a great deal.
Yesterday I had the girls pick up an oxygen monitor and found my O level low, as I expected at 90 and had it out for another test before I took my morphine.
It read 90 and went to 91 after some little while.
I then took my 3 rd batch so far of morphine and shortly thereafter coughed up what I could feel to be something solid and forming the expectation that it was a small blood clot having experienced same recently.
However upon inspection the " solid" seemed to be a piece of prawn approx 6 mm in diameter sitting in some clear liquid. Rather surprising. Another cough saw some liquid one associates with infection, and on that note I had been on antibiotics for a week.
Given my operation there is a greater risk of food going into my wind pipe so the discovery seemed reasonable.
Now here is the kicker...after " getting it together " I tested my O level after all this and find my O level rose to 94 then 95 to stabilise at 94, which is most satisfactory...maybe I had a blockage apart from other issues?
I have not exerted my self so far this morning as usually to do so has me out of breath for five minutes and the experience is far from pleasant however I seem to feel like my old self so it will be interesting to find how it goes for me later.
Of course the question arises...did I find a piece of naughty prawn or was that a piece of my deteriating lung
) I have been experiencing extreme shortness of breath..walk a metre and totally stuffed requiring 5 minutes recovery time...the irony is when they went through possible side effects etc it was about fingers tingling and the danger of a fever, I really dont recall the shortness of breath deal....Anyways it hits, cough and near pass out etc and so debilitated I could not get to the other end of the van to go thru the symptom list
...so manage it mate...step one do not panic, take deliberate breaths as deep as not being uncomfortable, it will pass, it will pass...well that worked..I knew I was bullet proof
...but much later looking at the list it said " report immediately to hospital if experiencing shortness of breath"....I talked to them today and they said well maybe next time right!!! 
