My Kidney - all 80 percent of it

Here is an update – my version

This has all happened so fast and I had so many unanswered questions I was not sure what to say along the way…so I didn’t say much. March 26 I went in for an abdominal scan – why? Good question. Over the past couple years a few subtle things have popped up but not one of them really added up…to this.

I will spare you all the little details but know little details are things we can not ignore in life and in this case my constant looking into the little things led to the discovery of a mass in my rght kidney.

For some reason my GP, Dr. Shoup, ordered an abdominal scan. First, I need to mention Dr .Shoup was full and not accepting new patients. I had Katrina write and ask if he would take on another patient a few years ago. I am lucky to even have this man as my doctor.

I went in for a scan at 9 am March 26. The gal doing the scan was all talkative until she got to my kidney (right). I thought nothing of it as I had to roll to one side for this part of the scan. Once the scan was over, a radiologist came in and said, “We need an MRI.” (I did not know at the time he had called Dr. Shoup). So I stayed for an MRI. I saw the radiologist again and he said, “You need to get to Dr. Shoup’s office right away. “ I pulled the doc over and asked him to sit down. I said, “Look – I know something is not right. I came in for a scan and now I have also had an MRI. What is up?” I had to tell him I would not hold him accountable but tell me what you saw. He explained I had a mass in my right kidney and it would need to be removed. It looked like a 3 out of 4 on the worrisome scale for cancer. The mass was about 5cm.

I called my wife and we headed to Shoup’s office. They immediately march me into a room. Now I am beginning wonder like something is really wrong but I feel fine. Shoup comes in and says I have a mass in my right kidney and it needs to be removed. I asked, “The mass?” and he said, “No, the entire kidney. Can you get a chest x-ray today because you need to get this going? I am calling a urologist to get you in ASAP.”

The following week I saw the urologist, Dr Wahl, who answered almost all my questions in his review and synopsis of the situation with me. I know I am headed for surgery. He however feels I am a candidate for a partial removal and not necessarily the entire kidney. So off to another doctor that does this kind of surgery. Dr Wahl asks me why did they look at my kidney……I explain and he says, “You are one lucky man. You will have this removed and live a long healthy life. If not found, your life would be much different down the road.”

The next visit is to Virginia Mason to see Dr. Koslowski and he told me the same story. I have a mass in my right kidney and it needs to be removed. They upgrade it to grade 4 of 4 on the worrisome scale. He explains my option – entire kidney or partial. I opt for the partial which requires a much larger incision and more invasive surgery. The doc asks me how is that they came about looking at my kidneys. He tells me, “You are a lucky man and you will live a long and healthy life. Kudos for your doctor to even think about looking at this. “ Dr Koslowski’s colleague, Dr Hefty, performed the surgery with him. I found out that my doctors are the famous Starbuck doctors who performed a kidney transplant from a Starbuck barista who donated a kidney to a customer.

Surgery was on April 16 (3 weeks after my scan) and was two hours. A successful partial nephrectomy was performed at Virginia Mason Hospital. I stayed for 4 days (three nights).

This past Monday, I finally got the pathology report. What was inside of me? The mass was 3.8cm in size. It was a renal cell carcinoma and was a Grade 2 cancer. (I am guessing that is out of 4).It is a “clear cell” which I guess is a fairly common type of kidney cancer. The margins were negative so all is clear there – nothing was left as far as they can tell. They only removed 20 percent of my kidney.

So were any of the signs related? No one has committed to a relationship. However, anyone can find documention about each sign I had and a relationship to the kidenys. So who knows if there is a relationship but there was just enough attention brought up to my doctor to trigger his thought to have a look.

I see the Doctors at Virginia Mason today for my first follow up. I will be on watch for several years. First cat scan is in 6 months, then 6 months again and so on. Recovery is going well but tougher than I imagined. No chemo, no radiation.

I guess I am considered a cancer survivor but I think I will just go with, “I am a living, thriving, striving human being. I do more than just survive!”

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

God allowed us to find this now and give me a chance in life. I am going to TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!

Paul

Stream lined kidney surgery

THB - Is a group of people like most of us. It is comprised of Has Beens - Team Has Beens. You know, the older we get the faster we were. This group was started with friends from Auburn University.

They picked Stream line kidney surgery and are correct.

Long story short but I recently had surgery on my right kidney. An accidental discovery found a mass in the kidney. This all happened so fast the next thing you know I am leaving the hospital with 20 percent less of my right kidney.

More in the next post.

Swifty

It's a bird, it's a plane,

it’s a shark bite/surfing accident, it’s a stream line kidney scar, it’s Theo Bos after his crash........So what is it?

more soon

Gresh Fit

Check out a new blog!

http://www.greshfit.com/2009/04/greshfit-and-bike-fit-systems.html

Paul is out of the office

Be patient, as he is able to get to the computer. This means that he will be keeping an eye on things, but replies e-mails may be a little slow.

He reminds everyone that the office is open and able to take orders - and the out of stock Leg Length Shims are expected from Australia today [4/20]!

Paul thanks everyone for the messages of all types. He is thankful for your efforts.

Saddles – Specialized vs Trek – battle of the giants

Sometimes being second is better than being first.

For example when I designed the LeMond RevMaster I was not first to design a spin type bike but I was able to see the problems of the first spin bikes and significantly improve on them. This is a case where being second was better than being first

Specialized saddles –
The first of the giants to push saddles and they did a pretty good job.

Enter Trek saddles
Here is Trek’s chance to improve on saddles. For this writer, having spent time on several Specialized and Trek saddles – Specialized does a much better job. So this is a case where being first was actually better.

Can you think of a case where second was better or was being first better? I am sure you can think of many.

I will be signing off for a few days but hope to return leaning and fitter than ever.

Leg Length and Frogs

Here are a couple photos with a modified 2 hole LL shim to accommodate the Frog pedal. Just throwing it out there in case you have a client that needs some help in this area.

The two holes on the bottom of LL shim photo were added and as you can see line up with the mounting holes of the Frog.

Special thanks to Dr Mitchell Goldflies for the photos.

info about a new foot/pedal expert

Bike/Cleat fit analysis macbrownracing.com By Mac

Remember if you do not completely address the foot/pedal connection you fall short in your bike fitting. Read about a couple guys that recently added working with the feet to their bike fitting.

a moment in Helena

This weekend it was refreshing to see the following. Mick on his Felt tri bike was previously fit by Robin of Fitness Fanatics in Spokane, WA.

No, the feet were not handled but Fitness Fanatics did not pretend it took care of Mick's feet. It is refreshing to see such honesty from bike fitter. I am sure she can do much more but never pretends to be more than what she is. Mick looked really good on his bike.


Here is Mick today at Big Sky in Helena, MT - unfortunately I did not get a view while he was pedaling to show off Robin's fit. Kevin and I are going over rotation which as many of you know needs to be handled from the back with Look pedals.

Holding center court -

Kit here surrounded by the guys at Russell Cree's facility in Portland.

Russell , Molly , Michael , Luke

What a day it was. Sometime soon I need to write about this day. Unfortunately a fear that I had was confirmed. However, it was confirmed with even greater concern than I had imagined.

People need to be aware that there is a lot of information in the bike fit world being disseminated that is blatantly irresponsible and with complete disregard for the good of the cyclist.

Driven by the fear of what many more cyclist may be exposed to I cannot in good conscience, allow this to go on without speaking about this.

I am sure all of you reading will be on board with this.

For now please go and do bike fits before others in the misleading group get a chance to mislead and misinform another cyclist.

When is pink REALLY pretty.

Today Kit and I were driving near Recycled Cycles and saw a pink tandem go by the opposite direction. It was like a flashback.

I said, “That looks like the tandem we fit but I thought the bike was stolen.” We did an about face and chased them down in our car….Miles later it was Mark and Jen and their original tandem.

About 2 years ago we fit Mark and Jen on that same tandem. Just a few weeks later we heard their tandem was stolen. Having had a tandem of mine stolen, I felt crushed for them knowing how horrible it felt.

Mark and Jen put up signs everywhere and the Seattle community was on the lookout. After about a month had passed, someone called with information. Amazingly, the bike was found and in pretty good condition.

Once we finally caught up with Mark and Jen we got the story and had to take a photo. I can only think of one pink tandem I have ever fit and this was it. It was great to run into them and hear the story of the returned pretty pink bike.

Photo taken by Saul of Speedy Reedy - old location is barely visible in the photo to the left. Go check out the new location in the building behind us.

The mystery foot

Leanda Cave talking to Andrew Weber our International Director at Tri Fest.

I hear she just had a bike fit at TriSports. Maybe we can get a report from the fitter down the road.

Leanda also had a nice presentation at the event. If you get the chance to hear her speak I would say take advantage of that opportunity.

The nameless foot belongs to

And here she is between Eric from TriSports and myself.

Check out our newest BikeFitPro

Click the linke below for the article with photos

http://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/General_Fit_Articles/World_s_first_fit-certified_dog_744.html


Here is the article - no photos

Written by: Swifty LevineDate: Wed Apr 01 2009

As researchers have long known, dogs have tremendous abilities of perception. They're used to locate the lost, detect explosives and illicit drugs and even, some say, to detect the presence of cancers and other illnesses. Add to that the ability to perceive and identify an optimized rider position aboard a tri or time trial bike. While not specifically trained for such, a rescued lab mix named Charlee has developed an eye for bike fit. She lays quietly on the floor during a fit process, and only when the rider has achieved that magic place—that nexus of power, comfort and aerodynamics granting a perfect fit—will she arise and repeatedly bark at the subject, signaling her approval. "It's beyond strange," said F.I.S.T. instructor Jordan Rapp. "Charlee has an eye for a good position. I hate to admit this, but she may actually be better than her master. I must say that I trust her judgment; she has a sense and an intuition that [bike fit guru] Empfield sometimes lacks."

"She's caught me out a few times," said famed bike fitter John Cobb. "When I think I'm done with a fit, and Charlee just lays there, watching, with eyes that say, 'No, John, you're not done yet,' I do start to doubt myself. I work at it a bit more and then, when Charlee rises and starts her barking, I feel like I'm back on the right track." Charlee's unparalleled ability has not gone unnoticed. While her owner, F.I.S.T. trainer Dan Empfield, refuses to acknowledge the dog's obvious talent, bike fit expert Paul Swift has bestowed upon Charlee the title of honorary BIKEFIT systems specialist. "While Charlee cannot physically execute pedal shoe interface changes—she has no thumbs—she knows a good position when she sees one." Accordingly, Swift has honored Charlee's unique abilities. "We call on her owner to throw off his jealousy," said Swift, "and admit that the best fitter who lives on the property is his dog. Dan, just F.I.S.T.-certify the animal, for cripesakes."