Sanoviv: Day Three

Here we go, here we go, here we go again . . . I have received some messages with respect to computer access, so I will start there.

I was gifted an Ethernet cable and adapter, to enable me to use the computer in my room. The best part is the cable is 25 feet, which allows me to use it over on the chair/couch area – the Ethernet plug is part of the phone/on the far side of the Queen bed, so without it, I would be “stuck” there. That allows me to type up these blogs and check email. However, we discovered the first night that things are still “blocked” – access to Netflix, Xfinity, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Marco Polo . . . So while I can post this blog (on WordPress), to link it to Facebook and Instagram, I have to do that in the “computer room” over in the Mansion. It’s not that bad – it works fast – but it’s the only place that I can do any of the “things” listed above.

I did get a chance to watch the “Marcos” that a number of you had sent – thanks! It was so great to see your smiling faces. I sent a quick Marco out to some of you, at least showing you the computer room, and a tiny corner of the ocean! I am not sure how far their wifi extends, but I also don’t want to use the phone/computer in areas we are “not s’posed to.”

Today was lemon/cayenne hot water, then again Energy Medicine and Meditation. In Energy Medicine, we did Emotional Freedom Technique work (EFT or “tapping”). The psychologist walked us through a portion of the leading book in the area, “Energy Medicine” by Donna Eden. During Meditation, we were to focus on a word, though if you didn’t have one, you could focus on the ocean waves (quite loud – you can hear them even if the sliders are closed), or on your breath. I was going to do the waves, but then got “hit in the head” (metaphorically of course) by the word “Release.” So I did the 15 minute Meditation concentrating on that word.

Aaaaand, once again, here I am, with a snarky comment. Judge-y McJudge-pants, that’s me. A woman from a certain group (I’m going to stop there, you decide) came in late and settled onto her zafu in the front row – literally right as the “bell” sounded for Meditation – with her shoes, cell phone, and water bottle! She was politely instructed to take them all back outside . . . How one can scurry past a hallway lined with 30 pair of shoes, canvas bags, bottles, etc. and just settle yourself in? Fascinating.

We went to breakfast afterwards, forgetting that there was a stretching class in the Fitness Room that I had wanted to check out. It wasn’t on hubby’s “schedule” – I think that they manage “crowd control” this way. The Stretching Class was from 8:00-8:30, but we were slated for Breakfast at 8:00. My guess is that some folks have the class on their schedule? Or that you just need to “know” that Breakfast actually is served from 8:00-9:00, and you can “decide” whether to do the Stretching? A bit unclear.

Hubby’s schedule contains all his appointments, meal times, and some of the workshop times. But the “overarching” schedule (that caregivers get) contains extra workshops, classes, and the like. I am trying to take the copy of his schedule that I get and annotate it with things from the “overarching” schedule. I just missed this one. I also annotate it with the times that he is supposed to take any sort of supplement. He gets a big paper bag of them each morning, containing wee ziplocks with times on them. Last night, turns out that he had missed everything from about 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. So today, I just put them on my copy of his schedule. Because, ya know, Caregiver.

One thing the Oncologist mentioned yesterday was stem cell implant therapy. The patient is given an implant that apparently works for about six months. It’s a new therapy that addresses building up the patient’s own system. I asked him about the Vitamin C + doxycycline regimen that Broffman mentioned to us, and he said that they don’t do that protocol, as the studies are “old” and he doesn’t think that it is valid. I’m not so sure about that.

As for the stem cell treatment, yesterday we came down in the elevator with a gal who is getting it (Detox/Stem Cell Therapy), and her nametag was pinkish-red. Today, just by way of curiosity, I started really trying to look at nametags. A number of Orange (cancer) tags, many Yellow (caregiver) tags. The Chinese group tags are either pinkish-red or yellow. There is an Amish couple here – haven’t been able to see their tags yet. He has the bushy “beard-only-no-mustache” beard, and hair cut in a “bowl” at the back (hard to explain). Her baby, Katie Mae, has a tiny white bonnet – the mom has a long blue scarf that she wears on her hair, which is up in a bun. Katie Mae is a little cherub – so sweet, and so well behaved. She’s at the “alert, bubbly, but not walking yet” stage. The man is wearing the Sanoviv “prescribed” clothing. His wife, however, is in the ivory Sanoviv hoodie, over a floor-length dress made of the same “sweatpants” fabric, in the same ivory color. Herbert commented on this, but if you were Orthodox Jewish, etc. you would need to have some sort of accommodation – nice to see that they are all set. I think the man is the patient, because I’ve seen him taken into a room without her. Will try to talk to her tomorrow to find out.

For Breakfast today we had frittata, an incredibly bitter cooked green, oranges, and grapes. I was super curious if I would have my “egg issue” with the frittata (Leann – like Michael) since we’re in the “Healthiest Place On Earth” :-) Turns out that – yep! Just the same!

My thoughts have always been that fats cause this issue. Let’s just say that 20 minutes after eating them, all eggs except ones I make – or that are poached or hard boiled – go “right through me.” I had surmised that perhaps it was an “industrial spray-on fat” causing the problem, which I don’t think that they’d use here. I have the same issue if there is too much melted butter on something (like veggies), too. Anyway – suffice it to say that – sigh! – yes, same issue. As the only thing that we had to eat other than the fritatta were the bitterest cooked greens ever, oranges, and grapes, I guess I’ll just have to “brave” the eggs when they show up.

As I type, it’s time for “wheat grass,” so off I go! More later!

I’m back – miss me? I waited around for hubby in the lobby for 20 minutes, then gave up and came back to the room. I was to go with him to his Oncology follow-up, but as he was already up on the 2nd floor (“Special Care,” a/k/a the hospital-hospital), I’m guessing that the doctor saw him and just called him in. The only issue with this is that – when he sees doctors alone – he doesn’t tell me much of what is said. He also doesn’t really remember that well what he’s told. So, I guess we’ll just see what we see!

In about half hour is Snack Time, then, as I mentioned already, hubby has his follow-on dental exam, an hour of free time, and then lunch. After lunch, hubby has a mind/body appointment, then we have green juice (“Oh Yay!” says hubby LOL), after that he has his fitness evaluation (which he does not want me to come to – silly boy), then another Quiet Room hour for him. After that is Golden Milk Time, an hour, dinner time, then the documentary Grounding, then bed. So while I could work out during the Dental/free hour, I think that I will do it during his fitness eval/quiet room period since that way I’m free to do what he wants to do during the “free hour,” and I can use his Dental follow-up time to do a bit of work that I have.

I have a “hang” as part of my workout today. I’ve been looking at the top “lip” of the clothing/TV cabinet, which is about 9 feet off the ground. If I stand on my tip-toes, I can grip it and get off the ground (mind you, my nose is pressed to the cabinet side). So I’m thinking I will do that today. There aren’t really any chairs in the room (just plush chairs) – if the table was a little shorter I might be able to use this lip to do jumping pull ups on “Pull” day, which is coming up in a few. I could try to stand on the mini-trampoline and use that instead, but there are all sorts of comedy sketches that I can see in my head, “launching off” from that position . . .

So, how are we doing? I’m doing fairly well on the “eat until not hungry” thing I blogged about before. There’s plenty of food here (even if it is Liquid Day). The food is pretty good for having no sauces, seasonings, etc. (There is a container of salt, pepper, and cayenne powder (!) on your table to use.)

Hubby seems a little out of sorts – not quite sure what’s up. (The photo at the top notwithstanding.) I know that he hasn’t eased into being here yet. Maybe he’s in a Grief cycle. He’s doing a lot of Bargaining. :-) He even asked the doctor if we’re allowed “off campus” on any day and (interestingly) the doctor said that if you really wanted to, someone could take you to Rosarito Beach (which is just down the road) and if you really wanted to, though “he didn’t say this,” you could have lobster, margaritas, or whatever you like. I wonder if they tell this to everyone, or just the Cancer patients.

For your viewing pleasure, here are those photos from inside the Mansion, as promised :-)

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Today I met a couple that were here for the Stem Cell Therapy – he had the ultrasound that’s required beforehand, and they discovered he had a bladder/prostate issue. The doctor called his doctor stateside, and he was taken to a hospital here for prostate surgery – 4 hours later and he was “whisked” back, a bit dazed, but fine. He said he hadn’t realized he “had an issue” but “while he was golfing, on some courses” he’d “need to be sure to hit the head before heading out,’ and then he’d “be out there and suddenly have to go again.” Okaaaaaay Mens – please? Get this stuff checked out?

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We were surprised to walk into Lunch to tables set with chargers and cloth napkins! The Lunch was very tasty – Dinner a bit less so. Dinner was quinoa with a “topping” of garbanzo beans and other things – which gave me gas (TMI!) There were two salads that were tasty though – a spinach, strawberry and walnut salad with balsamic, and a green apple, jicama, avocado and “some other things” salad. I actually went back to have a bit more of the avocado salad, as I wanted something else to “mute” the beans. Hubby immediately said “Are you still hungry?” Good on him! I was not hungry. So I gave half of the salad to him. Hmmmm, was that his ulterior motive? :-)

Hubby had had an issue with one of the IVs, and that’s why he hadn’t “made it back down” to meet me. The good thing though is that the Oncologist went over his panels, and the only thing that showed up was that he “wasn’t getting quite enough protein.” That seems amazing to both of us, as protein isn’t generally one of our concerns. Everything else looked good though, and his ultrasound, Xrays (teeth), etc. all were fine.

One thing that I realized today was that all the water bottles from which you’re to fill your personal one are not only glass, but they all have a word written on them (a la Dr. Masaru Emoto). How’s about that!

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And – for your viewing and laughing pleasure, I will leave you with a photo that hubby took of me when he came into the room in the middle of my workout today . . .