I’m exhausted.  I got through the usual morning work routine (the early telecommute part).  I call MSK to ask about an appointment.  The nurse, who is magnificently professional in a sympathetic way, says that their pancreatic unit has lost some doctors, with the result that they are filled up for more than a month.  She advises me to proceed with the treatment as planned, which includes standard drug in any case.  Then, she says, find out when your first scan will be.  Once I know that, I should call MSK to arrange for an appointment a few days following.  They will be able to look at the scan and provide a good evaluation and a second opinion.  This strikes me as a reasonable approach, and I thank her.

I do my (abbreviated, less intense) workout.  As I am leaving, a neighbor comes in, notices how much weight I’ve lost and asks if something is wrong.  I can’t lie at this point, so I just nod and signal “no more” and leave.  I will tell her soon.

I drop a note to a neighbor who has worked on  the web page with me to ask if she’s around and has time to talk in the next couple of days.  I will call on her at her apartment this evening.

I go into the office.  Another senior staffer and I draft a “help wanted” ad to post on Panix.  (We will probably have to post this elsewhere, and I don’t know how much energy I will have to help in the selection process.)  I am falling asleep, but I manage to last until three, and then I start to leave.  My boss calls when I have my coat on.  We talk briefly and I say I’ll try to call him later from home.

I get home, take a nap (which helps a lot) and call my boss back.  We covered most of what we needed to already, but I wanted to make sure.

After supper, I stop down to see my neighbor, who is a lovely, warm person and immediately thinks in terms of practical support for us.  We discuss the practical items.  I tell her I’m not yet ready for the building grapevine to pick this up, and she says she’ll talk to our hematologist friend (who already knows).

I am overwhelmed at the warmth and support of my friends.