Hard Work, nice results

This past week, Shelley and I took on an enormous task.  Thank goodness for the iron infusions; this would be impossible without them!  For over a decade, the north side of the rear yard was a wild mess.  The previous rock wall was covered due to erosion.  The grass access path was half covered by aged shrubs, and the other had hardened dirt where no grass would grow.  We tried putting mulch in the hardened soil area to clean it up, but it quickly turned into an eroded mess.

Shelley was unable to have the strength to accomplish much of the task, so she focused on removing all the underbrush up the hill while I dug out the rocks and reformed the wall.  After removing the underbrush, several small buckthorn and other plants were found, requiring significant effort to pull them out at the roots to prevent regrowth.  This was difficult in soil that is filled with rocks and other roots. 

By removing the aged shrubs, we now have a six-foot-wide walkway, gaining 3 feet.  Therefore, there was adequate space to attempt to establish natural turf.  We chose shade sod from Gertens and proceeded to loosen the soil, add new topsoil, and lay the sod.  Besides requiring backbreaking digging and soil modifications, it was also over 90 degrees and very humid all week.  Each day, my shirt was soaked in sweat. Now we hope all the landscaping installed will survive and stay vibrant.  The entire backyard area now looks inviting, as opposed to an unkept area. 

Original mess - rocks buried in the ground	Rocks were removed from the hill and placed
Another view of the rocks and hill clean up	Finished product

 

The new walkway and wall/hill in the background

It was nice to finish on Friday; the Minnesota Amateur Baseball playoffs started,  marking another season in the books.  I really enjoy town ball and attended some games in Prior Lake, which were very enjoyable.  I was also able to review a few more fields.  To date, I have reviewed 14 ballfields, with only about 240 to go!

With the Iron infusions, I am getting better sleep, breathing more easily, and feeling less anxious and edgy!  Nice to feel close to normal.  I wish I could see the hematologist sooner, but I need to wait until November!

Hard to believe I am only 34 days before turning 63!  Time goes faster each year. 

Until next time, carry on my friends, carry on!

Infusion Boredom

This post is a follow-up to my previous posts and more. My anemia is still being treated, going on 9 years with no known cause. I am currently undergoing another round of Venofer infusions. 

I remain confused by the insurance company's decision. They approved nine Venofer infusions over 4.5 years (three rounds every 18 months), compared to three Injectafer infusions in 2017, which lasted over four years. They approved the lower-cost Venofer ($825 per dose), which is 80 percent cheaper per unit. However, the clinic infusion fee makes the overall costs similar, with about $15,625 for Venofer and $15,348 for Injectafer. I assume they consider that I have to pay the deductible each year, and they pay less?  As I have always heard, Medical insurers are more concerned with profit than our health.

I asked insurance if they would cover the lower-cost treatment and if I would pay for the Injectifer difference; would that be acceptable? Then I found out that the cost of the Injectifer increased by 530 percent because the insurance wouldn't cover it! What a racket.  

I also uncovered an insurance scam in 2017 for prescriptions. As shown below, the insurance-covered RX cost was $17.04 when covered. But then the formula changed and no longer covered the refill. It then increased by 1,431 percent to $243.99! No wonder the uninsured can’t afford to get sick.  

Today is the last infusion for this series. After the second infusion, I experienced severe stomach pain and constipation, with pressure on my back making life miserable. I haven't been able to work out or do much because the side effects have been worse this time than in previous treatments. Could it be related to age?

I went to a baseball game on Saturday and took some photos. I was testing the Tamron 150-600 f-mount lens as when I accidentally dropped it, and the autofocus stopped working. Since it's on my Nikon Z7ii, I also used the Nikon FTZ II mount. For the needs (Shelley's grandkids and sports), I think I can focus manually and avoid buying the $2,100, Nikon 180-600 replacement.  

Shelley and I are looking forward to our third retirement trip. Our trips have been limited since she retired because she had to care for her ailing father. Shelley and I will go to Nashville for a day, then to her daughter's lake cabin in Alabama, Smith Lake near Jasper, for three or four nights. After that, we'll spend a night in Chattanooga, Tennessee, followed by a few nights in the Smoky Mountains. Before heading back to Nashville for an NDSU football game and returning home, I hope the trip is relaxing rather than stressful.

Until next time, carry on my friends, carry on!

This is a long one!

Life has been a series of ups and downs. After 16 days of my 20 sit-up and push-up challenge, I felt very dizzy and couldn't stand. I decided to get my iron checked, and since all the symptoms matched the Iron Deficiency Anemia I have been battling since 2017, I was right—my iron was low again! Here are the healthy ranges and my recent results.

• Hemoglobin should be 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL - I am 10.3 or 76% of the minimum
• Ferritin should be 26-388 ng/ml - I am 13 or 50% of the minimum
• Iron should be 35-180 ug/dl - I am 18 or 51% of the minimum
• Iron Saturation Index should be 20-55% - I am 5% or 25% of the minimum
• MCH should be 26.0 - 34.0 pg - I am 20.4 or 78% of the minimum
• MCHC should be 32.0 - 36.0 g/dL - I am 26.9 or 84% of the minimum
• MCV should be 80 - 100 fL - I am 62 or 78% of the minimum

It's time to reconsider infusions again. In the past, the affordable option of Venofer was used, but it didn't significantly raise total iron and ferritin. It led me to:

• Hemoglobin to 13.6 g/dL - Only 0.1 g/dL above the recomended 13.5-17.5
• Ferritin to 16 ng/ml - 10 ng/ml below the minimum recommended 26 ng/ml
• Iron Saturation index to 8% - 12% below the minimum recommended 20%
• Iron to 30 ug/dl - 5 ug/dl below the minimum recommended 35 ug/dl

Therefore, three of the four major indicators were well below the minimum levels after the infusions! Before the Venofer, I had Injectafer iron treatments and requested them again. However, they were rejected by insurance. The post-Injectafer treatment increased my numbers.

• Hemoglobin to 16.2 g/dL - 2.7 g/dL ABOVE the recommended 13.5-17.5
• Ferritin to 164 ng/ml - 138 ng/ml ABOVE the minimum recommended 26 ng/ml
• Iron Saturation index to 24% - 4% ABOVE the minimum recommended 20%
• Iron to 53 ug/dl - 18 ug/dl ABOVE the minimum recommended 35 ug/dl

The insurance company was clear that I needed the lower-cost Venofer, but if they fail, they will review the Injctofir option. This is crazy considering we already have solid data showing Venofer treatment does not raise my levels above the minimums. So I am going to start the Venofer treatments, and my Primary Physician is sending me to a Hematologist for a full review, which will increase insurance costs. I wonder if insurers are only looking at immediate costs and not long-term expenses and health impacts?

Despite the issues, I have managed to complete some solid bicycle rides. It's clear from my riding that I've increased my strength or lost weight (or both). I'm using the battery less during my rides than I did in 2024.

As I mentioned in a previous post, we managed to relocate Shelley’s dad. Visiting him is very depressing because he can't do 80 percent of basic activities without assistance. He didn’t realize that if he had stayed in Lincoln, he would have had to move into a dark, dingy facility with few amenities. Finding Suite Living was a blessing because it’s open to the outdoors, making it a much more pleasant place to live. When the nurse asked where he wanted to go, he quietly and sadly said, “Home.” That was difficult for Shelley to hear, especially knowing he doesn’t understand the impact he has had on her.

On Sunday, we decided to visit Powderhorn Park for the art festival. It was quite eye-opening compared to previous years. This might sound negative and judgmental, but it’s just an observation. I saw many people with face tattoos and piercings, women who don't shave their legs, men who do, and even one man who had facial hair and dressed like a man on the right side, but on the left, he was made up like a glam girl. Some call it self-expression, but I see it as a sign of low self-esteem and a desire to stand out, even if that means being odd. While they have the right to do that, it’s not my ideal environment, and I would choose to skip it in the future.  

After Powderhorn Park, we went to the Slavic Festival. It was small but enjoyable. I’m glad I attended, but I’m not sure I would go a second time. Great experience, but no need to repeat.

I have been torn between upgrading my camera lens for sports and wildlife photography. I have been looking at the Nikon 180-600 f5.6-6.3, priced at $2,049. While it would be a nice upgrade for Shelley’s grandkids and sports, I’m not sure it’s the best option at that cost. I still have my Tamron lens for the Nikon D850 (the camera died, and I now have the Nikon Z 7II), and I could use the adapter. The issue is that I dropped it, and the autofocus no longer works. I may try to see if I can manually focus for my purposes.

Until next time, Carry on my friends, carry on!