sensei8

UPDATE: How can one tell when a doctor is being truthful or not? When one knows for sure, please let me know because this overwhelming roller coaster is uncalled for. My latest post was so promising, and now, this post seems to have taken a sour turn away from promising. Today, I visited my Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Becker, and what Dr. Becker told me this morning are contradictive from what every PCP, Urologist, and Oncologists have expressed to me during these past 15 months...I'll die but not from Prostate Cancer. According to Dr. Becker, once I expressed what I've been assured in the past, is NOT true due to a new study. Men who are diagnosed with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer...WILL DIE FROM IT!!!!! My Prostate Cancer is NOT curable!! Dr. Becker says I'm in remission, however, Dr. Goodman says that that's months away...whom do I believe and trust!? This new information sends me into a bawling session right in the exam room!! 3 years and 8 months is what I might have left to live, per the statistics...5 year survival rate. Yeah, that's way off base from what I've been/being told by various doctors. If I can't trust a doctor, then who can I?!? The rotten cheery on the top is that Dr. Becker informs me that if I couldn't afford the CT Scan co-pays, then there's no way I can pay for Radiation Therapy whatsoever; it's very expensive. For example, Radiation Therapy can last 2-9 weeks, 5 days a week, can cost me $100.00 per day or $500.00 per week...payments are due at the time of service...NO PAYMENT PLANS!! Once again, money before patient care!! 20/20 hindsight has given me one gut shot after another ever since I moved to Las Vegas. Had I stayed in Houston, not one procedure/treatment/etc. would've been denied, and more affordable. My co-pay at the LBJ Hospital in Houston was $100 once every 3 months. When I had Molina Insurance in Texas, my Radiation Therapy was approved to have it paid in full 100% by Molina!! But not with HPN in Nevada!! Btw, the boil I had on my left forearm shows it was cancerous, but they got it all out...I hope so!! Dr. Becker praised our kitten for discovering my Skin Cancer, had the kitten hadn't scratched me in that particular spot on my left forearm. Funny thing is that my Dermatologist stated to me that it would be about 2 weeks for biopsy results, and that his office would call me with the results. Yet, no one called me from his office. Yet, Dr. Becker had the results. Strange.

Yes the visit with Dr. Goodman was uplifting. Thank you for your continued prayers, Brian!!

UPDATE: Saw my Oncologist, Dr. Goodman, yesterday; all well, and he's no immediate concerns and/or worries. PSA numbers are still at 0.4, and that's good because stable is far then raising. Informed Dr. Goodman of the Radiation Therapy Consultation is October 5, 2021 at 8am. He tells me that while we've not been able to do any CT Scans yet, he's confident that the Radiation Oncologist team will order the CT. I told Dr. Goodman while that's hopeful, I can't deny my doubts in this regards because sometimes my Co-Pay is way far more than I can afford....thus no treatments/tests/procedures. I'm praying that my insurance will pay for ALL of my Radiation Therapy!! Talked to Dr. Goodman about something that's been bothering me lately about Survival Rate. While there's a 5 year survival rate after being diagnosed, which means I've only less than 4 years....that's one study. The other study states that "most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it". Dr. Goodman stated that his goal is for me to see my 80's and beyond, and has strong belief in that. I feel good about that! I do become overwhelmed often and I break down and sob. I asked Dr. Goodman about remission and he stated that we're a few months away from talking about that. I feel good about that too! I also handed over my medical records from Houston LBJ Hospital, this is where I was diagnosed and treated whenever I lived in Houston, to Dr. Goodman, and he was glad to finally have them. I'll see Dr. Goodman in a month.

Fantastic update, aurik!! Ikkyu Testing Cycle....has it been that long already?! Sooner than later, you'll be on the threshold of Shodan. Train hard and train well!!

You just hang in there, Danielle!! Prayers that your clinic will be a success,

That's a spot-on observation there, Bob, that not only were the Wrestler's takedowns so good, but the BJJer received them well, making sure he was in a good position upon being taken down. I think he could definitely work on some sprawls and other takedown defenses to help with that, too. I understand why you'd score the Wrestler the winner; he was very good at getting into a dominant position. I'd be interested in seeing some continuation, though, and if strikes were applied, I'd really like to see how the BJJer started defending the strikes, and if that would help provide him openings to advance his position. Given the experience of the BJJer I'm not surprised how well he received the wrestler; the BJJer had no choice in that regard considering the wrestlers resume. I agree on the sprawls and other takedown defenses needing to be seriously trained on. To your second point, is why I said that I'd love to see that wrestler against a BJJ Black Belt because that BB would do just what you're suggesting, and then some.

It would be quite refreshing to train in a style that's void of any ranking structure. Rank has a nasty habit of getting in the way of training; either one's on the floor to train or for rank. Will it be subjective of being culpable of going against tradition?? I'd not care one way or another because having never asked for anyone's approval, yet, I just expect them to respect my decision in forgoing any ranking structure.

Very much so!!

Apparently it just happens sometimes and there are rarely warning signs. The nurse did say to me they've been seeing lots of these recently (there were at least 12 others with the same when I went into clinic). They think it's because after the Covid lockdown everyone has gone back to exercising at the same level and your body is like nope that's not going to happen! I've got to see what the phsyio says about braces. I guess I'll end up wearing one temporarily on the bad leg but ultimately there isn't any reason why the other leg would be at risk. Blood thinners were because you're at high risk of DVTs and I guess the injections are an efficient way to get it in to the body?. The boot immobilizes your ankle so your calf isn't pumping blood in and out of the leg so the thinners help minimise the risk. Speaking of which the muscle wastage is unreal. My leg has already seriously shrunk already compared to the other one. Not looking forward to the physio. Thanks for your answers, Danielle. I've not thought about what you mentioned regarding the Covid and exercising; easing into it and not jumping into it as before. Stretching now has a more severe meaning to it, and not just in the passing. I've worn ankle braces for some time after I badly sprained my ankle when I tried vaulting over the gymnastic horse. Never done gymnastic, but it looked easy so I tried to do it...a painful lesson. Beside the blood thinner, are you going any water pills to keep any swelling down?

Rodtang's great fun to watch! He showboats a lot but backs it up with a solid chin and great striking. Plus he seems like a really decent guy outside the ring. Rodtang reminds me a lot of Cung Le; and Cung Le was one crafty bulldog.

I'm trying to live and not focus on statistics...I'm trying hard! Thank you, Danielle and Brian!!

I've always been impressed for your numbers and for kicking the heck out of each work-out!! You, my friend, are the Beast!! Keep training and training hard, Brian!!

Did the doctor indicate what causes this type of injury? Injecting blood thinner? I've heard of blood thinners in pill for; interesting! After your recovery, and I pray for your quick recovery, will you wear some type of ankle brace on both, and not just that one injured foot/ankle to protect the one or both Achilles?

Absolutely!! I apologize if I made it seem that the direct path was the only path. Obstructions are always there in one way or another, and we're forced to deal with said obstructions to our best. The path that's most effective is the one that allows one to reach said target, whether is be straight or not.

Goals!?!? Stepping on the floor to train/learn one day at a time. Once on the floor, then train hard and train well each and every time with a serious tone and mindset. Without this one goal being foremost, then nothing else can be achieved effectively. Proof is on the floor.

I agree, Brian. Also, this will be a fun fight or the fastest KO in history.

Thank you, Patrick, Danielle, and Brian!! I'm still trying to figure out how that cost can be so justified. This time they used Eligard (leuprolide acetate) 30mg instead of just Leuprolid; Eligard is the generic of Leuprolid. Leuprolid is given once ever 3 months, and Eligard, in my case, is given once every 4 months. Could costs be due to where my Oncologist is a resident at...Comprehensive Cancer Center, and not some state hospital, like in Houston. Of course, I'm guessing. Still, why so much?? I forgot to mention that I'm also back at taking BICALUTAMIDE 50mg. This is the pill that I took my very first month of treatments; I take it once a day. The one thing that resurfaces in my mind is that statistic that my survival rate is 5 years from diagnosis...that might mean I've 3 years and 8 months to live. Whether that's my case or not, that statistic floats in my mind oftentimes.

Shows just what a effective takedown can birth. Takedowns introduce other effective possibilities. However, without having an effective arsenal at owns disposal, the takedown can end up being so one-dimensional. Takedown! Now what to do once on the ground?!? There's where the meat-and-potatoes of ones ground work knowledge and experience unwinds. What I saw in the aforementioned video, and thank you for sharing it with us, Brian, was not only an effective takedown, but I equally saw an effective way to receive the takedown. In any technique, there's how to attack and how to receive. Allowing someone to attack you on purpose requires quite a lot maturity to receive effectively. Both complimented each other, and the wrestlers ability to not suck wind is a sign of his great cardio. I'd score the wrestler the winner, if scoring was used. Knew the wrestler was going to do quite well seeing he's a state champ. Would like to see him against a BJJ Black Belt.

I echo every points made by Brian and pittbullJudoka have made, as well as welcoming pittbullJudoka back to KF. If these important points aren't both understood as well as properly trained quite often, then no since in getting on the ground at all, but we all know that for the most majority of the time, fights end up on the ground. First thing used against us is an attempted takedown, and in the same manner, the when, why, and how to engage our own takedowns effectively. It's all a game of chess; forwards and backwards, protecting our middle; when will we effectively unleash our own hidden attack...and then checkmate?!?!

UPDATE: Well, no CT Scan again because the Iodine CT has a Co-Pay of $400. Oncologist says he'll order a regular CT Scan. Hopefully, that's far more affordable. When I was in Houston, my CT and Bone Scan and Lab only cost me $95 total....I often miss Houston. Speaking of costs...my Leuprolid 30mg Shot costs $15,752...it's once every 4 months. When all of this is said and done, my medical bill will be unfathomable to say the least. Radiation Therapy Consultation is scheduled for October 5th at 8am. Did this once in Houston, and that's when we all decided that Radiation Therapy can wait until Las Vegas...well, that time is upon us once again. Now, my direct concern is how much will my current insurance pay for. When I was back in Houston, the insurance I had then was paying the entire lack stock and barrel of my Radiation Therapy. I've not much faith in my current insurance because my Co-Pay isn't like it was in Houston. Oftentimes I feel like it's money over patient care, and it shouldn't be that was whatsoever. I hope and pray my current insurance pays for all of my Radiation Therapy....like Molina Insurance did in Texas.

Welcome to KF, eighthundred; glad that you're here. Thank you for that information regarding to the topic here at hand; solid post!!

Welcome to KF, nclearner; glad that you're with us. It's not a Kata that I've ever seen, until now! Short and quite to the point, and I mean right to the point, which isn't an insult whatsoever. I'd like to see its Bunkai, which can or can't mean anything, especially of its origin. Thank you, nclearner, for sharing it with us.

Efficiency of movement is to take the most direct path to said target, whether the target be a defensive and/or offensive one. To be efficient in anything is to strive for lessening any wasted movements. The most direct path to any said target is a straight line. In a nutshell.

Congrats, Zaine; one Testing Cycle at a time!! You should feel proud of yourself, I know that I'm very proud of you!! Train hard and train well!!

A Kicking Shield or BOB and some focus mitts, at the barest minimum. For the most, practically any MA training equipment is portable, if one thinks about it.