Category: My Turning Points

Psalm 56:11 (NKJV)

In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Mark 5:36 (NKJV)

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

Luke 8:50 (NKJV)

But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”

One of the greatest fears is hearing a doctor say, “I am sorry, but you have cancer.” Known as the “C” word, having a diagnosis of cancer evokes fear of not only death but a death preceded by agonizing pain and suffering. Cancer is unique in that it can attack just about every organ in the human body. And worse, it has a way of sneaking up on you with little or no waring symptoms.

I don’t remember when my mother confided in me that I was born with cancer. Weeks after my birth a birthmark on my back turned black in a matter of hours. She summoned our doctor who excised a cancerous tumor that was miraculously contained in a fleshy sack. Afterward I was treated with radium to ensure that none of the cancer had escaped into my body. For 1943, this was a rare episode in a child’s life.

By the grace of God, the cancer was successfully removed with a lifelong scar and gap in my back muscle the only consequence.

For decades, I witnessed many people in my life who suffered cancer in a myriad of types with a wide variety of consequences. Most eventually lost their lives either directly or indirectly from the cancers that plagued them.

I was 76 years old when cancer came again to knock on my door. It came as was common for men over 50 to find its way to the prostate gland. It has been a common annual test for men’s physical exams to include PSA in a comprehensive blood test. PSA stands for Prostate-Specific Antigen, a protein produced by normal as well as malignant cells in the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood.

For men in their 40s and 50s, PSA levels of below 2.5 ng/ml is normal. This age group has a normal range of 0.6 to 0.7 ng/ml. Men in their 60s are considered abnormal at PSA levels above 4.0 ng/ml and normal between 1.0 and 1.5 ng/ml. Diligent doctors will not only consider the levels but will watch for trends over time.

Since I had family members who were both older and younger that me who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer as well as other cancers, my doctors where carefully watching my annual blood tests. For more than 10 years, my urologist and internist monitored the PSA levels of my annual blood workups.

When my PSA levels were approaching 4.0 ng/ml, my urologist performed a needle biopsy of the prostate. The PSA levels slowly inched up each year but at very small increments. Then in July 2019 my annual physical exam’s blood test revealed an alarming jump from 4.0 to 8.0 ng/ml. This sparked an urgent appointment with my urologist, Dr. Naitoh.

The doctor recommended a comprehensive needle biopsy to see if cancer was present. Since the biopsy was going to be more extensive than the previous one done in the office, this one required a hospital outpatient procedure under anesthesia.

At the same time, I was suffering for eight months with extreme pain due to a bout with polymyalgia rheumatica. I was amid constant efforts to deal with the ravages of the disease. I also was facing the need for total knee replacement surgery. It was decided to delay the prostate biopsy to November 14^th. The biopsy results came in on November 21^st.

Carol and I met with Dr. Naitoh on November 21^st. Not knowing the results of the biopsy prior to our meeting, I prayed and asked God to guide me with His Spirit to help me make the right decision for whatever the outcome of the tests. I also asked if He would have His Spirit guide my doctor to provide me with the best information to lead me to the best decision.

The doctor wasted no time telling us that the biopsy revealed two small sites with cancer cells. He said that the type of cancer was very slow growing and the typical protocol for this cancer was to take a “wait and see” approach. However, the doctor advised that he would recommend a very aggressive treatment. He based this on the fact that the PSA level had so rapidly doubled. That fact revealed to him that something out of the norm was going on with my case. The pieces of evidence didn’t stack up to what would normally be the plan to move forward. We agreed with his advice to move forward aggressively.

The doctor proceeded to present several possible procedures and the typical side and long-term effects of each. They included a variety of surgical and radiation solutions and combinations of both. Then he added a solution that was new to me. It was a radiation solution called CyberKnife. The doctor gave us a few brochures that gave details of the various solutions.

Carol and I returned home and did our research that included contacting my relatives and friends who had used some of the options. I prayed and sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit as considered each option. The CyberKnife solution rose to the top consideration for several reasons. The two reasons that became paramount in influencing my decision were the better long-term and short-term effects and my experience with radiation.

CyberKnife was somewhat of a misnomer as there is no “knife” in the procedure. The procedure required the planting of two small pure gold “seeds” the size of a grain of rice at the biopsy located cancer sites. These fiducials are used in the radiation process. After the fiducials are implanted the patient’s prostate a cat scan and MRI are performed and used to locate alignment marks placed on the patient’s torso. The procedure then begins for five consecutive days for treatment. The procedure places the patient on a bed in the treatment room. A series of alignments are made using the results from the cat scan and MRI data and the alignment marks on the patient’s torso. A radiation source is mounted on a robot and once the patient is aligned on the bed, the process begins. The process moves the radiation source by the robot moving into successive angles to focus a low energy radiation beam through the prostate. The key is that this process focuses on the fiducials and hence the cancer cells while minimizing the radiation exposure to the adjacent healthy cells.

In the late 1970’s and the 1980’s I was working with radiation applications to the solution of many issues in industry. Focused radiation solutions were found to be extremely effective. This experience gave me confidence in CyberKnife technology. As this personal understanding surfaced during my deliberations on which solution to embrace, I felt that this was the spiritual guidance I was seeking.

On December 9^th we met again with Dr. Naitoh and discussed our decision to employ the CyberKnife procedure to treat my prostate cancer. The doctor arranged for us to meet with Dr. Fuller at the CyberKnife facility.

During the previous days since the biopsy revelation, I was daily investigating the various treatments for prostate cancer and the side effects on the computer. Now having decided on CyberKnife, I continued my internet searches with renewed focus. We had an appointment with Dr. Fuller on December 19^th. On the evening of December 18^th, I made my final inquisition on the computer. Unlike previous inquiries, something new appeared on the screen.

An advertisement for SpaceOAR Hydrogel appeared for the first time in my searches. I read the ad:

SpaceOAR Hydrogel is a PEG-based hydrogel designed to temporarily create space between the prostate and rectum and reduce the radiation dose delivered to the rectum during radiation therapy. It has been clinically shown to help minimize urinary, sexual and bowel side effects and help protect the quality of life for prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

As I read this I wondered, why did this come up now? Does it have any bearing on my decision for CyberKnife? Is it confirmation or a warning?

The name “Hydrogel” stuck in my memory, and I included it specifically in my prayers to attain a level of guidance and confirmation from the Holy Spirit.

The next morning Carol and I met with Dr. Fuller. We were waiting for the doctor to come into the exam room when I looked around the room. I noticed on the counter a plastic document holder with brochures titled Hydrogel! I poked Carol and directed her attention to the brochures. We exchanged smiles.

Doctor Fuller arrived and we discussed the CyberKnife procedure. He answered our questions and shared with us the results experienced by past patients.

Finally, I asked my burning question, “Doctor Fuller, I noticed on the counter the Hydrogel brochures. What is your perspective on Hydrogel?”

He responded enthusiastically, “I would not perform our CyberKnife procedure without Hydrogel.”

He then went on to describe how Hydrogel is employed. When the gold seed fiducials are inserted into the prostate, the Hydrogel is applied as well.

I felt that this whole experience with Hydrogel was God’s way of confirming our decision for CyberKnife.

We made the final decision and set up the next steps for the procedure. Due to the other issues, I was facing at the time, we decided to delay the CyberKnife until March 5^th, 2020.

On that date, the gold fiducials and the Hydrogel were inserted at the CyberKnife facility. The Cat Scan and MRI were performed on March 10^th. Then on Monday March 30^th and through April 3^rd, I underwent each day the CyberKnife procedure. I began taking Flomax medication to keep any prostate swelling to a minimum.

The first PSA blood test following the procedure was June 2^nd that revealed the PSA down to 1.5 ng/ml, down from 8.9 that was the last reading prior to the CyberKnife treatment. On July 16^th I met with Dr. Naitoh who said that the Prostate had shrunk 20% and that the bladder was unaffected and healthy. By October 5^th the PSA was down to 1.0 ng/ml.

In April my PSA was down to 0.7 ng/ml. The PSA levels continued to drop and by 2023 it was down to 0.1 ng/ml. Except for some minor bleeding from the prostate from November 2020 through March 2021, the side effects were essentially nonexistent.

I acknowledge how I was guided by the Holy Spirit in making the decisions and the doctors were led to provide the advice that helped see the right path for me. I found it fascinating how my past work experience and the internet searches played into the decision-making process.

   COPYRIGHT © 2023 ALLAN EDWARD MUSTERER All Rights Reserved

TURNING POINTS

When we take the time to search our experiences, turning points are revealed along with the parts that our faith and trust in God have played. Inspirational are these discoveries and the critical part that God has in the results of our decisions. Sharing our turning points can hopefully inspire others to consider their own turning points that changed their lives forever.

Recommended reading on Cancer: Cancerland, by Dr. David Scadden 

Isaiah 41:10 New King James Version

¹⁰ Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

 

There are some things that we secretly fear and avoid talking or even thinking about. We fool ourselves into thinking that if we avoid thinking about it, it will somehow escape us. One of those fears, common to most humans, is the fear of excruciating pain. Severe and uncontrollable pain is high on our lists of fears. I have experienced the pain of kidney stones passing through the tubes of the urinary tract. The pain is such that there is no position that relieves the pain in any degree. Suffering pain when there is no possible relief is a fearful situation.

On the morning of March 28^th, 2019, I was awakened at two o’clock in the morning with an urge to go to the bathroom. I lifted the covers and when I lifted my legs to get out of bed the pain in my thigh muscles was intense. I was in shock. What was going on? Where did this pain come from? I agonized to put my feet on the floor. With intense leg pain with each leg step I hobbled awkwardly to the toilet and relieved myself. The pain in my thighs was unrelenting as I painstakingly made my way back to bed.

Once supine and the muscles relaxed, the pain disappeared. I was confused. What had just happened? What could have caused this? I was thinking, no hoping, that with the pain gone it was gone for good. I prayed and thanked God for the relief and went off to sleep.

Two hours later, I awoke again and to my dismay, the pain returned to repeat the two o’clock episode. Now I began to worry. Is this some kind of disease I have? I questioned God. Is this going to be debilitating? Will I lose my ability to walk? Back in bed with muscles again relaxed, the pain again dissipated. I couldn’t sleep any more. Speculation dizzied my thoughts. Intense fear crept into me. I sure didn’t see this coming into my life.

After I painfully made my way to the kitchen and made breakfast, I cleared my head enough to try to understand what could be causing this. It was very strange as within a half hour of moving around, the pain relieved to a point of tolerance and within an hour was gone. This went on for a week.

The morning of April 4^th, one week after the onset of the pain I remembered that a potential side effect of a statin medication was muscle pain. I had suffered a stroke three years prior and had been taking a statin medication since then without issues. I hoped that maybe that was the cause of my pain. I called my doctor and explained the pain and my theory about the statin drug. He suggested I stop the statin medication for a week and see what happens. I stopped taking the drug that evening.

A week passed with no relief. Each day the pain levels increased and soon included hips, arms, and shoulders along with the thighs. As each day wore on the pain subsided until it was gone by early afternoon only to return by two o’clock in the morning. By the second week the pain reached such a level that was simply intolerable. I awoke on April 11^th and finally had my wife take me to emergency at the hospital.

By now the pain was so intense I could barely walk. I waddled into the emergency receiving area like I was about to collapse, awful pain with every step. I made it to the clerk at the desk. Explaining my experience, I was immediately seated in a wheelchair and after signing in whisked to a room in the bowls of the hospital’s emergency area.

Hurting severely, I stood up to get into the hospital bed. I grimaced holding back the scream that wanted so desperately to express my agonizing pain. As before, once supine on the bed the pain began to ease as my muscles relaxed. A nurse quickly arrived and started an IV and took some blood samples. Soon after a doctor came in and asked the standard questions.

“Once we have the blood work results, we will have a plan to take care of this. How do you feel now?” He asked.

“I am fine now, no pain. But if I try to flex a muscle, the pain returns.”

An hour passed and the nurse returned to inject medication into my IV. Within minutes I could flex my leg muscles without pain.

“Wow, that was quick. What just happened?” I asked.

When the doctor returned, he gave me his assessment.

“The blood work indicated severe inflammation of your circulatory system. (C-Reactive Protein levels that indicate inflammation are normally less than 0.5 mg/dl, mine was 138 mg/dl) But the rest of the results and the specific location of your pain indicate that you have Polymyalgia Rheumatica. It’s an autoimmune disease. We treat it with low dose steroids. You need to see your regular doctor in the next few days for ongoing treatment. I have prescribed 15 mg of Prednisone.”

I already had an appointment for my annual physical exam with Dr Sun on April 15th.

In his exam room he looked at me and said, “We are not doing your annual physical today. This report from the emergency room visit is serious. How are you feeling today?”

“After the emergency room visit, I was fine for a couple days, taking 15 mg of prednisone each morning. But yesterday and today, the pain is back as bad as before.” I answered.

The doctor increased my Prednisone to 20 mg and set my next appointment for a week after.

This time there was no significant reduction of pain. Dr. Sun increased the Prednisone to 60 mg. But he asked me if I had any headaches.

“Yes, I have had a couple and took some Tylenol, but they didn’t have much effect,” I responded.

“This diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica can have some very serious consequences. We must treat it aggressively. But you need to see a Rheumatologist as they are the specialists for this disease. I have taken the initiative to set up an appointment with Dr. Kim the day after tomorrow. The biggest risk is Temporal Giant Cell Arteritis, which if untreated leads to permanent blindness. I will get you an appointment with a Neuro-Ophthalmologist before you leave today. You will need a biopsy of your temporal artery to determine if you have Giant Cell Arteritis. But we must treat this as though you do have it. I will be prescribing higher doses of Prednisone until we have the biopsy results.”

This was a lot to take in. I left the doctor’s office with two appointments and a prescription for prednisone. For the next two days I took 30 mg of Prednisone in the morning and again at night. Finally, at those levels I was pain free.

Two days later I met with the rheumatologist, Dr. Kim. She had me change the dose and frequency to 60 mg in the morning only.

Two days later I had my appointment with the Neuro-Ophthalmologist for the temporal artery biopsy. When I awoke that morning, the pain was right back at its highest levels. Obviously, the morning only regime with the Prednisone wasn’t working.

I had inquired the previous day as to what was needed from me for the biopsy. Did I need someone to drive me home afterwards? How long would it take? Any special restrictions that I needed to consider?

The medical assistant said, “No need for someone to drive you. The biopsy procedure is very simple with only a local anesthetic. It takes about twenty minutes. You will be out of here in an hour at the most.”

I was also suffering at the time from an enlarged prostate. That necessitated frequent urination. I also was on a blood anti-coagulant medication. Unfortunately, with the speed of this biopsy I couldn’t stop it early enough to make a difference for the “minor” surgery for the biopsy. The doctors were not concerned.

When I arrived at the doctor’s office, I made it a point to visit the restroom to ensure that I wouldn’t need to use it during the procedure. I limped in agony into Dr. Edwards office  and checked in at the reception desk. They said it would be a few minutes before I was called.

When my name was called, I was first ushered into a small room where a very preliminary eye exam. I wondered what that had to do with the biopsy. I was now led to the exam room that was outfitted like a typical eye examination room. Dr. Edwards arrived and after introductions he began to explain what was going to happen.

He began, “First I will give you a complete eye examination to assess the baseline health of your eyes. Then I will perform the biopsy of your right temporal artery. But before that we will have to decide as to the pathology lab to do the biopsy.”

The doctor continued with a detailed dissertation as to the risks of temporal giant cell arteritis and the permanent blindness it produces if untreated. The emphasis was on discovering if I had it or not. He explained that another Neuro-Ophthalmologist from Loma Linda Medical Center just happened to be in the office that day (she never ever came in on a Friday). He said that she could take the biopsy sample with her to her lab in Loma Linda and a superior pathology test result would result compared to a local lab’s test.

“So where shall I send the biopsy sample Allan?”

“Doctor, I prayed that you would be guided by God today to serve my best interest. Please, you make that decision.”

“It’s going to Loma Linda!” he instantly proclaimed.

After the eye exam, I was taken to the operating room and placed on the table. Every step still greeted me with excruciating pain. Again, as I lay down, I could relax my muscles and the pain subsided as the nurse prepared for biopsy surgery. I was a bit unnerved as I realized that the local anesthetic would allow me to be to be fully conscious and hear every word spoken and every noise that would emanate from the surgical procedure.

Now the anti-coagulation medication I still had in my system was about to make its presence known. The lidocaine injections were uneventful and painless. The surgery proceeded with the 2-inch-long incision and the bleeding commenced. It was a challenge for the surgeon to control the bleeding. I could hear the constant sizzle of the cauterizing used to stop the bleeding. Finally, after more than 20 minutes the bleeding was under control.

The search for the artery to be excised began. This too, was a challenge, as my low blood pressure seemed to cause the artery to collapse and hide from sight. The surgeon and his assistant struggled to find and secure the elusive vessel for excision.

I heard what to me sounded like a frantic interchange between doctor and nurse.

“There it is!”

“Oops it’s gone again!”

“No, there it is!”

“Oh no, it’s disappeared again.”

This struggle continued for thirty minutes until the doctor told the nurse to summon the specialist from Loma Linda for help.

The last words you want to hear while under the knife are “OOPS!” or “WOW!”

Momentarily the other doctor arrived on the scene. Since I had my eyes covered, I could only imagine the scene.

Dr Edwards explained the dilemma they were having and asked her what she thought. As she peered into the open incision on the side of my head, she exclaimed, “WOW! Never saw anything like that before!”

I was reeling in my thoughts. What in the world is going on? I sure hope they can figure this out! Again, and again I silently prayed for divine intervention.

The doctor quickly offered some guidance. Dr Edwards and his assistant finally isolated the artery. With the other doctor’s approval of the isolated sample, the vessel was tied off and excised.

Now two plus hours into the surgery, I was being sutured. By now my bladder was at the bursting point. I asked the doctor if he could please hurry as I really needed to use the restroom. He said he was going as fast as he could. A few minutes later he said we are far enough along for you to get up and we will finish when you get back.

Sutured and back on my painful feet again I was led to the restroom a few feet away from the operating room. But alas it was occupied! My last resort was the public restroom in the corridor. Fortuitously it was vacant, and I could at last relieve myself.

I returned to the operating room for the final stitching. Dr. Edwards suggested I go back to Prednisone 30 mg in the morning and 30 mg at night until I see Dr. Kim again.

I scheduled a follow-up visit with Dr. Edwards and painfully made my way to my car to return home. It was now well over two hours past the expected conclusion to the surgery.

Three days later I visited Dr. Kim again. This time my Prednisone was modified to 40 mg in the morning and 20 mg at night. This resulted in manageable and very low pain levels.

On May 2^nd I visited Dr Sun for a checkup. He was pleased that the pain was very much under control.

One week later at Dr Edwards’ office the sutures were removed from the biopsy incision, but there was no news yet on the biopsy results.

Finally on May 18^th the biopsy results came back. My phone rang and Dr. Edwards gave me the good news, “No Temporal Giant Cell Arteritis!” I was so relieved. Now all I had to do was find a more permanent solution to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica pain. Remaining much longer on such high doses of Prednisone was not good.

Two days later I met again for follow up with Dr, Sun.

On May 22^nd Dr. Kim began to diminish the Prednisone, 40 mg in the morning and 10 mg at night.

In the days and weeks that followed, Dr Kim continued to explore the diagnosis to determine if other issues were in the mix all while slowly diminishing the steroid doses. I had neurological tests to rule out nerve damage in my legs and bone density scans to determine detrimental effects of the high steroid doses. Pain management is always tricky as the steroid doses decrease, because if too aggressive pain returns. The goal is to get the steroid to the lowest possible levels, typically 5 to 15 mg once per day.

May 31^st it was reduced to 40 mg in the morning and 5 mg at night. By June 2^nd I was at 40 mg in the morning only, with none at night. Three days later I dropped the morning dose to 35 mg.

On June 15^th the Prednisone was down to 30 mg in the morning. Reductions continued until it was 25 mg on June 25^th and 20 mg on June 28^th when pain suddenly returned to my hands and shoulders. On the 30^th I began taking Fosamax.

The pain in my joints began to return progressively getting worse each day. By July 7^th with the reduction of Prednisone to 15 mg the pain was almost as high as when it all began 3 months before. But Dr. Kim was undeterred in getting me off the Prednisone.

I began taking Methotrexate tablets (4 tablets) on July 10^th that resulted in a significant reduction in pain levels.  On the 12^th the Prednisone was reduced again to 10 mg. Again my pain levels jumped to high levels and the Methotrexate was increased (6 tablets) and Meloxicam was introduced. Immediately the pain levels began to drop again.

The Prednisone was dropped to 5 mg on the 20^th and the pain returned but at a much slower amount. But by the 25^th the pain had reached quite high prompting Dr, Kim to raise the Prednisone up to 10 mg.

On the 26^th of July I received concerning news from my Urologist, Dr, Naitoh. He had been monitoring my PSA levels for ten years. It was very slowly getting higher. A few weeks prior I had my annual physical and urological tests. The doctor advised me that my PSA was suddenly at 8, almost double from the previous year. He wanted me to set up an appointment soon.

I met with Dr. Naitoh on the 30^th and he advised me of his concerns with the PSA of 8. He suggested a needle biopsy of the prostate as soon as possible to assess the situation.

Meanwhile, the pain in my thighs, hips, arms, hands, neck and shoulders continued while on the 10 mg Prednisone. Levels of pain at 6, 7, and 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 were being experienced.

By August 7^th, Dr. Kim stopped the Methotrexate tablets and I began 0.7 ml injections once a week. The pain persisted but at slightly lower levels. I visited my cardiologist for a heart test that proved excellent.

On August 27^th I had an ultrasound on my legs with no blood clots discovered. The Methotrexate was increased to 0.8 ml on the 28^th. Pain levels had eased to levels of 3 and 4.

On the 31^st Carol and I went on vacation to Utah for a week, despite the consistent pain. We enjoyed our travels, but the walking was quite uncomfortable. By Thursday my Prednisone pills were running low and I had to reduce the dose from 15 mg to 10 mg. (Just prior to vacation the Prednisone doses were briefly raised to get me at pain levels that I could tolerate on vacation.)

By the last day of vacation, the pain in my legs and hip were so severe I needed a wheelchair to navigate the airport. Upon my return I made several doctor’s appointments to further asses my physical situation.

September 11^th, I met with my orthopedic surgeon to assess my two knees that had partial knee replacements years prior. X-rays showed that my left knee had lost what cartilage had been left. Full knee replacement surgery was now the plan.

September 27^th, I ceased Meloxicam but continued with the 0.8 ml Methotraxate weekly injections. The Prednisone was reduced to 7.5 mg. Since my return form vacation all my pain levels had reduced to levels of 1 to 3.

Early October the Methotrexate was increased to 0.9 ml. Surprisingly, there was a up tick in pain levels. I took a Meloxicam pill and the levels dropped again.

On the 25^th I stopped Meloxicam and reduced the Prednisone to 5.0 mg. After three days the pain made a significant jump and I returned to 7.5 mg Prednisone.

At this point was facing a knee replacement and a prostate biopsy along with the pain management. The knee preplacement was put off for the time being by having my knee drained of an accumulation of fluid on November 7^th in hopes of easing that source of pain.

I had an extensive prostate biopsy performed in the hospital on November 21^st under full anesthesia. December 9^th Carol and I met with Dr. Naitoh to review the biopsy results. He said that the biopsy identified two cancer sites within the prostate. However, the type of cancer was a very slow growing kind and normally the prognosis would recommend a watch and see regimen. However, the doctor shared his concern that the PSA level had increased drastically and now was almost at 9.0 from the 8 in April. He opined that there was something going on that was not normal. He recommended aggressive treatment.

After discussing the possible treatments and their side effects and long-term effects on my health and life, we decided on a treatment called CyberKnife. This was the least invasive and had the fewest side and long-term effects. The plan was set in motion. (The rest of this story will be in another article)

The dance of Prednisone juggling and pain management continued. November 16^th to 6 mg, December 11^th to 5 mg, and January 5^th to 4 mg.

January 20^th, I had my left knee full replacement surgery. From the 28^th through February 10^th the Prednisone was upped to 10 mg to assist with the knee replacement rehabilitation. On the 11^th it was reduced to 6 mg.

The reductions continued with February 25^th to 5 mg, March 12^th to 4 mg, April 3^rd to 3 mg, April 10^th to 2 mg, April 27^th to 1 mg and finally May 13^th the Prednisone ceased.

March 28^th to May 13^th almost fourteen months and the pain was finally under control with the Methotrexate 1.0 ml weekly injections. I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis  and visit with my rheumatologist on a quarterly schedule where my progress is monitored along with blood test to assess any changes that are needed with medications.

During 2020, in addition to the pain management, I had a successful total left knee replacement, successful spine surgery to open the clogged nerve passages between L3 and L4 vertebrae, and successful prostate cancer procedure with CyberKnife radiation. That procedure resulted in PSA levels being reduced from the high of 8.9 to 1.5 after four months and to 1.0 after seven months. Three years later it stood at 0.1.

All during this “adventure” I put my trust in the Lord my God to carry me through. I asked for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for each of my doctors as they plied their talent, skill and expertise to serve my needs such that the will of God for me would be realized. The whole of the experience has served to edify my faith and trust in my God and know He listens to my prayers and responds in a most blessed way.

 

  COPYRIGHT © 2023 ALLAN EDWARD MUSTERER All Rights Reserved

TURNING POINTS

This experience was truly a journey of trust in the Lord. The countless moments of testing my resolve and attempting to understand each setback to my health and wellbeing was in the end a treasure. It was a turning point that gave me renewed faith and trust that God is with me and that with Him I can traverse challenges yet to be faced. It confirms my perspective that with the right attitude and sincere gratitude, adversity can be dealt with such that one will grow beyond all expectations leaving adversity and fear behind.  

 

NOTE: 

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disorder that causes widespread aching, stiffness, and flu-like symptoms. It is more common in women than men and is seen more often in Caucasians than other races. It typically develops by age 70 and is rarely seen in people younger than 50. PMR may last from one to five years; however, it varies from person to person. Approximately 15 percent of people with PMR develop a potentially dangerous condition called giant cell arteritis.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA), or temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory disease affecting the large blood vessels of the scalp, neck, and arms. Inflammation causes a narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels, which interrupts blood flow. The disease is commonly associated with polymyalgia rheumatica. If left untreated it can cause untreatable blindness.

One of the most well-known words of Jesus in scriptures are “He who is without sin, caste the first stone.” The story that led to that poignant moment in history and the consequence it inspired is packed with lessons. For anyone seeking to become the best person they can be, these lessons cry out for serious and authentic personal introspection.

I thought it would be a good experience for my readers to explore the thoughts that follow and discover value as they have for me.

For context, I offer these two translations to remind us of the story.

John 8:1-9 Living Bible

8 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, ² but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and talked to them. ³ As he was speaking, the Jewish leaders and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery and placed her out in front of the staring crowd.

⁴ “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. ⁵ Moses’ law says to kill her. What about it?”

⁶ They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. ⁷ They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first!”

⁸ Then he stooped down again and wrote some more in the dust. ⁹ And the Jewish leaders slipped away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until only Jesus was left in front of the crowd with the woman.

John 8:1-9 The Message

To Throw the Stone

 8 ^1-2 Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them.

^3-6 The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.

^6-8 Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.

^9-10 Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest.

As I read these and other translations, nuances of the scene come into view. I see the spiritual leaders of the time, much like the politicians of today. They had the law as a weapon to use to meet their ends. In this case, the ends they were aiming for was to discredit Jesus who they saw as a threat. They were using the woman as their pawn to trap Jesus. I ask myself; do I fall into such a trap as these leaders did? I wonder what these people would have done with their stones if Jesus was not in the picture? Would they have stoned her?

I need to understand and know “what are my stones?” And what are the circumstances that would make me think that I am justified in throwing them? My first impulse is to see my stones as possible judgements that may arise from prejudices I have not yet purged.

1 Corinthians 10:23 New International Version

The Believer’s Freedom

 ²³ “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.

The stones we humans gather find justification in the sentiment expressed in these words from Paul who was an attorney by education and profession in his previous “career”. The excuse that whatever I choose to do is permitted by law, hence my actions regardless of effect on others is acceptable and is justified in my “stone throwing”. Now Paul makes it clear that though some actions are legal under the law, they are not beneficial or constructive for our journey to love one another as we have been loved.

This ushers in the thought that Jesus, as the paragon of human behavior that God hopes we would aspire, gave us a standard to use in our lives. Jesus in His last moments uttered two very telling statements relative to our “stones”.

Luke 23:34 New King James Version

 ³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

For all the years I have read these words I ascribed them directed to the soldiers who were carrying out the crucifixion orders of Pilot. But considering the stones story, I wonder if Jesus’ request for His Father’s forgiveness was meant not only for the soldiers but also the Jewish leaders and the crowd of onlookers assembled for the sheer pleasure of the crucifixion spectacle.  

The thought of Jesus asking for His Father to forgive me brings the sweet sound of my stones dropping to the pavement. The thought of that which followed this moment on cross ought inspire deliberate release of the stones I may still grip.

After the crowd’s taunting Jesus in His agony, the unrepentant thief at Jesus side joins the taunting initiated by the crowd. The other thief rebukes his counterpart and acknowledges Jesus as Lord. Then a gracious Jesus hears his plea and despite suffering insufferable agony he summons sufficient strength to give the thief hope.

Luke 23:42-43 New King James Version

⁴² Then he said ^to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” ⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The love of Jesus instantly responds to the authentic repentance of the thief at His side with absolution. Jesus promise to the thief is also for those willing to repent their sin and accept the grace of Jesus. The sweet sounds of stones falling to the pavement and the repentant heart opens the way for our salvation.

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TURNING POINTS

The perception these revisited scriptures can inspire in me will hopefully open a more detailed introspection into my life. With a renewed vision of my prejudices and the work I have before me to drop them as stones will bring me closer to becoming transformed into the image of Jesus. I hope that it will be said for you as well.