Medical Journal: 11/4/18

Progress. I have a voice. Not my normal voice, but workable. Big relief! Overall, I felt much better in Amsterdam (the second half of my trip) than I had in Prague.

Still coughing. Overall, the radiation side-effects were much more severe than had been advertised.

More progress: One of my volunteer kidney donors matched. That substantially improves my odds.

Still very short on energy, and I’m no longer confident that’s the radiation side-effect as opposed to the heart problem. Economizing on walking and carrying is a substantial complication. Hoping the negotiation between the cardiologist and the oncologist will result in a somewhat higher dosage of the heart medication.

Weight seems to have stabilized between 225 and 230. I could stand to lose more, but being down 30 is certainly progress. It’s hard to express what a joy it is to have –for the first time in my life –a normal appetite. I enjoy my food, but in limited quantities. I had attributed the appetite loss to the cancer, but the cancer’s gone (I’m told) and the appetite hasn’t come back, suggesting that the issue is renal insufficiency.

Bunch of medical appointments next week.

Author: Mark Kleiman

Professor of Public Policy at the NYU Marron Institute for Urban Management and editor of the Journal of Drug Policy Analysis. Teaches about the methods of policy analysis about drug abuse control and crime control policy, working out the implications of two principles: that swift and certain sanctions don't have to be severe to be effective, and that well-designed threats usually don't have to be carried out. Books: Drugs and Drug Policy: What Everyone Needs to Know (with Jonathan Caulkins and Angela Hawken) When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment (Princeton, 2009; named one of the "books of the year" by The Economist Against Excess: Drug Policy for Results (Basic, 1993) Marijuana: Costs of Abuse, Costs of Control (Greenwood, 1989) UCLA Homepage Curriculum Vitae Contact: Markarkleiman-at-gmail.com