The Fighting Clelands

Boxing News

Roberto “The Tremor” Cleland is now fighting in a new weight class. He has gone from 152 pounds down to 136 and he hopes to defeat Jersey Joe Parkinson, the challenger, in a fight promoted by Cheap Box Wine productions.

Roberto's trainer, Giuseppe Franzia says that his fighter is working hard to perfect his famous “Tremor Jab” which along with his “Roberto Shuffle” confuses his opponent long enough for Roberto to land his slow motion “Sleeper” punch.

In related boxing news, Roberto's brother, JC “The Radioactive Kid” Cleland has also made a dramatic weight change and has dropped from the heavyweight division to fight as a featherweight. He hopes to hold titles in both weight classes and he feels confident that his opponent, Smokin' Joe Cancer can be beaten. In JC's corner is Sal Franzia, another one of the famous Franzia family of fight trainers. “The Radioactive Kid” is known for his powerful “Atomic Belch” which has been the downfall of many opponents.

Skinny Bob part 2

Well, I finally remembered not to eat before a fasting blood test and got that accomplished. A few days later the clinic called and said the results were negative.

Then I went to the hospital in Newport for chest x rays, and again the results were negative.

Next was the CT scan, and except for springing a leak and dripping blood all over the floor after they unhooked the IV, I passed it with flying colors.

A Colonoscopy was next and when I went to the pre-op appointment to see Dr. Hoque, he suggested having an EGD, (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) also. Which is basically the same as a Colonoscopy but they go down from the top end to look at the inside of the stomach. (Hopefully not with the same equipment!)

Carol and I arrived at the hospital a little after 6:am, since I was the first “procedure” of the day. I weighed in at 131 pounds. The nurses and anesthetist all were great as they prepped me,and at 8:am they rolled me into the operating room.

The next thing I knew I was in the recovery room waking up.

In a little while a nurse helped me into a wheelchair and wheeled me back out to the outpatient room where I had started. They paged Carol and after she arrived another nurse sat down with us to explain what they had found and what the doctor had prescribed.

They had found and removed a polyp from my colon, (No big deal.)

The doctor advised a high fiber diet. Yum, sticks and twigs!

The EGD however, revealed a Hiatal hernia and Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) and they had the gross pictures to prove it!

The doctor prescribed Carafate liquid, 2 ounces 4 times a day for 2 months. The nurse pointed to the sheaf of instructions for me to take home. The Carafate can only be taken 1 hour before and 2 hours after you eat. Huh?

The doctor also advised no coffee or alcohol for the next 2 months. WHAT?

My head was spinning from the leftover anesthetic and the instructions, but I did manage to ask, “Could any of these things be the reason for my weight loss?”

“No, the doctor doesn't think so.” Great!

So I still don't know why I'm losing weight, my morning coffee and my evening wine are gone for two months and I have to drink this gunk that tastes like watered down Pepto Bismol 4 times a day.

Skinny Bob

I knew when I went to see my general practitioner, Dr. Vogleman that I'd be in for a giant barrage of tests, and I was right.

My main reason for seeing him was the weight loss I've experienced since last summer. In late July I weighed in at my normal 150 pounds, and yesterday at the clinic I weighed 136.

My neurologist said that some people with Parkinson's do lose quite a bit of weight but that I should see my G.P. to make sure there wasn't another reason for the weight loss.

Dr. Vogleman scheduled me for a chest x ray, a cat scan, a fasting blood draw, and a colonoscopy. I also have to go in for a couple of shots for the Bursitis in my hips.

The clinic called yesterday evening and said I should go to the hospital for the blood draw and the chest x ray and not to forget to fast for 12 hours beforehand.

This morning I got up and ate my usual bacon, sausage, eggs, toast and milk before it sunk in that fast is not the same as breakfast.

Oh well! I'll try again tomorrow.