Tuesday  I visited my primary care physician and pulmonologist Dr. Ajay  Deshpande for my 9-month follow-up to my surgery at the end of March.  The prognosis was good.

The  doctor did an x-ray and compared it to the last x-ray from July. There  was no change. There was the scar tissue evident, but no new signs of  infection or anything that may be of concern. The x-rays were identical.  This is good news.

Because  I've had some fever over the last few months since my September  check-up and with us entering into winter, as a precaution, the doctor  did prescribe an antibiotic to be taken to prevent any  infection or even a cold from taking hold or stop any infection that may  have begun. This was also in response to the increased coughing spells  and production of thick white discharge from the lungs.

What  was a concern is my weight loss. Since Thanksgiving, I have lost  another 4 pounds. I am now down to 145. Following my surgery I had  managed to gain back part of the 30-35 pounds I had lost last fall and  the first of the year. I had gained back up to 156 pounds by my  September appointment. From September until now, I have lost 11 pounds.  To counter, the doctor has me drinking a nutritional supplement each  day. Not sure how well the flavored milk-like drink will do, but if it  stops the weight loss, I'm all for it. We will see.

In  light of the possible onset of an infection and the weight loss, the  doctor wants to see me again in six weeks. That means it's back to his  office on January 22. This after a 3-month break from follow-ups from  September to December.

My  appetite remains good. I am eating well (at least well for me). Yet,  the weight keeps falling off. At least my fear of a new infection in my  lungs or a spot showing up to indicate something more dreadful was laid  to rest yesterday.

While  I am somewhat buoyed by the news from the doctor yesterday, it does  little to allay the trepidation and apprehension as we continue to  plunge over our own personal fiscal cliff. It is difficult to keep the rosy outlook.