Popular Post Longjohn ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Popular Post Share #1 Posted January 3, 2020 My wife had a bad day yesterday (Thursday). The visiting nurse saw she was in bad shape on Wednesday and called back several times to check on her. Her oncologist is only in New Castle on Mondays and Thursdays and they ask her if she wanted to come in yesterday instead of waiting for her appointment on Monday. She told them she would wait. If they had asked me I would have told then we would see them as soon as I could get her there. I’m not a doctor but I think she needs to stop the chemo, it’s killing her. I hope she makes it to Monday and they can get her meds straightened out. I would appreciate prayers. 2 15 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheep_herder ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #2 Posted January 3, 2020 Sorry to hear this. We'll keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #3 Posted January 3, 2020 Trebek said the same on the jeopardy special last night, that the chemo was killing him more than the cancer. Sorry it is so rough. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #4 Posted January 3, 2020 My mom used to say just after she started feeling normal again from her last chemo treatment, she would get knocked down again on her next treatment. Chemo treatment is a constant state of feeling crappy and being demoralized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted January 3, 2020 27 minutes ago, Dottie said: My mom used to say just after she started feeling normal again from her last chemo treatment, she would get knocked down again on her next treatment. Chemo treatment is a constant state of feeling crappy and being demoralized. My wife is on a twice a day oral chemo. No chance to start feeling better between treatments. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #6 Posted January 3, 2020 1 hour ago, Longjohn said: My wife is on a twice a day oral chemo. No chance to start feeling better between treatments. It's horrible. Basically poisoning your system. Killing off a new growth cells. Horrible stuff... I understand why some patients pass on it and accept the outcome. If you're constantly and gravelly sick all the time, at some point it becomes philosophical about what course of action to take and what's it worth 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #7 Posted January 3, 2020 Chemo is the process of killing parts of you followed by a period of trying to coax the rest of you back to health. It's an ugly process. It does have it's successful outcomes though. Best wishes for a successful conclusion of the process. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BuffJim Posted January 3, 2020 Popular Post Share #8 Posted January 3, 2020 Prayers sent. You’re a great husband and family man. 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #9 Posted January 3, 2020 21 minutes ago, BuffJim said: Prayers sent. You’re a great husband and family man. He is. And he's very likable too. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted January 3, 2020 Share #10 Posted January 3, 2020 Prayers for WoLJ and prayers for peace and strength for you. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlecan ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #11 Posted January 3, 2020 Sorry to hear.Sending positive, caring thoughts of support. Hope for better days ahead. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrapr ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #12 Posted January 3, 2020 Oh John...I'm so very sorry. Sometimes i had to press WoScrapr to do something like go to the Dr. She didn't want to bother them. I'm like ....they want to help you. Prayers sent for you & your family 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petitepedal ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #13 Posted January 3, 2020 Prayers going out...double time! Hugs to you and Esther 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #14 Posted January 3, 2020 I am very sorry John. Prayers and a big hug! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsnip Totin Jack ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #15 Posted January 3, 2020 Praying for you and your wife. Makes me sad when good people go through tough times like these. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoseySusan Posted January 3, 2020 Share #16 Posted January 3, 2020 Lots more prayers! Lean not on your own understanding. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groupw Posted January 3, 2020 Share #17 Posted January 3, 2020 My daughter is now cancer free, but the chemo side effects will be a life-long consequence. In her case, it was the right decision. It all comes down to weighing longevity vs quality of life. My dad was very close to quitting dialysis when he passed. He was tired of fighting it. I hope and pray for the best for WoLJ and for you. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Author Share #18 Posted January 3, 2020 1 hour ago, Scrapr said: Oh John...I'm so very sorry. Sometimes i had to press WoScrapr to do something like go to the Dr. She didn't want to bother them. I'm like ....they want to help you. Prayers sent for you & your family I’m sure the reason she didn’t want to go yesterday was because she felt so horrible she didn’t want to try to travel. It’s an ordeal to get her to the doctor. Just getting her dressed, getting her into the stair lift, getting her into the wheelchair, getting her into the car, listen to her gagging while I drive over a half hour to the doctor, getting her back into her wheelchair and into the cancer center, go back and park the car. The problem is the way this is progressing it will probably be even harder on Monday. I might need to have an ambulance take her to a hospital that her doctor works out of. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeman564™ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #19 Posted January 3, 2020 Hope things turn around prayers & vibes sent 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Author Share #20 Posted January 3, 2020 1 minute ago, groupw said: My daughter is now cancer free, but the chemo side effects will be a life-long consequence. In her case, it was the right decision. It all comes down to weighing longevity vs quality of life. My dad was very close to quitting dialysis when he passed. He was tired of fighting it. I hope and pray for the best for WoLJ and for you. My wife has had neuropathie in her feet ever since she had six months of chemo 11 years ago. It was worth it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #21 Posted January 3, 2020 5 minutes ago, groupw said: My daughter is now cancer free, but the chemo side effects will be a life-long consequence. In her case, it was the right decision. It all comes down to weighing longevity vs quality of life. My dad was very close to quitting dialysis when he passed. He was tired of fighting it. I hope and pray for the best for WoLJ and for you. This is true for womaxx as well. The second bout of colon cancer involved chemo. It probably saved her life for a number of years, but some of the side effects will be with her forever. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #22 Posted January 3, 2020 Cancer sucks. I have no words that can ease your pain but I will pray for your entire family and care team. Stay strong, brother. Peace and Strength to you. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisL Posted January 3, 2020 Share #23 Posted January 3, 2020 Prayers sent. Hang in there LJ. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital_photog ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #24 Posted January 3, 2020 So sorry John. Prayers for both of you. We have great memories of the weekend we spent riding with you in Michigan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Razors Edge ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Popular Post Share #25 Posted January 3, 2020 Thinking about you and your wife, and sending lots of hopes and prayers. My FiL, in his 80s with recurring bouts of cancer, had a helluva time with his last chemo treatments a year or so ago. After two treatments, one of my SiLs (a nurse) jumped in and made sure the doctors re-evaluated the chemo mix. They agreed to change it up, since one of the drugs was suspected of causing a severe adverse reaction. Anyway, it worked in that the new chemo mix did not have the same awful side-effects. My FiL would NOT have changed things up without the intervention of my SiL. He would have gutted it out until it was completed, he was hospitalized, or the chemo doctor realized the mix was bad. Hopefully, on Monday, you get some better options to try. I think the "squeaky" wheel might need to be you, if your wife and her doctor aren't fully understanding or expressing the impact the current chemo mix is having. Sadly, though, sometimes there is no other mix available. In any case, as ever, we all are in amazement at your steadfast support and care for your wife. It is wonderful even in these sorts of challenging times. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentonMakes Posted January 3, 2020 Share #26 Posted January 3, 2020 Wishing strength to both of you. I'm sorry you are going through this but I definitely admire how you take good care of her. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #27 Posted January 3, 2020 Very sorry. I just went through this with my mother. I’m sorry. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Share #28 Posted January 3, 2020 Good luck, stay strong. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted January 3, 2020 Author Share #29 Posted January 3, 2020 1 hour ago, Razors Edge said: Thinking about you and your wife, and sending lots of hopes and prayers. My FiL, in his 80s with recurring bouts of cancer, had a helluva time with his last chemo treatments a year or so ago. After two treatments, one of my SiLs (a nurse) jumped in and made sure the doctors re-evaluated the chemo mix. They agreed to change it up, since one of the drugs was suspected of causing a severe adverse reaction. Anyway, it worked in that the new chemo mix did not have the same awful side-effects. My FiL would NOT have changed things up without the intervention of my SiL. He would have gutted it out until it was completed, he was hospitalized, or the chemo doctor realized the mix was bad. Hopefully, on Monday, you get some better options to try. I think the "squeaky" wheel might need to be you, if your wife and her doctor aren't fully understanding or expressing the impact the current chemo mix is having. Sadly, though, sometimes there is no other mix available. In any case, as ever, we all are in amazement at your steadfast support and care for your wife. It is wonderful even in these sorts of challenging times. Our oncologist who got her through five recurrences over the past 20 some years retired at the end of 2018. We decided since we had to find a new oncologist we would find one that wasn’t in jeopardy of not accepting her insurance. I feel confident that this guy is where we should be. Many types of chemo cannot get through the brain barrier. This drug does, I think it may be time to take her off it. Her oncologist is constantly tweaking her medications to control the side effects as best he can. Right now she is so wore down I don’t think she can take more. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Posted January 3, 2020 Share #30 Posted January 3, 2020 So sorry to hear this. I know it has been a long fight for you both. She is lucky to have you on her side. Keep us posted. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12string Posted January 3, 2020 Share #31 Posted January 3, 2020 praying 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingstar Posted January 3, 2020 Share #32 Posted January 3, 2020 She has been strong on so many different fronts for so long. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD ★ Posted January 4, 2020 Share #33 Posted January 4, 2020 My mother was hit hard by her 2-per-week chemo treatments. My sister is a cancer research nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital and made sure mom was taking the iron and appetite-enhancement meds she was prescribed. I made sure she was eating because Johns Hopkins warned us that lack of nutrition was a major problem among cancer victims. I would do things like stop at Panera and pick up a bowl of each of the four soups they had, drive to mom's and tell her I wasn't leaving until I watched her eat the bowl of her choice - and put the others in the fridge for later. Recovering from chemo might put her in a bad mood and she'd say things like, "I'm YOUR mother. I'll tell YOU when I want to eat." But I stood my ground until she did. And she did maintain her weight through out the ordeal. People can be real helpful when you explain the situation. My boss, the school principal, had my schedule rearranged so my planning period was at the end of the day and I was allowed to leave an hour before school ended on mom's chemo days. When a foot of snow was due mom was still in pretty good shape and resolved to stay at home alone. So I stopped at a favorite sub shop and told the woman working there that I wanted a couple 6" Philly Cheese Steak subs and a couple cold subs. When I told her it was for my dying-of-cancer mother until the snow was cleared, she told me her husband had died of cancer the previous year. She ended up putting together a kit with stuff in containers so mom could load the sub rolls fresh at home. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airehead Posted January 4, 2020 Share #34 Posted January 4, 2020 John, you know Mrs. Fleet is in my daily prayers. Lean on your family right now. Those boys love their momma and you too. Cancer may be in one person but it hits the whole family. Definitely take her by ambulance on Monday. The ride will be more comfortable for you both. This is a very wise plan, not a cop out. God gave you that big brain so you could help others- if she isn’t feeling a lot better use the ambulance. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrapr ★ Posted January 4, 2020 Share #35 Posted January 4, 2020 13 minutes ago, Airehead said: John, you know Mrs. Fleet is in my daily prayers. Lean on your family right now. Those boys love their momma and you too. Cancer may be in one person but it hits the whole family. Definitely take her by ambulance on Monday. The ride will be more comfortable for you both. This is a very wise plan, not a cop out. God gave you that big brain so you could help others- if she isn’t feeling a lot better use the ambulance. Instead of an ambulance do you have Medical transport? Might be cheaper. Friend of ours was just getting into paramedic stuff. As she was a noob she got on the medical transport duty. Usually a Sprinter van but without all the life saving stuff on the inside. Not any lights & siren either 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted January 4, 2020 Author Share #36 Posted January 4, 2020 I don’t know what is available in my area. A lot will depend on what happens this weekend. My son is on his way over right now, he will help me make some decisions. My wife is trying to figure out how to work the tv right now. She never has trouble with that so something is affecting her brain now. 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airehead Posted January 4, 2020 Share #37 Posted January 4, 2020 46 minutes ago, Longjohn said: I don’t know what is available in my area. A lot will depend on what happens this weekend. My son is on his way over right now, he will help me make some decisions. My wife is trying to figure out how to work the tv right now. She never has trouble with that so something is affecting her brain now. So glad your son is coming to have a look see with you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted January 4, 2020 Author Share #38 Posted January 4, 2020 2 hours ago, Airehead said: So glad your son is coming to have a look see with you. We are in the ER, we called an ambulance for transport. Esther got real confused and I thought maybe she had a stroke. They are running some tests. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groupw Posted January 4, 2020 Share #39 Posted January 4, 2020 Have them check for low grad fever. Really affected both my parents at different times. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrapr ★ Posted January 4, 2020 Share #40 Posted January 4, 2020 41 minutes ago, groupw said: Have them check for low grad fever. Really affected both my parents at different times. and dehydration 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Further Posted January 4, 2020 Share #41 Posted January 4, 2020 Praying the day gets better for you and her. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randomguy Posted January 4, 2020 Share #42 Posted January 4, 2020 I am really sorry to hear about this, of course our thoughts are with you. I know this is really tough for you and your family, how are you holding up? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Longjohn ★ Posted January 4, 2020 Author Popular Post Share #43 Posted January 4, 2020 I’m holding up ok. I just got home from the hospital at 6AM. They admitted my wife after they determined it is probably not her brain lesion causing the problems. They think it is a UTI and dehydration which they can treat there. They were just about to transport her to Pittsburgh when they decided to do a urinalysis first and found the UTI. 9 hours ago, Scrapr said: and dehydration Bingo 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airehead Posted January 4, 2020 Share #44 Posted January 4, 2020 Get some sleep. Those UTI infections can cause so much trouble 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted January 4, 2020 Share #45 Posted January 4, 2020 20 minutes ago, Airehead said: Get some sleep. Those UTI infections can cause so much trouble Yup! Dr Ralph concurs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Longjohn ★ Posted January 4, 2020 Author Popular Post Share #46 Posted January 4, 2020 My wife is doing much better today. 3 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsnip Totin Jack ★ Posted January 4, 2020 Share #47 Posted January 4, 2020 6 minutes ago, Longjohn said: My wife is doing much better today. How you doin’? Getting rest? Enough to eat? You skip meals and don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be well. Just saying friend. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Longjohn ★ Posted January 4, 2020 Author Popular Post Share #48 Posted January 4, 2020 12 minutes ago, Old#7 said: How you doin’? Getting rest? Enough to eat? You skip meals and don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be well. Just saying friend. I got home from the hospital at 6am, slept until 10. Going to try to get to bed early tonight. I’m back in the hospital now, my wife is napping. 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Square Wheels Posted January 4, 2020 Popular Post Share #49 Posted January 4, 2020 The two of you have had one of the must full lives I've heard of. So very sad she's not doing well. You are one of the kindest souls here, I wish you peace. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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