Jump to content

shadowrose

Members
  • Posts

    16
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  1. HI Three men were working out of town and decided to split the cost of the room 3 ways. The room was 30.00. Each paid ten dollars, right? Ok...so, the motel manager thought about it, and decided he'd charged them too much. He had the bellboy take back 5$ to the men. Well, the bellboy kept two dollars of the money, and took $3.00 back to the men. So, if each man got one dollar back, that means each man paid $9.00 for his share of the room. The bellboy kept 2.00 which totals: 9 times 3=27 2 (bellboy) =29 Where did the other dollar go?
  2. HI I'm pretty new here, but thought I'd open up and introduce myself. I find that this forum in particular is good for me, because my choices aren't the 'norm'. It's been determined that I likely have lung cancer, with node involvement. Now, most people would want to be aggressive and treat it and all. That's not me. That, in part, is why I've chosen not to do anything other than keep myself comfortable. I don't do pain well, lol. They can give me all the pain meds they want. I'm 44, and have smoked for 30 years. Yeah, stupid, I know. But at this point, I don't see any reason to quit. It won't change anything, ya know? For the majority of people, I run around various forums and suggest tests to request, meds to try- things like that. For many reasons, though, I've chosen not to take my own advice. For me, quality of life, the time that I have left, is much more important that quanity. I'd drather 6 good months to 12 or even more bad ones. I want my daughter to remember good times. Not watching me dealing with the horrors of chemo and radiation. I talked my father into both, and to this day, regret it. I won't do the same to my child, and leave her with those memories. If anyone thinks I'm crazy, I probably am I beat cancer once before, and really don't know if this lung stuff is a repeat of that, or something new. I don't want or need to know. Just thought I'd introduce myself and say Hi
  3. Most DEFINITLY tell them that you want the tests NOW while you have the insurance. As to the meds, see if the doc will write for you to get what you can now while you're insured. Now, if you're on disability, you should be eligible for medicaid, depending on the amount of $ you recieve per month. If you're on medicaid, and they are cancelling it, you can appeal that decision as well! Please get a brain MRI. The nose might have been nothing, but it could be something serious as well. Severe anemia can cause nose bleeds, as can low platelet counts. A workup is in order, sooner rather than later. Best wishes
  4. HI I take neurontin, so might be able to offer a little input regarding it. Neurontin needs to be started at a VERY low dosage and increased gradually. Mine was started at 100 mgs and upped each week. It is very sedating and it effects the short term memory as well. But, it is good for nerve pain (Mine is for peripheral neuropathy and trigeminal neuralgia) Duragesic pain patches may work better than diludid. They come in various strenthts, and help with a more constant pain control. My duragesic started at 25 and ended up at 100- but they can go higher than that with them. They last 48-72 hours. Diludid metabolizes to the same medication as vicodin. It's just not strong enough for some people. It wasn't for my father when he was dealing with his lung cancer. If mobility is an issue, look into a motorized scooter. I couldn't do without mine. Prayers and best wishes
  5. HI The oncologist office should have someone on call for the weekend. See if you can call and get some phenegran ordered for her for the nausea. It's available in suppositories as well as pills. It's possible that the confusion is from METS, but it's also possible that it's due to oxygen deprivation. Another thing to consider- although she wants no one there- is she mentally capable of making that decision right now? I know that's a tough call to make for you, but you might need to consider whether she needs someone there even if she doesn't want them to be. Call Hospice anyway- even if it's for your own benefit. If the end is near, it can be made a lot more comfortable for her! Duragesic pain patches might be a consideration. They last 48-72 hours, and shouldn't add to her nausea. Hugs and prayers
  6. Hi I have a practical suggestion for you (by the way, you write beautifully!) When walking became a huge struggle for me, I went and got myself an electric scooter. It gave me back my life. They are available even on places like e-bay. Mine is portable and goes with me everywhere I go! Just something to consider. Edited to add: I was told by a few nice people here that you have already gotten a scoter. Blind in one eye and can't see out of the other, or I'd have realized you had a chair in the avatar. But, for any other people out there, that find themselves getting weaker, they really are a Godsend. Patty
  7. HI The fluid can come back. But please let her know that having it drained will make her much more comfortable, too. You mention that she lives alone- if no one is able to stay with her, is there a possibility of a daily check by a health nurse while you're getting hospice set up? An important factor to consider is whether she's just 'given up' or if she's making informed decisions on her treatments/non-treatment. There are many things she can do to improve her quality of life for the time she has left, such as 02, adequate pain medications, nutrition. Pain medications are very sedating, and if approached properly, she might be willing to use the 02- even if it's just at night. That is the time when the o2 saturation drops the most for poeple. Good luck
  8. HI O2 deprivation causes many symptoms. Please let her know that she can be treated with O2 even if she has decided not to quit smoking. There are portable o2 sat machines available. Medicare/hospice should be able to make one available. For some people, the o2 saturation is worse at night. Perhaps she'd agree to use O2 at night only. It may help her decide if you explain to her that she doesn't have to give up the smoking, and that it will make her feel a lot better with the 02. Weakness, tiredness and headaches are just a few of the signs of 02 deprivation. Also, if she seems very depressed, you might try and see if she is willing to talk to someone. Even if it's only here on the internet. There is a wealth of support here and on other sites dealing with cancer. Take care
  9. Hello I'm sorry about your gram. But, as others have said, it is important to have help for YOU as well. Even with other responsibilities, you do have to take care of yourself and all you're going through. If you don't have time for outside groups, there are always people here that can relate with what you're going through, and will always listen. Often, people closest to us don't want to listen. Some because of denial. Others just don't know what to say. Friends will offer condolances, but little else. We often need a place where we can 'let go' and just discuss our feelings and our fears and our hopes. Please make sure that you do that for yourself. Hospice is great. Get them involved right away. Pain management is so very important. Someone close can even be taught to administer pain medications if IV meds are ordered. There comes a time for many cancer sufferers when "quality" outweighs quantity. Sometimes we have to be a little more proactive, and assure that whatever meds they offer for pain and nausea are being given and increased as needed. As for eating, sometimes it helps to make favorite foods. Appetite loss is horrible, and common, unfortunately. There are also many medications, both IV and oral that work great for nausea. Phenegran, for example, is also available in suppository. best wishes Patty
  10. HI Thanks for the replies. I'm so confused, though. If these things can grow that quick, and have the potential for spreading to nodes and all- WHY do they wait in the first place? Personally, I won't do chemo or radiation. I watched my dad through that, and won't make my daughter watch it...but I WOULD let them cut it out. We'll see what happens with a repeat scan. Thanks again
  11. Hello I don't know if I should be posting here, but am unsure where else to go at this point. A little background from those that might have some answers. About 3 months ago, I was coughing up blood and went to the ER. They did a lung CT and found a nodule, non-calcified and enlarged nodes in the medistasian(SP?) region, and in the hilar region. I'd had bronchitis, which I seem to have chronically. A further CT two weeks later still showed the nodule, with basically the same findings. I'd gone back to the ER due to severe shortness of breath (I have asthma) I've smoked for 30 years, and am 44. Now my questions. Does the fact that the nodule wasn't calcified and the nodes were enlarged increase the risk of cancer? The report said the node was indeterminate. Suggested another CT in 3 months. A lung Ct two years ago was normal. Does anyone know how fast a nodule would grow? The doctor said possible cancer, but I'm thinking that they have to say that to cover themselves. I get very short of breath and have been coughing for months, but I also have asthma, so that isn't that unusual. I've had pneumonia too many times to count, so there is also scarring on my lungs. Thanks
  12. I don't think the CT can diagnose lung cancer, just leads to liklihood of cancer. If they are suspecting nodes, the nodes were likely enlarged on the scan, or appeared 'different' from normal nodes. A PET scan may well be in order, though. They are better at finding hot spots of cancer. Depending on location, a biopsy is also in order, I'd think.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.