rvillella
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Posts posted by rvillella
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Way to go Don. Keep up the fight and don't let anything slow you down now. Good luck on the cyberknife.
Ralph
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When they removed my right lung I was put on a ventilator. They were supposed to remove it before I woke up but the Fentanyl they were using was to heavy for me. I was completely out. When I would wake up I would fight the tube and they tied me down which made me even madder. They finally told my middle daughter and my wife that when I woke up the next time to tell me that I had to stay awake for 20 minutes on my own without fighting the tube and no external stimuli (TV or such) and they would take it out. Took some doing but I did it. From then on they only used lighter medications to knock me out and if they used the other it was in a very small dose. Hope this helps.
Ralh
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My radiation pneumonitis was first diagnosed as pneumonia also. When the antibiotics didn't help then they put me on prednisone for 10 weeks. It cleared up all the symptoms but took at least 3 weeks before I felt better. Have your radiation onc talk with the other medical onc to get you started on the steroids.
Ralph
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I stay here out of respect for those who have helped me and gave me hope while I was in that deep pit, and have passed on to their freedom from this dreaded disease. To many times I felt sorry for myself and just couldn't see going on any more and there was a posting on the boards from someone that would remind me how lucky I was to be getting treated and having the possibility of a cure. Snapped me right out of my pity party and brought me back to reality. Without all of you here I don't think I would have had the strength to make it.
Ralph
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Way to go Randy. I know how hard it is to stay off the smokes. Still have those cravings but they are getting better.
Ralph
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Don;
Glad they finally knuckled under the weight of good solid proof. Seems they never really know what the government means. Hopefully this one will do the trick.
Ralph
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Both of mine were squamous cell but they treated both as stage 1.
Ralph
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Sorry about the insurance problems Don. Hope they clear up quickly. It's good to see you are still fighting. The attorney thing sounds like a good bet. They hate having to fight in court for things.
Ralph
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I've had both. The first time was radiation and chemo. I seemed to handle that one a little better than this last round of Radiation. I got really tired and couldn't seem to get enough rest no matter what I did. It's a lot better now but I belive that the radiation is worse, but doable.
Ralph
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The radiation really does a number on your insides. Since I've had it twice in different areas of the chest I have different pains. This last round ended up messing with a bundle of nerves that are near where they where shooting the radiation so they hurt inside. It is sometimes hard to explain but is is painful. I found that a heating pad under my left arm for a little while eases the pain in that side. Hope she feels better soon.
Ralph
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When I finished the steroids for the same thing I ended up with pneumonia. I ended up in the hospital with antibiotics becuase the steroids lowered my resistance to other things also. Hopefully they will get it under control really quick. Good Luck
Ralph
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And the little light bulb goes on over my head!
Ralph
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The worst for me is remembering words. I know what I want to say but I can't get it to come out. And now that I am back to looking for work I just don't know if I'll be able to be the productive person I used to be. Oh Well, Just blame the chemo and make everyone laugh.
Ralph
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Got the results from the MRI on Monday. Seems that it is not decipherable on the MRI. Radiation Onc's want to wait and see what is going on. I guess becuase I don't have all the symptoms of a brain met that they are worring about putting me through some unnecessary procedures. They are going to be talking to the neurosurgeon just in case there is a possibility of a biopsy, but I don't believe that is going to happen. It's to close to the optical center in my brain and they may not want to chance it. So for right now it's wait and see what it does in a couple of months unless I start having some other problems.
Ralph
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Way to go Val. Keep it up.
Ralph
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Sorry about the scans Don. Hopefully the next round will take care of it. Keeping you in my prayers.
Ralph
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Hi All;
I've been in and out of the boards for a while now. Been so tired because of the Radiation that I couldn't get motivated. Finished my last treatment on Tuesday. The last scans show the nodule is smaller and not as dense so that is a good thing. Now I've got a new little critter to worry about. Seems that because I have some headaches and my vision is funky my ONC wanted another brain scan. And since the MRI is always backed up they decided on the CT for now. Well as my rollercoaster luck would have it there is a spot on my brain that they are going to have to look at. The ONC called this morning so down and sounding depressed because he had to tell me this news. Ordered an MRI for Monday and another meeting with the Radiation Oncologist. Thought I was done with those people, guess not. But fear not my friends it's not time for me to go so I am fighting this one like all the rest. Just don't like the Steroids. I'll let you all know the results after the MRI.
Ralph
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My Radiation Oncologist says that my shortness of breath and overall tiredness is from the radiation. Even once you are finished with the treatments they continue to work for a few weeks afterwards according to my notes. Other than that they can look into Radiation pnuemonitis or COPD.
Ralph
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Smarter. Don't understand why though. Guessed right a couple of times I guess.
Ralph
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Saw the Onc the other day. He said he goofed up and made my appointment to early, since I was still in radiation therapy. They had me do a CAT scan anyway and read it pretty quickly. Seems the nodule is slightly smaller and according to the Doc doesn't look as dense. Hopefully the treatment is working and this will be the end of it. Still tired and plugging along. Sorry I haven't been around. With the loss of Frank recently I just haven't been myself. I am still trying to cope with it.
Ralph
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Way to go Becky.
Ralph
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I always knew that I could boost my spirit by coming here to the boards and looking to see one of Franks posts in the Just for fun area. Franks picture and his bio gave me a lot of hope. I will miss his sense of humor.
Rest in Peace Frank.
Ralph
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Good Bye Frank. I'll miss you. Connie you have my deepest sympathy.
Ralph
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Seems that I am to go through the radiation cycle again. This time they plan on giving me 35 treatments with a very localized beam. They say it is the size of a postage stamp. I really don't like the Radiation Oncologist they have assigned to me. Not as straight forward as the one I had in New Mexico, but he is confident that he can do this without killing me. Talked with the Medical Onc and he feels that Chemo is not a choice right now because my lungs can only handle so much. Mixing the two now is not advisable. I can get chemo after the rad if it is still indicated. I am going on the assumption that this T1 nodule is going to go away with the radiation and then I can worry about breathing. I'll see the Doc next Monday so I will let you all know what he says. That is if my wife doesn't kill him first.
Ralph
Another Merry Go Round Ride
in MEMBER UPDATES
Posted
Had my MRI on Thursday. It came back the way my wife and I thought with an added little twist. The original tumor on the brain has grown significantly in the past 2 months and there seems to be another one in the upper portion of the brain. Course of action is going to be Whole Brain Radiation as they feel that if they don't do that then the stuff will continue in the brain and I'll have to undergo more radiation. Not something they want to pursue. I'll find out about the lung nodule on the 30th of this month. So hopefully that one is dormant and I can concentrate on the WBR. Seems like my yearly bout with this pain in the a** is a little early this year. I'll try to keep you all up to date from the hospital since they are not going to let me drive once I start radiation. Oh well don't much like the drivers in the area anyway. Keep me in your thoughts as I do all of you.
Ralph