Darlene
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Posts posted by Darlene
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Geri,
Thanks for your original post...I needed that. I too got caught up today with stastics at the doctor's office. I knew ahead of time not to pay too much attention to them, but when I heard them out loud it just seemd to have a personal meening....
But my husband was strong, he didn't pay too close attention to all that stuff, he actually kept making jokes. While talking to the doctor he kept confusing 'biopsy' for 'autopsy'. After that broke the ice, the rest of the day he said he wants to have a shirt made that says, "I am scheduling my autopsy for next week."
(by-the-way, it's scheduled for 7:00am on Wednesday)
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I know I am coming to this thread a little late, but it really touched me and I felt compelled to share what we have gone through.
Even though my husband's LC dx is fairly new, together we have been battling health problems for some time now. When we married he had already been through five major back surgeries. While going through all this he lost his health, his job, and his wife had left him for his best friend, thus losing his children and home as well. Fast Forward a few years~ after we were married and he beagn to have heart attacks and heart surgery his immediate response was anger toward me, as a defense mechanism.
It took some time for him to realize that not only was I his wife, but I was also a Christian and we were in this for better or worse!
When he hurt his back again, we went through it all over again; he felt I was the one cheated out of a healthy spouse, and so on...He needed to hear those words again and again that I was here for better or worse. I had to tell him many times that there are many people out there who are going through very difficult health related problems and get through it together. Health problems are NOT a reason for divorce!! It's a reason to become stronger!
So here we go again with the dx of LC. So far he knows I am going to be there for him, no matter what. I still tell him, because I feel it does him good just to hear it from time to time. When he does get grouchy I have learned it's not me, HE is the one feeling rotten and needs an uplift. A few uplifting words can do wonders, just acknowledging his pain and disapointment helps when he feels his health is out of control.
He too has a long history of depression that seems to come and go. He has a long family history of depression. His problem is that most anti-depression drugs make him suicidal, so when a doctor suggests a new one I make sure I ask him everyday how he is feeling to stop it at the first sign of a problem. We have not yet found a med that works, we have tried herbal combinations with pretty great results.
I have already been seeking a councilor so when the time comes that one is needed for him, myself or the children, we will already have a good relationship.
I know this post is long, and considered not posting it after seeing just how long it became, but if it gives just a little help to someone it's worth it....
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I think I get this...even if it is 4:30am!
1. My husband has an appointment with a great Dr. today.
2. I have recovered well from my hysterectomy (6 weeks ago) so I can be strong for my husband
3. Our children have been such a great help and support
4. After finding this site, I really can see the light at the end of the tunnel
5. My only daughter turns 19 today!
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I can't just sit and wait...tomorrow my husband will be seeing the pulmonary oncologist, so I am researching all I can on all of the options available and what they mean.
I keep reading how wonderful many have done with Iressa, could I get some feedback on who has used this and what their results have been?
Also is Iressa just for NSCLC, or for both small and non-small?
Also what is all the controversy with this drug about? Is it safe?
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When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang up my first painting on the refrigerator, and I wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I knew that little things are special things.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I believed there is a God I could always talk to.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me goodnight, and I felt loved.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I LOOKED....and wanted to say thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.
(I wasn't sure where to put this, so I put it here, I just loved it and had to share!)
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Hello Cindy o'h,
Yes, too I read every report and get copies of each and every one. I have a three ring notebook where I keep all his medical records. I have dividers for cardiology, electrophysiology, neurology, PCP, etc... The cover page is a list of all his doctors, past and current with the year he saw them, such as;
CARDIOLOGY (2001-2004)
Dr. Parikh
address
phone #
fax
On the far right of this page I list his medical history; back surgeries and dates, heart attacks and dates, etc...then list all current meds with dosages.
1999-(Jan) Inferior Myocardial Infarction
1999-(June) Unstable Angina -placement of Guidant AICD
1999-(Oct) Anterior Myocardial Infarction, bypass X2
This helps with any emergency room visits and when we need to see a new doctor he will know what has already been done.
Everytime we must go to the ER I make them make a copy of this cover page for his records. I used to just 'offer' for them to view his folder. But one time they would not even acknowgedge it and told me I was not allowed to go back with him. After about 15 minutes I simply said, "I think I'll go back and see my husband now, with all his medication I don't want him to forget what the doctor tells him" She said I would just have to wait because he is going in for an MRI!!!!! I am usually a pretty calm person and can speak their language to get what we need accross, but that time I lost it and yelled at them for not reading the medical records I brought with us, and if they had even glanced at the first page they would see an MRI would KILL him!!!!! (when I asked for a copy of the orders for the MRI, things really began to rock then!! it's amazing how nice they all became!)
~ Ok, sorry I made this so long here, but reading and keeping a copy of medical records has come in handy more then once for us...I see many of you all do this too!
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Hello Fay A,
Ronnie hurt his back the first time when he was working in the oil field resulting in the multi-level lumbar fusion and harrington rods. This was in 1989. Then in 2001 he slipped and fell resulting in the current three separate spinal cord injuries. What made matters worse when he fell (in a grocery store) was that EMS stood him up before putting him on the stretcher and taking him to ER. When he got to ER the neurologist said he just had a pulled muscle gave him a few pills and sent him home DRAGGING HIS FOOT BEHIND HIM just as you would see with a stroke patient! It was not until we went back to the Neurology Center in Houston did they tell us of the damage done by the EMS and ER staff and he did NOT have a pulled muscle. In fact while doing a CT with contrast it was found his stenosis was so severe that the contrast took 4 1/2 hours to pass through enough to take the needed pictures. (this usually takes 15 - 20 minutes)
So while I know he has true damage to his back causing alot of pain, I am not too sure about his left hip. Many of his reports have read "post operative changes noted" in his hip bone. However he has NEVER had surgery concerning his hip bone in any way. His pain there continues to get worse and worse. I suspect he will have a bone scan when he has his biopsy.
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Thanks for all the encouragement, support and especially the prayers!
I am continuing to read everyones 'signature' to see what you all have gone through. That alone is SOooooo encouraging! I am having a little trouble with some of the acronyms... is there a place where all these are spelled out for us newcommers?
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Hi Nancy,
I am new here too, I can't help much with your pain issue as we are looking for those answers too. But I can relate to your connection with Job. I frequently will re-read Job for encouragement. Even though my husband is going through all his physical problems I take comfort in knowing that all our children are healthy, and near us. His six children are grown, and my daughter will start college this fall, we just have four boys left at home. But we don't have any toddlers as your grandson to chase around!
Love him and hug him and he will know for years to come all that you have done for him!
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Thanks so much for all the replies!
My husband is 53, his heart attacks were in 1999. He is currently taking 80mg of OxyContin 4 times per day for pain from his back. After a rough night last night I am not sure where to turn from here if his pain gets worse from the LC. He is already at max dosage. When he had his AICD replaced in December his back had so much pain he didn't even 'notice' the pain from the chest area until four days later...
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Thanks!! Reading everyone's signature has been very helpful and informative!
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Hi, I've been reading all I can from these message boards. This is some of the REAL info I have come accross; that from those who have been there!
I am looking for others who have lung cancer along with other health problems. My husband has had five major back surgeries. He currently has three incomplete spinal cord injuries. (lots of pain) He then had two heart attacks, a double bypass, an AICD/defibrillator installed and has currently been dx with lung cancer. We are currently awaiting a biopsy to determine the extent. His chest x-ray in 12/04 did not show any problems with his lungs, 6/05, shows a 4cm tumor with significant lymphadenopathy in many of his lymph nodes on both the right and left sides of his chest from his underarms to his trachea.
Is there anyone else with other health concerns? If so what were your treatment options and were there any limits? His LC was found in his pre-OP for surgery for spinal stenosis. Now they will not do the surgery, which was extremely risky in the first place due to his heart and high blood pressure. He is already taking Essiac tea. We are open to info on traditional and non-traditional threapies.
He is currently quitting smoking after smoking 3+ ppd for many years.
He has six children and I have five...I practice as a midwife.
feel like screeming!
in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER
Posted
I guess I just need to tell someone that 'gets it' but today when my husband had his appointment with our PCP he let us know he will be closing his practice as of 9-2-05!
This is a wonderful man, friend and doctor. Another doctor from his small practice stole a large sum of money over some time making it impossible to Dr. A to continue in private practice
He knows all about Ronnie, sees him through all he has been going through, overseeing all his care from the different specialists...it's just not fair!