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icbn

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Posts posted by icbn

  1. ...not to mention a lot of pain in his neck where his original biopsy was done.

    ... But, Keith still had the pain, so hence the nerve damage diagnosis. Then with medication the pain went away. For the past 6-7 months its been back, and worse then ever. His onc just ignored it saying he should take higher doses of his Neurotin and Methadone for the nerve pain.

    When I was 19 in Vietnam I was shot in the neck. I have been plagued by neck pain since. This was 1969 so there was aspirin or narcs as a choice back then.

    Narcotics didn't work. A lot of Aspirin helped a little, however. Guess whose stomach bothered him.

    One day there was no aspirin in the house so I borrowed some Midol from my wife. It really helped. I think the ingredients in it for swelling may help the nerve problem as well as the analgesic effect.

    I suggest this only on the basis it may help and probably won't hurt anything.

    BTW I'm a former Marine. All I know is how to make war, how to fight. I saw your response to Brit in the Newcomer Forum. It was touching. You are a true Helpmate, a true blessing to your husband. You exemplified what I tried to tell her...fight this thing with your partner. Get mad at the cancer. I have seldom seen the degree bravery you two demonstrate, as do many on this board, except on a battlefield. I'm proud of you.

  2. I get my first mid-Chemo PET/CRT tomorrow. The post op/pre-Chemo PET/CRT concerned me wondering what all would light up. Fortunately just one lymph node. We already knew two others L-8 Medinstatim(sp) were cancerous. So stayed IIIA.

    To most here these follow-ups to check the progression or regression is old hat for you. In the short while I've been here your experiences have helped me learn so much and look on LC as a process versus a death sentence.

    I think everything will be okay. Of course most people call me Pollyanna.

  3. Z, surgery is obviously the most aggressive attack on the cancer. It is the best course of action to get rid of it. It is a bit painful but doable. It will take at least 6 weeks to feel okay from it. In three months you will be much better. I know I had my left lung removed on 9/7/05.

    You will be okay.

    As far as work, they must allow you at least 12 weeks sick leave under the federal Family & Medical Leave Act.

  4. Nineout, I just had the same ordeal. It is scary. But it is not a finale. You will be going for a ride, rough at times unfortunately, but just a ride. It is a process. You are not alone. It can be beaten.

    I'll pray for you.

  5. Just before my heart attack and then dx of nsclc I was finalizing a script which has been optioned by a Production Co. The attack, diagnosis, biopsy, and removal of lung made me put off the screenplay's polish for almost 6 weeks. So now I sit down with major scenes to change and discover what you all are mean when you talk about chemo brain. Not too bad right now. My brain seems a little mushy at times. Definitely not creative at the moment though.

    Anyone else have a problem with lack of creativity or other CNS problems instead of just memory?

  6. It sounds scary but knowledge is power, !

    Thanks for the info. As stated in my sig below my journey with LC started with a Heart Attack. My cholesterol has always been good, great HDL levels and totals below 160. Yet I had 95% blockage in one artery. Perhaps pushing against a tumor that was 5 x 4.5 cm did put a strain on my heart and cause the attack.

  7. Are your WBC down? I understand many times when our white count is low the body fights infection not from the outside but from bacteria we've always had within us. The low immune system simply lets them get a toehold on us.

    The recurrent fevers may be from that. The best way to find out is to tell your doctor and make him determine their cause. If your fever is 101 call him now.

    Please understand anything I say is second hand. Your doctor knows best.

  8. I am scared my brother is giving up despite the positive scan results. Do you push or do you just believe that your loved one knows when enough is enough. I am not ready to give up but i also know that is not my decision.

    Just speak your heart for you but do not try to speak for his heart. Listen to him and accept his feelings. Then Let him know yours, you want him to stay around...a whole lot. You don't want to miss him. You love him. You'll fight with him if that's what he chooses.

    That's all I know.

    Bill

  9. Skye, whether the patient is allowed to die or not is questionable. Non-elective care is never disallowed by most medical delivery facilities. However, the state of insurance coverage is a disgrace in this country.

    In the cases you cited, not only did they have to pay upfront, they had to pay more for those procedures than the insurance companies do. Insurance companies fix the UCR (Usual, Customary and Reasonable Charges) for all dx procedures. Then they negotiate heavy discounts, as much as 65% or greater that the insurance company has to pay.

    In order to survive the health care system has to kick up their pricing (the UCR level) in order to be profitable at the discounted the level insurance is willing to pay. The uninsured has to pay the full and grossly inflated UCR price.

    I have seen hospital bill someone they thought was "uninsured" $35,000 for a stay. When they found out they had insurance the total bill to the insurance company was only $7,500.

    That is a disgrace. Those who can afford it least, must pay far more.

  10. Bill, I have nothing against the ole Marine tattoo but usually I like to see it on an arm that has more hair than mine :lol: ..

    Good point. :D

    I can't say I blame you, I spent 6 years in the Corps and I resisted the urge to get any tattoo, even that most beautiful of all tattoos, The Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

  11. Thanks all of you for your response. My apologies for only asking came from seeing all the good wishes and information so many here give to others. It is inspiring ad something worthy of emulation. So far all I have is questions, but trust me my heart swells with empathy and compassion for each Bio I read. I read them all.

    At this point I don't feel I have any knowledge to depart to others here. Only good wishes and prayers.

    I am wondering if radiation is in your treatment plan. And if not, why not.

    I've wondered this also. The Oncologist doesn't seemed concerned with the one remaining lymph node as much as he is that it and two others (already removed with lung) were found to have cancer cells. Thus the chemo. As he said, "Dr. Rogers could go back in and snip that off, but the problem is that it is in the lymph system."

    Dr. Rogers is my surgeon, He thinks everything is going to be all right. My Oncologist is a real Gloomy Gus though. But I still love the guy. :)

  12. DEb got hers a while ago and she said that they take you into a room that looks like a fishing bait shop with all the wires and hooks on the walls. Iwasn't there to verifybut it sounds funny. Hers didn't hurt and is great; Keep it fflushed and that will keep it clean on the inside. good luck

    RSW. How do you keep it flushed?

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