Ruth n Jersey
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northern New Jersey
There isn't enough space to write all that has gone on in our lives since the new year.
I'll condense this the best I can.
Hubby thought he had a hernia, late last year, he was correct but the doctor found there was fluid buildup in his abdomen. Further investigation showed stage 4 cancer which has spread and caused the hernia. It can't be repaired but chemo will slow down the progression of the cancer if he chose to start treatment. In the last months he decided to try chemo. He couldn't continue after 4 treatments. The side effects were terrible.
His bloodwork really isn't that bad and I hope he recovers a bit from those last treatments and we can possibly enjoy ourselves a bit.
He will have a ct scan to see if the chemo helped at all.
Our 50th anniversary was in April and it came and went just like any other day. We were planning a trip but neither of us gave it any thought, just to painful.. Turned out to be one of the worse days of my life.
During all this I developed palpations which I thought was caused by stress. after several tests I found that I have a leaky valve but it is not life threating . I also have hyperthyroidism which most likely is causing the palpations.
I was put on several medications including a blood thinner which needs blood work every week and I must watch my diet on top of the gluten diet I've been on for years.
I always loved to cook but now I hate having to get a meal on the table. The hubby doesn't have much of an apatite and I have to watch my vitamin k intake,
This was very depressing for me, as I was not on any meds prior to this. I'm getting side effects from these drugs that need to be ironed out and finally started on a medication for my thyroid. Hyperthyroidism apposed to hypo is harder to treat and may take a year,
I knew I had the ability to see my hubby through this since I worked in the health field many years ago and saw my mom through her cancer but being sick at the same time has really taken a tole on me.
I'd like to add that our doctors have been wonderful but all of the stress for both of us came from the office staff, hospital employees who don't know what is going on. My situation could have been treated months before but thyroid scans were canceled due to not knowing if they could even be done at our hospital. Trying to get through to the doctors on the phone is a long and drawn out process. I stayed home for two solid weeks so I wouldn't miss a call from my specialist.
Finally my cardiologist took pity on me and called the specialist herself in my behalf. He was on the phone 15 minutes later. I will be eternally grateful to her.
There still are some who will go the extra mile.
This isn't even half of the problems we have encountered over the past few months.
This is a very long post and depressing at best. I thank all who have asked about me and I'm still hoping the hubby and I can enjoy a belated anniversary. I do worry about myself not being up to taking care of him when the time comes.
We just take one day at a time. I do have my kids who are there for support and my son in law who is a doctor who has given me very valuable info.
I'll condense this the best I can.
Hubby thought he had a hernia, late last year, he was correct but the doctor found there was fluid buildup in his abdomen. Further investigation showed stage 4 cancer which has spread and caused the hernia. It can't be repaired but chemo will slow down the progression of the cancer if he chose to start treatment. In the last months he decided to try chemo. He couldn't continue after 4 treatments. The side effects were terrible.
His bloodwork really isn't that bad and I hope he recovers a bit from those last treatments and we can possibly enjoy ourselves a bit.
He will have a ct scan to see if the chemo helped at all.
Our 50th anniversary was in April and it came and went just like any other day. We were planning a trip but neither of us gave it any thought, just to painful.. Turned out to be one of the worse days of my life.
During all this I developed palpations which I thought was caused by stress. after several tests I found that I have a leaky valve but it is not life threating . I also have hyperthyroidism which most likely is causing the palpations.
I was put on several medications including a blood thinner which needs blood work every week and I must watch my diet on top of the gluten diet I've been on for years.
I always loved to cook but now I hate having to get a meal on the table. The hubby doesn't have much of an apatite and I have to watch my vitamin k intake,
This was very depressing for me, as I was not on any meds prior to this. I'm getting side effects from these drugs that need to be ironed out and finally started on a medication for my thyroid. Hyperthyroidism apposed to hypo is harder to treat and may take a year,
I knew I had the ability to see my hubby through this since I worked in the health field many years ago and saw my mom through her cancer but being sick at the same time has really taken a tole on me.
I'd like to add that our doctors have been wonderful but all of the stress for both of us came from the office staff, hospital employees who don't know what is going on. My situation could have been treated months before but thyroid scans were canceled due to not knowing if they could even be done at our hospital. Trying to get through to the doctors on the phone is a long and drawn out process. I stayed home for two solid weeks so I wouldn't miss a call from my specialist.
Finally my cardiologist took pity on me and called the specialist herself in my behalf. He was on the phone 15 minutes later. I will be eternally grateful to her.
There still are some who will go the extra mile.
This isn't even half of the problems we have encountered over the past few months.
This is a very long post and depressing at best. I thank all who have asked about me and I'm still hoping the hubby and I can enjoy a belated anniversary. I do worry about myself not being up to taking care of him when the time comes.
We just take one day at a time. I do have my kids who are there for support and my son in law who is a doctor who has given me very valuable info.
