My Husband and Cholangiocarcinoma – Part 2

Discussion Board Forums Grief Management My Husband and Cholangiocarcinoma – Part 2

Viewing 15 posts - 256 through 270 (of 351 total)
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  • #42171
    lainy
    Spectator

    Ah, man. He has to stay where its warm, too bad! We are 1 hour from Apache Junction! Good luck on everything.

    #42170
    mlepp0416
    Spectator

    Lainy, my brother Bob is from Wisconsin (St. Germain), he was visiting my sister Mary who is in Apacha Junction (she & her husband go there every winter). Right now his car is in the shop with engine issues and he can’t leave until his car is fixed. So that is putting a wrench in the trip back…..

    Margaret

    #42169
    lainy
    Spectator

    Margaret, all in all it is good news. Tom gets a break and the only one you get is in the wrist! What’s a girl to do. Where is your brother from in AZ?

    #42168
    mlepp0416
    Spectator

    All: We met with Tom’s Onc today and his numbers look great, although the tumor markers had been down to 88, but they are now holding at 106. She ‘wanted’ him to have a treatment (IV Chemo) but he declined, stating that he was feeling good and just did not feel like being knocked down again…she was OK with that.

    So the plan now is to have a scan done in three weeks then make a decision to continue chemo or to just wait and see some more to see what this dratted cancer is going to do. He is gaining some weight back, he’s back up to 115 lbs. Yipee!

    And a side note, I went to the orthopod and he stated “I don’t believe that the bone is broken. I think we can just take that cast off. You don’t have any bone fragments that are going to go floating around…..you can just wear this brace instead…” So he cut the cast off, and now I’m sporting a brace on the right hand. It still hurts terribly, but I can go back to work on Monday. That is a good thing cause else I would not have any FMLA hours left for Tom! And it appears that my brother Jim will be coming to stay with us for a few days until my younger brother Bob can get here from Arizona to help care for him. My plate will be overflowing, but then again, that is what family does for one another, right?

    Go with God and KEEP KICKIN’ THAT cancer.

    Margaret

    #42167
    gavin
    Moderator

    Hi Margaret,

    This is great news, excellent stuff! Hoping that the good news continues when you meet with the onc on Friday.

    My best wishes to you and Tom,

    Gavin

    #42166
    harmony
    Member

    WONDERFUL!! That’s tremendous news!!

    #42165
    mlepp0416
    Spectator

    Good new today! Tom’s oncologist called to let us know that his tumor markers were down to 106. (They had been 195)…..so I’m thinking that they will be stopping Chemo for now. We see his onc on Friday so we’ll just have to wait & see what her game plan is going to be.

    HUGS to everyone!

    Margaret & Tom

    #42164
    slittle1127
    Member

    When it rains, it pours. May you have an umbrella of peace over your life and a shower of blessings instead of hardship. I am so sorry you have so much added to your plate. God must think you are very strong. Keep leaning into Him and gain the strength you need for each day. Blessings to you and your family, Susan

    #42163
    lainy
    Spectator

    Glad to hear things are moving in a better direction. I was so lucky that I could work from the house at the time. I always think the old AS IF. As if we don’t all have enough on ourplates someone always dishes up dessert! Hang in, girl.

    #42162
    mlepp0416
    Spectator

    All:

    Just an update! My brother Jim is out of ICU and in intermediate care. He had to have another procedure to medicate the brain because of all the Neuro-spasms he was having, but the worst of the danger is over. He is still pretty sleepy and falls asleep at the drop of a hat, but that is OK cause they want him pretty quiet.

    Tom went in and had blood work done on Friday. His bili is back down to 7 which is amazing. His alk phosphate and tumor markers are down from where they were 4 weeks ago as well. His oncologist has put chemo on hold for now, and he hasn’t had any now for over three weeks (this is good? I think?) He will have more blood work this coming friday and then more decisions will be made.

    I’m coping quite well with my right arm in a cast, still off work as a full day of typing I will not be able to do! Not certain if they will allow me to have short term disability but I hope so cause otherwise I will have no PTO time left for Tom by the time I get my arm out of this cast, and frankly that would not be good. I do have FMLA for myself (just waiting for the paperwork to arrive) and if necessary I will go back to work….my boss has already said that she will come up with some things for me to do that don’t involve as much typing as my normal job. Typing one handed (trying to use the right) just does not cut it and the right arm/hand get VERY tired quickly.

    Will post more as I know more!

    HUGS!
    Go with God and KEEP KICKIN” THAT cancer!

    Margaret

    #42161
    lainy
    Spectator

    Margaret, now that’s enough!, You want attention? We will give it to you but stop with the hospitals! Say, I remember when I broke my ankle about 6 years ago and they would not set it for a week until the swelling went down. Tonight I will say a special prayer for Jim!

    #42160
    mlepp0416
    Spectator

    Wow, when it rains, it pours. Wrist is painful & I have to wait till Thursday to get into the orthopedic doc. They want the swelling to go down before they will do anything.

    Tom’s tube exchange went well, they are culturing the part of the tube that was in his liver because the bile had a foul order. Hoping that we caught it in time & there is no infection.

    Then yesterday evening my 62 year old brother Jim, was taken to the ER by his son & after tests they identified a brain bleed & he was taken by ambulance to Theda Clark hospital in Menasha, Wisconsin, where they have a great tramatic brain injury center. He had a three hour surgery today to repair the aneurysm. Great technology there, they use a technique where they go in through the groin with a microcatheter, guided by x-ray imaging up into the brain to the site of the aneurysm, then small platinum coils are pushed into the aneurysm through the microcatheter. This is continued until the aneurysm is fully packed with coils, obstructing the flow of blood. An electric charge at the coiled wires end detaches it & the micro catheter is withdrawn. Blood clots around the coils, stopping the aneurysm from bursting. About 15% of brain aneurysms brust and are fatal within 15 minutes. God was watching over my brother Jim today! Although he is still not out of the woods, the next 24 -48 hours he still has a risk of Neuro-spasms (stroke like symptoms) which can affect his thinking processes and alter his demeanor. He will be in ICU for the next 2 – 3 days, and if all goes well will be released after a week. Prayers gratefully accepted from all my Changilocarcinoma family!

    Next thing on the agenda is seeing the ortho surgeon on thursday and getting my wrist taken care of, and I did Tom’s tube flush & bandage change today with no problem, it just takes me a bit longer & he has to help a little bit—-teamwork!

    By the way – a baby aspirin a day cuts your chance of a stroke or heart attack by 50% – so lets all start taking one a day!

    Go with God and KEEP KICKIN THAT cancer. (HA, I do pretty good typing with one hand & using the mouse with my left hand)

    Margaret

    #42159
    marions
    Moderator

    Oh Margaret….I am so sorry to hear of the latest incident. Us caretakers forget that we may also be vulnerable to unfortunate happenings. I am wishing for a quick and painless recuperation.
    Hugs are coming your way,
    Marion

    #42158
    gavin
    Moderator

    Hi Margaret,

    So sorry to hear about your fall and breaking your wrist, this is the last thing that you need right now. I hope that your orthopedic surgeon will be able to do the easiest and quickest thing that will help your wrist here. And I hope also that Tom’s tube exchange goes well tomorrow.

    Thinking of you both,

    Gavin

    #42157
    darla
    Spectator

    Oh Margaret what next! Sorry to hear about your latest set back, but I know you are strong and will carry on as you always have. I am glad you have a neighbor willing to help out with Tom if necessary. Don’t try to be too strong, take the help that is offered if you feel it is needed. You need to take care of you too so you can keep on doing your best for Tom. I will be thinking of you and hoping for the best, what ever that can be. :)

    Love & Hugs,
    Darla

Viewing 15 posts - 256 through 270 (of 351 total)
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