New User Name

Hello Quid,

I'm sorry to hear that you've faced some setbacks with your treatments ... I'm thankful that you posted ... I'm mindful of your journey and hope that the HOSPICE services you are receiving are bringing you good care and comfort each day.

I just wanted to reach out, from across the miles, and let you know I am thinking of you ... you have the support, care, and concern of all of us here ... the comradeship we feel towards you ... the brotherhood that is present here ... the loyalty we all have for our brothers here ...

Let us know how you are faring ... let us know if there is some way we can support you ...

You have my prayers, my thoughts, my concern, my compassion, my best wishes ...

Caring thoughts sent to you,
"Cyclone Fan" ~ Iowa State University

Hi Fan,
What a nice reply, you really picked up my spirits! You and I have faced some of the same Txs, I surely hope you have luck with the taxotere. That's what I finished 5 months ago. I did seven infusions before the side effects, like loss of vision and peripheral myopathy, forced me to quit. I need to redo my signature but for now I was Dxd 03/08/07 so I've been in this battle for almost 10 years now. My wife and I had THE conversation and decided that enough was enough so away with the only too regular injections and draws and l think I will
last a while longer.

Best wishes to you, fan . . . Quid pro quo

Post Edited (Quid) : 10/1/2016 4:43:25 PM (GMT-6)

HI Michael,
There's no better way to live with a chronic illness than with positivity. We just decided that it was the right time to quit the battle. . . Quid pro quo

Quid,

Please know that everyone is pulling for you. I am pulling for you! Your posts (new and old name) have had a positive impact. God bless.

It is good to hear from you Quid, and thanks for updating us. Ten years is a long time to deal with PCA at the advanced level. Good to hear that you have chosen to deal with it on your terms. Wishing you joyous days ahead, and keep us posted
Michael

Quid,
I am at a loss for words. Fellow warrior and brother in arms. I am filled with sadness. Yesterday I was at yananow. Most of those who were as sick as me at about the same time are gone now. God speed to you Quincy. My your load be light and the wind be at your back. God bless you

Thanks 10,
You have the hospice picture right, the people involved are so caring that it's truly amazing. My Dr. makes house calls and everything. Looking at your signature you are my brother indeed . . .Quid pro quo

The article below entitled "Hospice Myths and Realities" seems authoritative, and clarifies (at least it did for me) many of the things that hospice does and does not do. It seemed useful to post it here.

For example, from the article:

Myth: Hospice is a place.
Reality: Hospice care usually takes place in the comfort of an individual's home, but can be provided in any environment in which a person lives, including a nursing home, assisted living facility, or residential care facility.

Myth: Hospice means that the patient will soon die.
Reality: Receiving hospice care does not mean giving up hope or that death is imminent. The earlier an individual receives hospice care, the more opportunity there is to stabilize a patient's medical condition and address other needs.

Note in particular:

Myth: Patients can only receive hospice care for a limited amount of time.
Reality: The Medicare benefit, and most private insurance, pays for hospice care as long as the patient continues to meets the criteria necessary. Patients may come on and off hospice care, and re-enroll in hospice care, as needed.

Myth: A patient needs Medicare or Medicaid to afford hospice services.
Reality: Although insurance coverage for hospice is available through Medicare and in 44 states and the District of Columbia under Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations include hospice care as a benefit. In addition, through community contributions, memorial donations, and foundation gifts, many hospices are able to provide patients who lack sufficient payment with free services. Other programs charge patients in accordance with their ability to pay.

There are a number of other valuable points similar to these made in the article, but the common thread of them all is that hospice care seems to be more flexible and accommodating than a lot of us may have realized.

Some things I suppose we should at least be aware of.

www.hospicedirectory.org/cm/about/choosing/myths_facts

(NOTE: For some reason I can't get the link to work, getting 404 error message when I try to. Just copy and paste the url (that seems to work) into your browser if you really want to read it)