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Posted 5/24/2013 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
It seems that when it rains, it pours.

Just found out yesterday evening that my sister was diagnosed with uterine cancer. She is 45, with a birthday this June.
Her journey begins with much worry as she has no insurance nor the funds. sad

I found out Tuesday of this week, that my dad's (75 yr. old) PSA has been climbing as of recent. (he's quite about such things and tells no one, not even my mom) His PSA is 4.6.
For now, him and his doctor are just monitoring the levels. He has had a course of antibiotics to see if it was an infection, but that didn't drop the levels. Doc said they would test monthly to see if there is a definite trend upward.

Also, my son who's 21, is recuperating at home from a serious accident at work 5 weeks ago, that broke his right lower leg/ankle in several places. He had surgery 4 weeks ago to place 9 screws, a 5 inch titanium plate on the fibula, and 2 straps to support the torn ligaments. He also broke the bottom of the tibia in three places.

I hope the storm moves along soon, I'm getting wore down from all the "bad stuff"

On another front, regarding me. I'm doing quite well from surgery. I had an appointment with the ED doc yesterday and he thinks everything is progressing well and thinks we can start rehabilitation in earnest. Got some scripts for more Cialis and also a script for a medical grade VED. I'm very much looking forward to this part of the healing. smilewinkgrin

Anywho, it seems to pour when it rains, and I'm looking for that sliver of sunshine through the clouds.

Thanks for being here HW family!
Hope you have a great Memorial Day!
Posted 5/24/2013 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Best wishes for health for your family iSpark.
Posted 5/24/2013 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
James, my heart goes out to you, that is a lot on one man's plate to deal with. Try to keep all these issues separated in your mind, so that you don't get overwhelmed with all of them.

Good luck, glad your personal recovery is going well.

David in SC
Posted 5/24/2013 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Man, I know exactly how you feel. This ride has not stopped for 3 years now and I'm sure it won't stop anytime soon. I sometimes think that I'm only surprised by the ride because of how young I am while all the old geezers here chuckle at my naive outlook.

What does someone like your sister do in such a situation? Not sure anyone has funds readily availabel for such a journey. An employee of mine has already been billed $2 million for her various cancer surgeries, treatments etc (she was in a coma for a week, had heart attack, all sorts of stuff). So what is your sister to do? I actually dont know what options Americans have in such situations.

Sorry about your son. I know all about that too. My son goes to Maryland today for a soccer tournament and since I have to fly to Europe he's driving down with a friend and I'm gutted about it. I did a lot worse at his age but still, heavy heart and anxiety here.

I don't know what the answer is. My dad started taking anti depressants and anti anxiety medication a few years ago and nothing seems to worry/phase him anymore. He seems to be able to handle the storms well.

Best of luck to your sister and to your perhaps unrealistic hopes of everything quieting down. I've given up on that hope myself.
Posted 5/24/2013 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
She might possibly be qualified for Medicaid under those circumstances, and a lot depends where she lives.
Posted 5/24/2013 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Ispark and Davidg.....and so many on here ....... so much to go through all at once and feeling spread so thin. Purgatory/David gave great advice, especially about separating the issues out.

Insurance, depending on income or property, she can still get Medicaid, but with a spenddown - how much a person pays per month before totally covered.

Hopefully the sun comes out and dries up all that rain.
Posted 5/24/2013 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
davidg wrote:

"I sometimes think that I'm only surprised by the ride because of how young I am while all the old geezers here chuckle at my naive outlook."

Not a bit of that! I'm an "old guy" who comes here and I feel nothing but sympathy and well-wishing toward any of our brothers and sisters who are being so challenged in their lives!

Age doesn't matter here at all. We're all facing the same battle and the beast doesn't care how old each of us is.

We can talk about age as a factor in the progression of this disease, yes, but it's only a factor, not some segregating thing.

Reminds me of the old cartoon showing a couple of canines sitting in front of a computer, and the caption reads: "On the Internet nobody knows you're a dog." Well, nobody would know how old you are either. And it doesn't matter. We're a brotherhood/sisterhood here, and age just doesn't matter.
Posted 5/24/2013 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys!
It does seem like it's never ending and will never stop. I always cling to hope that it will.

My sister found out yesterday around 4 with a call from her doctor, and she called me as I was on my way home from my appointment.

She has started researching things, on ways to get assistance. She said she is not worried about the cancer or the treatment, her biggest worry are the bills and if a doctor would treat her if she had little money.
Her doctor has referred her to MUSC in Charleston for treatment and they also have assistance programs that she may qualify for. She has checked out medicare but does not qualify, and to get medicaid she has to qualify for medicare. :-\
This is online information she has found, but she is going to make an appointment to talk with someone in person.

I feel confident in MUSC in both areas, treatment and monetary assistance, as they are the ones who did my surgery, although I had insurance through my wife.

My dad has already called his pastor and his church will be helping with a charitable donation for her. They have actually raised a lot of money for people needing medical care and raised enough to fully pay the expenses of those seeking help.
We have told her not to worry and we all, will find a way. Treatment first, and the means later.
Posted 5/24/2013 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
Note Medicare and Medicaid are not connected unless she going for disability, than they would. The financial counselors at a facility should help her. In our area also have discounts by need, at least when I worked at the hospital business office. The hardest part is dealing with it all together. Hard to think. Wish there was a magic wand to take it all away.

Super cool with good church back up - financially and otherwise.
Posted 5/24/2013 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
davidg, It does seem bad and it is really sad about how one actually obtains the needed treatment when they are in these situations.

Without going into much detail, I believe life throws curve balls for a reason.
Posted 5/24/2013 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
DavidG,
Well, the Lieutenant (81GyGuy) didn't come right out and say it, but the terminology "old geezers" is offensive in the extreme! Maybe this is the "new normal" for this forum--just saying.
Bill
Posted 5/24/2013 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
iSpark,
I sincerely wish that I could provide help, but I don't know what to say! In any event, I wish you and your family all the best.
Bill
Posted 5/24/2013 4:16 PM (GMT 0)

gunfighter said...
DavidG,
Well, the Lieutenant (81GyGuy) didn't come right out and say it, but the terminology "old geezers" is offensive in the extreme! Maybe this is the "new normal" for this forum--just saying.
Bill

It was meant with total and absolute affection. Sorry it offended you. I'll make sure not to use it again.

I have no idea about the roots of the term "geezer" but as seen used in popular culture I always interpreted it to be a term used in endearing manner.
Posted 5/24/2013 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys!

I used to be a member of an online gaming group/club/clan called [OG], which stood for Old Geezers. I'm now in a group called [OG] which stands for Old Guys. lol
Now to get back to my FPS games. cool
Posted 5/24/2013 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Umm...wow

Just got off the phone with my sister. She has talked to someone, or something, at or where ever medicare is discussed, and they told her that if she had had a child, her treatment would be covered 100%, but since no children, she can't get assistance.
Can you believe that crap! Just because she doesn't have a dependent child, she can't get any help from medicare.

*sigh...
Posted 5/24/2013 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
iSpark,

You're right about when it rains, it pours.

I wish all of the best to you and your family.

Just last week, while I went on a mini vacation to comfort my cousin, who recently buried her 22 year old son (colon cancer), my oldest daughter (31) had a mini stroke with MS implications and my youngest daughter's 6 month old baby stated having febrile seizures.

I know someone thinks I am a strong person, I just wish they wouldn't require me to prove it so often. :)
Posted 5/24/2013 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
As somebody said, "If what does not kill me makes me stronger, I sure am feeling like an Olympic weightlifter!"
Posted 5/24/2013 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
Let's hope that things begin to get better for EVERYONE in your family.

You've had a lot of rain falling, now it's time for sunshine to fall upon all of you!

Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Abdominal drain removed the morning after surgery.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, PSA <0.1. PSA tests now annual.
Semi-firm erections now happening 14 months post-op & VERY slowly getting a bit stronger.
Posted 5/24/2013 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Ispark, you and your family are so in our thoughts!! I too, wish I had a big ole Magic Wand to wave over all of you....
Posted 5/25/2013 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone.
Posted 5/25/2013 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
Dear iSpark,

I'm so sorry for all your issues. Praying for you and all your family. In time, things will get better.

Since last Oct. 3rd, when my Doctor told me I had Stage 4, Aggressive Advance Prostate Cancer, nothing to do but take HT and 4-5 years at the most, our world had been upside down. I'm a preachers kid and have been involved and in church all my life and know God is with us 24/7.

I think I have a heavy load until I see someone having a hard time with theirs and I thank God for mine.

Davidg: I didn't mine what you said, I read through the lines. I was born and raised in Santa Rosa CA (Northern CA), married my wife from Memphis in 1970, been in the Memphis area since 1972), getting used to the Southern terms, weather and lifestyle!!

Everyone, have a great weekend and be safe.

Dave in Bartlett, TN
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