The Road to Success is Always Under Construction Part 2 of 2 - Summer of 2012

Hi all-

Wondering if everyone had a good Thanksgiving and made it through Black Friday?
I over did it a bit at our second dinner....I'm a sucker for good pies and banana pudding!

I even got to spend early Saturday morning(1am to 5:20am) at the ER with Michelle due to severe pain with her gallbladder. Also found out her Hashimotos is kicked in bad again. Her thyroid is pushing her esophagus over too. Sure wish the surgeon would have taken all of it back in '03 like we wanted him to. Wanted to avoid this. Anyhow, it was a great experience since I had taken my night meds, can you say ZOMBIE! LOL!
She has a scope with the ultra sound to check her gallbladder inside on Wednesday. Glad I scheduled her an appointment to see the surgeon a week ago. He is hard to get into and I gave up my spot to have my nerve blocks so she could get in sooner.

As for me... The eye is great besides loosing the ability to see up close for reading without glasses or contacts. The left eye is getting worse very quickly too. When they said this type of cataract grows fast they really meant it. Also had my first real back up at the wrap since about the 3rd week post redo. It was apple and boy did that hurt going through. Think I tore it up a bit as I have had some heart burn since. Hopefully it will heal up soon.

Kitt- Thinking of you every day my friend. Hope the treatments aren't as bad as they were. Hugs and love my friend.

Take care,
Bill

Hi all-

Well we finally got to the bottom of Michelle's on going pain and sick feeling. It was her gallbladder as I have been saying for 2 years. She just got out of surgery and all went well.

I am one happy hubby right now, but am anxious to see her. It is so weird me being in the waiting room with all the surgeries that I have had the last few years. Her surgeon is the same one who did my redo last year, great person! Now we have to wait 2 to 3 months to have the rest of her thyroid removed. We tried to get the surgeon 8 years ago to remove all of it to avoid an extra surgery....he should have listened to me. (different surgeon) It's been a tough 2 months with her being in so much pain and sick every day and night. Guess it's my turn to be the rock

As for me....Well I saw the hematologist and they are stumped. My white cells are still going up and down without a reason for it. The 2 cells are for bacteria and fungal growth. I do have fungal growths in both lungs, but they originally didn't want to treat it because the treatment is very hard on the body. If they can't get this figured out I can't have the SCS for my rib pain
I go for another chest and head CT on 12/27 and then see the pulmonary doctor again after. The hematologist did say if the ey have grown or are not shrinking they may have to go ahead with the fungal treatment and I would have to be admitted to the hospital to control the side effects.

Kitt- thinking of you everyday my friend. Praying the treatments are getting easier for you. Keep chuggin' along!

Oh, almost forgot. I have to have another barium swallow tomorrow morning here at the hospital. Makes it easy that I will already be here. I had a scary incident that felt like my esophagus tore again. I got apple stuck and took me about 10 minutes to get it to move. Then felt like a hot knife went through the bottom of my esophagus. And sure enough I am getting that all too familiar pain in my left shoulder and middle of my spine. Same as when my wrap was tore apart last year

Guess I will find out tomorrow morning.

Take care,
Bill

Bill,

I sure hope you didn't tear that esophagus.  Fingers and toes crossed!  Good luck with the testing.  I hope things go well with Michelle and you can get her feeling better again.  Good luck with the surgery. 

Hope you get to the bottom of the cause of those blood cell issues!

Thinking of you!

Joy,

It sounds as if you're doing all the right things.  Hope the improvements continue!

Good luck to your mother. Surgery is never fun.  Hope it does the trick, though.

Kitt,

You know we're here rooting for you!

Now for my good news...

Yesterday, 12/10/12, my son and daughter-in-law welcomed a new child into their lives.  Our new granddaughter's (yes, granddaughter!) name is Matilynn Sara, and she was 7 pounds, 7 oz. and 22 inches long. She's so tiny!  I'm giving mommy and her own mom some time together as I did when our little grandson was born.  I'll have my chance!  We kept her big brother overnight Sunday and Monday, so we've been busy keeping him occupied!

Just thought I'd share our happy news!

((Hugs))

Denise

HELLO Healing Well Friends
I am so sorry I have been so absent here.. I have had another bought with illness.. the dr had me on one antibiotic and added another and I was allergic to it .. rash itching everywhere, no voice.. etc.. but I am good now
First
Bill
I am so sorry to hear that so much has been happening on the not so good side to you and your wife.. I had the gall bladder surgery in January this year.. hopefully Michelle will breeze through it like I did.. did they do it lap?? I didn't even have to take pain meds after the first day. I hope and pray that you hear good things after your swallow etc.. thinking of you and hoping you do not have to go through anymore trials...

joy
So glad to hear that your counseling is helping.. Hang in there and you will one day look back on this and say.. I can't believe I had that much strength!!!!

KITT
Please know that I am praying for you and I hope that everything is going well for you.. Don't let this treatment get you down!!!
Miss hearing from you...

Denise
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
What more can I say?? My baby is already 4, time fly's so enjoy every minute you have when they are small.. they don't stay that way for long...

Praying for health for you all.. now and in the New Year Have a wonderful and Joyous Christmas Holiday!!!
Sandi

Sorry about being sick, Sandi. I know how those allergic reactions to antibiotics can be. I had to wear gloves to keep from scratching myself to death.

Denise, A girl!!! Wow! Now you have one of each. Sounds like a great Christmas present.

Kitt, please get well soon. We miss you here.

Hi all-

Quick barium swallow update. Wrap and hole repair are intact , but the wrap is very inflamed even after almost 3 weeks. The barium sits there and so does the tablet.
Guess that's why certain meds are causing the heartburn feeling. Sitting there and being an irritant. Mt surgeon and GI doc didn't want to do an EGD with my past history, but sounds like they are planning one now. Guess I will find out at my follow up next week.

Take care,
Bill

Hello Dear Friends,

I am here and I am thinking of all of you.  I read from my iPad on the tough days and the days where I am up I spend a lot of time catching up on what does not get done the 5-7 days I don't feel so great after Chemo.

I am seeing my Dermatologist on Wednesday for the "lesions" that have broke out all over my arms, legs and a few on my face.  The oncologist had not a clue what was causing this problem but I look pretty nasty with these sores.

I see my oncologist on Thursday for decisions on where to go with my chemo regime as the Oxaliplatin makes me so very ill due to the toxcity of this drug so we need to figure out if I need to stop it completely.  On the 4th of December the Dr. held that drug and even though I still felt tough it was nothing like how ill I get with the Oxaliplatin.

Because my cancer is aggressive this is one of the drugs of choice but my body reacts so badly..............what to do.  We will see what the Dr. suggests on Thursday.

I miss being here with all of you but a friend asked me yesterday, " What will you do when your all better and no more chemo/cancer to deal with?" The answer was easy, I can be back with my friends online and in person,  I can go to Oregon to visit my son which I did not get to do this year.  I will be very busy smiling.

To each of you, be well.

May the magic and wonder of the Season fill your heart and home,

Kitt

 

Link to my Caring Bridge: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marytobias

 

Kitt-

So good to hear from you. Mom had a very tough time with the chemo as well. Now her skin is very dry all the time and she doesn't sweat anymore. Hang in there my friend. You will get through this and be back with us soon.


Sorry for my disappearance again. We stayed at Michelle's mom's and she doesn't have internet. We just got back home. She is doing very well and can eat pizza and whatever she wants again.

My 2nd eye surgery went great. Very strange to see clearly again. I opted for the mono vision, 1 eye distance and 1 eye close so I don't need reading glasses. My distance eye is back to 20/15! As for the wrap we are going to try a ppi for a month and see where I am at after that. Very happy they didn't want to do an EGD. It feels kind of like I am at week 2 or 3 again with it swollen up. I have to make sure to drink a full glass of water with my night meds so it goes through. They think with the slight motility issue I have after the esophagus tear is an issue also.

Wow, I can't believe how bright the computer screen is and how bright colors are again.

Take care,
Bill

Kitt...

We miss you more!  It is always great to see your post popping up in the forum.  Mostly, because you obviously had a moment of feeling well enough to tackle a response to someone.  I hope you're having a nice evening and that you're feeling better.  We're holding the fort here at the forum, but are looking forward to the day that you join us again in full form!  Take care of yourself and work on getting better.♥

Hope you're staying warm!  We've had lots of snow, and I'm loving it!  It's so beautiful, and as a bonus it covers up all those allergens!

Hi Bill,

It's great to hear that Michelle is healing and responding well to the surgery.  Thank goodness her headaches have subsided!

It's not so good to hear about your lung issues.  I hope you get that figured out very soon.  As an asthma sufferer, I know how hard it is to be short of breath.  Glad to hear that your wrap is feeling better!

Happy New Year!

Denise

Hi Sandi,

It's great to hear from you! I hope you have a wonderful 2013, and that it is a healthy one. I am having fun with my grandbabies.  We're very lucky to live so close by.  I hope you get lots of opportunities to spend time with your family and grandchildren!

Happy New Year!

Denise

Happy New Year, Joy!

Here's hoping that in 2013 you'll have lots of joy in your life!

Happiness always,

Denise

LOL...me too!

 

Hello to All,

I am fighting the fight and have just completed round 6 of chemo.  I find it so hard to get back on top of my game after a week of chemo.  I find I am so anxious every morning I get up when I know I have to go to the clinic I just want to run far, far away but I cannot do that so I break down in tears and than I get down on myself for being such a whiner.

I will go to my Caring Bridge now and find something positive to write as than I feel better about me.

Each of you are special friends to me and thank you for following my CaringBridge.  It means the world to me.

I have read how each of you are doing and please know I am keeping you all wrapped warm in my prayers.

Love to all of you,

Kitt