Hi all, Well, I finally broke through and am finally beginning to recover from my radiation therapy for my tonsil cancer. I hit a real low about a month ago and needed to go spend a few weeks with...
Hi all, I'll save the details for when I have energy. The bottom line is that the radiation for the tonsil cancer kicked the ESLD into high gear. The trips to the ER with a week in hospital each...
Hi all. I hope that you are all doing well. I miss you. I spent last week in the hospital and the time since trying to acclimate to being at home. Trying to keep the symptoms straight while battling...
DOH! (said as only Homer Simpson can when head-slapped) I'm trying!! (very trying, you might say) Connie - I can always depend on you to keep me focused. I'm going fast from the painkillers so it's...
Hi Connie and everyone, I hope that you are all doing as well as possible. Keep up the hard work and good attitudes. My attitude sucks right now. In general, I am well. Almost half way through the...
Hi all, I hope that you are all doing well. I haven't really been keeping up on what's happening at the forum. So a quick update: This begins my 3rd week of 7 for the neck / throat / tonsil cancer....
Hi JoAnn, It's all about survival rates and cost. If there is a likelihood of cancer recurrence, 50% in this case, they will not place one on the list. If there is recurrence, next time it could...
Hi all, Just started a new thread: "It's official - Off the UNOS Transplant list until / unless" Thanks for all of your prayers, thoughts, encouragement and support. Need sleep. Be well, John...
Hi all, I hope that you are all doing as well as can be expected. We all know that if we're on this forum, things aren't normal. The letter came today: UNOS has taken me completely off the list due...
Hi all, Just a check in -- I've got 9am all-day chemo Tuesday. I wanna whine but am trying not to. Hope to settle down a bit so I can post. Be well, John...
Hi Karen, Just a thought and never trust mine. Both the spleen and the gall bladder are around that area. I think that spleen pain is moderate pressure pain, while gall stones can really hurt and...
Hi WriteLeft, It is good that you have a clear path in your mind and the strength to follow it. You already know this, but please make sure that you have your support arranged for the inevitable...
Hi all, It's so good to read your words and hear your voices as I do. I truly value every word. Thank you. I'm pretty drugged so will be brief. I'm reacting well to the IM Radiation and Chemo cancer...
Hi Joelene, I'm glad to read that you're back. I've been worried about you with your multiple fronts of aggravation. I'm pretty drugged so you (and everyone) can relax -- no endless pontification...
Hi all, I'll try to keep my whining to a minimum. 1st chemo Monday (1 per week) and 1st radiation Tuesday (daily). Some nausea from chemo and no effect from radiation accept for loss of endurance....
Hi all, I hope that you all are doing well. I have been pretty much out of commission all week so I have not been on-line. Just a quick update. Feeding tube went in Monday with no followup antibiotic...
Hi all, I haven't read the posts but hope that you are doing well. The Update I finally heard about the full-body PET Scan: the cancer has not spread from my throat / neck area. So if we get the...
Hi all, I'm not really up to posting but I wanted to check in. Full-body PET Scan is done but no results yet. Monday is feeding tube insertion. 26th is final dentist OK and 30th (or sooner) is...
Hi all, Thanks for the concern. I hope that you're doing well. Sorry to have not posted but my schedule is totally whacked. My fever spiked again (it is simply a tumor fever, as they call it -- so...
Hi all, I can't post tonight but know that I am thinking of you all. Be well, John...
Hi Connie, I'm glad that you're doing well and that you get a break from constant treatments. I hope that you are planning some fun to celebrate. The only news on my PET Scan (to see if the cancer is...
Hi all, Hope you're all doing as well as possible. Thank you for your concern, thoughts and prayers. It means a lot. Connie - please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. From what feedback I...
Hi Connie, You know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. We all know that you will make the best decision. You're not one to be misled by the system. Be well, John...
Hi Joelene, I just checked with my fashion consultants and they assure me that yellow is in the new Fall 2008 / Spring 2009 fashion palette. So you're quite in vogue! I hope that you are feeling...
Hi all, I hope that everyone is doing as well as possible. It's been a couple of really busy days so I haven't made time to stay up to date. No word on the PET Scan. I don't believe that they did the...
Hi all, Thanks for your thoughts and concern. Fever is kicking my behind. Peaked this am at 104 (norm is 97), back down to about 101. Between the encephalopathy and the fever, I can't get anything...
Hi Joelene, Regarding music when depressed, it's been a tough day and I don't have any good thoughts. In general, for me I have differing strategies: the first is if I have a glimmer of hope and see...
Hi Joelene, Just checking in. How are you doing? Be well, John...
Hi Judith, I am so happy for you guys! I've now met several people who have successfully had the transplant and each, and their partner, have said it was a miracle in the changes. Not always easy,...
Hi all, Thanks so much for the encouragement -- it helps a lot. I hope that each of you is doing well. PG - It's funny that you mention the door kicking image. Sorry to do it to you, but it brings...
Hey Connie, Regarding the radiation, the initial consult would have both chemo and radiation combined. From my reading, it appears that proper chemo weakens the cancer cells allowing the radiation to...
Hi odanboy, I'm sorry that you are not feeling well. I don't know how helpful we can be but there is a lot of experience and knowledge in the forum members. They cannot replace good medical advice...
Hi all, I apologize for bringing up the STC thing, although it is true. It's one of the ancillary concepts of Einstein's E=mc2 so we mortals are not really meant to understand it. But I am accepting...
Hi Serenity, I'm sorry that you need to hang out with us but there is no better place for info and support for those of us who need to address this disease, either as a patient or caregiver. I only...
Hi Connie, Chinatown . . . Little Italy, it's tough. So many great places to eat in such wonderful areas. But be sure that the duck wonton soup comes up first on the menu! Are you OK? As I said, I am...
Hi Connie, The tumor is actually both on the throat and the neck. It runs down the throat to the the voicebox, but also went out to the lymph node, causing a lump there. It's a busy little beaver!...
Hi PG and Connie, Thanks for the positive thoughts and advice. The tumor seems really aggressive so I'm trying to move my consult up a day or two. PG - I really miss CA and the weather. My early...
Hi Joelene, Pardon my unsolicited advice. Please jump on the divorce path right away. All attorneys should give you an hour at no cost so that you can evaluate them and they can evaluate your...
Hi all, Thanks for your kind posts, encouragement, positive thoughts and prayers. I am thankful to have you all for my virtual family. It means a lot to me. I would like to personalize this response...
Hi all, I hope that all is well with everyone. Here, it is a week of the most beautiful weather imaginable. I wish I had my sailboat in the water. Then I could be listening to Jimmy Buffet with spray...
Hi all, Hope that all is well with everyone -- as well as can be expected. I did the pre-op physical yesterday and in about an hour I will head to the hospital to see what's up with this tumor. Yes...
Hi Dabba, Just a note to welcome you to the forum. I'm sorry that you need to deal with this disease but there are a lot of knowledgeable and caring people here. I hope you find it as helpful as I...
Hi all, I hope that you are all feeling as well as possible -- and all having good news. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers! I'm running off to bed so that I'll be ready for tomorrow. I have...
Hi Judith and PG, Judith - I hope that things will turn around and begin going better with the new drug. I've had both that and Lactulose and it seems that the Rifaximin (Xiafaxin) is better at...
Hi Mary, I hope that you are holding up well. Don't let them get you down. There are ALWAYS alternatives! Not knowing the background of your husband's heart condition, I can only say that I just...
Hi Judith, I haven't had my transplant yet but have done much research since mine will be coming up soon (I hope). You don't say what caused your husband's liver damage but I can say that in my case,...
Hi Mary, I'm afraid that I can't help with your questions but wanted to welcome you to the forum. I'm sorry that you need to be here but there is a lot of experienced and caring people here. I hope...
Hi La Bunna, That is so cool! I'm so happy for you both. I hope that the healing goes quickly and your life returns to normal in no time. Be well, John...
Hi again, I hope that each of you are doing as well as you can. As much as I would love to hope that each of you are truly well. Thanks to each of you caregivers and best thoughts to each of you...
Hi all, Just a quick update on the fever. Nothing definitive but we've run out of benign potential sources so Thursday we start on the no-so-benign possibilities. I would hate for things to become...