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Post by CrepedCrusader on Jul 29, 2021 13:05:37 GMT
Don't know if anyone remembers me talking about my mom's health problems. She was diagnosed with cancer late last year. Because of her poor health, they were putting off surgery. Then they decided instead of surgery, they'd try radiation treatments instead. She is scheduled for 25 treatments of external beam radiation and 5 treatments of another kind (can't remember what it's called, but she calls it "internal radiation"). So far she's had 21 of the external beam treatments and was scheduled for the first "internal" treatment on Friday.
Monday, she stayed in the hospital overnight after a procedure to insert some kind of sleeve that they needed in place before she could start the internal radiation. While in the hospital, she was complaining that it was hard to swallow. After she came home Tuesday, her throat started to hurt. Yesterday, she went in early before her external beam treatment and got a strep test, which was positive. So she was dealing with strep in addition to side effects of radiation treatments (the most significant being radiation burns that are starting to peel).
Yesterday, after coming home from her treatment, my dad went and got her antibiotic prescription. Shortly after taking it, she started to feel nauseous. The internet said nausea was one possible symptom of strep, so we thought nothing of it. As the day went on, her nausea got worse and her stomach stared hurting very bad. Finally, at around 9 o'clock, she said her stomach pain him was unbearable and she started vomiting quite a bit. She said the vomiting felt like another time years ago when she got sick after a short stay at a physical rehab facility; when she came home, she kept vomiting and any kind of bad smell or even (weirdly) loud noise could set her off. That time, I don't think she went to the hospital and after a week or so she got better. This time, she decided to try to get ahold of one of her doctors after hours. She finally got ahold of somebody, and they said her symptoms could be caused by any number of things: the strep, a reaction to the antibiotics, side effects of her radiation treatments, maybe even another intestinal obstruction (which she's been treated for twice before), and they suggested she go to the hospital.
Shortly after midnight, we got a call from the hospital saying her nurse would call to update us within an hour. 90 minutes went by, and I called the hospital myself. The nurse got on the line and said they'd given my mom pain and anti-nausea meds and had just sent her for a cat scan, but that the results would take an hour. I decided to get a little sleep. (I got mybe about 3 hours.) I waited for my dad to wake up to ask him if he'd heard anything. He said around 5 o'clock he called there and they said her nurse was busy but that my mom was still in the e.r. and he could call her cell if he wanted to talk to her. He tried the cell but there was no answer. I told him that when my mom left, she had her cell in a bag that the paramedics took with them, and the bag might be out of her reach at the moment. My dad decided to go to the hospital to see if they'll let him see her and or at least give him an update. Now, I'm just waiting for him to call me and let me know what's going on.
Update: No sooner had I posted this than my dad called. He went to the emergency desk and they said she's not in the emergency department. They told him to check with the main desk to see if she's been given a room.
Update 2: My dad called. She's not in a room because she's in recovery after a surgery. They didn't tell him what type of surgery, but said they would call him with an update when they could.
Update 3: An old hernia was causing a bowel obstruction. She had a surgery to remove the hernia. She seems to be doing well all things considered.
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Post by divtal on Jul 29, 2021 16:07:21 GMT
Wow, Crepe, she's been through so much. I have every positive thought going her way. I'll send some to you and your Dad, too. You all need it.
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Post by lenlenlen1 on Jul 29, 2021 19:20:08 GMT
I hope she gets better. And don't forget to take of yourself too. Good luck with everything!
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Post by Morgana on Jul 30, 2021 9:30:47 GMT
I'm so sorry to hear everything your mother has gone, and is going, through. I wish her good health.
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Post by Schwarzwald Magnus on Jul 30, 2021 13:47:52 GMT
Best wishes.
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Post by alittlebirdie on Jul 30, 2021 13:55:14 GMT
That's a lot to go through, for your Mom and loved one's
Wishing her restored health.
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Post by rachelcarson1953 on Jul 30, 2021 19:20:01 GMT
Don't know if anyone remembers me talking about my mom's health problems. She was diagnosed with cancer late last year. Because of her poor health, they were putting off surgery. Then they decided instead of surgery, they'd try radiation treatments instead. She is scheduled for 25 treatments of external beam radiation and 5 treatments of another kind (can't remember what it's called, but she calls it "internal radiation"). So far she's had 21 of the external beam treatments and was scheduled for the first "internal" treatment on Friday. Monday, she stayed in the hospital overnight after a procedure to insert some kind of sleeve that they needed in place before she could start the internal radiation. While in the hospital, she was complaining that it was hard to swallow. After she came home Tuesday, her throat started to hurt. Yesterday, she went in early before her external beam treatment and got a strep test, which was positive. So she was dealing with strep in addition to side effects of radiation treatments (the most significant being radiation burns that are starting to peel). Yesterday, after coming home from her treatment, my dad went and got her antibiotic prescription. Shortly after taking it, she started to feel nauseous. The internet said nausea was one possible symptom of strep, so we thought nothing of it. As the day went on, her nausea got worse and her stomach stared hurting very bad. Finally, at around 9 o'clock, she said her stomach pain him was unbearable and she started vomiting quite a bit. She said the vomiting felt like another time years ago when she got sick after a short stay at a physical rehab facility; when she came home, she kept vomiting and any kind of bad smell or even (weirdly) loud noise could set her off. That time, I don't think she went to the hospital and after a week or so she got better. This time, she decided to try to get ahold of one of her doctors after hours. She finally got ahold of somebody, and they said her symptoms could be caused by any number of things: the strep, a reaction to the antibiotics, side effects of her radiation treatments, maybe even another intestinal obstruction (which she's been treated for twice before), and they suggested she go to the hospital. Shortly after midnight, we got a call from the hospital saying her nurse would call to update us within an hour. 90 minutes went by, and I called the hospital myself. The nurse got on the line and said they'd given my mom pain and anti-nausea meds and had just sent her for a cat scan, but that the results would take an hour. I decided to get a little sleep. (I got mybe about 3 hours.) I waited for my dad to wake up to ask him if he'd heard anything. He said around 5 o'clock he called there and they said her nurse was busy but that my mom was still in the e.r. and he could call her cell if he wanted to talk to her. He tried the cell but there was no answer. I told him that when my mom left, she had her cell in a bag that the paramedics took with them, and the bag might be out of her reach at the moment. My dad decided to go to the hospital to see if they'll let him see her and or at least give him an update. Now, I'm just waiting for him to call me and let me know what's going on. Update: No sooner had I posted this than my dad called. He went to the emergency desk and they said she's not in the emergency department. They told him to check with the main desk to see if she's been given a room. Update 2: My dad called. She's not in a room because she's in recovery after a surgery. They didn't tell him what type of surgery, but said they would call him with an update when they could. Update 3: An old hernia was causing a bowel obstruction. She had a surgery to remove the hernia. She seems to be doing well all things considered. Good to hear she is improving; man, that was a lot to go through. My mother was assigned to hospice care about 3 months ago, after multiple trips to the ER. Her final ER trip was because of a broken hip, and the young doctor in the ER wanted to set up hip surgery, for a 98 year old woman already in hospice. The hospice people were called, she went back to the care facility, and a few days later, she passed, peacefully. She herself had said NO to surgery. I've been in charge of her health care and most of her daily care for seventeen years, until she had to go to a care facility. Caregivers carry a tremendous load, and I want to remind you to take care of yourself, too, Creped. I don't think I will ever catch up on sleep deprivation, and it is surreal, knowing that she is gone. Try for quality time as much as possible, and ask for help when you need it. I had paid caregivers that came to her home, but eventually that wasn't enough. You might be eligible for respite care; check senior services where you live. Sending best wishes to you and your family.
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Post by Marv on Jul 30, 2021 20:26:28 GMT
Best wishes to your mother Crepe. And to you too while we're at it.
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Post by CrepedCrusader on Jul 31, 2021 22:10:26 GMT
Thanks for all the well-wishes. My mom is back home and doing okay. Unfortunately, because every day has to bring some new bad news, today I got a call from the same hospital my mom just left to tell me that my brother, who got out of rehab for alcoholism less than two weeks ago, was found passed out drunk on the street. There have been a few days where he sounded buzzed while calling me on the phone, but he would deny he'd been drinking and say he must sound funny because he's tired. Yesterday, he sounded drunk when he called me and then later our mom while she was still in the hospital. I texted him my suspicions and telling him that he needs to start going to AA meetings (he was going for the first week, and then stopped because he was "too busy"). This morning, he called and actually made me feel guilty, insisting that he's "trying really hard" and didn't appreciate accusations. Then I get the call from the hospital just a few hours later. They said someone would have to pick him up or they'd have to hold him until he was sober. I told them to hold him. He just got a new job and was supposed to be saving up to move since he will soon be evicted from his place.
Just for extra fun, I had to deal with my other brother yesterday too. I don't know if he's been diagnosed, but he exhibits the symptoms of schizophrenia (I have a couple relatives who have it). Yesterday, he suddenly decided he wanted me to ask my mom to text him someone's number. Since we couldn't see why he would need to talk to that person, and also that he has a history of phone harassment (for which he's currently on probation), my mom didn't want him to have it, so I just lied and told him she didn't have the number. That set him off on a rant about how he knows we're lying and we don't have the right to deny him the number.
So yeah, it's been a fun week. I have this thing with my dad where whenever some new shitty thing comes up, I just say, "every day it's something else".
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Post by spooner5020 on Aug 1, 2021 3:52:46 GMT
I am so sorry. Hope you’re doing ok. Your family’s in my thoughts.
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Post by CrepedCrusader on Aug 1, 2021 23:44:07 GMT
Well, he's going back to the hospital. She hasn't been able to eat much since getting home, mostly watermelon. Today, she's been feeling very nauseous and was unable to eat because of it. Also, still having trouble going to the bathroom. She called one of her doctors and they told her to go back to the hospital to get checked out in case there's some complication.
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Post by mystery on Aug 2, 2021 1:26:43 GMT
I'm sorry to hear life has been so rough lately, but you should be really proud of yourself for being strong enough to handle all of this. It sounds like you're the main one holding your family together. If you can make it through this, then you can do just about anything. You're practically a superhero. Just hang in there.
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Post by CrepedCrusader on Aug 2, 2021 4:56:46 GMT
I'm sorry to hear life has been so rough lately, but you should be really proud of yourself for being strong enough to handle all of this. It sounds like you're the main one holding your family together. If you can make it through this, then you can do just about anything. You're practically a superhero. Just hang in there. Thanks for the kind words. As for my mom, she has another small bowel obstruction. At the moment, they don't think she'll require another surgery. They'll be keeping her a few days.
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Post by CrepedCrusader on Aug 2, 2021 5:38:29 GMT
Since this has become a thread about my general family troubles and not just my mom, I thought I'd add that my brother just called audibly drunk. He didn't pick up when I called him earlier to tell him our mom was back in the hospital, so I'd texted him and he just read the text. He asked what happened and I filled him in. He was silent for a while and then said, "I think I'm gonna go there with her", by which he meant he was going to go to the hospital because he "needs help". The thing is, he'd done that before once or twice and all they've ever done is hold him until he's sober and then release him with a recommendation to go to a rehab which, as I noted in another post, he just got back from less than two weeks ago after a 31 day stay (3 days detox, 28 days rehab). So...not sure what he thinks will be different by going to the hospital this time.
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Post by Prime etc. on Aug 2, 2021 5:46:59 GMT
I am really sorry to hear about your family issues. It is deja vu for me because I went through similar things up to last year. I know the stress and feelings from it. But as already stated, be proud of your efforts to help and that you care.
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Post by mystery on Aug 2, 2021 14:20:48 GMT
Since this has become a thread about my general family troubles and not just my mom, I thought I'd add that my brother just called audibly drunk. He didn't pick up when I called him earlier to tell him our mom was back in the hospital, so I'd texted him and he just read the text. He asked what happened and I filled him in. He was silent for a while and then said, "I think I'm gonna go there with her", by which he meant he was going to go to the hospital because he "needs help". The thing is, he'd done that before once or twice and all they've ever done is hold him until he's sober and then release him with a recommendation to go to a rehab which, as I noted in another post, he just got back from less than two weeks ago after a 31 day stay (3 days detox, 28 days rehab). So...not sure what he thinks will be different by going to the hospital this time. My family is going through something similar with my SIL. For some reason, she actually gets worse after going to rehab. I wish alcoholics would realize that it's always better to face their problems with courage and integrity, rather than trying to hide from them by pickling their brains in alcohol. Attempting to self medicate with alcohol is enormously destructive to the individual, their families, and anyone who has the misfortune of getting caught in their path. My SIL has wrecked 3 cars while driving drunk (one of which caught on fire), and she's gotten 2 DUIs where her blood alcohol level was over 4 times the legal limit, almost to lethal levels. It's been unbelievable watching her self destruct like this. I just hope she doesn't kill anyone else. Hopefully your brother will choose a wiser path. Good luck to you and your family.
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Post by petrolino on Aug 2, 2021 22:25:45 GMT
I'm sorry. I'd like to send my best wishes.
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loofapotato
Junior Member
@loofapotato
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Post by loofapotato on Aug 3, 2021 2:44:51 GMT
I hope she gets into better health and beats cancer.
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Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Aug 3, 2021 4:11:24 GMT
Very sorry to hear that. I really hope she will be OK.
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