Support - April

[HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan]

[mcmel]

For anyone following my dad’s illness- it doesn’t appear to be cirrhosis but a rare form of mesothelioma in the omentum. This is of course, even worse news and we’re devastated. I’m trying to stay positive but I’m just so so heartbroken.

[underwaterrhymes]

mcmel I’m so sorry. Sending big hugs to you.

[mysteriouswife]

Lots of love mcmel

[lucybrown]

((mcmel))

[suzubell]

I’m so sorry mcmel.

[Pilsy]

mcmel, I'm sorry and sending you virtual hugs.

[letsgetweird]

Apr 1, 2022 14:21:14 GMT -5 mcmel said:

For anyone following my dad’s illness- it doesn’t appear to be cirrhosis but a rare form of mesothelioma in the omentum. This is of course, even worse news and we’re devastated. I’m trying to stay positive but I’m just so so heartbroken.

I'm so sorry to hear that

[cleo29]

mcmel, I am so sorry. Sending you hugs.

I am a broken record, but my i just spoke to the nurse from where my mom lives regarding her legs. She has had edema for years, but I guess today it is really bad, so they want to wrap her legs to help with the swelling. Well, my mom is upset saying she does not want it, something about her vericose veins (which I do not remember being all that bad) and that she will end up in the hospital. And of course, in the move, we did not keep her recliner. Agh. And I am sick, so I cannot go over there and talk to her. I did over the phone, but that was not great.

[mrsukyankee]

I'm so sorry mcmel.

[mcmel]

Thank you, all.

I’m so sorry cleo29

I hope things get better for you and her.

[cleo29]

Apr 3, 2022 16:12:36 GMT -5 mcmel said:

Thank you, all.

I’m so sorry cleo29

I hope things get better for you and her.

Thank you, she will be fine.  Just confused and I think a bit mixed up about things.  I sometimes think the fighting of things is her last act of control, if that makes sense. 

[Deleted]

I'm so sorry mcmel , you'll be in my thoughts.

That really is tough cleo29 . I think that you are right about the control thing. I can only imagine how difficult it must be losing every semblance of independence.

It's been two weeks and my Dad is still in the hospital. He went in originally because he was having a heart attack. The Cath Lab was able to clear the blockage in his Aorta (it was 100% blocked) and we were figuring he'd be home in a few days. Well, at some point over the next couple of days, he had a stroke. I kept telling the nurse when I was there that something was wrong and he wasn't acting right, but we'll never know when exactly it happened. They did surmise that it was caused by the surgery they did to clear his Aorta. It was a Bilateral Stroke and the left side of his body is more effected than the right. That's not even what's keeping him in the hospital at this point. He can't maintain his Oxygen levels. He's been up and down, but never getting lower than 50%.

I went to see him on Saturday and walked up to his room and it was empty. My heart sank and I almost went in to a full panic, luckily the nurse came right over and let us know that he had been transferred back to ICU. He's back on 100% O2. The cray thing is, they don't know why he can't maintain his levels. We (his kids) have guesses, but we aren't doctors. My Dad was diagnosed with Lung Cancer a year ago. Was actually given a year to live. But the Chemo and Radiation worked and he was actually doing great and prior to all of this, was just doing maintenance Immunotherapy so that the tumor wouldn't grow. I just don't know what to do or how to feel at this point. Luckily my siblings and me are getting together tomorrow night. Other than the day he was admitted 2 weeks ago we haven't all been together, and right now, I really need to be around those who are going through the same thing as me.

[mcmel]

I’m so sorry @sameoldstory

That must’ve been such a horrible shock to come in to an empty room. Even if we’re not together in person, it does bring me some comfort knowing we’re not alone in these struggles.

[silva]

DH's parents are in their mid to late 80s. MIL, who has alzheimers is currently living at memory care assisted living center which is within walking distance to their home. In the last few months, we were notified that FIL is showing up to visit MIL at midnight and like 2 am. This set off SIL having FIL to be checked for alzheimers, which was also confirmed recently with the added bonus of the dr STRONGLY recommending that FIL no longer drive. He's now on the list to get a room where MIL resides. But, SIL found another place that currently has two adjacent rooms in a more homey memory care center and she wrote a check to reserve the space so both MIL and FIL can move and be together.

Well, neither of them want to move. MIL states that she only sleeps at the memory care center and goes to work during the day, so she refuses to leave her home. FIL refuses to hand over his keys to the car and refuses to move. The stories they share with DH and SIL are so sad. FIL is convinced that the nurses at the memory care center take MIL to church and leave her stranded. MIL is saying she works every day can comes home for the evening and sleeps at the memory care center.

FIL's fridge tells he's not eating well. He goes over to visit MIL during meal times so he can sneak off MIL's plate. Staff has notified us about that. So, DH is now doing doordash to deliver groceries, but FIL says to stop because he can shop himself....by driving to the store himself.

sigh. It's hard. It sucks and I HOPE they can move into the new place soon. We all just want them to be safe and happy.

[BlondeSpiders]

Hi all,

Someone in a previous support thread (I think) mentioned they had their spine fused to alleviate back pain. I was hoping I might be able to ask some questions about the procedure for my mom who is dealing with debilitating back pain. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

[mrsjrd23]

Apr 4, 2022 16:00:17 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

Hi all,

Someone in a previous support thread (I think) mentioned they had their spine fused to alleviate back pain. I was hoping I might be able to ask some questions about the procedure for my mom who is dealing with debilitating back pain. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

I'm not the poster who posted previously, but I am a PT who works with spinal fusion patients immediately post-op.  I'm happy to help answer questions if needed. 

[BlondeSpiders]

Apr 5, 2022 8:28:31 GMT -5 mrsjrd23 said:

Apr 4, 2022 16:00:17 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

Hi all,

Someone in a previous support thread (I think) mentioned they had their spine fused to alleviate back pain. I was hoping I might be able to ask some questions about the procedure for my mom who is dealing with debilitating back pain. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

I'm not the poster who posted previously, but I am a PT who works with spinal fusion patients immediately post-op.  I'm happy to help answer questions if needed. 

Thanks so much! I'll PM shortly.

[litskispeciality]

My MIL is back in the hospital again. She was in for almost a week, was supposed to have a Watchman? heart device installed in a good cardiac hospital, but instead went home without one. Now she and FIL have COVID. Her breathing got pretty low. The hospital somehow allows up to 2 visitors per day, but DH's family is big. He missed visiting his mom last time because he had a cold...now he can't visit because COVID.

I have surgery in 3 weeks and I'm terrifed I'm going to get sick as COVID is still very much around and we have a big event (masks required) at work this weekend.

[mags]

Apr 1, 2022 14:21:14 GMT -5 mcmel said:

For anyone following my dad’s illness- it doesn’t appear to be cirrhosis but a rare form of mesothelioma in the omentum. This is of course, even worse news and we’re devastated. I’m trying to stay positive but I’m just so so heartbroken.

Thinking about you, any updates on your dad?

[mcmel]

Apr 7, 2022 19:50:10 GMT -5 mags said:

Apr 1, 2022 14:21:14 GMT -5 mcmel said:

For anyone following my dad’s illness- it doesn’t appear to be cirrhosis but a rare form of mesothelioma in the omentum. This is of course, even worse news and we’re devastated. I’m trying to stay positive but I’m just so so heartbroken.

Thinking about you, any updates on your dad?

Not yet. We’re supposed to have the biopsy results tomorrow but they don’t think they’ll be ready in time. So maybe next week. Thank you for asking.

[litskispeciality]

(((mcmel)))

[mcmel]

The biopsy results are in. It's epithelioid mesothelioma caused by asbestos. His lymph nodes are enlarged so we're doing a PET scan next week, but the doctor doesn't believe this is something that can be removed and we're just hoping to slow the progress. The doctor said that he would give a very rough estimate of a year in terms of length of life and my dad just kept whispering "a year?" to himself in total disbelief. The doctor said he's seen people live longer and people live much shorter, so it's hard to say. My dad just already has very problematic symptoms and I worry that we're on the short end of the stick. I'm absolutely shattered. The thought of never seeing someone again. They never exist ever again. Ever. You'll never see them again ever. It's overwhelming.

[bcv513]

mcmel I’m so sorry

[mofongo]

(( mcmel))

[underwaterrhymes]

mcmel ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[underwaterrhymes]

Sending love to everyone in this thread. ❤️

[goldengirlz]

I’m so very sorry mcmel.

[mysteriouswife]

Much love and support to those needing it.

[wildrice]

mcmel, I am so, so sorry for this terrible news. Thinking of you.