Older Folks and Vaping Back Porch - Part Seven

[Kenna]

Good morning, everyone... I know that it's been a very long time since I've made it by here, and I'm so far behind that I fear it would be impossible for me to catch up at this point... but it's been a long weekend and we've recently gotten some rather disheartening news on the medical front. I know that quite a few of you have been following our journey, and I wanted to make time to come by and give y'all a bit of an update. My Darling Bride had CT scan on Saturday, then brain MRI, full body bone scan, echocardiogram, and an EKG on Monday as a screening for a clinical trial that was supposed to start today. Yesterday was an appointment to get the results of all the scans and talk about the trial... we got bad news.

The scans showed significant tumor growth and spread. The tumors in her right lung have continued to grow, as well as the few tumors in her chest wall. But now they have found that she also has tumors in the liver, the right humerus,bones of the pelvis, both femurs, right fibula, sternum, skull, and spine. Also found a small 1cm tumor in the left cerebellum. That small little tumor in her brain disqualifies her for clinical trials. We have an appointment next Monday with radiation oncology to discuss the findings in the brain, and possible treatment options. If we can resolve the brain tumor, then it may be possible to resume clinical trials. Either way, it was very hard news to take. Her spirits are still up, and she is still fighting with everything that she has. I will continue to do my very best to keep her happy and to support and love her in every way that I possibly can.

{{{{ Kazz & DB }}}}

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[MikeE3]

We keep praying ...

And we do too for you and the bride.

 

[garyoa1]

 

[Kaezziel]

No I check on it but have been feeling pretty weird lately. Haven't even started cutting the patches down yet. Trying to get off the Xanax and cutting down on the breakthrough pain meds. Man that Xanas is a beech. I tried to cut it completely out Monday. Got down from 1.5mg-2mg to .5mg and when I went to bed my brain was working at 1000mph after 2 hours of laying there I took some. I had no idea this stuff was so addicting. I have a doc appt today. I'm down to .5mg and 6-10mg pain pills from 1.5mg and 8-9 pain pills. Plus trying to get used to my new glasses from the VA. I had no idea about the xanax been on them for 5 years.

That's GREAT, Pat!! Very happy to hear that you're able to cut down on the pain meds a bit. I have no experience with Xanax... I think my Bride was on it for a very short period of time. She didn't like the way she felt on it, so she is on Ativan now. She seems to like that one a bit better. For pain meds, they've taken her off of the Fentanyl patches and switched her to methadone for long-term/long-acting pain medication with dilaudid for break-through pain management. She's also using quite a few lidoderm patches for topical treatment.

 

[Kenna]

Thank you. I'm sorry that I've been MIA for so long... I keep trying to do better, but I keep sliding by the wayside. One of these days, I'll get my act together...

No apologies needed, Kaaz! Thank ou for updating us. You know we stand with you both!

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[Kaezziel]

{{{{ Kazz & DB }}}}

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{{{{{{{{{{Kenna}}}}}}}}}}

And we do too for you and the bride.

Thank you, Mike! And how are Janet and the kiddos and grand-kiddos? Sincerely hoping that everyone is doing well and is happy and healthy!

View attachment 648353

Thank you, Gary! Hope you've been holding up well! How goes life in the frozen north?

No apologies needed, Kaaz! Thank ou for updating us. You know we stand with you both!

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I know. But I still feel bad for having abandoned the thread for so long... I hate making people worry if I can help it...

 

[2legsshrt]

Seeing Divers pens prompted me to buy another of the best pens I've ever used. Pilot Dr. Grip. Nice and chunky and padded with silicone. I know not a thousand miles from Divers pens by comparison. But it did remind me I needed my old pen back.

Those are nice pens. I always liked them after I got my desk job at the RR. Had to do a lot of writing.

 

[garyoa1]

Thank you, Gary! Hope you've been holding up well! How goes life in the frozen north?

Old sux no matter where yer at!

 

[2legsshrt]

Sure, Mike .. as you're slowly sinking, see if you can get a signal on your waterproof device and stream all the free Amazon Music you like within the very limited time you have left .. .. may I suggest something from "The Little Mermaid" .. ??

Amazon Unlimited Music 30-Day Trial for free
Amazon offers an Amazon Music Unlimited 30-Day Trial

Be sure and cancel before you check out, or you will be charged at the end of the Free Trial ..

How about "I love to go swimmin with bow legged women and swimm between their legs" Don't feel bad mine seems to be in a very remote piece of the Pacific. And from what data I can get not very hospitable. Guess I could get a a ball and put a face on it if I had both items pen and ball.

 

[Kaezziel]

Old sux no matter where yer at!

LOL! Yeah... I'm slowly beginning to realize that, myself. I think I prefer it to be warm when dealing with it, though.

 

[2legsshrt]

That's GREAT, Pat!! Very happy to hear that you're able to cut down on the pain meds a bit. I have no experience with Xanax... I think my Bride was on it for a very short period of time. She didn't like the way she felt on it, so she is on Ativan now. She seems to like that one a bit better. For pain meds, they've taken her off of the Fentanyl patches and switched her to methadone for long-term/long-acting pain medication with dilaudid for break-through pain management. She's also using quite a few lidoderm patches for topical treatment.

Yeah the fentanyl either people do well with it or not. I can't take long acting long term oral meds because of the way my digestion is. It's through me before it has a chance to dissolve. They want to do another scan of my chest and possibly get a better look. They are going to do it at the VA and make a CD and I have to take it to the Oncologist Hemotologist that I see for the anemia.

 

[Kaezziel]

Yeah the fentanyl either people do well with it or not. I can't take long acting long term oral meds because of the way my digestion is. It's through me before it has a chance to dissolve. They want to do another scan of my chest and possibly get a better look.

She did well with the Fentanyl for a little while, but then it seems to have just quit working for her. They doubled her dosage, and it still wasn't helping. Weekend before last, I took her to the ER because the pain was just too much, and her pain management doctor came in and made the switch. It took about a week to really start working because it has to build up in your system, but it seems to be doing a little bit better now. I think they probably need to adjust the dosage a little more.

Speaking of your digestive system. What ever happened with that doctor that you were talking with? Are you still on schedule to go see him to get fixed up?

 

[2legsshrt]

My use of a higher nic juice is not going well. 6mg makes my chest hurt so went back to <3mg. Pretty soon it will be straight VG PG.

 

[2legsshrt]

Speaking of your digestive system. What ever happened with that doctor that you were talking with? Are you still on schedule to go see him to get fixed up?

He called me Sunday and I asked him if I could maintain the weight I'm at which is a 19.5 BMI if I could hold off on the surgery. He said that would be fine. He reiterated that the surgery was a last resort. If I can't maintain the weight then it may not be an option. I told him I was going to try to get off the fentanyl. He said if I shoot for a date like 6 months in the future and stay at the weight I am I might not need to get it. I was feeling better from this different protein. He said the beauty of this stuff is 99% of it is absorbed compared to the other stuff, which for someone with a normal digetive system works fine. He said if he has to do it he would only increase my common channel which is the part where the digestion and absoption takes place from about 75cm to 125cm. Otherwise I could gain too much. I will find out today how my weight is doing. I have noticed that with this proteing my appetite is much better and I'm eating about double what I was. So we'll see today. I'm hoping I'm still at 137.6.

 

[Kaezziel]

He called me Sunday and I asked him if I could maintain the weight I'm at which is a 19.5 BMI if I could hold off on the surgery. He said that would be fine. He reiterated that the surgery was a last resort. If I can't maintain the weight then it may not be an option. I told him I was going to try to get off the fentanyl. He said if I shoot for a date like 6 months in the future and stay at the weight I am I might not need to get it. I was feeling better from this different protein. He said the beauty of this stuff is 99% of it is absorbed compared to the other stuff, which for someone with a normal digetive system works fine. He said if he has to do it he would only increase my common channel which is the part where the digestion and absoption takes place from about 75cm to 125cm. Otherwise I could gain too much. I will find out today how my weight is doing. I have noticed that with this proteing my appetite is much better and I'm eating about double what I was. So we'll see today. I'm hoping I'm still at 137.6.

That's some really good news, man! I know that any time you can avoid surgery, then that is a good thing. Most surgeries are hard on the body, but anything that deals with the digestive tract is definitely risky. It's great to hear that the protein supplement that you're on now is helping so much, and you're at a good weight! I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

 

[Semiretired]

We keep praying and fighting, brother... that's all we know to do!

Please, don't ever give up on it either... We all think of you and yours and send prayers to assist where we can...

 

[Semiretired]

Since everyone is showing off their small piece of the earth that they have - I thought I would show you ours...



But, I didn't acquire it through a website and I have sipped a many a coconut while resting on its shores...

 

[misswish1]

Kaez, thanks for coming back to us, and for the update. You know you both are in our hearts and prayers. Big warm hugs for you.

 

[Kaezziel]

Please, don't ever give up on it either... We all think of you and yours and send prayers to assist where we can...

Thank you, Semi... we ain't givin' up any time soon. And we truly appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers. Y'all definitely stay on my mind and in my heart and prayers, too... I'm well aware of the fact that we aren't the only ones facing hardships.

 

[Kaezziel]

Kaez, thanks for coming back to us, and for the update. You know you both are in our hearts and prayers. Big warm hugs for you.

{{{{{{{{{{Miss}}}}}}}}}}
Thank you! I just wish that I'd had better news...

Some day, though... gotta keep hoping and praying!