another day

[louie3754]

Geoff finally came home from hospital yesterday, now on warfarin so has to go to his gp tomorrow and have an INR, just another hurdle to deal with I suppose. I went down to see him today, took Mum but have only told her a very shortened version of the real story, at 92 and being in a nursing home I doubt that she could cope with the cancer part. Geoff looked really pale, and is really thin, is thin anyway but after 2 1/2 weeks of either no food or fluids I suppose it,s only natural that he would lose weight,just was a bit shocked when I saw him. I thought he looked better when I saw him in coronary care last monday!!! He doesn,t have to see either Dr Chu or the cardiologist for a few weeks so I hope he can build himself up to deal with the next step, whatever that may be.

[PaulaS]

Thanks so much for your message the other day... I couldn't respond any sooner, because this account blocked me out and i had to wait for the Admin team to fix it. Sorry !! My dad got his results, and they are better than what we were thinking... he has a tumor in his stomach that is in an awkward spot, so he will be going in for surgery in the next few weeks, but they are very hopeful that they can get it all out, and i guess after the operation it will be more waiting !!! The waiting is one of the worst things, it really drives you insane. But for the minute, we can breathe again and concentrate on getting him through this next surgery. I just saw your post above, and you really have had a terrible time.. it would be a shock to see him after that dramatic weight loss, hopefully soon he will get his get his appetite back which will give him some strength and energy back. And yes, your right it's always waiting for that next hurdle, whatever that may be... it seems never ending - and just gets so exhausting.. but we will all pull through it ( we have no choice ) and hopefully for all of us, we will get to the light at the end of the tunnel.. and sit back and start enjoying life again, when it is all over. Hang in there... your doing a great job... we will get there. Hope your week goes ok for you. Thinking of you. Paula.

[louie3754]

What good news, sort of , at least they can operate and remove the damn thing.And isn,t waiting just the best - NOT. We had some good news too, the 'other thing' they found in Geoff,s abdominal cavity is all clear-woo hoo. At last something positive. He sees both the surgeon & cardiologist next week, he assumes the surgeon will refer him onto a oncologist. Do you live near your Dad? Oh well, nearly my bedtime, my boxer Lexi is asleep on the lounge next to me and Bronson the labradoodle is asleep on my bed, they both sleep on the bed with me, and sometimes if it,s cold, under the blankets, I don,t know what I,d do without them. Look after yourself Paula, Linda

[louie3754]

Another wet day, what a surprise. Geoff saw the cardiologist last week, all ok, left up to the gp to monitor the warfarin. Saw Dr Chu Wed, another procedure on his liver in 3 months. Saw the oncologist Fri, blood tests, ct scan, and can,t take warfarin while on chemo so will need another blood thinning med, back to onologist next Thurs to get a start date. 3 months of chemo, once a fortnight, but will have a picc line, then the liver op, back on chemo for another 3 months then another liver op. He understandably sounded a bit flat yesterday, maybe seeing the oncologist made the reality of having cancer a bit too real. But all I can do is be supportive, hope he lets me go with him to his first treatment. He has had to cancel a cruise to Hawaii this April but is looking at another one from Papeete to Sydney next Feb, something to look forward to. Reading a lot of other stories makes me realise just how many people are going through similar pain, or even worse. Thinking of you all

[PaulaS]

It's a long, long road - just reading your post, makes me feel exhausted... Appointment after appointment. Focusing on the holiday next April sounds like a good idea, something to plan for and look forward to. There will be light at the end of the tunnel, eventually - hang in there and you'll get there in the end !! Just being there for him would mean the world to him.. and yes, reading some of the stories actually makes you realise your not alone and some people are far worse off.. but that doesn't mean we can't have our days of feeling pissed off that ( they ) and we even have to go through it. All we can do is be there for them every step of the way and do whatever we can to get them to the end. Good luck with everything.... keep me posted. here if you ever need to chat... Paula.

[louie3754]

Hi Paula, thanks for the reply. Geoff is coping pretty well with all the appt,s, even joking that he only has appts 4 days this week and might shop around for one on Friday just to make it a week of dr,s. It,s sort of weird for me, I feel a bit out of the loop but have decided to keep a note-pad next to the phone and I,m getting a diary so I can remember who he has to see, just for my own benefit. I,m not sure whether Geoff,s partner Steve will go with him to his first chemo but hopefully he,ll let his little sister come with him!!!!! How,s things going with your Dad?? Good hopefully. Thanks for the listening offer, it does make me feel better just writing down what,s going on, Linda