Need of assistance (health advice)..

Half of me is chuckling, the other half is genuinely celebrating. I've not been in her specific position, but there have been one or two times in my life where I literally thanked God for my being able to drop the BIGGEST deuce this side of the Mississippi. So I know how it feels! Good to hear that things appear to be moving (heh) on several fronts; and will continue to keep y'all's situation in prayer.

 

LMAO.... yeah she's usually very conservative about stuff like that, but I'm like I need to know, because if she's being ignored or not understood I wont be ignored and will be understood. I will draw it out for them if necessary...

My oldest is showing signs of distress, there's a spool up time between the time something happens and when he shows signs of understanding what's really going on in the room.. Usually starts with lack of sleep depending on the tension I've been trying to relax and not show signs of concern which are hard. What worries me is he's waking up early and he'll disturb a lot of her sleep, today he was up before I was, and I'm usually up by 3:45am without an alarm so that I don't wake him up. He is on meds and that usually helps him sleep through the night, usually sleeps about 12-14 hours. With tension he can drop that to 3 hours a night for a month long and not be tired, usually accompanied with hyperactive behavior.

Update on her:
Seen the GI yesterday and she is going into surgery next month. Specialist called and enlisted 2 other surgeons and experts on the phone, while we sat in the exam room. The plus side she's getting the full roto router treatment once she goes under. Additionally, she has been fighting an infection on a finger for over 2 months. She had told me she hurt her finger pruning some pomegranates' which I've always told her not to prune due to the longer thorns which appear like smaller branches, but I never noticed it and she kept it wrapped in a band-aid and her skin tone matches those damn band-aids, I'm slightly darker so I can take a good slap to face and you have to turn on a couple lights to notice redness. That one is on me, but I got the GI to give her more meds which include anti-biotic and some assistance with constipation, I haven't received this one yet, since the doctor needs to call my insurance for them to approve.

 

Thoughts and prayers go out to you, your wife and your family. Let me know if there’s any way I can help.

And don’t be too proud to ask for help whether at work, locally in your community, on here..wherever. Every meal made for you is one less thing you have to worry about. Show appreciation and pay it forward later.

 

@blackdemon_tt - glad your wife got to see the specialist. Not sure what rotorooter tax is assuming upper and lower endoscopy. What did the CT with contrast reveal?

 

As I used to tell people using prune and MOM: "some people have dramatic results". Good that things are chugging along.

 

@bfunke
She won't go in for a CT scan until Wednesday, which makes things very difficult and frustrating. The whole roto rooter experience is the endoscopy from the upper and lower half, but that won't be until 2 weeks from now. I'm hoping the surgeon can fit her in this week or next instead of the 2 weeks... She can keep fluid down but can't keep solids in long enough for her body to process. She had a panic attack and is losing strength, to the point I had to assist her in showering, which is worrying but I understand she's not getting critical nutrients so she will grow weak. I have been giving her supplements mixed in her drinks as well as meal replacement proteins and super greens mixed in. The super green supplement is nasty to be honest, but I mix it with the meal replacement and makes bearable. Plus, side we got med samples from the specialist since the request hasn't cleared the insurance company yet, but gotta say that's been clearing her out. The laxative didn't really do anything as she was still kinda waiting on the reaction. She took this sample on Friday afternoon and couldn't sleep because she kept going every hour. She is still struggling to sleep due to pain and discomfort.

 

She tried this, and didn't work unfortunately... Her mom's been gone for a while so I'm all she has pretty much...

 

Hang in there and keep up with coordinating her healthcare so she doesn’t fall through cracks…

 

Yes, I'm making contact with one of the surgeons today. I reached out to them on Friday, but they hadn't received anything at the time of my call, I wasn't shocked since I went to the pharmacy on Thursday and got half the meds I needed, since they hadn't called the insurance and I called them probably 5 times and didn't get an answer.
Assuming the office closes early as their operating hours aren't clear or posted, not even on google or their website. I'll go out on a limb and say the specialist is probably OFP (Own Fucking Program) and can open and close as required based on patients and appointments. Either way face time is sometimes important, so I drove to the specialist's office during a break and got them to fax her file on Friday and got some samples as they were still working on the prescription. Assuming the surgeon needed time to process it I decided not to call them on Friday afternoon, but I will call them today since my conversation with them stated they would call me if anything. I already got a stack of paperwork, prescriptions and notes and pushing forward.

 

I just read through this thread for the first time, and though have nothing to offer as far as medical advice, I want you to know that I stopped and prayed for your wife, your son, your daughter, and you. You haven't spoken much of your daughter, but I am sure she is pretty stressed about all of this as well. I also prayed for your son to be comforted and calm through this, so as not to increase the stress on you or your wife.

 

You may have misread that, I only have 2 boys. My eldest plunged into an uncontrolled sob last night and took me with him. He doesn't fully comprehend the situation but is starting to feel the mood in the air. Thank you very much for the prayer, we will need everyone that we can get.

 

I'm pretty pissed this afternoon, I got a call from the PCP about an hour ago..... Stating that the CT scan is no longer needed and that they would need to refer us to a GI specialist... So, calmly, I stated, I asked for this last week when I walked into your office expressing that she had possible lymphoma and I needed a referal to a specialist so I could get this train moving and all I got was an appointment for a CT scan with contrast. So, now she's confused because she got a CT scan at the hospital with no contrast.... And now they're stating she doesn't need it. So, I gave her the necessary information as calmly as I could... because I don't want any delays, just elbows and assholes...
I followed up with the GI people and they're stating only endoscopy no knife... Talked to another surgeon's office and Oncology and they're talking about March..... bruh......... I'm at a loss, not sure whether to laugh or cry, or do both.... quitting and nothing is not an option tbh.. Just, starting to feel like Charlie Brown's teacher where I'm talking and all they hear is a horn

 

Call the PCP and tell her the radiologist who is a specialist already requested CT w/ contrast. See your post #19. Is her PCP a family physician (MD or DO) or is she a NP or PA? She may not realize that CT w/o contrast is more likely to miss something serious like a malignancy. Endoscopy is great for evaluating the luminal mucosa and wall of the intestinal tract but generally can’t visualize anything outside of the esophagus, stomach or intestine unless there is a huge mass pushing on it. Also can’t reach much of the small intestine.

 

Oh man...I just read through this thread. I would be pissed with getting the runaround like this. It definitely would create alot of unneeded stress. I do hope that she gets some help soon so that she can get well. It's tough but hang in there the best you can. It's easier said than done but the Tundra family here is praying for you guys.

 

Oooh I'm praying... and I really appreciate all the prayers and the help from you guys... just getting it off my chest helps

 

I'm following through with the contrast CT scan... This lady is a PA physician assistant which I guess is a new common thing??? The actual doctor I've seen a few times for me but has sent my kid and wife with his PA, which its a family and geriatrics place not pediatrics. Don't know where the disconnect is... It's getting to the point where I may just take her in to the VA healthcare system, they've seemed to have their stuff together up to this point

 

I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2019, I'm in remission after 6 rounds of Chemo.

I had to basically annoy the crap out of my PC DR to get the ball moving on anything. At first they just treated it like it's nothing but then once I started showing signs (swollen lymph nodes) they rushed me to scans. I can talk to you all about my experience and provide pointers if you'd like to PM me.

 

The PA has completed a 24 month training program. A family practice physician has completed 4 years of medical school and then 3 more years of family practice residency (GME). Your wife’s PA may not have a lot of experience managing suspected lymphomas so you may have to help do the right things for your wife.

 

Sorry for the delay, I took a couple days off work and been mostly off my phone. I'm on my PC right now.. The ER said they found sump lumps consistent with lymphoma and they needed to more information. I jumped the gun and started the ball rolling, she's been really low on energy and she feels it's the end of the line. I don't see it that way, but it hurts to see her struggling. I will PM you though... I'll take every piece of info I can take.

 

Yeah, I got some "follow up" yesterday. The PA sicked out and it really sent me down the roid rage spiral path, and so did the wife. I took a deep breath and calmly asked to speak to someone else. They agreed and stated they were doing this because they had already charged me a copay. This other PA, the physician's wife, kinda gave me some peace of mind by saying the CT scan from yesterday would clear up what plan of attack they should need. Still sort of pissed, but settled for what she said she needs. If it's not something more serious and I'm here trying to get her gutted for no reason, nothing like killing her myself because of me panicking and mis stepping. So, I will wait for these results, her pain appears to have settled a bit and she appears to have slept these last 2 nights, she is a light sleeper so 4 or 5 hours intermittently is good enough for now.... Vomiting appears to have stopped some but not all gone.... Both physicians have not addressed this issue as of yet, and I keep bringing it up. We got a medication change so I will pick this up today, and I will get her some Jamba juice green drink so that she can hopefully keep that down. Her energy levels remain really low her systolic levels are in the low 100s, I'm not doctor but it worries me that she has low blood pressure.... Not eating well can put her on a low energy path and I understand that. I'm pondering on getting her into the hospital for dehydration on a drip, but I need someone to watch my kid, otherwise it will be another overnight visit, and I really want her to get more rest.

I'm also back in talks with regional center against the wife's wishes. She's never liked being dependent or a burden of the government or their assistance. Unfortunately, this situation has me seeking their assistance. Regional Center offered additional care for him which I will be discussing with them soon. I do need the assistance and will probably change my schedule to 4-10s to have an additional day off and assist both of them, but adds more time for me away from them so it's sort of a double edged sword.

 

Have you received the report from the contrasted CT yet

 

No, not yet. Since this was requested by the PCP, I had the imaging center send it in addition to the PCP, directly to the GI since I don't want it to be lost or held for a long time by the PCP before they decide to send it over. Didn't know we could get a report. I'll follow up today with the imaging center and see if I can get it from them

 

Imaging center said 10 days for results, bruh , . In 10 days she gets a colonoscopy upper and lower. On a brighter note, the new PA got the vomiting to stop. She got new medication for vomiting and was successful , got her some shrimp soup she was craving and she kept that down, but we're back at square 1, she can't go #2.... She is getting to sleep a little longer, but the pain is back , but not as intense from what it appears. I'm checking on her every few hours, since my big one is keeping my hands full since this weekend. He has plunged into the need for extensive supervision this last week, it's to the point that I have to spoon feed him or he will refuse to eat anything. I don't mind spoon feeding him since I rather have 1 person down and not 2.

On better news, got off the horn with Regional Center, and I got a temp rep that has provided some much-needed insightful information that I will pursue in the meantime, gonna have to keep her in my gold-digging file since she appears to be one of those rare treasures that the center has, very knowledgeable. Hopefully we can get approved for a program she offered and can get assistance in the home soon. I don't have gray hairs yet, but I feel a handful of them are coming.

Next task for me is addressing the extreme fatigue she's suffering. I'm chalking it up to her not eating anything, so that may be the primary issue now that I got her to stop throwing up. I will follow up with the #2 medication so that she can go, but she can't do it alone because when she takes it she has to go every couple hours or so. A worrying aspect as well is we got a notice from Costco that the quaker squares that we buy as a snacks for our big one may be laced with Salmonella, so I'll have to get her tested for that as well. Symptoms are very similar to what she has at this time. Additionally one of my workers came up with an internal infection, and is showing similar symptoms to what my wife has. Thanksgiving he came in looking super pale, a white sheet of paper had more color than they both did for comparison. Just 1 more thing on the list, this did raise a flag, since she started taking anti-biotics and she appeared to get a pick me up from it, but still too soon to know anything...

 

10 days for a radiology report seems excessive. PCM or GI should be able to get the reading sooner.

 

Yes, I hope so.

 

Agreed. Had an X-ray and a CT scan a month or so ago. X-ray was read that DAY and the CT scan was read like 2 days later.

 

Doctor's office called on Friday, right at closing and want a new follow up phone appointment on Tuesday with the actual doctor, guess 3rd time's the charm, so in a way it's relieving that we don't have to wait a week and a half for results and going in blind, I will request copies.... On better news she has slept through the night a little more and has been eating a little more, vomiting has gone down to once a day or slightly more than a day. I'm calling respite today and hopefully getting it for the next 2 days, so that they can at least help us tag team. Cats are probably gonna get tossed into the garage for this process with all their stuff....

 

Back in the ER again... we've been pressing for her procedure to be moved up to no avail.... Our emergency does not constitute as an emergency to someone else.
The plus side is she's being taken care of.. They're giving her 2 bags of IVs per their last instructions, so she will remain hospitalized. Her GI will swing by to see her tomorrow. I just have to hurry up and wait at this point.

 

Honestly I'm feeling emotionally drained and exhausted... I'm pushing regional center for the assistance, got respite, but will be very limited...

I need to ask this question... Let's say she has cancer... The previous owner's wife also had cancer when they moved out. 1 time is a coincidence 2 times I may be suspicious. Should I be getting this house checked for something specific?? Previous owner to them was a doctor, not sure what type but we get his mail and I write moved and send it back.

Real question is should I be replacing the drywalls in the room? and house?? I have kids to worry about as well.. If there may be something hiding behind these walls I'm ignorant about. Any suggestions??

 

First thought in my mind is radon, possibly. Likelihood is probably ridiculously slim to none, though.