Tanner40
15-03-14, 13:34
Good Morning and a Happy Weekend to all. Just wanted to post an update on my Dad and all that goes along with the situation.
On New Year's Eve my father was rushed to the emergency room and was admitted as an inpatient. He had pneumonia but he also has a rare, primary spinal tumor, called a chordoma. So we were dealing with a neurosurgeon and an upcoming spinal surgery. He was in an extreme amount of pain with the spinal tumor, which is why we took him to the hospital to begin with.
When he was released from the hospital, he was still in extremem pain and my brother and I were taking care of him 24/7. About a month ago, my Dad developed a massive bleed, and we took him to the ER again, where once again he was admitted. Turns out he also had colon cancer, and had to undergo a colectomy. He then went to a rehab facility for about a week to regain some strength.
Testing and pathology of the resected colon ended up showing a rare form of cancer, mantle cell lymphoma, which is incurable.
Almost two weeks ago, being the stubborn man that he is, he went down the steps to check the mail, fell and broke his hip. Back again to the ER by ambulance, where he underwent surgery for a hip replacement. Pathology of the replaced hip showed that the mantle cell lymphoma had already invaded his bone marrow. Stage IV mantle cell lymphoma.
He is back in the rehab facility for the next few weeks to gain strength and mobility again.
For anyone who has read this far, thanks very much. Many folks had asked how he was doing and it felt easier to post a thread.
The stress and the anxiety caused by these situations and diagnoses has been overwhelming. I didn't think that I would ever be able to handle all of this, but thanks to my toolbox of tricks, and many of you and your support, it has all gone relatively well. I have been able to handle the stress fairly well.
I think that the important thing is that I expect there to be stress in this situation. I don't go to that place of worrying that it is just me being weak ot the panic and anxiety taking over. I know that even people without an anxiety disorder would be feeling stress in this situation.
I am learning how to set boundaries to better take care of myself. I am learning that I can't be in control of this situation. Just knowing that I do not have to be in control is a relief. No, "I should have's".
I will be posting a different thread soon about my fears about the upcoming two weeks. My partner has to leave town for ten days to care for her Mother in Atlanta, who is having surgery. This fact is making me feel fearful and I will be checking out my tool box and figuring out how to handle this situation.
Thanks for taking the time to listen.
On New Year's Eve my father was rushed to the emergency room and was admitted as an inpatient. He had pneumonia but he also has a rare, primary spinal tumor, called a chordoma. So we were dealing with a neurosurgeon and an upcoming spinal surgery. He was in an extreme amount of pain with the spinal tumor, which is why we took him to the hospital to begin with.
When he was released from the hospital, he was still in extremem pain and my brother and I were taking care of him 24/7. About a month ago, my Dad developed a massive bleed, and we took him to the ER again, where once again he was admitted. Turns out he also had colon cancer, and had to undergo a colectomy. He then went to a rehab facility for about a week to regain some strength.
Testing and pathology of the resected colon ended up showing a rare form of cancer, mantle cell lymphoma, which is incurable.
Almost two weeks ago, being the stubborn man that he is, he went down the steps to check the mail, fell and broke his hip. Back again to the ER by ambulance, where he underwent surgery for a hip replacement. Pathology of the replaced hip showed that the mantle cell lymphoma had already invaded his bone marrow. Stage IV mantle cell lymphoma.
He is back in the rehab facility for the next few weeks to gain strength and mobility again.
For anyone who has read this far, thanks very much. Many folks had asked how he was doing and it felt easier to post a thread.
The stress and the anxiety caused by these situations and diagnoses has been overwhelming. I didn't think that I would ever be able to handle all of this, but thanks to my toolbox of tricks, and many of you and your support, it has all gone relatively well. I have been able to handle the stress fairly well.
I think that the important thing is that I expect there to be stress in this situation. I don't go to that place of worrying that it is just me being weak ot the panic and anxiety taking over. I know that even people without an anxiety disorder would be feeling stress in this situation.
I am learning how to set boundaries to better take care of myself. I am learning that I can't be in control of this situation. Just knowing that I do not have to be in control is a relief. No, "I should have's".
I will be posting a different thread soon about my fears about the upcoming two weeks. My partner has to leave town for ten days to care for her Mother in Atlanta, who is having surgery. This fact is making me feel fearful and I will be checking out my tool box and figuring out how to handle this situation.
Thanks for taking the time to listen.