Update on oggbashan's health

[oggbashan]

This has been going on, what, two, three years now? I told you that you weren't leaving this sickening plane anytime soon.

I was written off and told to go away and live my last few months - years ago. But the end is inevitable. I have survived much longer than most people with this particular rtype of lung cancer. I keep surprising my oncologist by turning up looking well.

 

[sirhugs]

I was written off and told to go away and live my last few months - years ago. But the end is inevitable. I have suvived much longer than most people with this particular rtype of lung cancer. I keep surprising my oncologist by turning up looking well.

long may you run.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Go, Ogg!

 

[Athalia]

I was written off and told to go away and live my last few months - years ago. But the end is inevitable. I have survived much longer than most people with this particular rtype of lung cancer. I keep surprising my oncologist by turning up looking well.

It is my sincere wish that you will go on confounding the specialists for a long, long time. But there must be something about seeing that there is an ending down the road, making time more precious and relationships more cherished. My mother had a profound change in her attitude when she saw the final chapter approaching.

 

[oggbashan]

It is my sincere wish that you will go on confounding the specialists for a long, long time. But there must be something about seeing that there is an ending down the road, making time more precious and relationships more cherished. My mother had a profound change in her attitude when she saw the final chapter approaching.

Thank you, Athalia.

My character has changed in that I am less tolerant of assholes. Anyone who threatens me in the street is now likely to be attacked because I will be dead before the case comes to court. If I die, so what? That will only be a few months off my life and the asshole will get years in jial.

The thing that worries me most is my increased number of typos. A short letter to my local councillors took six drafts before I got it right, even with Grammarly.

 

[jehoram]

The thing that worries me most is my increased number of typos. A short letter to my local councillors took six drafts before I got it right, even with Grammarly.

I, too, am coming down with that syndrome. My fingers often find their own way of spelling words.

 

[Handley_Page]

I was written off and told to go away and live my last few months - years ago. But the end is inevitable. I have survived much longer than most people with this particular type of lung cancer.

I keep surprising my oncologist by turning up looking well.

And long may it continue, Ogg.

It is my sincere wish that you will go on confounding the specialists for a long, long time.

Amen to that.

 

[oggbashan]

Thanks HP.

Telephoned reminders of hospital appointments:

I have moaned before about the abbraviations used for hosptals C&T, WHH, QEQM etc, but the latest takes the prize.

"You have an appointment at C&T on Monday at 10 am."

Oh Yeah? Since when? With whom? Where? In a large hospital with three reception desks I could be wandering around for hours and one is
beyond my walking distance. I have no record of any appointment on Monday. I can't ring back. It was an automated message sent at 5pm when the office closed at four. I can't repeat it or ask the message to be sent again in case my impaired hearing has heard it wrong.

So I just don't know. My only scheduled appointment next week is on Wednesday at 12.20 pm with my oncologist.

 

[KeithD]

Thanks HP.

Telephoned reminders of hospital appointments:

I have moaned before about the abbraviations used for hosptals C&T, WHH, QEQM etc, but the latest takes the prize.

"You have an appointment at C&T on Monday at 10 am."

Oh Yeah? Since when? With whom? Where? In a large hospital with three reception desks I could be wandering around for hours and one is
beyond my walking distance. I have no record of any appointment on Monday. I can't ring back. It was an automated message sent at 5pm when the office closed at four. I can't repeat it or ask the message to be sent again in case my impaired hearing has heard it wrong.

So I just don't know. My only scheduled appointment next week is on Wednesday at 12.20 pm with my oncologist.

Guess you don't have an automated chart system that allows you to see everything yourself electronically. Where I am (with a large university hospital system) access by the patient to full information electronically has gotten very useful. Sorry to hear you have this sort of hassle on top of the actual medical problems.

 

[oggbashan]

Guess you don't have an automated chart system that allows you to see everything yourself electronically. Where I am (with a large university hospital system) access by the patient to full information electronically has gotten very useful. Sorry to hear you have this sort of hassle on top of the actual medical problems.

Almost everything is done by letter and they don't communicate with each other. Yes, I have a printout for chemotherapy and oncology. Even that has failings. I have to have telephoned consultations. 'Have you had your blood tests?' No. How can I do those by phone? Sorry we should have sent out brlood forms for you to go to the local hospital (which has a ten day waiting list)... I am also seeing Dermatology; rhemumatolgy; neurology. Do they consult with oncology? Of course not...

 

[Handley_Page]

Have you considered asking your local MD for clarification on C&T appointments??

All the best, mate

 

[oggbashan]

Have you considered asking your local MD for clarification on C&T appointments??

All the best, mate

My local GP? There is a waiting time of at least ten days for non-urgent appointments. My next appointment at the hospital is apparently earlier than that.

 

[Handley_Page]

My local GP? There is a waiting time of at least ten days for non-urgent appointments. My next appointment at the hospital is apparently earlier than that.

Does the Dragon-on-the-desk know, perhaps ?

 

[oggbashan]

Does the Dragon-on-the-desk know, perhaps ?

She doesn't know anything and isn't told.

Unlike my brother's widow, who still works as a doctor's receptionist in in village. She knows everyone and everything and bullies the staff to keep her up-to-date.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Almost everything is done by letter and they don't communicate with each other. Yes, I have a printout for chemotherapy and oncology. Even that has failings. I have to have telephoned consultations. 'Have you had your blood tests?' No. How can I do those by phone? Sorry we should have sent out brlood forms for you to go to the local hospital (which has a ten day waiting list)... I am also seeing Dermatology; rhemumatolgy; neurology. Do they consult with oncology? Of course not...

“Ologists’ - collect the whole set!

Hang in there, Ogg.

 

[oggbashan]

Tday, Sunday, I went to our local city for a CT scan to see how the cancer is responding to the latest chemo.

The two nurses tried to put a cannula in my arms to inject the contrast media. The two of them were tyring hard but my veins are deep and scarred. Evdntually one succeeded but I have bruises on both arms.

Otherwise, apart from my non-metallic trousers falling down, during and after the scan, everything went well. In and out in ten minutes.

Now the foot clinic on Tuesday, the oncologist and phyisotherapist on Wednesday and a phone call on Friday IF my blood tests done last Friday are OK before thee next session of treatment...

It is costing us a lot in petrol (gas).

 

[TarnishedPenny]

 

[oggbashan]

Om Thursday and today we had an automated reminder for a appointment at 10 am on Wednesday. We (my wife because I am deaf) tried to estabish on Friday what and where it was. No luck. They knew about our appointment wiih the oncologist on Wednesday at 12.20.

Today, after 30 minutes of waiting, she found that it was a six month dermatogy check. We hadn't been told before. It is in the depths of the hospital, possibly further than I can walk.

We can't make it, and it is in the middle of the junior doctors' strike.

My youngest, who is NOT a junior doctor, will be coming with us to the oncology visit (run by a consultant). She has swapped her duties that day with another senior colleague.

But being reminded for an appointment we didn't know about is worrying. We (my wife) will try to rearrange it tomorrow morning.

 

[Duleigh]

Hang in there ogg, medicine is an art that is defined by its disorganization. I'm wearing a bandage that must be changed every 3 to 4 days. Today is day six and the hospital called to tell me they are trying to find someone to do it and I haven't heard back since. It's the fight that keep us kicking.

 

[oggbashan]

Probable Bad News:

I, with my wife and medical daughter, visited my oncologist today. We all looked at the pictures of the scan done on Sunday afternoon. The scan report hasn't been processed yet but - it looks as if the lung cancer is reducing with the chemo but may have spread to parts of my brain causing increased unbalanace and falling over (twice out of bed last night).

When the scan report is available, another visit to the oncologist might be aranged to discuss possible brain radiography - maybe, or just say 'Sod it' and prepare to die.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Probable Bad News:

I, with my wife and medical daughter, visited my oncologist today. We all looked at the pictures of the scan done on Sunday afternoon. The scan report hasn't been processed yet but - it looks as if the lung cancer is reducing with the chemo but may have spread to parts of my brain causing increased unbalanace and falling over (twice out of bed last night).

When the scan report is available, another visit to the oncologist might be aranged to discuss possible brain radiography - maybe, or just say 'Sod it' and prepare to die.

Best to you Ogg, and just my thought, but whatever you think is the right thing to do, is the right thing to do.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Well, that sucks. I'd better get cracking and write that story about a couple having sex on a Triumph Herald convertible. (Because there's no way you could easily manage in it!)

 

[oggbashan]

Well, that sucks. I'd better get cracking and write that story about a couple having sex on a Triumph Herald convertible. (Because there's no way you could easily manage in it!)

No. I tried once in a Mini. Since both I and my partner were over six foot tall it was impossible. Ny next vehicle was an Austin 16 - much more comfortable.

 

[R. Richard]

There is a very old joke:
How do you get two tigers in a VW Beetle?
Two tigers? You can't even get a little pussy in a VW Beetle.

 

[jehoram]

Probable Bad News:

I, with my wife and medical daughter, visited my oncologist today. We all looked at the pictures of the scan done on Sunday afternoon. The scan report hasn't been processed yet but - it looks as if the lung cancer is reducing with the chemo but may have spread to parts of my brain causing increased unbalanace and falling over (twice out of bed last night).

When the scan report is available, another visit to the oncologist might be aranged to discuss possible brain radiography - maybe, or just say 'Sod it' and prepare to die.

I feel for you, Ogg, but at least you're getting information, which will allow you to make the best decisions while you still can. The worst part. as many people going through this process have told me, is that the most frustrating thing was not having clear signposts.