Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: LadyJean Date: 13 Sep 14 - 08:13 PM Great news. Good luck with the home health care. I hope all the ladies you get are great. (We had one who liked to hide things.) |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Shimbo Darktree Date: 13 Sep 14 - 08:23 PM Leave him alone Ragdall ... floozies are fun! I was called home from a folk club in April 2001 because my wife had flaked out on the sofa with foam coming out of her mouth. (I live in Oz, so this is not that remarkable.) Turned out she had a brain tumour. Various dramas getting treatment advice (and rejecting some of it). After some weeks of tests and surgery, and pressuring the neurosurgeon, we were told life expectancy statistically averages 7 to 12 years. It is now over 13 years later, she is fit, healthy, saner than me (OK - she always was), and her seizures have decreased from three a day to none. She still has the tumour (inoperable) and a mild issue with numbers and communication. Otherwise, all good. What all this boils down to, Rap, is that the onward road has been pretty much consistently better and more positive, when once I thought it would be all downhill. So all the best to Pat, Rap, and keep the sense of humour that I see sneaking through. Hope I never need brain surgery ... can't afford the search fees. Shimbo |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: jacqui.c Date: 14 Sep 14 - 07:10 AM Good news Rap - I'm sure that you will both be much happier and that Pat will recover faster at home. for you, all the travelling to and from the hospital/rehab can be very tiring. Just make sure that you both take it a little easy for a while. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Janie Date: 14 Sep 14 - 08:04 AM Just an echo here - others have already said it. Good news! |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 14 Sep 14 - 12:56 PM Well, so far I'm missing or missed my nephew's wedding a family reunion, a target shooting match, and Pat. I bought tyripotakia, dolmades, spanikopita, a slice of roast lamb,and some of those round Greek donuts that are drizzled with a honey sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds. I also bought a suction grab bar, a shower stool (with back), and a ton of other odds and ends. Then I overslept. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Sep 14 - 01:05 PM There are some quite attractively designed shower grab bars - a friend in Arizona has one around her tub and shower stall. I've been looking for the manufacturer. The ones at Home Depot are clunky. Sounds like Pat won't starve! SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: gnu Date: 14 Sep 14 - 03:33 PM Rest is good for the blood. Ya musta needed it. Good vibes at youse both! |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Anne Lister Date: 14 Sep 14 - 04:36 PM I'm sorry - I missed this too. Haven't been on the 'Cat for a while (my mother died last week). Glad to see progress is being made and that you're taking good care of her. Hope all continues to go well. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: olddude Date: 14 Sep 14 - 05:55 PM Any thing any time you need help you call |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: gnu Date: 14 Sep 14 - 06:05 PM Anne... my condolences. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: ChanteyLass Date: 14 Sep 14 - 06:28 PM Anne, I'm sorry about your mum. The next time I open this thread, I hope I'll read that Pat is home! |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: GUEST,Sapper on TIC2 between Edingurgh and Glasgo Date: 15 Sep 14 - 08:24 AM Heyup! Glad to see progress being made, a big relief all round I should imagine. Ann, my sympathy to you. Gnu; Yes, still breathing and travelling about the country with Notwork Fail and getting more cynical and cantankerous as I get older! |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: gnu Date: 15 Sep 14 - 10:13 AM Good to hear from you, Sapper. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: GUEST,Dharmabum Date: 15 Sep 14 - 11:47 AM Hope you both have a full & speedy recovery. Best of luck & positive energy. DB. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 15 Sep 14 - 02:54 PM It's just the paperwork now. I've done what I can here at the house. Anne, I'm sorry about your mother. Please accept my sympathy and know that others are thinking of her too. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Anne Lister Date: 15 Sep 14 - 04:43 PM Thank you for the sympathy, all of you - I hadn't meant to hijack Rap's thread. I'm finding bereavement a bit like jetlag in the way it interferes with concentration and selecting the right words. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Sep 14 - 05:30 PM How is Pat today? |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: billybob Date: 15 Sep 14 - 06:28 PM Only just seen this thread, sending love to you both, hope Pat is home when you read this. Wendy xxxxxx condolences Anne , sending love xxx |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 15 Sep 14 - 10:01 PM Pat is home. She got here around 4:45 p.m. today and had a dinner of one dolmade and a small piece of spanakopita -- and a couple blueberry cookies and a bit of mango sorbet. She said, as I brought out the dinner, "Even the smell is terrific!" Tomorrow morning the home health care nurse comes and does an evaluation, sets up schedules, etc. There was a real snag getting the authorizations needed to get her out of the rehab place, and finally with all of the orders cut and signed it was found that the insurance company had a contract for oxygen with a different company than the one I selected. Then...a doctor decided that since her blood oxygen levels were excellent she could go home without oxygen (I asked her what she was breathing and she said, "Nitrogen"). |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Janie Date: 15 Sep 14 - 10:12 PM Navigating the healthcare and insurance systems these days is more and more akin to the capacity to be ok jumping down the rabbit hole. Hope your blood pressure is more stable than has been Pat's. Pat, recover and thrive! |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 16 Sep 14 - 09:22 AM The bills haven't started yet.... We suspect that the nursing/rehab place was happy to see her back because as a staff member there said, "She's a strong woman." She also knows her own mind, what meds she takes or should take, and gets annoyed with the "Well, how are we feeling?" chirp. The correct answer to that question is, "I'M feeling like the bottom of a shit pile. And you?" |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 16 Sep 14 - 04:48 PM I'm now an appointments secretary. Doctor, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist (for head and neck muscles), case manager, and today the bill for the ambulance: USD 420.00, of which we will end up paying USD 50.00 (and yes, if you can't pay they'll transport you for free). |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: ChanteyLass Date: 16 Sep 14 - 05:18 PM Hooray for home! |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: JennieG Date: 16 Sep 14 - 05:25 PM So glad to hear Pat is home - as I bet both of you are, too. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: gnu Date: 16 Sep 14 - 07:07 PM You will handle the logistics, Rap. Better than most. You are a librarytarian! |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Bugsy Date: 17 Sep 14 - 05:26 AM I've been offline since 2nd Sept. Man! have you had a fortnight from hell!!?! Glad to hear that your missus is home at last and on the mend. Send the bills to the cyclist! CHeers Bugsy |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 17 Sep 14 - 09:48 AM I can think of lots better ways to spend a couple of weeks than what I just did and will continue to do. At least tomorrow the staples come out of her head. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: gnu Date: 17 Sep 14 - 10:31 AM Can you get a two-for-one or a reduction?... get your staples out at the same time? |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Sep 14 - 11:56 AM Rap, you are a marvel - married to another marvel. I look forward to further reports of Pat's progress, & your progress with insurance companies & other problems. Did the cyclist stay after the accident? Were the police involved? sandra |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 17 Sep 14 - 09:56 PM I have the fella's name, address, and phone number -- and I gave them to the cops. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: LadyJean Date: 17 Sep 14 - 10:32 PM I'm glad things are going well for you. It's not the best time of year to be incapacitated. (I recommend February and March, when you want to stay in bed, but that's not always convenient.) I hope it's not too much of a problem for you. I also hope you enjoy the baklava and spanikopita. Greek food is a wonderful thing! |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Janie Date: 18 Sep 14 - 12:05 AM Ditto Sandra's post. Dang, retirement ain't easy, eh? |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 18 Sep 14 - 07:49 AM I've worked long hours before, but I was a helluva lot younger then. The staples come out this morning. I'm told they do NOT use a claw hammer. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: maeve Date: 18 Sep 14 - 04:54 PM How did the staple removal go? Your advocacy for Pat makes all the difference in the world as to what care she gets and when. It IS hard work, but so necessary and rewarding. Here's to good sleep, and continuing improvements. Maeve |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: gnu Date: 18 Sep 14 - 06:01 PM Do you get to keep the staples? So's yas can mount them in some kinda art work er what ever? No matter what they tell ya, wash the staple wounds gently with peroxide (I used isopropyl alcohol after infection set in because I listened to them stunnedasmearses) twice a day for a week. I can supply pics of what can happen if ya don't. Short of pics, here is a hint... it's green. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 18 Sep 14 - 06:08 PM They're out. 36 staples! They disinfected the area afterwards and she has a CAT scan tomorrow. The surgeon said that residual problems like tingling in her right fingers should eventually go away. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: gnu Date: 18 Sep 14 - 06:45 PM Sounds good. I hope Pat recovers fully and swiftly. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Sep 14 - 06:53 PM I'll second that |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 18 Sep 14 - 10:03 PM I'll third it. I'd like to get some sleep; I've already stopped eating lunch and dinner at McDonald's. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: fat B****rd Date: 19 Sep 14 - 06:45 AM What everybody else says, Rap. Thinking of you and Pat always. Charlie. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Stilly River Sage Date: 19 Sep 14 - 08:41 AM Rap, staples can hurt when they're removed. Pat probably mentioned that. Give her a hug for all of us! SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 19 Sep 14 - 09:24 AM Her pain threshold is so high that what she would rate a 4 on a 1-10 scale would cripple you and me. She only flinched once during the removal. It's a result of a left and right radical dissection of the neck to cure thyroid cancer back in 1960, when she was 17. They don't do that anymore, but the radioactive seeds and chemotherapy now used wasn't around back then, and so the knife. Her last two cancers -- a lumpectomy and basal skin carcinoma -- were done with minimally invasive procedures and thank goodness cancer treatments have come as far as they have! CAT scan this morning. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 19 Sep 14 - 09:34 PM CT scan this morning, PT this afternoon, two walks in the back yard, and the occupational therapist comes tomorrow. She's tired! |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: gnu Date: 20 Sep 14 - 05:20 AM Sounds like the care is going well... just a matter of time. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: GUEST Date: 20 Sep 14 - 02:44 PM Of course she's tired! 36 staples? She was a metalhead! Glad to read that the OT will be there tomorrow, hopefully with some good ideas. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: GUEST,Rahere Date: 20 Sep 14 - 02:59 PM Dang, Rapparee, a claw hammer? I thought I had a one-off having a pin in me arm removed with a pipe wrench...I'd had to have a kludge job on a broken arm in Crete redone, so six weeks later, one pin comes out, the other is kindof fixed and won't shift. Kindly wait outside, Sir. An hour later, a nurse passes by with a big perspex box containing something big wrapped in surgical green cloths. Gives me a kind of strained look - apparently the entire hospital was peeing itself at the solution, the poor old maintenance team had had their favourite toilet tool cleaned to within an inch of its life - and to cap the lot, my surname in the local lingo means "Hand", so Mr Hand's hand was about to be operated on with the toilet wrench! We can rebuild him... |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: ChanteyLass Date: 20 Sep 14 - 03:03 PM Sorry. That was me at 2:44 PM. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: gnu Date: 20 Sep 14 - 03:59 PM No need to be sorry, CL. We all toss our cookies once in a while. I may do so in the next hour or so. 3.5 year old frozen cheddar cheese is in the oven with macaroni. I dare to go where no cheese has gone before. If this is my last post, don't freeze cheese in the back of the freezer and forget about it. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Rapparee Date: 20 Sep 14 - 10:18 PM Two quilting f(r)iends came by with lunch. She's eaten more today than she has in a week! And only two hydrocodone in the last 24 hours. So far so good. |
Subject: RE: BS: My Wife's Having Brain Surgery 5 Sept From: Bill D Date: 20 Sep 14 - 11:08 PM Reddy Kilowatt says: "Progress is our most important product!" Keep on keeping on... |