BS: Ragdall: Sorry I haven't been around much

Subject: BS: Update
From: ragdall
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 03:25 AM

Stilly River Sage wrote: Ragdall!...someone we haven't hear from for a while, who is always doing interesting things. If you two speak or write, tell her to drop in and catch us up on her activity, please!

Hello, SRS and anyone else who may be interested.

I apologize for my lack of participation at Mudcat. Life has been taking too much of my time. I haven't had time for any interesting things, I'm afraid.

I'm currently 1000 km and a two hour ferry ride away from home, unable to drive back home until my husband is released from hospital here. I'm hoping that good health will be returned to him this will be the last chapter in our long saga about the kidney tumor.

My husband was told in December that a small lump on his kidney that was growing was almost certainly cancer, he'd be notified in a week or two of a date for him to go to the big city 800 km away to have it burned off in a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. We were on alert for five months, waiting. The procedure was done May 10th. The biopsy proved the predictions wrong, the lump was benign, the procedure was unnecessary. Good news and no harm done?

My husband didn't return to "normal". He had no appetite, was weak, spent most of his time sleeping. I took him to the local urologist, who was supposed to be doing the "follow up" for the procedure, and to his family practice doctor many times in the weeks that followed.

I was assured that he was well enough to travel. We were told that he needed to get more exercise and he'd be fine. We spent several days driving the 1000 km, to meet our month old great grandson at our daughter's home here. The day that our granddaughter brought the children here to see us, my husband was in much pain. Before they arrived we took my husband to the ER where he spent most of two days before he could be admitted to hospital. Our granddaughter brought the baby to the ER for a short visit then had to drive back to where she lives.

I'm very grateful that we came here. A CT scan revealed that the procedure in May had left a hole in my husband's kidney, the ureter was blocked and fluid was collecting outside the kidney. My husband is now getting the best care possible. The blockage has been cleared, misplaced fluid is being removed, his diabetes is monitored and controlled, antibiotics administered for the infection. Even with the tubes attached, my husband is looking more like himself in that hospital bed than he has since he left the other hospital, May 10th.

Our daughter is a nurse at this hospital, on the floor where he is. She and her coworkers are giving him VIP treatment. I feel badly that we're disrupting her family's life by being here so long -- it looks as if three days will stretch into at least two weeks -- but I'm very grateful that we have a place to stay and a daughter who will advocate for her father's care. Perhaps the doctors at home thought that he was just getting old and that, when I kept insisting that there was something very wrong with his health, I was in denial about him aging.

I'm hoping that the rest of the summer will be less eventful. Sadly, my husband has to give up his plans to return to his birthplace in Europe in September with his university classmates for their 50th grad reunion. He's nervous about something else going wrong medically and not being able to get the care he can get in Canada.

Internet access and time to use it haven't been easy to find. I've bought a wireless router "for the family" here. Now I can use my own laptop which has bookmarks for the sites that I usually visit. I still don't have much time to use it as I spend most of the days at the hospital.

I hope that I'll be home soon and able to begin to catch up on what has been happening with other Mudcat people.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: rumanci
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:21 AM

Hi rags - thanks for taking the time to write so fully. I hope that sharing some of your burdens lessens the load that you're carrying. I wish you both joys with the family even when you're in strange surroundings and unexpected smiles and happenings and good people around you. Look after yourself, too. My thoughts and prayers.
rum

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: David C. Carter
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:23 AM

ragdall,I don't know much about you but you certainly don't need to apologize.You've got more than enough to deal with as it is.
I suspect that those Mudcatters who know you better than I do will be wishing you all the best of the very best,as I myself do.

Come back soon...With good news.

David

France

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: fat B****rd
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:25 AM

Take good care and all the best to you and yours , Ragdall.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: alanabit
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:51 AM

Ditto from here. Hope the sun comes out and stays there for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 06:54 AM

We missed you Rags. I hope all your husband's medical problems are resolved and everything has a happy outcome.
Lucky he has family around him, and 'influence' in the hospital ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 06:58 AM

Let us know when you'll be back home, Rags.

BM

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 07:10 AM

Best Wishes for an excellent outcome and a speedy return to home and normality for the two of you rags ! And thanks for the update .

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: gnu
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 11:18 AM

Ditto all of the above Rags, especially about the detailed update.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 12:23 PM

Thanks, rumanci, for calling this thread to my attention!

Rags, dear, I hoped you were busy building an extension onto something interesting in the back yard or perhaps constructing a new jungle gym in the garage, not tied in knots with these medical issues! That's so sad that the outcome of these procedures is that your husband can't travel for the reunion, and that you've had to beat your head against the wall with the lack of responsiveness from the health care system. Take care of yourselves and let us know if there is anything any of us can do to help.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: olddude
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 08:12 PM

All my love
always Dan

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: Janie
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 08:17 PM

Good to hear from you, ragdall. Ya'll have really been through the mill! May your husband continue to improve until he is all the way back, and may each day get better for all of you.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 10:24 PM

Ragdall, I am sorry about your husband's medical problems but glad he is getting good care now. I hope he continues to improve. When you have time, and only when you have time, keep us informed of his progress. I'm keeping you and your family in the Light.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: open mike
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 12:19 AM

wow--i hope all turns out o.k. and that you both enjoy health and happiness....thanks for checking in..

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: mouldy
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 02:52 AM

All the above from me too. Your poor husband must have been feeling so ill!

Andrea xx

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 03:11 AM

Nice to see you posting Rags. Sorry about the hard time you've both had.

Are you still taking good pictures?

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: ragdall
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 04:22 AM

Thank you all for your replies, I appreciate them. I wish I could hug each one of you.

There is a CT scan planned tomorrow. The results will determine the direction in which treatment will go next.

Jon, I try.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 06:13 AM

hugs to you & Mr Rags

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 03:22 PM

Good thoughts, thanks givings and hugs from Colorado, too, Rags. You've been missed. What an ordeal! May they get it sorted and treated tout de suite!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 03:54 PM

Please don't delete. Gnu lost his cookie, again.

My best wishes and Ts&Ps rags. You take care darlin... of himself and of YOU. You mean a lot to a lot of people here at the Café.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: maeve
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 04:57 PM

I do believe that was gnu posting at 03:54 PM.

Still keeping watch from here, rags. Hugs aplenty are streaming their virtual way to you both.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: gnu
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 05:00 PM

Yup... tossed my cookie.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: ragdall
Date: 30 Jun 11 - 03:40 AM

Thank you all for your kindness.
Gotta watch them cookies, gnuzer, somebody sneaks in and eats them.

Prior to the CT scan being done today the doctor told my husband that he'd come around this evening to discuss the results and decide whether to perform surgery to repair the tear in the kidney or send him on his way tomorrow with drain tubes and bags to look after for at least three weeks and hope that the hole will heal itself.

Visiting hours ended at 8:30 pm. No sign of the doctor. I waited with my husband until 10:40 pm when I decided that I'd better hit the road while I was still alert enough to dodge the deer on 30 km of rain forest roads. My husband's daughter is at the hospital working a 12 hour shift. Maybe she'll have some news when she comes home in the morning?

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jun 11 - 05:43 AM

sending more hugs & good wishes

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jun 11 - 10:32 AM

Oh, rags, that is so unfair when docs promise to come round then don't! I hope you didn't have too much trouble driving home.

Much good thoughts and thanks for a speedy recovery.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: bfdk
Date: 30 Jun 11 - 01:52 PM

Sorry to hear about all your trials and tribulations, I hope everything will soon be sorted out so the mending & healing process can start.

Bente

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 05:59 AM

Thank you for caring words.

I brought him "home" today to where we're staying. The curved side of the car seat presses against the rigid part of the drain tube in his back. We'll have to figure out how to use a pillow to prevent that. He'll have the tubing attached for another three weeks. He's managing with those so far. Friday is Canada's birthday, not a good day for road and ferry travel. We're going to wait until Saturday to attempt to get off this Island without sitting for three hours in a ferry lineup.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: maeve
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 06:06 AM

Thanks, rags. May you have as easy a trip home as possible.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 06:33 AM

I'll second that

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 10:57 PM

Safe home, Ragall, for you and your husband.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: ragdall
Date: 02 Jul 11 - 12:07 AM

Thank you all.
One of the best parts of this was that he got wonderful care, several CT scans, medications, equipment and Canadian universal medical coverage paid for everything. The taxes we pay to cover medical for everyone seem a small price to pay at times like this.
rags

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Jul 11 - 09:21 AM

Good news, Rags.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: ragdall
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 02:49 AM

About eleven hours after leaving this morning, we've stopped at a motel for the night with about six hours driving left between us and home. No major problems so far.

I wish there was a nurse here to change the dressing on my husband's back, or a drug store where I might be able to buy the supplies to attempt to do it myself.   This is one adventure that both of us wish we wouldn't have.

When we considered arranging for my husband to fly home, we wondered what airport security does about people who have collection bags of one sort or another attached? We decided that we didn't want to find out. Does any Catter have experience, or know about anyone who has?

Thanks,
rags

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 04:35 AM

They must have a system to cover it. There are many people with bags of one sort or another about their person, collecting various fluids.
I'm sure you could have done it, however, I hope you guys made it home in one piece, and are settling in again.
It's a great feeling getting back to your own wee corner, where you know where everything is, and the bed feels just right.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 04:52 AM

Rags sorry to hear of your troubles hope things improve for you both

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: jacqui.c
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 07:07 AM

Thinking of you. Home today - the best place to heal.

Are you going to think about changing your doctor? The one you have didn't seem to do much about the ongoing symptoms.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 02:01 PM

Hope you get home and can relax and get that dressing changed. What a journey you have been on!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 04 Jul 11 - 11:34 PM

You are both home safely now, right? When you have time, let us know about the rest of your journey.

Subject: RE: BS: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 04:07 AM

We drove through a series of rainstorms and arrived home safely. My husband was happy to be able to drive for most of the last hour. I'd become too tired to be a safe driver. I have a history of falling asleep with my eyes open, while driving.

We had an appointment with my husband's family doctor today. He hasn't received anything yet from the hospital or the urologist who cared for my husband there. His family doctor arranged for my husband to get "home care" for the dressing changes. In our case that means that we go to them, because they are only four minutes away by car. A nurse there cleaned up his back and applied a clean dressing. We made an appointment for her to repeat the process on Wednesday.

jacqui.c,
We're hoping that arrangements can be made for a different urologist to provide the "follow up" this time.

Subject: RE: BS: Ragdall: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: ragdall
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 04:09 AM

That was me who just posted. I didn't know I was cookie-less.

Thanks,
rags

Subject: RE: BS: Ragdall: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 04:52 AM

Good news. Hope he continues to improve.

Subject: RE: BS: Ragdall: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 05:34 AM

I agree.

Subject: RE: BS: Ragdall: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: jacqui.c
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 09:51 AM

Glad to hear you're home OK.

Subject: RE: BS: Ragdall: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: fat B****rd
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 03:19 PM

Thank you, Ragdall. It must be a joy to be home together. Take good care.
Charlie.

Subject: RE: BS: Ragdall: Sorry I haven't been around much
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 08:58 PM

im glad to read that he is able to drive and to know you arrived home safely.