THE FUTURE IS ONE BIG CHALLENGE AFTER ANOTHER for 3Dogs and friends ..... PART 4

Aesop

Hi SW :hello:

nearly feeling human again - rotten, took 2 weeks off work paid leave to look for work and got ill instead

and back to work on Tuesday.

selling one little boy if you want him!

3Dogs

Aesop wrote: »

Hi SW :hello:

nearly feeling human again - rotten, took 2 weeks off work paid leave to look for work and got ill instead

and back to work on Tuesday.

selling one little boy if you want him!

No takers here Aesop :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: sorry your job search plans went wrong - you really need to take better care of yourself hun, you always seem to come last to DS and DH, you gotta put yourself first sometimes

I went down to the car boot about 11 am and just wandered round talking to our friends there about Alan - the market manager took me into his office and gave me lots of hugs ...... that soulnd so wrong :eek: :eek: ..... ok, he gave me lots of hugs and took me into his office .... well that sounds a bit better and said not to worry about anything down there and make sure that if I need anything or anything done, let him know coz he and many others down there will help all they can. Although it was hard going through the details with everyone, it was really uplifting for the overwhelming support they all offered

I called into Mr T's and got a £40 shop using coupons and aiming for a £17 Asda Price Check voucher back ............ and then at checkout I realised I didn't have the £5 off £40 voucher with me :mad: :mad:

When I got back I spent an hour playing with Molly before putting her back in her cage to go over to see Alan. A friend had been in to see him on the 2.30 to 3.30 visiting and was waiting outside to see me. He siad Alan had been asleep most of the time and when he wasn't asleep he was apologising for being asleep;) We talked for a while and then I went up to see Alan, but he was sound out and didn't wake for another hour and a quarter, and when he asked me how long I'd been there and I said about an hour, he said 'you should just wake me up when you get here' - I said I did try :rotfl: He fell asleep again and was only awake for 10 minutes in all, and I was just going to leave when the nurse came to do his blood pressure, etc and he woke up and stayed awake this time. The supper trolley came and he had jelly and some ice cream but wouldn't touch the soup not his favourite food , and he told me he'd had the same at lunch time. He also had a cup of tea, with milk this time. So he is progressing in what he can eat, though he can only eat small quantities

While he was alseep, I did speak to one of the docs on duty, who agreed that it would take some time to recover from what was major surgery, and they couldn't start to think of treatment until his body had recovered. I asked about the consultants' meeting and he confirmed that the meeting of the 'Jedi Masters' would be on Thursday and then admin had to be done, but we would be told the prognosis and plan during doctors rounds on Friday morning. I can't really focus on anything until we have those details, so just going on as normal for now

Anyway, Alan was dozing again when I left and I think he would fall asleep again, but this means he is resting and healing so that is good. I was about 7.30 pm when I got home and after a quick play with Molly I popped along to Linda's with her ciggies and said I wouldn't have a cuppa with her as I just wanted to put my dressing gown on, get something to eat and rest as I was ker-nackered by then and aching all over. I realised when I was driving home that, not only had I not had anything to eat yet, sorry Kit meaning to have something at car boot cafe but not getting the chance, I had not had my morning meds either :eek: so, once I had my Rustlers chicken burger bogof with coupon and some toast and jam, I had my tablets, done some texting and spoke to Steve on the phone. I felt so much better after talking to Steve :j :j

3Dogs

Alan's first wife, the boys' Mam, rang me this morning as his brother had gone round to tell her last night, as I'd asked him. she'd gone through similar just 4 years ago with her second hubbie as he had osophygus cancer which spread throughout his body Shortly afterward DD2 rang me to ask if his Mam could come down with him, and I said of course she can. We all get on well together and his ex and her new hubbie had often brought the boys down to stay with us after we moved down her in '85 and had even stayed with us before. DD2 said that his brother DD1 was planning to come down with his wife on Monday, staying with a friend nearby (which turned out to be in M Keynes :eek:) whereas DD2 and his Mam were travelling down and going home in one day so were going to check on trains

I have since spoken to DD1 and persuaded them not to come down till later in the week as it is pointless to come all that one, especially in one day in the case of DD2, when their Dad would be mostly asleep and probably not remember they had been. End of the week would be better

Anyway, when I told Alan this, he said it was silly for them to rush straight down 'when it might not be months yet', meaning how long he had left

I am now supplementing my supper with a Cadb Bubbly - free with coupon

Aesop

awwww Susan. I don't have the words to say.

well done on winning one of those chocs. I gave up after the first time.

Some more coupons check out coupon thread. £5 off handwash, free at Asda.

It's great you get on well with Alan's ex and she and DS2 want to come down to see you all, but understand about lack of sleeping room and will go back same day.

Poor Alan, at least he is able to eat a bit more and drink more now. His poor body has been through the mill

I can understand things will be easier to comprehend once you have spoken to consultants, so roll on Friday.

Don't forget to eat though Susan. Remember how many times we lectured Kit about eating....:p I know it is difficult. But even carry a bag of fruit or something for when you are out and about. Then you are still eating something.

If you need anything, including DS , please let me know.

3Dogs

Evening all :beer:

I was going to the kennels this morning to take more dog food up and to talk to them about Billy but, instead, I cleaned out our 6-drawer chest in the bedroom, throwing out 5 carrier bags of stuff and washing 2 bin liners of clothes, after the mice had been in there :eek: :eek:

Then I went over to see Alan this afternoon. I already knew that he was more awake today as he'd rang me to say he'd been sitting in his chair for 2 hours this morning, though he was back in the bed when I got there. He didn't doze off much until later in my visit, after the strain of having his dressing changed. The massive wound, down the middle and off to both sides, and up again on right side, is healing well, though there is a little pulling on the left side. He'd had mince and mash for lunch :j and ordered lamb mince and mash, followed by spotted !!!!!! and ice cream, but only a small portion. He doesn't really fancy food, which is unlike him , and can only eat small amount at a time but at least he is on proper food now

While we were talking about the consultants' meeting and getting prognosis and plan of any treatment, he said he will expect the worse and that way, if he is given longer, he will be pleased. I checked and got permission to go in at 9 on Friday morning so that I am there when the docs do their rounds and hear the news first hand. It will be better for Alan if I am there with him too. Friday morning feels so far away

I called round to Linda's when I got back and Alan rang me when I was there, to say that, as she knew he was more awake, a friend of ours had visited him, which pleased him. Then a doc and some nurses spoke to him and said that they were pleased with his improvement today

When I got settled back in the house and had something to eat, it was one long round of texting and then Kit rang me for a lovely chat. I have done more sorting, washing, drying and putting back of clothes in the bedroom chest of drawers, so feel like I am getting something done

MandyLou66

Hello 3Dogs
I found your thread whilst browsing the Tesco board and could not read and run. I am currently on the rollercoaster you are just about to board, my husband is in the same boat as yours.
I took him to A & E on Boxing Day with suspected food poisoning! Men always play sickness down don't they. He too was operated on, slashed from top to below belly button bag in place and cancerous mets on his liver, so when I say I know how you feel I really do. I can relate to the dreadful things you are undoubtably thinking right now.
However the reason for my post to you is that this was Boxing Day 2010! We have had 2 different bouts of Chemo and are now on a third treatment to keep the b****rd at bay.
I just want to say that if you have any issues at all (I didn,t know much about stomas and colostomy supplies at all but have learnt about Nicks needs as I've gone along) it doesn't matter how silly you may think it is I will be happy to help if I can.
Good Luck to you both and try to keep a positive attitude at all times.
Kind Regards
ML

beanielou

Welcome MandyLOu to 3dogs lovely thread.
What a lovely post.

Thanks gang for the lovely card:A

3dogs~words fail me as usual.
Keep plodding xxx

3Dogs

MandyLou66 wrote: »

Hello 3Dogs
I found your thread whilst browsing the Tesco board and could not read and run. I am currently on the rollercoaster you are just about to board, my husband is in the same boat as yours.
I took him to A & E on Boxing Day with suspected food poisoning! Men always play sickness down don't they. He too was operated on, slashed from top to below belly button bag in place and cancerous mets on his liver, so when I say I know how you feel I really do. I can relate to the dreadful things you are undoubtably thinking right now.
However the reason for my post to you is that this was Boxing Day 2010! We have had 2 different bouts of Chemo and are now on a third treatment to keep the b****rd at bay.
I just want to say that if you have any issues at all (I didn,t know much about stomas and colostomy supplies at all but have learnt about Nicks needs as I've gone along) it doesn't matter how silly you may think it is I will be happy to help if I can.
Good Luck to you both and try to keep a positive attitude at all times.
Kind Regards
ML

beanielou wrote: »

Welcome MandyLOu to 3dogs lovely thread.
What a lovely post.

Thanks gang for the lovely card:A

3dogs~words fail me as usual.
Keep plodding xxx

Welcome ManyLou and, as Beanie says, that is a lovely post :A :A It has to give us hope that Alan has a chance of a fair time left to him. How long was your Nick given orginally hun? Was he bad during the chemo? I have done lots of researching about his cancer and stomas, etc but I have do doubt we will have lots of questions as time goes on, so thanks for the offer and I am sure you will be hearing from me

We are remaining positive, as far as we can, but it seems so long to Friday when we get his prognosis and know better where we stand

Alan has been much brighter today, and was up in his chair again for 2 hours this morning. They removed two drain tubes this afternoon which leaves just one on his right side, underneath the colostomy bag. It hurt loads when nurse pulled the second one out, but at least them coming out means that he is making progress. In fact, the doc who saw him just before I arrived today, said he was really pleased with the change in him over the last 36 hours and with how he was progressing

It was a shame that I missed seeing the doc, but I took ages to find a car park space and then ran into a friend in the foyer and was letting her know about Alan. Otherwise I would have had a good explanation from the doc, but he said that if I get there for 2 pm on Thursday, he will come to talk to me then, unless he gets called to an emergency as he is on call that day. I think we will still have to wait until Friday morning for the prognosis, treatment plan, etc

MandyLou66

Hello 3dogs
Glad to hear Alan has been in his chair and had some of his drains removed, we never asked about timescales, too scary, but they automatically did the forms for "special terms" dla, that usually means 'not expected to survive past 6 months' that was a bit freaky but so far so good.
Chemo can not start until the wound is healed so Nicks was delayed as his got infected. First bout was about 5 months after op! I was freaking out and did not know what to expect but it really isn't scary at all, they just sit with a drip in their arm and expect you to run around getting coffee and sandwiches and help them get to the loo cos of all the liquid being pumped in! You then get a 'goody bag' of drugs to take home to counteract sickness, diarrohea and the actual chemotherapy drugs. Different Chemo's have different side effects but when they tell you them don't be alarmed he probably won't get them all they just have to cover their butts! Nick was very sleepy and diarrohea with a bag is no fun but you can can extra strong tapes to secure it. When the time comes if you want to pm me I will advise you on what to order from the colostomy supply folks.
Don't know if your Alan will be the same but Nick could not accept the bag to start with and i had to change it for him to start with but now it is named Billy and is just part of life! (good really as it did actually help save his life!)
Thats enough info for you to cope with just now, as Alan progresses I will be more than happy to help and even share a few stories with you. I may seem lighthearted but on this rollercoaster we have to be the strength, this is my way of coping.
Take care Susan
Kindest regards ML

Aesop

[QUOTE=MandyLou66;51414275 I may seem lighthearted but on this rollercoaster we have to be the strength, this is my way of coping.
[/QUOTE]

You are amazing ML :A :A

My friend went through chemo, she said it wasn't fun, but she has been given the all clear, so "it was worth it".

(((((((((((Susan and Alan))))))))))))) so pleased to hear Alan has had more tubes removed, and the Drs are pleased with the progress he is making, but he is a Geordie after all they are tough!