Hey honey, I'm home. and an update

[kscwgirl]

I've missed you all so much. I haven't been home since Thursday morning when we left for surgery.

Unfortunately the cancer has metasisized into one of the 12 lymph nodes in his chest that they removed along with his lung.

We have not yet visited w/ the oncologist as Jeff's immediate reaction was to tell her he didn't want to discuss any options and he wasn't going to do chemo.

After many tears (mine) and some yelling (his mother) and then I ended up putting his best friend on the phone with him.... he has, thankfully, agreed to go meet with the oncologist, discuss treatment options with her, and if it comes to it, he will do at least one round of chemo.

We meet with the oncologist Monday at 10:30.

I wish they had kept him another night in the hospital and done the ct scan and bone scan there, instead of more waiting for results.. but.. it is what it is.

His pain level is not good.. they had him on percocet in the hospital which was working some and sent him home with hydrocodone which isn't working at all.

He can't go up or down steps and walking much farther then about 8-9 feet is not an option. It's possible he'll be on oxygen at least temporarily.

Luckily we have a refrigerator in the garage so I have stocked that up for him and his mom is going to bring him lunch the rest of the week. The original plan was to take him over there for the rest of the week but riding in the car is extremely difficult.

That's about all I know for now.. I'll update more after the oncologist appt.

Thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers and PLEASE don't stop now.

[jacinda]

Oh Sara. My heart breaks for you. You are in my prayers, as is your husband and family.

[hollyxann]

Sara, I'm glad to hear that you guys are home. It broke my heart to hear about this. I'm glad that he has agreed to do at least 1 round of chemo.

Hang in there. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Sending LOTS of hugs.

[MamaBee]

**hugs** sweetie!! Many prayers for you and Jeff!!

[mariewilcox]

I'm so glad he has at least agreed to meet with the oncologist - 1 out of 12 lymph nodes is much better odds than 6/12 or more! I will continue to send positive thoughts that treatment goes well for him and for your continued strength.

[Kara]

Lots of hugs to you, Sara.

FWIW, my dad's initial scan showed that his cancer (a different kind, but one that is very rare and difficult to treat) had spread to one lymph node as well. He went through about eight challenging months of chemo, but every scan since the original one has come back clear. I'm praying the same for Jeff.

[Lizzy257]

Thinking of you all Sara. x

[ripal]

Thinking of you. Wishing him speedy and easy recovery in this awful journey. Hope you take some rest too!

[jaylensmom]

Hugs Sara...My thoughts and prayers are with your family...

[KristinCB]

((((hugs))))) sooo glad your hubby is listening to you all now though.

[NeverendingJen]

*hugs* I'm so glad Jeff has agreed to listen to all of you and at least give this fight a try. I hope that they have a good plan when you go to the oncologist on Monday and you can know what is ahead of you.

[Leah]

Awww Sara, I'm glad that you are home. Both of you need to get some rest. I'll be sending lots of thoughts & prayers in your direction sweetie!

[Joana1n]

I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through right now. Know that I'm covering you and Jeff and the rest of your family in prayer. It breaks my heart that you're having to face this awful trial. Cancer sucks!

[Melissa Bennett]

So glad you guys are home and sooooo glad he agreed to meet with the oncologist. I will continue to keep ya'll in my thoughts and prayers.

[Txcorey]

I'm glad your home and your husband is willing to listen to treatment options. Sending prayers your way.

[Libby Pritchett]

Still praying, Sara! I'm so thankful that Jeff has agreed to meet with the oncologist. I'm sure he's scared. *HUGS* for both of you!

[nesser1981]

Still praying!

Glad he's going to meet with the oncologist! They're going to help him beat this thing!

[YepBrook]

Oh, I can't fathom how hard this is!!! I am so sorry! I will keep you all in my prayers. I am SO happy to hear that Jeff agreed to at least 1 round of chemo. I hope that once he starts it, he continues to be a fighter!!!

[ColleenSwerb]

Oh man, I'm so glad you all got him to change his mind!! You've got all my thoughts and prayers and love hon!

[nun69]

sending many prayers to you and Jeff.....

[breakingbrie]

I'm so glad he's willing to meet the oncologist and discuss options!! I'm still praying and sending lots of positive thoughts! ((hugs))

[ZaCola3]

*Sniff* My heart is with you Sara-I've been thinking of you non-stop!

[lovely1m]

Thank you so much for the update. I will continue to keep your family in my thoughts.

[jessica31876]

Im so glad to hear you all are home. Sorry about the results you got though. I would be screaming, crying, begging whatever it took to get my hubby to do what needed to be done. I also remember when my husband came home after being in the hospital. He couldnt walk more then 20 feet or so before he had to stop and breathe so I can sympathise with that. Ill keep praying for your family and that you get good news from the oncoologist

[kristijoy]

You should be able to get perkoset for home use. I used it after my abdonminal surgery. Hydrocodone isn't strong enough. Since it's a controlled substance you have to have an actual piece of paper signed by a doctor (i.e. they can't just call it in). So I would definately be persistent with the Dr. if his pain isn't under control. Don't just tough it out! It's likely he'll need you to be a pest with the Doc to get some different meds. Some guys may have difficulty admitting to another guy that he is miserable.

[dailydwellin]

I'm praying for you, your husband, and the entire family. Thank you for the update. I'm glad to hear that he has at least conceded to talk to the oncologist. That's a first step. I'll continue to pray as you walk this hard road.

[Lyd]

HUGS Sara! I'm sure you've had every possible emotion in the last few days/weeks, and I can only imagine how exhausted you must be. Hang in there! I'm glad that Jeff has decided to talk to the oncologist and that he's open to at least some chemo. He's lucky to have you in his corner! <3

[iScrap]

My continued prayers coming your way! {{hugs}}

[Julie Billingsley]

Sara, I'm glad to hear that Jeff is thinking more about the treatments. His first reaction is completely understandable. Nobody in their right mind would WANT to do chemo. But wanting to and choosing to are two different things. He has a family that loves and needs him and that is what will keep him going and he will choose whatever to keep him here with you. I will be praying continuously for you all.

[heathergw]

My heart is just breaking for you... I'm so glad he's softened up a little bit and has agreed to meet with the oncologist and will be willing to do one round of chemo... continuing to lift you all up in my prayers!!!

[jessica31876]

what Kristi said. Ask his dr for some time release morphine or oxycontin (lasts about 12 hours) and ask for oxycodone for breakthrough pain. Hydrocodone is what they give you after you have a tooth pulled!! And you can get percocet for home use too. It is what they gave me after I was sent home the first time with a kidney stone.

[*Celeste*]

you need to demand pain management. i'm so sorry he's in so much pain. i'm glad he's agreed to meet with the oncologist. there are a lot of options with chemo these days. it has improved so much in the past 10 years. i'm thinking of you and him!

[abm234]

Your SSD family has you surrounded in love and prayers!

[LJSDesigns]

Sara, I will continue to pray for you and Jeff. God bless you all during this time.

[joelsgirl]

Oh, stubborn man. I'm so thankful he changed his mind! I'll continue praying for you guys.

[taracotta7]

Oh Sara. Praying for strength, wisdom, healing and lots of rest. Bless your heart. I hope the appointment on Monday makes Jeff more comfortable with his options. I am SOOOOOOO glad that he has agreed to at least consider what treatments there are for him. I can imagine that he is shocked and scared. Sending lots of love and prayers your way. You know how to get ahold of me..........if you need to cry, scream, cuss.......I am a listening ear. ((HUGS))

[LenaGardner]

I can't believe they are only giving him hydrocodone after having A LUNG REMOVED. I was prescribed hydrocodone, oxycodone AND dilaudid, all in pill form, during my kidney stone. Poor guy!

((hugs)) and positive thoughts!

[isaacsmom]

I am so glad he is opening up to at least hearing the different treatment options. I'm sure he is scared, and being in pain doesn't help any of it. I'm praying that his pain will continue to lessen and that he is able to keep it under control, and also praying for strength for you both. ((hugs))

[rach3975]

I'm so glad he's willing to discuss treatment options and try something. I hope they get his pain under control soon. Hopefully being home surrounded by his family will convince him to keep fighting. ((Hugs)) to all of you; this must be so hard.

[mrshobbes]

I'm still praying! You guys are being held up by angels, Sara, and I KNOW He's looking out for your husband.

[carrie1977]

My heart just breaks for you and your family. I'm so glad he's agreed to meet with the oncologist. Will definitely still keep you all in my prayers! I hope he gets some relief from the pain soon!

[kscwgirl]

Originally Posted by LenaGardner

I can't believe they are only giving him hydrocodone after having A LUNG REMOVED. I was prescribed hydrocodone, oxycodone AND dilaudid, all in pill form, during my kidney stone. Poor guy!

((hugs)) and positive thoughts!

I KNOW. I was like.. dude.. they gave me hydrocodone when I PULLED A MUSCLE. You had a LUNG taken out. yeah. I will be calling the surgeon in the morning.

They had him on dilaudid and toradol through is IV so I'm glad to know that dilaudid is available in pill form.

[Jengerbread88]

I'm still praying hard for you guys. Is there anything I can do? Do you need meals or anything? PM me if there's any way I can help!

[LenaGardner]

Dilaudid and toradol was what they kept giving me via IV as well. When my pain wasn't managed with the hydrocodone or oxycodone after being off the IV and out of the hospital for about 2 days, they ponied up the dilaudid pills. Turns out toradol is available in pill form too, but since it is a really strong muscle relaxer, it's hard on the tummy. I was grateful for the dilaudid pills, but honestly they didn't do much for me, either. The kind of pain I was in was only being responsive to IV drugs, so they readmitted me until the stint (which was what was causing the pain) could be removed 2 days later. I hope he gets to feeling better soon, but I'm glad you'll be advocating for him too, because he's been through enough, there is no sense at all in living with the pain when there are things that can be done for it! At least you know you (he) has options. (((hugs)))

[xboxmom]

So sorry Sara that was not the news we were all hoping to hear. Our hearts and prayers are going out to your family.

[sprauncey1]

Oh Sara, I'm praying and thinking about you all constantly!
Definitely demand pain medication. He will not make any wise decisions if he is controlled by his pain (and even depression due to lack of sleep on top of everything else)!!
Praying praying praying! And hugs for you!!!

[kristijoy]

[QUOTE=sprauncey1;960121]He will not make any wise decisions if he is controlled by his pain (and even depression due to lack of sleep on top of everything else)!! [QUOTE]

This is a really good point. He will definately not be himself and will need lots of TLC. If he feels people are 'coming at him to make choices' he'll shut down. If he's in alot of pain the first thing to do is to concentrate on getting that under control and then you can address the upcoming issues.

As his care-giver (I think that's you) when you get tired and overwhelmed you'll need someone else to talk to & let go with (rather than him). He needs peace an comfort in order to get through this next step.

and prayers coming your way!

[Julie Billingsley]

Originally Posted by kscwgirl

I will be calling the surgeon in the morning.

if this is too much for him, call the surgeon now. They have a phone service for a reason. Be very clear with the call center and tell them your husband had a lung removed, was discharged today, and the pain is too much. They can call the doctor immediately and he CAN call in a prescription to a 24 hour pharmacy. Just have the pharmacy name, phone number, and address ready because the doctor will need it.

((hugs))

[Freckles]

Sending you lots of P&PT...

[kscwgirl]

Originally Posted by Julie Billingsley

if this is too much for him, call the surgeon now. They have a phone service for a reason. Be very clear with the call center and tell them your husband had a lung removed, was discharged today, and the pain is too much. They can call the doctor immediately and he CAN call in a prescription to a 24 hour pharmacy. Just have the pharmacy name, phone number, and address ready because the doctor will need it.

((hugs))

I cant....its a controlled substance so scrips cant be called in...have to have the written rx.