Update on Hath's Dad

[Hath]

So I tried to log on to the old board and setbb is shitting the bed again (I tried both T's Place and the Author's Forum with no luck) so I can't bring over the original posts. I can give a rundown, though...

So you remember Daddy's got prostate cancer. It's a "mild case" (whatever that means) and he had 41 radiation treatments over the course of 8 weeks. That's pretty much cleared up (which is good).

During that time, he had to have a catheter put in. The first time they did it they did it wrong, and he was in excruciating pain for a week. Turns out that they really screwed it up, and he's been on a catheter since before Thanksgiving.

When they did his follow up appointment before the holidays, they said to go back for a CAT scan after Christmas. He had appointments all week this week.

Monday he saw his urologist who examined the cath, and thinks he has to have surgery to correct a blockage, or else he has to be cath'd forever. He has to go back next week and have a camera thingy...well I don't wanna think too much about that, it's my Dad for chrissake. My son thinks it's gross, but wants to know if they're gonna make a dvd from the camera. Leave it to the 8-year old...

Tuesday Daddy went for his CAT scan, and he saw his lung guy today. Turns out his emphysema is much worse than they thought (after 45 years of smoking 2 packs a day, I don't doubt it -- he only quit because I told him if he ever wanted to see his grandson, he had to, so he quit cold turkey -- after 45 years! ), so if he needs major surgery to correct anything, he won't survive the procedure.

They found lots of enlarged lymph nodes and some nodules on his lungs, but no tumor. His doc thinks he doesn't have cancer, but has no idea what he has. At least Daddy doesn't appear to have terminal cancer, which is what we thought he had. He's going for more extensive blood work on Friday, then in the next couple of weeks, he has to go for ultrasounds to see which lymph nodes are close enough to the surface so they can take needle biopsies. They'll do more tests, and see if they can rule out cancer completely, but for now, all they can tell us is that he isn't terminal today.

I called my husband, and he can't understand why this news doesn't make me feel better.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers, and I have to ask you to keep it up for the next few weeks; at least until they run some more tests. Daddy's already said if he needs surgery, he's not going to do it. He doesn't want to die like that, he said.

I don't wanna think about it.

[mysterytrain]

Jan 15, 2009 11:44:42 GMT -6 Hath said:

So I tried to log on to the old board and setbb is shitting the bed again (I tried both T's Place and the Author's Forum with no luck) so I can't bring over the original posts. I can give a rundown, though...

So you remember Daddy's got prostate cancer. It's a "mild case" (whatever that means) and he had 41 radiation treatments over the course of 8 weeks. That's pretty much cleared up (which is good).

During that time, he had to have a catheter put in. The first time they did it they did it wrong, and he was in excruciating pain for a week. Turns out that they really screwed it up, and he's been on a catheter since before Thanksgiving.

When they did his follow up appointment before the holidays, they said to go back for a CAT scan after Christmas. He had appointments all week this week.

Monday he saw his urologist who examined the cath, and thinks he has to have surgery to correct a blockage, or else he has to be cath'd forever. He has to go back next week and have a camera thingy...well I don't wanna think too much about that, it's my Dad for chrissake. My son thinks it's gross, but wants to know if they're gonna make a dvd from the camera. Leave it to the 8-year old...

Tuesday Daddy went for his CAT scan, and he saw his lung guy today. Turns out his emphysema is much worse than they thought (after 45 years of smoking 2 packs a day, I don't doubt it -- he only quit because I told him if he ever wanted to see his grandson, he had to, so he quit cold turkey -- after 45 years! ), so if he needs major surgery to correct anything, he won't survive the procedure.

They found lots of enlarged lymph nodes and some nodules on his lungs, but no tumor. His doc thinks he doesn't have cancer, but has no idea what he has. At least Daddy doesn't appear to have terminal cancer, which is what we thought he had. He's going for more extensive blood work on Friday, then in the next couple of weeks, he has to go for ultrasounds to see which lymph nodes are close enough to the surface so they can take needle biopsies. They'll do more tests, and see if they can rule out cancer completely, but for now, all they can tell us is that he isn't terminal today.

I called my husband, and he can't understand why this news doesn't make me feel better.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers, and I have to ask you to keep it up for the next few weeks; at least until they run some more tests. Daddy's already said if he needs surgery, he's not going to do it. He doesn't want to die like that, he said.

I don't wanna think about it.

Hath, I understand how you feel even if hubby doesn't. Thinking and knowing are two different things. You are always in my thoughts and prayers and so is your dad. Keep positive thoughts and stay hopeful. I know it is hard to think about all of this.

Thanks for updating us. Your son's question of the DVD did make me laugh out loud. He is so funny sometimes. Although, the funny thing is they are probably going to make a DVD from the camera. They will put the results on a DVD for the doctors to review. That is how they do it now.

Love ya, girlfriend, and you and family are always in my prayers.

[Kris]

Love your son's reaction, Hath.

I really hope that they figure out soon what's really going on. I can understand that you get more and more nervous everytime your dad comes back and they didn't figure out anything. It's normal that we want to know what's going on so we can do something...

I'll keep on praying!

Little advice: Maybe change doctor! Worked wonders for my mom last year, suddenly they knew what was wrong!

[lisamarie]

I hope they kind find out what is going on. I will keep him in my prayers!!

[Rike]

Hath, I hope your dad feels better soon. And the doc find out what going on fast.
my dad has prostate cancer, too. He had a surgery and had incontinence for almost 2 years. Then he had a second surgery and it is a bit better now. His dad (my grandpa died because of prostate cancer)
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and your dad.

[BigEasyTease]

I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I hope everything gets better for y'all.

[Queenie]

Hath, I hope the docs figure out what the hell is going on with your dad. You won't feel any better about the situation until you get a definite answer. Apparently Mr. Hath just doesn't understand that.

I've got your whole family in my prayers. Hopefully you'll get good news soon.

Hugs to you my friend.

[LJ]

well, hopefully the docs will discover what it is soon. I think the worse part is not knowing. We are all here for you, anything you need.

Lily

[Hath]

We have a slight update. He does have a blockage that they'd have to operate to relieve, but they think the anesthesia would kill him b/c of his emphysema, so he's probably going to have a cath for the duration.

As for the other stuff, they were going to do a lymph node needle biopsy, but when they went to do the ultrasound to find one close enough to the surface, they couldn't. So now they're going to have to do something else, but they don't know what yet. Grrr.

In any event, Dad's feeling good, so that's what we're concentrating on now.

Thanks for the continued good thoughts and prayers, girls.

[mysterytrain]

Jan 24, 2009 10:21:36 GMT -6 Hath said:

We have a slight update. He does have a blockage that they'd have to operate to relieve, but they think the anesthesia would kill him b/c of his emphysema, so he's probably going to have a cath for the duration.

As for the other stuff, they were going to do a lymph node needle biopsy, but when they went to do the ultrasound to find one close enough to the surface, they couldn't. So now they're going to have to do something else, but they don't know what yet. Grrr.

In any event, Dad's feeling good, so that's what we're concentrating on now.

Thanks for the continued good thoughts and prayers, girls.

Hath, I'm sorry to hear about the catheter issue. I know you have said this has been a real problem ever since he has had it. Hopefully, they can get it right this time so he is not in so much pain.

The wait and see game is really frustrating, I know, but hang in there. I am happy to hear that he is feeling good through this. That means his quality of life is good and he is able to enjoy his family.

You are always in my thoughts and prayers and will continue to be.

Hugs to you.
Mys

[kissthis]

I'm glad he's feeling a little better, and I keep you in my thoughts each and every day honey.

[wildflowerlily]

Hath, I can't really add anything to what's already been said except that you and your family are in my prayers, too. Think positively! As corny as it sounds, it's helpful. I'll keep praying.

[gotsoul90]

Hath you and your family are in my prayers sweetie. All the good thoughts have got to help.
D