scared and not sure what to think

hartmann
hartmann Member Posts: 26
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
Hi all, Im in the hospital right now and am very scared. My husband brought me in with nausea and vomiting that has been going on for almost 2 weeks. I had a scan and it shows that I could have some increased involvement from my liver mets that is causing problems with my stomach. Im having an egd today and will know more after that. Im so scared. not only has the cancer possibly spread but now I may have to have a j tube (feeding tube) so that I can eat. Its put in the small intestine and bypasses the stomach. Not sure if anyone else has had similar problems but any comments, info or suggestions would be great. Thanks for listening to me!

Comments

  • medi_2
    medi_2 Member Posts: 505 Member
    #2
    oh no...
    you need some healing girl! If you want, mail me at my address here and I will send you my work address which is much easier to get me at (this coming week anyway). Din't lose faith hon, you will get through it.
    cheers
    medi
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #3
    tube
    I hope that the results of your endoscopy were positive, hartmann (as in good news, not the other positive). I've had my share of them and find them to be an inconvenience more than anything else.

    As for the tube, mine was different, as it was inserted into my stomach (PEG tube, G tube), but I think that for the most part, if you get one your experiences will be similar. In my case, I had the thing for 4.5 years (head/neck cancer prior to lung cancer diagnosis) and, like endoscopies, found it inconvenient but bearable.

    To be honest, there is much not to like about a tube. It typically means that you are not eating out with family and friends. You may be with them (it eventually came to be a sort of self-inflicted torture for me, so I stopped going) but not exactly participating to the full extent. It means that even your home meals will be different, as you are getting your nutrition through the tube while others are not.

    That's the bad news, if your tube is anything like mine. Yes, it needs to be 'maintained' and, yes, you need to tend the wound site (for, after all, the entry point of the tube is a wound), and yes, it MIGHT stick out a bit (I wore bulkier clothing until such time as I didn't care anymore). But, you will get all of the nutrition you need, and you will 'eat' faster than everyone else if you learn the tricks that the nurses probably won't teach you (but I will), and you will live.

    You will live.

    Again, I hope your test went well.

    Take care,

    Joe
  • hartmann
    hartmann Member Posts: 26
    #4
    soccerfreaks said:

    tube
    I hope that the results of your endoscopy were positive, hartmann (as in good news, not the other positive). I've had my share of them and find them to be an inconvenience more than anything else.

    As for the tube, mine was different, as it was inserted into my stomach (PEG tube, G tube), but I think that for the most part, if you get one your experiences will be similar. In my case, I had the thing for 4.5 years (head/neck cancer prior to lung cancer diagnosis) and, like endoscopies, found it inconvenient but bearable.

    To be honest, there is much not to like about a tube. It typically means that you are not eating out with family and friends. You may be with them (it eventually came to be a sort of self-inflicted torture for me, so I stopped going) but not exactly participating to the full extent. It means that even your home meals will be different, as you are getting your nutrition through the tube while others are not.

    That's the bad news, if your tube is anything like mine. Yes, it needs to be 'maintained' and, yes, you need to tend the wound site (for, after all, the entry point of the tube is a wound), and yes, it MIGHT stick out a bit (I wore bulkier clothing until such time as I didn't care anymore). But, you will get all of the nutrition you need, and you will 'eat' faster than everyone else if you learn the tricks that the nurses probably won't teach you (but I will), and you will live.

    You will live.

    Again, I hope your test went well.

    Take care,

    Joe

    Thanks so much for your
    Thanks so much for your info and comments. The egd wasn't too bad. kinda cool to see the inside of my stomach. They did take a couple samples for biopsy but the surgeon said it doesnt look like cancer. We will know more on thursday. I guess I kinda freaked out when they said the cancer had started to grow again but it really helps to hear other positive stories. Tomorrow we start TPN and will go from there. Here comes the heavy duty chemo again as well. Thanks again and I will keep in touch.
    Penny
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #5
    hartmann said:

    Thanks so much for your
    Thanks so much for your info and comments. The egd wasn't too bad. kinda cool to see the inside of my stomach. They did take a couple samples for biopsy but the surgeon said it doesnt look like cancer. We will know more on thursday. I guess I kinda freaked out when they said the cancer had started to grow again but it really helps to hear other positive stories. Tomorrow we start TPN and will go from there. Here comes the heavy duty chemo again as well. Thanks again and I will keep in touch.
    Penny

    Congratulations! Great
    Congratulations! Great news! Being freaked out is completely understandable. It probably won't be the last time.

    Best wishes with the chemo. Please do keep us all advised.

    Take care,

    Joe

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