Off to the hospital I go

LeeinLondon said:

Wow
From hopeless to hopeful!

Chantal can better summarize the specifics, but I can honestly say that my energy,strength,pain,and overall sense of wellbeing has improved 30-50%. by carefully looking at the big picture, these talented folks have already made a huge difference without much risk from new meds etc.

I have a big money bet with Chantal that I'll start whining to get home, but I certainly won't do that in a public forum like this one, so I will gladly stay as long as they want me to without complaint.

They reminded me that dogs are allowed here, so maybe a daisy visit....

Love to all,

The real Lee in London

Fabulous news!
Lee,

That's GREAT news We are so very happy for you! I've kept Nick informed of your doings. We've both been concerned. Sounds like you're in the right place to receive what you need and get you on the path to a new pain relief regime.

So happy for Chantal as well! You both must have been under a great deal of stress recently. I'm sure your improved well being has lessened that a bit.

Excellent that dogs are permitted where you are. That would have made a big difference for Nick while in hospital for chemo. He was more homesick for the dogs than he was for the kids. Guess it may be because the dogs listen better

Anxious to hear continued good reports. I agree with Erica - hopeful for another 50% better tomorrow too!

Terry

LeeinLondon said:

Wow
From hopeless to hopeful!

Chantal can better summarize the specifics, but I can honestly say that my energy,strength,pain,and overall sense of wellbeing has improved 30-50%. by carefully looking at the big picture, these talented folks have already made a huge difference without much risk from new meds etc.

I have a big money bet with Chantal that I'll start whining to get home, but I certainly won't do that in a public forum like this one, so I will gladly stay as long as they want me to without complaint.

They reminded me that dogs are allowed here, so maybe a daisy visit....

Love to all,

The real Lee in London

Great news!
Lee,

So happy to hear you are feeling much better, that must make Chantal feel much better also! Glad to know that you have found a medical team is listening to your needs and that they are getting your pain under control. Make sure Daisy gets to visit soon, I am sure she is missing you like crazy!!

Niki

LeeinLondon said:

Wow
From hopeless to hopeful!

Chantal can better summarize the specifics, but I can honestly say that my energy,strength,pain,and overall sense of wellbeing has improved 30-50%. by carefully looking at the big picture, these talented folks have already made a huge difference without much risk from new meds etc.

I have a big money bet with Chantal that I'll start whining to get home, but I certainly won't do that in a public forum like this one, so I will gladly stay as long as they want me to without complaint.

They reminded me that dogs are allowed here, so maybe a daisy visit....

Love to all,

The real Lee in London

I am so happy for you I could just
Lee and Chantal,

I am SO happy for you and how good you sound that I am practically CRYING.
Thank God for your going today.

Keep us posted, I am overjoyed. I am looking forward to talking to the REAL Lee in London again on the phone soon when you are out!!

Hang in there, and whine all you want. You have earned that right!!

All my love,

-Eric

LeeinLondon said:

Wow
From hopeless to hopeful!

Chantal can better summarize the specifics, but I can honestly say that my energy,strength,pain,and overall sense of wellbeing has improved 30-50%. by carefully looking at the big picture, these talented folks have already made a huge difference without much risk from new meds etc.

I have a big money bet with Chantal that I'll start whining to get home, but I certainly won't do that in a public forum like this one, so I will gladly stay as long as they want me to without complaint.

They reminded me that dogs are allowed here, so maybe a daisy visit....

Love to all,

The real Lee in London

Smiles all around
So glad you are getting relief and that you feel so much better. Sounds like your Palliative care team is right on it for you.
And I'm for bringing in your dog to visit! Woof!
Peace,
Jo-Ann

Daisylin said:

Thank you again
First, Eric, that is priceless, thanks for the early morning laugh. You and Michelle are awesome!

Well, today is the 'big' day, the endocrinologist appointment. We are so looking forward to getting those hot and cold flashes etc taken care of. We have big hopes for this, and if we can just get this under control, we'll be laughing!

Lee had his best day in months yesterday. He is relatively pain free, spirits are up and I saw a wonderful glimpse of the old Lee. He was joking around, laughing and flirting with the poor nurses. He even had some food cravings, but he's on a restricted liquid diet until they do a swallow test today. Go figure, the first time in 2 months that he's actually willing to eat something, he can't!!!

Unfortunately I was only able to have a short visit, as I'm still trying to settle his mom into her new long term care home, but it sure was great seeing him feeling almost 'normal'.

Yesterday as I was leaving they were just coming to get him for an MRI, the nurse did not know what they were scanning, but I assume it was his neck and shoulder area, to determine why he's having that pain. (fingers and toes crossed that it's not mets to the bones) I'm really scared of those results, we just don't need any more disappointments right now.

Anyways, again, everyone, thanks for the love and support. I've been fairly silent on here lately, but I'm reading everything, and praying and celebrating with you all. Hoping to get caught up soon!

Chantal

whining
Well Lee, if you start whining to go home that is a great sign that you are feeling better.
How cool that Daisy will be allowed to visit while you are there, that will be good medicine!
Hope you are continuing to feel better and actually are able to get some food! Hospital jello yumm!
Take Care!

Julie

LeeinLondon said:

Update
First of all, reduced pain and increased stamina. Energy continues to impress!

We had a great meeting with dr. Stan van Uum, endocrinologist. He prescribed Androgel, a testosterone replacement applied to the skin once a day. Simple, does no harm, and results are seen starting in about a week.. I'm so excited, i just can' hide it. I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!

Anyone have experience with androgel? I'll certainly document this new chapter!

Lee

Lee, so glad the new meds
Lee, so glad the new meds are helping you feel better. Praying for good test results,
Sandra

LeeinLondon said:

Update
First of all, reduced pain and increased stamina. Energy continues to impress!

We had a great meeting with dr. Stan van Uum, endocrinologist. He prescribed Androgel, a testosterone replacement applied to the skin once a day. Simple, does no harm, and results are seen starting in about a week.. I'm so excited, i just can' hide it. I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!

Anyone have experience with androgel? I'll certainly document this new chapter!

Lee

Testosterone and STINTS are IN...
I do the SHOTS of Testosterone Cipronate, not the GEL, but have been told by many the gel works fine. I have been on the T for over two years mow and it is a GODSEND. My ONCO wants me to continue it as it has NO effect on my tumor growth and it makes me happy. Enough said. I know this is a days-old post for now and that you have had some good and bad news since, but I just now saw the question here and wanted to let you know that the GEL and the SHOTS are almost the same in effect-I was offered either. I took the shots after reading-you don't have kids, so you won't be rubbing it off on to your kids. A concern with kids, seriously. Watch Chantal though, if she starts beating you up it may be the gel getting onto he skin! LOL.

All my love as usual, Waiting to hear new news from you two on when you get released and how you are liking the new stint you got!

God Speed
Eric

LeeinLondon said:

The stint and hormone report
Hi Eric;

Well, the gel seems to work fine, I can't say that I attribute any particular sensation to it, I've only been using tfor a a few days. Convenient, that's for sure!

Stent wise, no issue. Been a little hiccupy and heartburny but nothing too nasty. Always sitting up, never reclined too much, first meal was a half can of chef boy R dee pasta.. tasted normal, going to continue to try something different each day. Stent has not brought any pain nor can I feel anything down there. Very much enjoying milk and juice! So soothing.. Speaking of soothing, pain management going well, but I have become quite dim. I wouldn't call it "high", but I'm sure not myself when speaking or trying to figure something out. My voice feels weak but that could be temp from the stent. Many thanks to Dr. Delilah Fortin for her excellent work and for taking the time to answer all my questions before-hand. Dr. Fortin also called in some favours to be able to perform the procedure on friday rather than waiting until monday.

Presuming it's my spine, I walk a little funny now as if I'f l've lost some power to my right leg. Stepped on a hornet in bare feet today and went for a tumble. I believe my James Bond-ish finesse is gone.

Sleep is very erratic, but I with so many meds and the noisy hospital who knows how long until I can schedule some half-decent sleep. Drift off easy during the day too.

SO GOOD TO READ THIS TODAY!!
Lee,
I am so glad to hear the stint is working and doesn't hurt or you can't tell it's there-I had wondered about that myself. Glad the hormone gel seems to be a good thing too. FYI- It DOES take a while to build up a serum level with that stuff. Even with the shots of Testosterone it took seven days to start to be aware at all that I was changing. It is slow to absorb.

I am amazed to hear LEE eating chef-boy-R-dee from a can and drinking. What a JOY to read this morning. I am SO happy for you. I hope it continues to go well.
Sorry to hear about the hornet and tumble, and that your spine is causing you issues.

I am having lower back pain and worse shoulder blade pain, and the pain in my chest is about 5x worse than it had been at the site of the original tumors, before this last week. I have begun taking more medication and not owning it as it causes tension at home, so I have to speak to my hospice nurse this wed. about this before there are bigger problems as we are trying to plan to travel a lot in the next month and that won't be good if I am hurting or can't keep the pain down without feeling guilty for taking more than before, or running out of meds! It seems I get about 4 hours now before I am VERY aware that something is growing inside me. I also notice that getting on TOP of the pain when I have those times that it gets BAD (thankfully still NOT all the time by a long shot) is allot harder now.
Travel is by far the worst on pain. I guess it is stupid to think things aren't going to progress -and not for the better- and begin to hurt worse, especially if I am having mets to bones and/or ribs or so forth. Without MRI's or CT or PETS as an option on hospice I won't really know now. That's scary. Always being in a new place has been rough, too. I am going on and on about me. Oops. I digress...

I'm grateful to know that between you and Chantal that you not only got the procedure done on Friday and didn't have to wait til Monday. I am betting that was a fight and a half. I'm just glad it's done. Going from worry about aspirating on saliva to eating chef boy R dee pasta is a BIG jump and a great one to have! I guess the side-effects of the pain meds are a trade-off. I haven't ever had woozy or 'out of it' side effects from pain medications since diagnosed with cancer, which is much different from having taken pain pills in my past and feeling a euphoria, but I do from the Xanax when I take that, mostly sleepy though.

I am putting in requests with the Big Guy that you continue to recover now, that your pain stays managed, and that you can once again go home and enjoy living and being together with Chantal. THAT is what matters.

I love you and I am proud of you for the courage it took I KNOW to get that stint installed. I wonder if I will need one too at some point.

Keep us posted and get home soon!!

Eric

LeeinLondon said:

oops
perhaps I was unclear.. I was discharged yesterday afternoon! VON nurse just left, vitals good, got my big swollen foot back, but who gives a damn, I feel pretty damn good. I feel pretty surreal, like I'm in a new place, and I feel more in control of everything. I'm very satisfied just sitting in a chair when I can do it pain-free - I just can't express my thanks to the universe for this reprieve.

thanks for the strength from afar Eric. You and the CSN gang really pulled through for me this time!

xooxxoxox from London,

Lee
PS: Hopefully I can start contributing to the board again.. I feel like a lurker!

You must be sooooo relieved!
You must be sooooo relieved! Good for you!