Catching a break

LiseA
LiseA Member Posts: 266
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Does not seem like my body plans to let me

grt a break anytime soon!

 

from pneumonia  January, to doctors cancelling surgery date (they couldn't coordinate), one having to be out of town etc, I'm sick again!

 

wondering if it's related to the cancer??  Same pneumonia symptoms,though we caught it early, but I'm on Mucinex, Allegra and ABX.  Flat out in bed.

I did have a few good weeks and was busy doing things I love to do, including attending a rock concert last week. Singer had tongue cancer. Saw him taking break during each song to drink, spray his throat, and maybe even gargle! He was kind of hidden.

Was trying to see how many people had been sick prior to their surgery, and did well.  I really wanted to be in top form!

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    hmmmmmmmm

    LiseA,

    As I see it, the common thread is compromised immunity.  Normally, a healthy person can fight off all these little invaders, but in the case of HPV related cancer (for me), it does not.

    At this point all you can do is take your medications and try to be as healthy as possible and have a lot of good luck on your side.

    Best to you,

    Matt

  • the_wife
    the_wife Member Posts: 184
    #3
    How frustrating!

    How frustrating that must be! Sometimes despite our best efforts, the body just does not do what we want it to do. The HPV virus has taken its hold and the body suffers. In my husband's case, I believe he got cancer due to chronic stress and a comprised immune system. On the outside, he looked like such a healthy, strong, tough guy, but on the inside it became clear that wasn't the case. After his first chemo, he was down for the count. He became so weak - he was delirious, fell down twice, and was severly dehydrated. It was all downhill from there. At one point they didn't think he was going to make it through treatment. So...just trying to say it's very important to start out as healthy as you can be. Hopefully you'll get better soon and your docs will clear you for treatment. 

    Hang in there!

  • the_wife
    the_wife Member Posts: 184
    #4
    oops

    oops...posted twice! Is there anyway to delete this?

  • LiseA
    LiseA Member Posts: 266
    #5
    the_wife said:

    How frustrating!

    How frustrating that must be! Sometimes despite our best efforts, the body just does not do what we want it to do. The HPV virus has taken its hold and the body suffers. In my husband's case, I believe he got cancer due to chronic stress and a comprised immune system. On the outside, he looked like such a healthy, strong, tough guy, but on the inside it became clear that wasn't the case. After his first chemo, he was down for the count. He became so weak - he was delirious, fell down twice, and was severly dehydrated. It was all downhill from there. At one point they didn't think he was going to make it through treatment. So...just trying to say it's very important to start out as healthy as you can be. Hopefully you'll get better soon and your docs will clear you for treatment. 

    Hang in there!

    Thanks. Once I'm around

    Thanks. Once I'm around anyone sick, it's going to hit me hard.

    No idea if this is HPV related.

    The singer was Bruce Dickinson. How he was able to perform and be on world tour, is a mystery to me.

     

     

  • the_wife
    the_wife Member Posts: 184
    #6
    LiseA said:

    Thanks. Once I'm around

    Thanks. Once I'm around anyone sick, it's going to hit me hard.

    No idea if this is HPV related.

    The singer was Bruce Dickinson. How he was able to perform and be on world tour, is a mystery to me.

     

     

    Ok, gotcha. I suppose it

    Ok, gotcha. I suppose it makes no difference - HPV or no HPV. Same difference for all kinds of cancer.

    You might want to ask your doc for a flu shot when you get better (if you haven't already gotten one). And if I were you, I'd stay away from crowds for now and the duration of your treatment if you get sick easily. 

    Yea, it is amazing that any singer could tour soon after treatment, but I suppose that's his livelihood, so..... I've also read about coaches and many other Type A's in the public eye who always say, "I'm going to continue to work and do my job...." but they are under pressure to do that. Personally, I think it's better to take it easy if you can. 

    Get some rest! 

     

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #7
    Sick befor.........

    By the time they find it your whit and red blood count is all messed up and trying to fight it.

    I was a gray blue color and coughing up blood daily for about 5 months and the last month it was very scarry as it was no longer traces, but 15 to 30 milliliters. Even took photo so my doctor could see what I was saying. Also had pain in my left ear that would come and go. It would bring tears to my eyes, and very painfull for several months. I had to stop working once they found it. I worked in a food prossing and could not be there with what was going on.

    Hope this helps.

    Bill

  • LiseA
    LiseA Member Posts: 266
    #8
    wmc said:

    Sick befor.........

    By the time they find it your whit and red blood count is all messed up and trying to fight it.

    I was a gray blue color and coughing up blood daily for about 5 months and the last month it was very scarry as it was no longer traces, but 15 to 30 milliliters. Even took photo so my doctor could see what I was saying. Also had pain in my left ear that would come and go. It would bring tears to my eyes, and very painfull for several months. I had to stop working once they found it. I worked in a food prossing and could not be there with what was going on.

    Hope this helps.

    Bill

    I did get the flu shot in

    I did get the flu shot in October. You're probably right. I'll have to hibernate until the surgery, which is now slated for the 28th.

    i actually felt so well for a couple weeks. 

     

  • LiseA
    LiseA Member Posts: 266
    #9
    LiseA said:

    I did get the flu shot in

    I did get the flu shot in October. You're probably right. I'll have to hibernate until the surgery, which is now slated for the 28th.

    i actually felt so well for a couple weeks. 

     

    My bronchitis was actually

    My bronchitis was actually another bout of pneumonia, but compared to the one in january, this was less exhausting.  Two weeks of being almost bedridden with this crap, but I'm up and running (walking actually, 3 miles daily for the past week), and it's getting easier to breathe!

    We are leaving for Houston on 23rd for two days of pre ops. They want me to see a pulmonary specialist, which makes sense.

    I woke up Tuesday and decided no matter what, I AM GOING TO HOUSTON! Let them decide if I'm ready for surfery.

    I also decided that it can't be worse than the pneumonia I've had from July to now. Three times in less than a year! Arghhhhh

     

    and I'm not afraid anymore. If anything, I'm ready for the fight.  Will keep in touch and add whatever info I need to, after surgery.  I'm in a kick arse mood. Hope it's okay to say that, lol. Somehow kick butt doesn't reflect My true sentiment. 

     

     

  • swopoe
    swopoe Member Posts: 492
    #10
    LiseA said:

    My bronchitis was actually

    My bronchitis was actually another bout of pneumonia, but compared to the one in january, this was less exhausting.  Two weeks of being almost bedridden with this crap, but I'm up and running (walking actually, 3 miles daily for the past week), and it's getting easier to breathe!

    We are leaving for Houston on 23rd for two days of pre ops. They want me to see a pulmonary specialist, which makes sense.

    I woke up Tuesday and decided no matter what, I AM GOING TO HOUSTON! Let them decide if I'm ready for surfery.

    I also decided that it can't be worse than the pneumonia I've had from July to now. Three times in less than a year! Arghhhhh

     

    and I'm not afraid anymore. If anything, I'm ready for the fight.  Will keep in touch and add whatever info I need to, after surgery.  I'm in a kick arse mood. Hope it's okay to say that, lol. Somehow kick butt doesn't reflect My true sentiment. 

     

     

    You have a good attitude,

    You have a good attitude, LiseA. You need to be ready for the fight! I live in Houston, so please don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything at all while you are here. Best of luck to you and safe travels.

  • the_wife
    the_wife Member Posts: 184
    #11
    LiseA said:

    My bronchitis was actually

    My bronchitis was actually another bout of pneumonia, but compared to the one in january, this was less exhausting.  Two weeks of being almost bedridden with this crap, but I'm up and running (walking actually, 3 miles daily for the past week), and it's getting easier to breathe!

    We are leaving for Houston on 23rd for two days of pre ops. They want me to see a pulmonary specialist, which makes sense.

    I woke up Tuesday and decided no matter what, I AM GOING TO HOUSTON! Let them decide if I'm ready for surfery.

    I also decided that it can't be worse than the pneumonia I've had from July to now. Three times in less than a year! Arghhhhh

     

    and I'm not afraid anymore. If anything, I'm ready for the fight.  Will keep in touch and add whatever info I need to, after surgery.  I'm in a kick arse mood. Hope it's okay to say that, lol. Somehow kick butt doesn't reflect My true sentiment. 

     

     

    Wow - walking 3 miles a day -

    Wow - walking 3 miles a day - that's awesome! You go, girl!!!!!!!

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #12
    Hi Lise

    I don’t remember getting sick during treatment but I live way down in the south. I can’t stand the cold weather as all I have is skin on bones and no fat to help keep me warm. Every now and then I get a touch of pneumonia, I can feel it and hear it in my lungs, but it is nothing as bad as the first time 4 years ago that had me 2 weeks in the hospital. I don’t eat or drink anything by mouth, but still at night while sleeping saliva and mucus gets into the lungs somehow and I wake up hurting. Not much I can do but learn how to live with it and what to do when it starts.

     

    Tim     

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