Finally Finished Last Treatment

At 2:30 today, finished my 30th and final hyperbaric treatment at GHS.  Was beginning to think the end would never come, and it almost didn't today.

Almost called them today to cancel the session.  Both my daughter and I had upset stomachs (me - severe cramps and back aches as well) after we ate out last night.  We ate two entirely different meals, yet both came down sick.

Went to clinic, and as usual, they took my temp, it was 99.9 F.  They were calling it a low grade fever, and at first, were going to abort the treatment and told me to come back Monday.  No way, I said.  Didn't want the thought of delaying that last treatment, and insisted.

They gave in, about halfway through it, became even more cramped up and nauseated, so they said that if you complete at least one hour under pressure with the oxygen, they can call it a "full treatment".  I tried to tough it out past the half-way mark, but finally consented to end the session.

Was I ever glad, took two of them to help me off the table. They really did offer me the helmet I had used, but I politely turned it down.

In turn, I had brought them a tray of cookies from a bakery along with a thank-you card.  They were shocked, and said they couldn't remember when a patient had ever done that for them.  Also agreed to give them a really good patient survey to the hospital.

After a round of hugs and kisses, we parted company.  Didn't have my walker today, only cane, as I was in a different car, so made for a long wobbly walk back to my car.

I figured I had spent nearly 80 hours total in the chamber, way longer than either of my two major radiation events.  Hopefully I will never have to use hyperbaric chambers again.  The total cost to the VA was above 60K for the 30 treatments, of which I owed zero.  Thankful for that.

Whether these treatments helped me, or even did some good, I may never know, as its all internal.  Nothing to see.  The side effects I felt, were much worsening fatigue (on top of what I already live with), some vision issues which should quickly clear up, and low level nausea at times along with stomach aches from the pressure.

My thanks to those of you, that stayed with me through this particular journey.  So very glad to be over with it.

David

Glad you've got through that ordeal.

Still praying for you,
Andrew

So very glad you made it through all those!
But, I was getting worried about you not posting...continued prayers...

Getting old is not for sissys!

same here 81GY....I was handed a diploma ...almost looked similar to a certificate of achievement the Army gives out....and was signed by all in the office....I also got a bag of candy and treats to go with it....in the beginning....they gave me a nice aluminum water bottle with a PC ribbon on it...and said as long as I filled it and drank it all withing 1 hour of radiation.....my bladder would be just about right for continuing.....it wasn't a cheapy either....probably a 30 dollar bottle.

Hurray! May the Chamber of Horrors help others but never again darken your door!

Congratulations on completing those sessions !
I will also be praying that your body benefits.

Hope you & your daughter recover quickly & are able to enjoy your time together.

Thanks, Alf, and other nice posters. So glad to be done with that.
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Now been dealing with another aggravating issue. Very constipated, most unusual for me, even being on the opiates for so long Never normally an issue. Believe I am "impacted", if you know what that means, and it can be gross to deal with.

Have used MOM, suppositories, prune juice, apple juice, nothing seems to be helping. Did some self removal, but almost passed out from the pain and awkwardness of the situation.

Daughter had to leave days earlier due to her husband's schedule, they left here about 4 hours ago to Charleston, so I will be all alone between now and Wednesday evening when my wife returns from CA.

I went out and bought some enema kits from CVS, and been reading on line on how to do one by myself, never did that before.

Considering how little I am eating, surprised I even have the problem. I was literally up the entire night last night, never once could sleep. Was cramped up so bad, and made so many false trips to the crapper, totally drained me. Was afraid if I did go to sleep, would wake up to a horrible mess, so that thought didn't help me.

I swear (really shouldn't swear), that what else is going to happen to make my life any more miserable than it has been? It's just one disaster after the next. I never ever get a break from one thing, then something else starts up.

On top of this, last Thursday (believe that was the correct date, or could have been Wed) my mother, while sneaking a smoke at our house, went out on a very wet back deck, and fell. Hit her head bad, tore up her leg, and the broke her right shoulder. I was on my way to treatment, but my wife insisted there was nothing I could do, so to keep going to the treatment.

Since my mother got home, she fell once more off the sofa, but didn't get hurt much. And then yesterday, while my daughter and I were at the Euro Fest 2014 Auto Show, fell again from her bed, right on top of her broken shoulder.

My brother has had enough and she is being admitted to an assisted care facility that's only about 1/2 mile from where I live. We have tried to get her into such a place for years, but she has refused. Now she realizes that she can not take care of herself with the broken shoulder, so she has consented, at least for now. She just turned 87 a week or so again.

Just so much going on. Not enough of me to go around. Should be over there this evening seeing if she needs help, but I have all these other issues going on, so I will see if I can get some relief and sleep this evening, and perhaps make a trip there tomorrow for her. I hope.

So please, keep the prayers and well wishing coming my way, I am reaching the end of my proverbial rope, and being here totally alone now, doesn't help my mood or fears.

David

David- as you have told me many times- IT IS OK TO VENT HERE! I'm so sorry that life just won't give you a break right now.
Though it was a hard way for it to happen, I know you and your brother are glad your mom is now in a safer place. I know my sister and I were glad when our mom agreed after her major surgery. She may now be able to go back to the apartment, but has agreed to have a home care 'companion' at least part of the time.

My prayers for you continue. I'm asking yours for my hubby. He had some abnormal results on some 'regular' blood work and has to have a liver ultrasound tomorrow. You know me- I'm thinking about liver mets and after some research on line, bone mets. Hope it's neither. But I'd rather know more and be prepared for the worst, and then be happy when it's not so bad.

David:

It's okay to vent away here you KNOW that. We all do it and it's normal to be worried, scared, and upset. You've got a lot going on and I know you're very worried about your Mother. Now, I want you to take a deep breath and try to relax.

As your pain buddy, you're not alone my friend. When you get up and moving in the morning you're more than welcome to call me. I'm home all morning tomorrow and will be around later in the morning on Tuesday after pulmonary rehab. I've told you that you can call me at anytime.

Being impacted is NO FUN at all. I know it's painful to get rid of the impaction. Especially, when you try to remove it yourself. I hope that you've had success with your enema's by now. If you haven't I'd suggest you get a hold of your oncologist or PCM and see if one of them can get you in and let them get your impaction taken care of. I normally take mirlax when I have constipation issues, but it can take a day or two before it kicks in really well. If you take it twice a day you should have results withing 48 hours.

I hope that things begin to move rather quickly and you're able to go and be able to go and see your Mother today. I'll be keeping you in my prayers and hang in there David, I understand I truly do. Call me in the morning if you need to. I hope you've gone and are sleeping by now. Will check in the morning to see how things are.

Jigs
Barbara

Purg:
For the constipation, best thing I've ever seen for it is the clear magnesium citrate drink you can get at the pharmacy. Might want to check with the pharmacist first, but this stuff is almost guaranteed to clear you out.
Congrats on finishing the treatments, hope the jaw is healing nicely.

barb, thanks a heap. alf, that was a good one about "vent", liked that. thanks Gibson. lynn - hope your MIL does ok recovering as well. forgot about the chat feature, I was on it for years, but kind of faded away after getting slammed by a certain person every time I would go there, so I stopped coming. may look into it again.
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Did manage to make up some of that sleep, after being awake for over 36 hours. No longer as backed up feeling as I was yesterday. Drank some lovely warm prune juice (yuck) with one of those daily laxative powders mixed into it, plus I do take the stool softeners daily. Also going to increase my water intake a lot, I do believe I was becoming very dehydrated. Going to track what I drink, and going for at least 64 hours of just water per day, plus whatever else I may drink along the way.

Hoping all of this will help me in the long run to get back to "regular". I was on the floor out of my mind in pain and tears several times yesterday trying to get unblocked, that's a whole different kind of pain and panic to deal with, and being alone at the time, didn't help. But I made it.

Thanks to all of you here too.

David

thanks tim, right now I am trying everything, and really increasing my fluid intake. starting to track water input, so far today, I have managed over 50 oz. and its only 630 pm.