Re: Fran's Update

[Guest guest]

Fran, Thank you for taking the time to update us. I know this is a

very busy time for you taking care of all you have to take care of.

It will stay that way for a while. Hopefully he will get stronger

each day. Yes, it will be dificult to keep reminding him to take it

easy. It is natural to think you are stronger then you really are.

The mind will do that to you. The healing process is slow.

I am Praying that you get the best in the chemo regiments that are

out there. Please when you have time post again and let us know how

all is going. In the mean time I will be sending Prayers your way.

Ingrid

>

> Hi Everyone,

> First I wish to apologise to Ingrid and Averi for not managing to

> post my replies to their messages when I joined a couple of weeks

> ago. Unfortunately I took too long and the page expired as I had to

> attend to children and phone calls. I haven't had any time since to

> read or participate here and this may not change for a while. So I

> just want to squeeze in a quick update on my husband's progress.

>

> As I mentioned before the surgery went very well on the Wednesday

> 12th October and he came home on the 16th! It has been his

challenge

> to learn to take it easy and let himself heal, although he doesn't

> get this right everyday. I am feeling a bit like a policewoman when

> it comes to restraining him lifting things etc. Everything seems in

> working order regarding his appetite and his bowels although he was

> a little constipated on first getting home from th hospital. We are

> still learning the best balance for his diet at the moment.

>

> We thought we would have a long wait for the results from the

> surgery but we heard on Wednesday this week. Of the 19 lymph nodes

> removed 6 proved cancerous. We were very disappointed but not

> terribly surprised that he is a Dukes Stage C. We see the

Oncologist

> this coming Wednesday to see what will be offered in the way of

> chemotherapy. This is an area we both feel very ignorant about so

we

> are hoping that he will be offered the best treatment. His care is

> currently all with the National Health Service as we do not have

any

> private health insurance.

>

> Sorry that I do not have time to write more. You are often in my

> thoughts and I wish peace and strength to you all.

> Warmest,

> Fran

>

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Glad to hear your husband is recovering so quickly, did he have

keyhole surgery?

>

> where abouts are you located in the UK, do you have far to go for

treatment?

>

> Chris

>

Hi

Thank you for the reply. No, it was not keyhole but conventional

surgery;he has a 10inch scar just below the umbilicus as two re-

sections had to be done, one on each side. However, he was on an

Enhanced Recovery Programme whereby he had to take special nutrient

drinks several days before the surgery and he continues on them now.

He was encouraged to exercise up until the surgery day and with the

help of morphine to be up and about and eating normally the

following day. I don't know if this is just a British scheme or not.

We live in the SouthWest of England and have about an hour to travel

to the hospital.

Warmest,

Fran

[Guest guest]

No, it was not keyhole but conventional

> surgery;he has a 10inch scar just below the umbilicus as two re-

> sections had to be done, one on each side. However, he was on an

> Enhanced Recovery Programme whereby he had to take special nutrient

> drinks several days before the surgery and he continues on them now.

> He was encouraged to exercise up until the surgery day and with the

> help of morphine to be up and about and eating normally the

> following day. I don't know if this is just a British scheme or not.

> We live in the SouthWest of England and have about an hour to travel

> to the hospital.

Fran, with several people waiting for surgery I am sure they would

benefit from more info regarding the enhanced recovery programme and

also the name of the special nutrient drinks.

Chris

[Guest guest]

Many thanks for your thoughts and prayers Ingrid. Yes, I do intend

to stick at being the balancing force to his eagerness to get back

to normal. Fortunately, he often finds my efforts quite hilarious!

We are talking tiny woman versus 6 foot man here!

Warmest thoughts,

Fran

> >

> > Hi Everyone,

> > First I wish to apologise to Ingrid and Averi for not managing

to

> > post my replies to their messages when I joined a couple of

weeks

> > ago. Unfortunately I took too long and the page expired as I had

to

> > attend to children and phone calls. I haven't had any time since

to

> > read or participate here and this may not change for a while. So

I

> > just want to squeeze in a quick update on my husband's progress.

> >

> > As I mentioned before the surgery went very well on the

Wednesday

> > 12th October and he came home on the 16th! It has been his

> challenge

> > to learn to take it easy and let himself heal, although he

doesn't

> > get this right everyday. I am feeling a bit like a policewoman

when

> > it comes to restraining him lifting things etc. Everything seems

in

> > working order regarding his appetite and his bowels although he

was

> > a little constipated on first getting home from th hospital. We

are

> > still learning the best balance for his diet at the moment.

> >

> > We thought we would have a long wait for the results from the

> > surgery but we heard on Wednesday this week. Of the 19 lymph

nodes

> > removed 6 proved cancerous. We were very disappointed but not

> > terribly surprised that he is a Dukes Stage C. We see the

> Oncologist

> > this coming Wednesday to see what will be offered in the way of

> > chemotherapy. This is an area we both feel very ignorant about

so

> we

> > are hoping that he will be offered the best treatment. His care

is

> > currently all with the National Health Service as we do not have

> any

> > private health insurance.

> >

> > Sorry that I do not have time to write more. You are often in my

> > thoughts and I wish peace and strength to you all.

> > Warmest,

> > Fran

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Good to hear from you Fran. you have been busy. It takes time to

heal.. year

> ago I came home from hospital on same day as your hubby did.

>

> I was waddling very tenderly LOL. First weekend of Nov. was In

Austin, Texas

> for Celtic Festival. Worked pretty much most of the day at the

Gate. At

> least I didn't

>

> Have to stand etc. Sunday worked at back gate, and stood quite a

bit of the

> time. But was fine as long as I didn't have to move. But I sure

did enjoy

> myself. This year will be so much better as I feel just

wonderful.. Anyway

> never mind about me.

On the contrary Jolene I am so glad to hear about how other people

get on and I wish you joy at the festival if you are attending this

year.

>

> I hope that your hubby continues to feel better .. I am still

dealing with

> constipation and I hate taking pills for it. Right now I am

munching on a

> few dried pitted prunes.. Not too many per day. It will help get

things

> going eventually.

Have you tried those big juicy Medjool dates for an alternative?

They are rather more delicious than prunes and slightly gentler in

effect.

Hope his appetite continues to be good. Is important

> during chemo. I had better appetite than I do now. I still eat

though, and

> now when I should lose weight I can't or I am not eating right -

which I am

> sure is the reason.

This must be really difficult wanting to eat the " right " things but

not feeling like it. I have read recently that it is a good idea to

drink freshly made juices such as carrot and apple for the first

couple of days after the chemo. Anyone tried this?

>

> I am not familiar with the stage your husband is in. I was

diagnosed in

> Stage IIIc (3C) with 7 of 12 lymph showing cancer. I completed my

chemo in

> July.. Can't even remember for sure now. Where are you located?

I assume

> it is not the US. It has been interesting how different countries

have

> pretty much same methods of treatment etc . Keeping you and hubby

in my

> prayers. Jolene

Thanks Jolene, we are in the SouthWest of England, setting off point

of the Pilgrim Fathers.

From what I can gather from the Internet, Dukes Stage C equates to a

Stage III but when we see the Oncologist I hope to get a more

accurate description.

Warmest thoughts,

Fran

[Guest guest]

Oh thanks for the tip on dates Fran, I do love them - sure beats eating

prunes. They made themselves known last night before went to bed. LOL

Aha now I know general area where you are. Daughter Laurie's hubby is from

Leceister. They met three years ago during Christmas holidays on the

internet anby March of the next year they were married. Surprised all of us.

They do quite well. He is a multi-talented man - was a cabinet maker by

trade but also did web design - and now works for the bat organization based

in Austin Texas. batcon.org Right now he is building a plane, and has been

taking flying lessons - recently soloed. Is a self taught piano player -

plays with all the frills etc.. Quite nice. His mum loves to hear him play.

Anyway I am really amazed that they are still married LOL.. This is third

for her and I don't think he was ever married but had two previous

relationships which resulted in 3 children. He is about to become a granpa

as well.. OOPs didn't mean to carry on so. I have some kitchen chores to get

busy with. Good to hear from you.. Hugs Jolene

_____