DH has decided

After the nerve block DH talked to our family doctor. They agreed that a permanent action be taken to make this never no longer function. DH went to bed immediately after his appointment. Depression. It was expected.

We wait until an appointment is set up with the thorastic surgeon and then a date for the surgery.

Please continue to pray for all those who need your prayers.

DH short term memory

After all the things my DH has suffered, now the stomach pain that caused him to loose so much weight because he could not tolerate the stretching of his stomach has caused another symptom. He is having short term memory problems.

I expected muscle loss with the great loss of weight. I never really looked at all the possibilities. Now he has memory problems just like individuals with dementia.

We are on a Ferris wheel and there seems to be no getting off.

Please continue to pray for all families and caregivers of dementia patients. They need every prayer that you can send.

Maybe a final diagnosis

The Spinal Cat Scan showed damage to the nerve at T-10. This nerve radiates around from the spine to the belly button.
We have been to see a spinal specialist. Another MRI and a nerve block are to be scheduled.

Please continue to pray.

I don't like it...my DH weighs less than I do

With all the pain DH is going through he is unable to eat much and when he does there is always something left on the plate.

He has dropped over 50 pounds since October 15, 2010. It is only about 2 pounds per week...but this is not the right way to loose weight. His weight has been in muscles as the fat is all gone.

We are waiting for the doctor to call with an appointment for an MRI and an epidural. If I don't hear in the next 20 minutes I will be calling the doctor myself.

Keep praying. Even when I do not know who is praying for me it comforts me and helps me through the tough times.

Prayer for caregivers, individuals with long term illness and their families and friends.

Results from CT Angiogram

The results showed no problems. Another test with no results down. Another test to go.

The next test is a CAT scan of his spine. Doctor is now looking at the spine and nerves to see if there is something in the spine that is radiating around to the stomach.

DH health is continuing it's downward cycle. Not enough food means not enough protein means the body starts using itself as energy. He is short and long term memory problems but they are not from dementia (in my unprofessional opinion).

We are still praying for a diagnosis.

Please continue all prayers for doctors, nurses, volunteers, caregivers, families and patients with dementia and undiagnosed diseases.

More useless test results

DH got his results from the sonogram and xray. He has fatty liver which is not related to the stomach pain.

Our primary physician has talked to the gastroenterologist and the surgeon and they had suggested a CT Angiogram (Computed Tomography Angiogram). It is a detailed picture of the blood vessels that go the the heart, lung, kidneys among other organs. It is scheduled tomorrow morning.

DH is becoming more and more forgetful. Now the long term as well as the short term memories are not there. I still believe if he was not going through all the pain, tests etc. that this would not be an issue.

Please continue to pray.

Additional Tests

Today DH had a sonogram and xray of the area in his stomach that has the severe pain. They didn't tell him not to eat before the tests so he may have to take them over again.

DH is getting close to giving up. The only thing keeping him on the road to a diagnosis is the knowledge that our GS (grandson) has just lost his Daddy and DH will now really have to be a large part in GS life. DH is the only adult over 21 in GS life. He has no uncles in the vicinity and his only cousin that is old enough to be a mentor is just starting out his adult life with a girl friend. I know that my SNIL (step nephew in law - SIL nephew) is a wonderful adult and will do all he can.

DH is still having moments of short term memory loss. I think it is 90% stress and 9% pain and 1% not listening.

Keep praying for all dementia patients, all hospice patients, doctors, nurses, aides and family, friends and caregivers. They need prayers more than most.

Thank you for all your prayers and the responses I have received from this blog. You will never know how much they mean to me!

From Oncologist to Gastroenterologist

The oncologist confirmed that James does not have cancer! The Good News.

We now are back at the beginning of finding out what else he has. The oncologist is sending us to a gastroentrologist. The GI doctor has ordered 19 blood tests. The results will be available to us at our July 1 appointment.

We are feeling less and less in control of what is happening. DH is getting angry very easily and getting very angry with little cause.

Please pray.

Hemotologist/Oncologist Results

The Monday office visit was a mess. The doctor did not have the right information with him when he entered the exam room and had to go back to his desk.

He had the pathologists report that indicated that this was not cancer. That was the good news. The pathologist also indicated that DH has Unicentric Castleman's Disease. This is rarely cancer. Usually up to 90 percent of patients that have had the single lymph node removed have all their symptoms go away. DH is in the other 10 percent. He is still in pain.

The not so good news is that additional tests are needed. The doctor's staff took a blood draw and scheduled a CAT scan.

The blood results for what ever tests were requested were given over the phone on Thursday. All test results normal.

The CAT scan was last night. We will get the results on Monday.

Wonder what miracle drug the doctor will have on Monday.

Please continue to pray.

Oncologist

Today at 2:15 we see the oncologist. This is where we will get the full possibilities of treatment. Also, I hope a fuller explanation of exactly is going on in DH body and the short and long term expectations.

DH is grumpy today. That does not bod well for the doctor. Hope he has a good sense of timing and goes along with DH and his moods.

I am scared, hopeful and a realist at heart.

Please pray for all dementia and cancer patients. Pray for their caregivers, family and friends as they walk this long trail.

Surgery Results

The results from the May 23rd surgery are in. DH has Castleman's Disease. It is a disease of the lymph nodes. We do not have the exact variety of it. Both have different treatments. Our primary care physician who called with the diagnosis said it was cancer. The is the worse form of Castleman's Disease. DH is beside himself and doesn't know what he is feeling. I am trying to see the best side of things.

I am not a Polyanna by any means, but I try to always see the silver linning.

Please continue to pray for all of use.

I keep seeing what I don't want to see

Recently I have seen symptoms of a return of demetia. Short term memory is sporadic and questions are asked more than twice. Often the answer after the question is answered is okay I remember now. Some times after the question is answered a look of bewilderment crosses DH face and he says he doesn't remember the answer at all.

Please pray for all dementia patients, caregivers and family members.

Unexpected wonderful news

DH shared with me this morning that his blood sugar readings in the morning have stabilized to his normal before he became insulin dependant in early March. WOO HOO!

This is just since the enlarged lymph node has been removed.

I wonder what other wonderful news we will be getting in the new two weeks.

Please pray for good results and continue to pray for all caregivers, families and dementia patients and long term illness patients. Prayers do make our lives easier and sometimes He grants a miracle along the way.

Surgery May 23, 2011

DH had a lymph node removed Monday. What is normally the size of a pea was the size of a walnut. The surgeon removed it totally and it will take two weeks to get the results. DH is in a great deal of pain. I do not know if this is post op pain and the symptom pain that has been getting worse. The surgeon told me that the lymph nodes could very well be the cause of the symptom pain.

Now we wait for the results.

Please keep praying for all dementia patients and their caregivers, family and friends. Pray also for those who are in poor health and for their caregivers, family and friends.

Thank you.

Health issues

DH has been having level 10 pain in his gut. Monday he is scheduled for exploratory surgery. Hope that they find the cause of this pain. It started in October. He has seen a surgeon, gastroentrologist and oncologist. A 2nd surgeon opinion and surgery has been scheduled.

Please pray for DH. He fears the worst.