Another scare!

I feel like we are getting really paranoid. With all that is going on with Thomas, we are so ready to read every ache or pain as "something" wrong.

For the last three weeks or more, Earl has been experiencing "back pain", mostly at night. I have been finding him sitting up on the side of the bed at all hours just about every night. He comments that his back is hurting and he has taken Tylenol. The pain would ease off after a little while and he would go back to sleep.

He has been told that if the pancreatic cancer came back he would likely begin having sharp, shooting pains in his back. What he has been experiencing were not sharp or shooting, but definitely pain. It is located just below the center of his back. Not really in his spine, but "inside" he said. We haven't been able to understand why only at night. When it first started, he thought it might be weak back from sitting so much the last few months. I thought it was too high up on his back and had asked him if it might be a kidney infection.

He had some pain during the day yesterday. Last night was really a bad night. Over about six hours he took just about every pain med he could find and nothing helped. He took five or six different pain pills. He has quite a supply he has accumulated over the past year! He tried them all! He said nothing helped. I'm surprised he didn't OD. I couldn't believe it when he rattled off all he had taken!!

Finally, early this morning he went to the bathroom and said the pain eased off afterward. So, he thinks he may have a kidney stone on the move. No pain during today. I just went in to check on him (2 a.m.) and he is sitting on the side of the bed again. Said the pain is not anywhere near as bad as last night. A Tylenol is helping tonight, so hope he will be able to get some rest tonight. 2:15 a.m. and he has laid down.

Many years ago, he had a kidney stone that started moving the day before Thanksgiving and he finally passed it the day before Christmas. What a month!

I would really hate for Earl to have a kidney stone, but would sure rather it be that than cancer.
Please pray for Earl to get some relief from this pain. I hope he will go back to the doctor and see if they can do x-ray or whatever to look for the cause of this pain. Recent scans did not show anything, but I don't know if they were even looking for something like a kidney stone. They were concerned about the bladder problems then.

My nap earlier tonight is wearing off.... guess I need to get to bed as tomorrow is another work day!

The Doctor called....

The Doctor himself called Earl saying "I've got good news!" Kinda scared Earl at first that the Doctor actually called. But, everything tested "No cancer", just some kind of infection, apparently related someway to the chemo and/or radiation.

Earl is on his third round of antibiotics. Guess we'll see how it goes. The urologist has turned Earl back over to the Primary Care doctor for follow-up.

Guess we can quit worrying for a while. At least, until the next scan.

Earl is to return to Philadelphia on June 18th for his one year check-up. He reminded me last night that June 4th is anniversary of his surgery. (I already remembered or had not forgotten.... that date will stick with me for a long time!)

Now, if Earl can just make it thru this second year the Philly doctors will be happier and we'll rest easier, too.

Test results, another procedure

Scope of Earl's bladder this week revealed two places. One is a red almost star shape place and the other is a polyp type protrusion.

The doctor has scheduled a biopsy to be done in out-patient surgery on May 13th. Tests on the biopsy will tell what type of infection it is. Doctor is assuming it is an infection, since prior urine tests have not indicated cancer.

We hope and pray that this is just a severe infection and the biopsy will help the doctor prescribe the proper antibiotic to clear it up.

Lillian

This month.... another concern

Earl has been to several doctors in the past month. His problem is blood in his urine. About a month ago, his urine was very red for about two days. By the time he could get in to see a doctor, it had cleared up as far as he could tell, but analysis still detected blood being present.

He has gone thru two rounds of antibiotics, which has not stopped or cleared up the problem. The urologist will do a scope of his bladder in about a week to try to find the problem. Recent scans have not picked up any cancer. Dr. says he sees this often after people have had radiation.
Last night, Earl complained about his lower back hurting. We hope that is just weak muscles from sitting so many long hours during tax season. I know Earl is probably getting a bit paranoid because of what is happening with Thomas (Melanoma). Every little ache and pain becomes a big fear that something might be going wrong.

Please pray that these things will not turn out to be a serious problem and that they can be managed in some way.