My 20 treatments was over.
Today I see Dr K. Ask me how I was. I say ok. He mention that I should get an MRI. Then probably have some more radiation. I tell him about my bloody nose. He takes a look with a scope. Didn't say it was bad so that was good. When he pulled the scope out there a long booger attached to it, that was amusing.
I got a medical certificate and I was out. See you in 2 weeks. I forgot to ask whether medicare could pay for the MRI. Darn, it's gonna cost me.
On the way home I see my mother at RPH. She didn't look good. I was used to seeing her healthy so seeing her unhealthy was unusual. Her temperature was lower, normal, meaning antibiotic had worked and the infection had been controlled. She mentioned that she was in pain but got a magic button to self administer pain killer. Then the nurse threw us out because it was lunch. Still I didn't feel comfortable seeing her in hospital.
When I got home it was hot, hotter than hell. It was 42 degrees C. Man this was a heat wave. The last few days and the next few days are going to be hot. Please god give me air conditioning.
A few days later I had to go to the social security office to continue my welfare payout. My 3 months medical certificate had expired (this is necessary to avoid looking for work). However I have another cert for another 3 months. I better just look for work I need a heck of a lot of money, by March!
Man I sure made some bad decisions.
Monday, January 18, 2010
shit happens, dinasour shit
Yes it does happen but dinasour size is not what I had expected. In the last 2 months my father in law died, my father had an aneurysm and had a brain operation, my mother is in hospital had a liver abscess and gall bladder inflammation. She was critical the day before and me with my problem. Shit man.
I feel a little disillusioned with doctors, all their training and charges once they work, they get lazy and we have to pay for it, with our lives. When I initially went to the doctor, I got vertigo pills and 'go home'. Twice. My mother got the same treatment, paracetamol and see you next week but 2 days later my sister sent her to emergency and they found that her condition was much more serious. She was critical the next day. Imagine if she was still at home, she may have died. I am starting to hate these general practitioners. It doesn't seem to matter what country, same lazy assholes, complacent at your detriment.
I often wonder whether it would have been better to all have taken illness at the same time rather than one after another. At least it would've have been easier to visit, it would just have been an elevator lift at the hospital :) rather than a long bus or car ride.
When you deal with humans there are no country better than another. I feel justified in having my first operation where I did. My reply was that the operation was in the hands of humans and god guides the hands on the day, not the country.
I feel a little disillusioned with doctors, all their training and charges once they work, they get lazy and we have to pay for it, with our lives. When I initially went to the doctor, I got vertigo pills and 'go home'. Twice. My mother got the same treatment, paracetamol and see you next week but 2 days later my sister sent her to emergency and they found that her condition was much more serious. She was critical the next day. Imagine if she was still at home, she may have died. I am starting to hate these general practitioners. It doesn't seem to matter what country, same lazy assholes, complacent at your detriment.
I often wonder whether it would have been better to all have taken illness at the same time rather than one after another. At least it would've have been easier to visit, it would just have been an elevator lift at the hospital :) rather than a long bus or car ride.
When you deal with humans there are no country better than another. I feel justified in having my first operation where I did. My reply was that the operation was in the hands of humans and god guides the hands on the day, not the country.
nose
Wednesday again.
I see the doc. This time I mention that I had reduced my dexa to 1 pill a day without headaches. She says good, next week go for half. Will try.
I also mention that there was dried blood in my nostrils. She says that the radiation will dry the nostrils. I will get paraffin for it. And how do I apply it. With the finger of course.
I see the doc. This time I mention that I had reduced my dexa to 1 pill a day without headaches. She says good, next week go for half. Will try.
I also mention that there was dried blood in my nostrils. She says that the radiation will dry the nostrils. I will get paraffin for it. And how do I apply it. With the finger of course.
end of days, dexa days
Next wednesday, doctor day.
I see the doctor, mention my ailments, tiredness, fatigue. She said it was normal. What about the moisturiser (sorbelene). I was lazy, better use it, twice a day, otherwise the skin will become a rash and will require antibiotic if left alone. She mention that better to use the moisturiser twice a day before things get complicated. Blah blah so I thought. She does say that it's startng to look red. She must be on weed or something I didn't notice anything.
The dexa will also have to be reduced. The side effects were too many. But I liked the side effects. What can I do. I mention the headache that may happen and she prescribed a morphine like pain killer. As long as there is no pain.
I got home and look in the mirror in the other bathroom. Bam! With the lighting in this room I saw the area around my nose and forehead WAS red and dark. I BETTER make serious attempt using the sorbelene before it becomes bad.
I see the doctor, mention my ailments, tiredness, fatigue. She said it was normal. What about the moisturiser (sorbelene). I was lazy, better use it, twice a day, otherwise the skin will become a rash and will require antibiotic if left alone. She mention that better to use the moisturiser twice a day before things get complicated. Blah blah so I thought. She does say that it's startng to look red. She must be on weed or something I didn't notice anything.
The dexa will also have to be reduced. The side effects were too many. But I liked the side effects. What can I do. I mention the headache that may happen and she prescribed a morphine like pain killer. As long as there is no pain.
I got home and look in the mirror in the other bathroom. Bam! With the lighting in this room I saw the area around my nose and forehead WAS red and dark. I BETTER make serious attempt using the sorbelene before it becomes bad.
Friday, January 15, 2010
laziness
It's Sunday and I was getting a little lazy with the medication. I was starting to skip my midday dexa.
I got a little headache, laying on my back watching tv. This little headache started to grow and grow and didn't go. Next thing I know it was killing me. I was bed bound, for days. No appetite, no relief. Makcik also came to visit. Help put wet towel on my head. It was nice, it helped. Mum was around to help too. The peeled apple helped, I needed to eat but didn't have an appetite for anything.
I still had to go for the treatment though. I just had to suck it in.
Later on wednesday (meet the doctor day) I see Dr Melanie. I mention the headache and she prescribe something for the headache a paracetamol codeine cocktail. It helped and I sure finished it. I was also anxious to know of the biopsy results. The reception said that they were not allow to release that info only the doctor was allow to release it. Funny, the information belongs to me and I cannot read it? Anyways, it was cancer. No doubts about it now, metastasis has occurred.
I new this was a lack of steroids. So I just take the usual 2 and why not 3 while I'm at it. I'm in pain, why not take the extra to reduce the swelling.
End of the week the headache was gone. Thank god for that.
I got a little headache, laying on my back watching tv. This little headache started to grow and grow and didn't go. Next thing I know it was killing me. I was bed bound, for days. No appetite, no relief. Makcik also came to visit. Help put wet towel on my head. It was nice, it helped. Mum was around to help too. The peeled apple helped, I needed to eat but didn't have an appetite for anything.
I still had to go for the treatment though. I just had to suck it in.
Later on wednesday (meet the doctor day) I see Dr Melanie. I mention the headache and she prescribe something for the headache a paracetamol codeine cocktail. It helped and I sure finished it. I was also anxious to know of the biopsy results. The reception said that they were not allow to release that info only the doctor was allow to release it. Funny, the information belongs to me and I cannot read it? Anyways, it was cancer. No doubts about it now, metastasis has occurred.
I new this was a lack of steroids. So I just take the usual 2 and why not 3 while I'm at it. I'm in pain, why not take the extra to reduce the swelling.
End of the week the headache was gone. Thank god for that.
time to glow
This was a while back as I have been a little lazy with the blog.
This is it, radiotherapy treatment number 1. My wife and I took the bus to the hospital. I had an appointment card with a barcode. I scanned it and this registers my arrival at the 'tuart' unit. There are multiple units at the center. I sit a few minutes and then called in. The nurse introduces herself, and as usual I forget 2 minutes later. There seems to be new nurses every few days anyways. Although it would be nice to remember a name or two but this was not to be the case.
I mentioned to the nurse I had some nausea and she gave me an under the tongue pill. She said it was expensive so I was not going to get it...for free or otherwise. Just had to say I was nausious on the day and I would get a pill.I find it hard to believe these pills as if I'm gonna throw (up), throw up.
I lay on the slab, get positioned using the lasers and the mask placed to keep me in place. Then they ran out. I guess it wasn't safe. The machine moves as it shoots radiation at me. Straight through the head. 5 minutes later it was done.
Seems more work to get here than the therapy, getting up, getting ready, travelling just for 5 minutes of therapy. Oh well, better than surgery.
This is it, radiotherapy treatment number 1. My wife and I took the bus to the hospital. I had an appointment card with a barcode. I scanned it and this registers my arrival at the 'tuart' unit. There are multiple units at the center. I sit a few minutes and then called in. The nurse introduces herself, and as usual I forget 2 minutes later. There seems to be new nurses every few days anyways. Although it would be nice to remember a name or two but this was not to be the case.
I mentioned to the nurse I had some nausea and she gave me an under the tongue pill. She said it was expensive so I was not going to get it...for free or otherwise. Just had to say I was nausious on the day and I would get a pill.I find it hard to believe these pills as if I'm gonna throw (up), throw up.
I lay on the slab, get positioned using the lasers and the mask placed to keep me in place. Then they ran out. I guess it wasn't safe. The machine moves as it shoots radiation at me. Straight through the head. 5 minutes later it was done.
Seems more work to get here than the therapy, getting up, getting ready, travelling just for 5 minutes of therapy. Oh well, better than surgery.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
you are what you eat
I had to see the dietition today and I was late, half an hour late. I was walking to the building, notice people walking out. I got to the office and it was empty. I guess diet is not a popular 'ailment'. So the receptionist say wait while I page the doc. So I wait for a while.
Then the doc came, Emily. Funnily I recognized her as one of the person walking out of the building when I was walking in. I guess she wasn't waiting a round for me. Fortunately no-one complained that I was late.
I got weighed, 68.2kg then off to the office.
She asks me what I was eating for a typical day, I say cereals or cheese on toast for breakfast, chicken or fish for lunch and dinner, etc. She explains a balanced which has the the food pyramid.
Then she explains the side effects of the treatment: problems swallowing, dry mouth, fatigue, nausia, hair loss, skin burns, etc. There wasn't much in terms of diet except that if one's mouth becomes dry, suck on ice chips. That's it.
My main concern was whether the radiation therapy would create a nutritional deficiency which will require supplements or a special diet. She says no. However if I happen to loose weight or appetite then it may be a necessity for using (protein) supplements.
Then the doc came, Emily. Funnily I recognized her as one of the person walking out of the building when I was walking in. I guess she wasn't waiting a round for me. Fortunately no-one complained that I was late.
I got weighed, 68.2kg then off to the office.
She asks me what I was eating for a typical day, I say cereals or cheese on toast for breakfast, chicken or fish for lunch and dinner, etc. She explains a balanced which has the the food pyramid.
Then she explains the side effects of the treatment: problems swallowing, dry mouth, fatigue, nausia, hair loss, skin burns, etc. There wasn't much in terms of diet except that if one's mouth becomes dry, suck on ice chips. That's it.
My main concern was whether the radiation therapy would create a nutritional deficiency which will require supplements or a special diet. She says no. However if I happen to loose weight or appetite then it may be a necessity for using (protein) supplements.
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