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Waiting for Brain CT results
Well, Mama is home and in full swing. We are waiting for the CT results and I am trying to take my own advice taht I just gave Mark about not worrying…yet. What was I talking about….I’m worried. We just haven’t gotten good news one single time since this all started. The scan was Monday, so we are thinking maybe tomorrow. However the doc gave us zilch info. No idea when scans would be ready, no idea if she should get blood rechecked for low sodium, no idea if there are things to watch for. You can probably tell that I am frustrated with him, but Mama is all smiles.
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12 Replies
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I guess looking back to yesterday, I might as well laugh rather than cry. I had a long talk with Mama (who is going to do as she pleases), but she promised she would try and use better judgement. Yeah right!! As for the paramedics, my sister-in-law was there and she said they never even offered totake vitals (of course I’m not sure why she didn’t ask THEM). Anyway, we put in a call to the superiors about that because we are sure that this is not the last time we need their assistance. So….we will just wait and see I guess.
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Dear Julie,
Congrats on the clear brain scan….
Your mum certainly is a lady with character…..just out of hospital and then busy helping plant 500 or more tomato plants. It is fantastic that she continues to live and resume her daily routine of maintaining the farm.
Obviously she should be more careful for a few days until she finds her feet again and I guess everyone around her should keep a close eye on her.
It is shocking that the paramedics did not perform the basic checks….my intuition tells me your mum refused any further help which seems to be a pattern for your mum.
I hope she takes good advise regarding her diet….eating lots of veggies and fruit is great but she certainly needs to know what vitamins and nutrients she is missing with this diet to be able to supplement it.
Juile…I wish you all well and hope that the tomato planting goes well :)
Leigh
Leigh, 39
Dx July 2007
TURBT July 2007
RC/Neobladder ,Studer Pouch, September 2007
Erasmus Centrum Rotterdam
TNM Classification: pT4 N2 Mo
4 cycles aduvant chemo Gemzar & Cisplatinum
Julieann, I keep asking about the possibility of brain mets and the oncologist keeps telling us that it is very rare but he did order a brain scan which was clear. It’s just that lung cancer goes to the brain and he had he tumor in his lung. I think the more likely places are lymph nodes, liver, and bones, no mets would be best.
If it were me I would ask Mom “What were you thinking?” As for the paramedics did your Mother refuse to have her blood pressure taken. That’s about the only reason I can think of why they didn’t check her vitals.
You can’t be around for everything and you need to trust that your Mother will take care of herself when left alone. If she can’t manage then your family will need to do some problem solving on how to make sure she will eat appropriately and not overdo.
It’s hard when a person is used to being able to work hard and all of a sudden there body won’t let them. It takes some time to adjust. I find part of my job is to give reminders and I have to find a way that doesn’t come across as orders or nagging. Not always easy as the recipient can be very irritable when in pain. Julie B
Volunteer Coordinator
ABLSCI don’t know Julieann…just be prepared for it to happen all over again if she’s not listening to the dietician and resuming her fruit and veggie and water diet..plus getting dehydrated in the 84 degree heat. She’s making her choices and obviously not as concerned as you are.
AS far as blood pressure…mine is usually around 90/60…..but i really can’t imagine that the paramedics did not even take her blood pressure? I would think that would be standard?
PatJulianne,
Your right , she used poor judgement, she need to be out of the sun and defineately not working in it. At least for a while..she is determined isn’t she.
Good news on the brain scan, any news on getting other scans to see where she is at with the metastisis..??? Ginger
I’m not sure if I have good news or bad news. Brain scan was clear….great news really. However, Mama decided to go to the garden today (keep in mind that we live on a farm and truck farm) to help my dad and brother plant tomato plants. I don’t mean 5 or 6 plants. I mean 500 or more plants. Long story short, she passed out. My sister in law called 911. Paramedics came. They helped her in the house….how sweet. That’s all they did. They didn’t check her blood pressure or pulse….nothing. My sister in law went and got a cuff and her top number was under 100. I’m not even sure who I’m mad at or why, but I am LIVID. I guess I’m mad at the paramedics because they did NOTHING. I’m mad at the doctor because….I just am! I’m upset with Mama because she didn’t use very good judgement. Now, I know that she can’t just sit in the house all day, but come on, she just got out of the hospital with the sodium thing, she hasn’t changed her diet, and it is 84 degrees today. Any input on who I should chew out first? I’m joking sort of.
Julieann — I don’t know (or remember) where you are, but I do think the results
should be available soon. I’ve had two (clear!!!) brain scans since December and
I got the results within 48 hours at the small hospital and within 24 hours at the Cancer center. I agree that calling and inquiring about results can help. Last time I had scans (not brain), the doctor let me pick up the report even before he went over it with me. — in haste — SusanJulieann….great that mom is home…did she take to heart what the nutritionest said about diet and drowning herself with too much water??……Yep i would call the hospital that did the CT and ask if the scan has been read and given to your doctor…or go pick up the results if they are read…with the new laws you have to sign for them now with medical records ..its a pain…it used to be so easy. I’ve always picked up my scans the day after .. they just run them off of the computer..but with the new HIPPA laws you can still get them..it just takes more paperwork….leave it to the government…i feel so protected!!! Pat
Dear Julie,
You may not of had the scan yourself but I know that as a wonderful caregiver that you are; you are living all your mum’s test’s with her.
I so wish I could say that it is true that brain mets are not very common but unfortunately the brain is one of the possible mets from bladder cancer. As far as I am aware bladder cancer metastasis can affect the bone,liver,lungs and brain.
Julie I am not sure of the statistics on this however although I am sure our wonderful well informed forum members will add a comment shortly.
I had a CT scan of the brain in January 2007 beacuse I was having severe headaches and dizzy spells…luckilly it was clear and stress related. I so wish the same for your mum for a positive outcome.
Julie take good care of yourself too :) thinking of you and your mum…
Leigh
Leigh, 39
Dx July 2007
TURBT July 2007
RC/Neobladder ,Studer Pouch, September 2007
Erasmus Centrum Rotterdam
TNM Classification: pT4 N2 Mo
4 cycles aduvant chemo Gemzar & Cisplatinum
Thanks Leigh! i always love to hear from you! By the way…great news for you! I’m so glad! We only had a brain CT. (Just realized that I wrote “we”….I had nothing! :) Am I right that it is not very common for bladder cancer to met to the brain? Maybe I made that up to make myself feel better.
Dear Julie,
I am glad your mum is home and is all smiles….nothing like home right!!
Sending you and your mum good wishes for a positive scan result…
Leigh
Leigh, 39
Dx July 2007
TURBT July 2007
RC/Neobladder ,Studer Pouch, September 2007
Erasmus Centrum Rotterdam
TNM Classification: pT4 N2 Mo
4 cycles aduvant chemo Gemzar & CisplatinumSo Julieanne, she had a brain ct, and other scans as well?? Well I would be a real pain in the butt and call for results everyday, sometimes you have too. Ginger
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