ohh my....lolol

GIF

I desperately want this tube outta my back, but did not expect all of the complications that could be involved. I had just assumed that this would be a minor surgery, go in snip off the scarred piece of ureter, and reattach it, easy peasy, done deal. I had no idea that a kidney may have to go. I had no idea that nerves would be cut that could make a large "bulge" (DR"S word) on my side. I had no idea that I could be setting myself up for more infections. I think he used the word infection at least six times in less than five minutes. Right now, I'm at a loss as to what I think about going down this road. Have the surgery and hope for the best, or leave the damn tube in my kidney for the rest of my life?????????????????????????

And on top of everything else, my mom has lost her mind. She's been in an assisted living facility for several years, and has been happier than I have ever seen her. She is 84, and I could see her getting a little forgetful, but nothing major. I could hold a conversation with her for an hour, and she seemed fine. My sister would mention that mom was a little argumentative on occasion, but I still saw no BIG RED FLAGS. Anyway, about a month ago, she had a colonoscopy, and the Dr found a polyp which he removed, and a mass that was biopsied, and found to be benign. After the procedure, she became convinced she had cancer, and was going to die in a couple of hours if the mass wasn't removed. And things have just gone downhill from there. My mother is still there, but my mom is gone. She goes from laughing to scared to serious, to paranoid at the drop of a hat. She has ruined two TV remotes by somehow prying buttons loose when she can't get the TV to change channels. She doesn't even know to pick up the phone anymore. The only times I get to talk to her are when my sister happens to be there and answers the phone. Mom still recognizes my voice, but for how long? I don't know. She took twenty minutes yesterday telling my sister about her and Dee making wedding soup. (yes, mom and Dee used to make some killer wedding soup) But halfway through the story, she put a cat in the microwave and killed it, and then threw the dead cat at me for some unknown reason. She keeps taking her oxygen off and has passed out at least one time that I know of due to lack of oxygen. My sister is at her wit's end, and I feel guilty that I'm not there for her to lean on. 

Aw, TeeBub, I am sooooo sorry for what you're going thru & now your Mom too; gawsh darn it, wish things'd get better for you & every1, hang in there buddy.

TBD.......I can't imagine how perplexing all this must be.....and stressful.  I know they say the Lord doesn't give you any more than you can handle.....but He must think you're Superman!  I will pray you come to a decision you can live with (in more ways than one), and that if surgery is the choice.....that things go well with few complications.  Stay positive, and talk it all over with your very knowledgeable wife, get all the facts.....and do what your gut tells you.  It very seldom steers you wrong. 

Thanks Guys!! I'm going to have to ask a few more questions before I decide if I really want/need this surgery. I don't really want to have the tube in my back, and the stent changed out every couple of months for the rest of my life, BUT I'm just not sure if I want to have another year of complications and hospital stays either. Even if I decide to go through with the surgery, my DR said that even though the bladder was removed, and the chemo seems to have done it's job, my DR said that there is still a chance for the cancer to come back. He said that there is about a three year window where it could possible come back. I've got one year down, so have two more years to go before I can be pretty sure I'm in the clear. 

Hey there TBD. Can you get  caregiver that can assist your Mom at least during the day, unless they recommend 24 hr. care?  Because the assisted living community she lives in may not have enough staffing to do that. I am sorry you are going through so much. Take care.

Anybody in the group use Amazon Prime?  I'm thinking about it, mainly for the streaming video & hardcopy books & wondering if it's worth it.

wish I could help you.

's all right, those gifs u post make my day. :-)

They have transferred my mom to a secure (locked down) unit where they can keep an eye on her 24/7. I got to talk to her yesterday, but she got agitated, and gave the phone back to my sister after less than a minute. I told my sister to give her a hug and tell her that I love her. Then I cried.

So sorry about ur mom, teebub,  I went thru it with four parents, its awful, I know.

Well, we all worry about ya; hang in there buddy.

I am sorry to hear the results of the kidney test were inconclusive.  I will pray the CAT comes back with better results.  Is there reason to believe there is cancer anywhere else?  Or is this precautionary?  My best friend here in VA has been battling pancreatic cancer since 1998.  She has had chemo....radiation...and several experimental treatments at several medical centers.  About 4 years ago she developed breast cancer.  Then thyroid cancer.  She's been undergoing a new type of chemo at Johns Hopkins lately, and it seemed to be helping. Now they have found a problem in her right hip.  They did a CAT scan treatment yesterday; we don't know what its results were.  Then they are going to do a biopsy.  I don't want to lose a friend, but I know I've been praying for her for 12 years, and so far it's been working.  But cancer always wins.....eventually.  I am praying for you, as well, TBD.....every day. 

I appreciate all the kind thoughts and words. Yes Karin, the CAT is just precautionary. I have no reason to believe the cancer has come back. When I was first diagnosed, Dee was obviously worried, but I told her that bladder cancer was not going to kill me. Don't know exactly why I am so certain, but I am. I think God wants to test me quite a bit more before it's my time to go. I say test away. I've said it before, and will probably say it many times more, I'm still alive, I'm loved, and I'm in love. Nothing else really matters to tough ol' birds like me.

PS. Got my fingers crossed for your friend Karin!

Me too.

Yes.

Me too. (How you doing, btw, TeeBub? Ok, I hope.)

Still kick in, officer!

Good, kick one for me! :D

Thanks, I needed that! ;-)

Pool pump has had a TINY leak for years, and a couple days ago the motor started making weird noises. Replaced both and upgraded the filter. There goes another butt load of money!

Aw yeah, the "joys" of home ownership. But it's better than being homeless by far.

My stock tank has had a leak for years. Several years it was dry or just a mud hole, then this year the spring started feeding it water again.

Ain't that the truth!!  I sure don't wish to go out on a kale and alfalfa sprouts diet. 

You either like bacon, or you're wrong. 

Anybody heard from LLL lately?  Hope he's okay.

ZZ Top's still here.

Hi Everybody.

I'm fine, just busy doing amateur radio 'thang with the Boy Scouts.

Here's a picture of Boy Scouts smoking their Ham: