Hi all,
Updates on how Mum is going is now on facebook only:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/112497678920723/113618762141948/?notif_t=like
Thanks
Ian
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
25 April 2013 Update 2
I have just had an update from Mum's nurse and she has continued pain the the arm and swelling which revealed a collection of blood around the area of the surgery (haematoma). They have attached a pump to the arm to drain this and applied a new dressing. The pain team are going to come by again to attempt to get Mum more comfortable.
She is in and out of consciousness at the moment with the pain medication and can hold conversations but will fall asleep intermittently.
25 April 2013 update
Mum had a bit if a restless night last night. I got a call at 1.30 to consent to mum being given blood to improve her blood counts. That improved her awareness and comfort. She is doing better and talking more coherently. She's getting spruced up now an will have a nap.
24 April 2013 update
Mum is out of surgery and they were happy with how it went. Unfortunately mum didn't have a great night as she was in a lot of pain. They are finding it hard to get it under control and are sending in someone from the pain management team to see what they can do, which is probably switching to a stronger drug (probably heroin or something).
I spoke to her this morning and she was groggy but talking. She hasn't slept much and mentioned the pain. X-rays will be taken this morning to look at the area as a standard post op exercise.
Now the focus is recovery an rehabilitation. The hard bit is going to be working out what she can and can't do in day to day life and therefore if she can go home. This is going to be tough for mum if she can't be let home.
Immediate family can call her. She's in Ward 2B but I'm sure the hospital switchboard will put you right through to her bed.
Update:
Mum is doing better. The pain team have been around and they added some additional pain killers. She is very spaced out at the moment as a result but is otherwise doing well.
I spoke to her this morning and she was groggy but talking. She hasn't slept much and mentioned the pain. X-rays will be taken this morning to look at the area as a standard post op exercise.
Now the focus is recovery an rehabilitation. The hard bit is going to be working out what she can and can't do in day to day life and therefore if she can go home. This is going to be tough for mum if she can't be let home.
Immediate family can call her. She's in Ward 2B but I'm sure the hospital switchboard will put you right through to her bed.
Update:
Mum is doing better. The pain team have been around and they added some additional pain killers. She is very spaced out at the moment as a result but is otherwise doing well.
23 April 2013 update
Mum's back from CT/MRI and is a little perkier. I spoke to her nurse who said they are really confident she would go into surgery tonight. If that happens they will call me but she will come out of post op and be drugged up for a good night's rest.
I spoke to a cancer (hematology) doctor who advised today's CT was for the skull tumor (checking her progress post radiotherapy) and the MRI was for the rest of the body to look for other possible tumors. The results are expected tomorrow or Friday. This will show if any other bones are impacted and require treatment (such as radio therapy which is very effective at stopping the tumors growing). They are going to contact me so I can be there for the results.
Her pain I pretty good although I did have to remind her to ask for pain meds. She has a comfortable position she has worked out on the bed. She also dozes off a lot so she is comfortable considering she has a broken arm.
I spoke to a cancer (hematology) doctor who advised today's CT was for the skull tumor (checking her progress post radiotherapy) and the MRI was for the rest of the body to look for other possible tumors. The results are expected tomorrow or Friday. This will show if any other bones are impacted and require treatment (such as radio therapy which is very effective at stopping the tumors growing). They are going to contact me so I can be there for the results.
Her pain I pretty good although I did have to remind her to ask for pain meds. She has a comfortable position she has worked out on the bed. She also dozes off a lot so she is comfortable considering she has a broken arm.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Update 23 April 2013
I thought I would post a new update as there are so many people who care about Mum and would be interested in how she's going.
Late last week Mum broke her left arm and quite high up on the arm. Not wanting to go to hospital, she lived through the pain until Friday. She did not know at the time it was broken but that was confirmed by a Dr at the PA hospital.
On Saturday she was advised it was a myeloma tumor which had been the cause of the break as mum has an oval shaped hole in her bone where the cancer has eaten it away.
She's going into surgery this morning where they will clean out the tumor and fill the hole with a medical bone cement (they did not mention it was a medical cement but she was just an intern and I just assumed it was not Ready Mix cement). They will then splint her bone with two plates which will be screwed either side of the break. They will be quite long so they can be screwed into healthy bone and provide maximum support.
She'll be a little sore for a few days and likely in a half (backstrap) cast for 6 weeks. In the days following they will make multiple assessments about her ability to go home and live safely. This will involve physiotherapists and occupational therapists. She's being stubborn at the moment about her capabilities post surgery but time will tell.
Mum doesn't have email access but can be reached on her mobile. I'll post an update later today when she's out of surgery.
Late last week Mum broke her left arm and quite high up on the arm. Not wanting to go to hospital, she lived through the pain until Friday. She did not know at the time it was broken but that was confirmed by a Dr at the PA hospital.
On Saturday she was advised it was a myeloma tumor which had been the cause of the break as mum has an oval shaped hole in her bone where the cancer has eaten it away.
She's going into surgery this morning where they will clean out the tumor and fill the hole with a medical bone cement (they did not mention it was a medical cement but she was just an intern and I just assumed it was not Ready Mix cement). They will then splint her bone with two plates which will be screwed either side of the break. They will be quite long so they can be screwed into healthy bone and provide maximum support.
She'll be a little sore for a few days and likely in a half (backstrap) cast for 6 weeks. In the days following they will make multiple assessments about her ability to go home and live safely. This will involve physiotherapists and occupational therapists. She's being stubborn at the moment about her capabilities post surgery but time will tell.
Mum doesn't have email access but can be reached on her mobile. I'll post an update later today when she's out of surgery.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Update - Thursday 2 December
Mum went to the Hematology clinic today with Daniel and Mary. Mum got excellent news and here is a a brief summary:
- The PET scan showed no melanoma
- The breast tissue being investigated has the all clear
- The lymph gland being investigated has the all clear
- They have scaled back their initial diagnosis of which bones exhibit symptoms of Myeloma to the one vertebrae that was removed in Mum's recent surgery. This means Mum has not other instances of Myeloma in her body at the moment.
All of this was the best possible news Mum could have got. Not only does she not have Melanoma, but the Myeloma is far less progressed than initially thought. This is something to celebrate.
Mum starts her chemo soon which will be used to manage the disease (keep it at bay). This chemo treatment is home administered. The drugs are pretty hard core, with one of them not being able to be touched before it is swallowed but the side effects are expected to be minimal (fingers crossed). Mum will be taking thalidomide as well.
It was most definitely a good day.
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