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Cancer and Addisons

Billygoatt
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Hi all I've been on forum for quite a few years now.

Haven't noticed anyone with both.unless I've missed it .

But thought I'd let people know what's going on with me lately ,

Beginning of the year my PSA (cancer count) rose up quite fast and quite high ,so oncologist put me on New meds, nearly three months ago since then My blood pressure is going mad mainly low so oncologist and Addisons specialist told me to increase my fludrcortizone, for my heart,from 1 1/2 to 2tablets a day, about two weeks later,no improvement so doctor and oncologist tell me to increase to 3 tablets day a week later phone call from Dr stop extra tablet my sodium levels have dropped dangerous levels so i carry on with low BP , spoke to Addisons specialist this morning explained everything everything he told me I should never have increased dose to 3and those tablets would not decrease my sodium levels,its more than likely that My new cancer meds are making My Addisons meds metabolize to fast in my body so they don't last long enough to do there job properly,at last something is making sense.

Now hes arranging a all day blood test at hospital so I have to Go early have tablets with blood test either side by about an hour, morning, lunch and evening,to see if meds are going out of My body to quickly.

Then at least I should know one way or the other than hopefully someone will figure out what to do..

Sorry if I'm ranting a lot but three months of being told one thing then another im getting rather fed up,fed up is rather mild to what I actually think, but thought id keep it clean,.

Hope everyone is keeping safe,keeping positive and keeping fighting.

Billy

  • Offline in reply to Billygoatt

    Hi Billy,

    I'm so sorry Brenda's memories have got lost in the holes in her brain. Alzheimer's is a curse worse than physical illness for the family and loved ones. It's like she's gone on a journey you can't follow.

    Please take care of yourself, a lot of people on here owe you for keeping them going, with your lovely encouraging messages, and we want to keep seeing them.

    lots of love

    Christine xxx

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    Oh Billy, we all seem to reach a stage where no one knows what's best for us.  My blood pressure was so high they put me on new meds before I disappeared to Lisa's (or as some people called it, a holiday!). I was so ill and didn't realise it was the new meds until I stopped them but two weeks of hell.  Quite often it's a guessing game.  Let's hope this works for you.  Xx

  • Offline in reply to Dor06

    Hi Carol,

    It is a guessing game, I suppose, they know we are all different so it should be obvious one medicine won't suit all. It's a case of suck it and see, Insuppose.

    Hope you are feeling a bit better now.

    love

    Christine x

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    Hi dear Christine been town earlier,wind nearly blew me up the hills without using any power on the scooter.

    Head was all over the place so forget things till i got home despite list in pocket.got all Bella's things luckily.

    She likes her ears rubbing harder the better and doesn't matter how much you rub when you stop she starts patting at your foot for more .

    Bella is moulting something rotten despite being short haired,I comb her daily for an hour and it comes off in the handful every time as well as all over me and the carpet.  Jigsaw is coming on slowly, just alot of sky and a bit gold statue taking time.

    Anyway to much talking I've got to vacuum me and the carpet again. 

    Lovely to hear from you again hope things are going well with you and yours.

    Love Billy xxxx

  • Offline in reply to Billygoatt

    Hiya Bill,

    You have made me laugh.  I've got a vivid imagination and pictured you on your scooter being blown uphill.

    Memory!  I forget more words, names and shopping lists than enough. I know it's a combination of age and meds but it doesn't make you feel any better. I lay awake until 3 in the morning once, just trying to remember the name of a friend I hadn't seen for a few years. It eventually came to me in a Eureka moment and I seem to have retained it since then but I know there'll be loads more I forget. The embarrassing thing is when I am in a conversation with my friends and a word just disappears from my brain, or it gets stuck in my brain and won't come into my mouth. My friends are all several years younger than me and don't realise it will come to them in time.

    Our dogs are such characters, aren't they? Archie grumbles when he wants something, but if I don't catch on to what he wants he will just bark and bark, while I'm running round opening doors for him to go out, offering water, all to no avail.  I might, luckily, work out what he wants and peace prevails, or I realise he's not having what he wants and I say a very strong No! He sort of looks at me as if to say 'It was worth a try' and settles down. He's so greedy I have to be a bit strict about treats as he's big enough. He's got so much hair he looks twice the size he is, already so I don't want any more weight on him.  I still give him little treats.  When I eat my breakfast, I sit with a tray on my lap and for each bite I take of my toast, he gets a tiny sliver of carrot.  He feels he's sharing my food which he thinks he's quite entitled to despite having his breakfast as soon as we get up. He gets his evening meal spread into a licky mat, and it gives him licking enjoyment as well as slowing down his eating.
    Grooming is a nightmare.  I can't do it as often as I should just because it takes so long and my knees complain if I stand for long.  He has an undercoat that has to be stripped out and he hates the feeling so it's a wriggly time.  I can fill a carrier bag with his undercoat after brushing.  Every time I vacuum I have to turn the vacuum cleaner upside down to cut away all the hair that's stuck in the brush or it will stop turning.

    He's a sweetly though, wouldn't be without him. He's only five so, hopefully we'll be together for a few years yet.

    Nice to hear from another dog person!

    love

    Christine xx

  • Offline in reply to Sheltie_Lady

    Morning dear Christine ,5 weeks today since Brenda went in, im thinking of popping in to town to look at cars, don't think I'll have enough yet, but want to get idea of what model and prices,got to take 2 mobility scooters, shopping scooter trailer and us three, and be reliable of course.

    Bella keeps giving me gue gue eyes as she wants some of my breakfast she's sat straight with ears up straight she will pat my foot in a minute and start moaning .

    Im still lacking energy puffing and panting doing smallest job still waiting for what happens next . 

    Definitely be lost without scooters now . 

    Hope all my cancer frends are keeping fit and well and any having treatment are keeping positive and fighting. 

    Love to you all Billy xxxx

  • Offline in reply to Billygoatt

    Hiya Bill, 

    It's nice to hear from you.  I haven't been on here much in the last few weeks.  I was busy, but can't remember what with.  My knees were finally injected after a month's delay, flipping Covid.  First my doctor caught it, so my appointment was postponed, then I went for my latest booster jab, the day before the new date and the doctor wouldn't do it because it could affect the vaccination.  I was blissfully pain free for a week, but they have started being a nuisance again.  I'm desperately fighting off the day when I'm told to get new ones.

    Gosh, five weeks since Brenda went into hospital - are you getting used to the empty house? Bella, excepted, of course.  Bella seems to come from the same school as my Archie, he does exactly the same when he wants something.

    I hate looking for cars!  You've got a long list of essentials, it'll have to have plenty of room.  Is Bren going  to come home soon, then? Will you be able to cope, if she does come home? I know it's a  horrible thing to have to contemplate.  Is she still apparently happy, there and does she seem to be getting the right kind of care? It is probably the best place for her if so.
     

    How are you, in yourself?  I hope the change of routine in your life hasn't set you back.  I hope you are looking after yourself now you aren't feeding two. 

    It's not a good time to be buying a car, is it?  My daughter was told that she could probably get more than she paid for hers, which she has had for five years, and it was second hand when she bought it.  Apparently, that model in the condition her's is in are as rare as hen's teeth.  It's a sporty Peugeot. I call it a rich *****'s car.  She looks after it, which is more than I can say I do. I park mine on the drive between the front door and the fence, but the front door is at the side of the house from the road, so there's  just enough room for me to get in and out, or squeeze past to get to the back of the house and the bins, so, literally, I only see the driver's side.  I can't remember the last time it had a proper clean, but I didn't realise how bad it was until one day, a few weeks ago, I had to put Archie on the passenger seat because the boot, where he usually sits, was full, so I walked round to the passenger door and I couldn't believe what that side was like! It was filthy and covered in green mould!  I had been driving It like that since lockdown! I did a quick hose down and wash, when I got home, but I bet it's as bad again. I must have a look, now it's crossed my mind. I must be the talk of the neighbourhood!

    When I wanted to change my car, because I didn't like having to squash all three dogs in the back seat of a Noddy car, I went back to the dealer where mine had come from and looked around at everything in the used section but there was nothing I liked in automatic. While there, I spotted a small second hand dealer just across the side road, with a nice looking blue car on display.  I went to look at it and saw it was automatic! Yay!! But I knew my kids would give me stick if I bought the first car I liked. I drove it, and it was great, the mileage was quite low and the condition was good, (better than it is now) but I said I would think about it.  I spent the whole weekend then, driving all round the car dealers, to see if there was one I liked better, hours wasted because I still liked the blue one best.  On the Monday morning I was there with my bank card in hand hoping it hadn't gone in the meantime. It hadn't and although the trade in was a lot lower than I could have got privately, the whole deal was ok. The dogs loved the extra space, and I felt they were safer in the back. They were safely fastened in and could look out if they wanted to. Up to then Archie had always been sick if we went more than the two miles to my daughter's but he was fine even on long journeys in this one.. it looks like a 4x4 but it isn't four wheel drive, I like the higher driving position than the noddy car but I miss the ease of parking I had I the little car.  I have very poor spacial awareness and I never can tell how far away from the kerb I am, so my three point turns usually need at least a one in front. Sadly, two of the dogs are no longer with us.  I had Archie, and Faith, who was his great great great, yep three greats, grandmother, and my daughter brought her Smudge for daycare all week. Now it's just me and Archie. Faith and Smudge have crossed that rainbow bridge.  We did get a Poodle puppy, Bobbin, for my daughter, but she only has to go into the office two days a week, so I just devote those two days to doing  things near home so Bobbin doesn't need to go in my car.

    Are you still awake, or have I sent you to sleep?  It doesn't take much to get me rambling on, sorry!

    Love

    Christine xx

    PS, I just jumped over and read Carol's thread and saw that Brenda doesn't seem to be getting the care she needs, I am sorry.  Hopefully they will send her home, soon, to be properly looked after by you.

  • Offline in reply to Sheltie_Lady

    Hi dear Christine .

    Don't worry im still awake, always like interesting stories .

    I saw one car I could afford but small boot,so more saving up, I've had big cars and supermarket parking leaves alot to be desired in normal parking zones, Brenda has blue badge so I've never bothered as we always went out together.car I want probably an estate. But small like fiesta . I've had a few automatic, actually prefer them, easier on the legs and arms .

    Didn't realize Bella is nearly 12 we've been counting years wrong ,duhh , thought she was 9 just shows what my heads like, .

    Brenda possibly could be home in couple of months along as she keeps improving,i want her back to how she should be anyway so less chance of things going bad again .

    I've noticed my BP is going down again now and again and im struggling do jobs around house, keep hoping if I keep going I'll strengthen myself up a bit and get fitter , but i just start panting more .

    I've always been fairly fit ( metal fabrication and welding carrying steel plates around and moving things around kept fit moving brenda around after retirement, but it's All gone, still got mussels but struggling to use them with puffing to much .

    Hope i haven't put YOU to sleep .

    Take care keep safe and sure .

    Love Billy xxxx

     

  • Offline in reply to Billygoatt

    Hello again, so soon.

     I've been sitting at the iPad all afternoon, nearly, FaceTiming my daughter and reading the news.  The car I bought is a Suzuki, SX4, there are two or three versions, including a proper 4x4 but the beauty of it is the size.  It is car size, not 4x4 size but the boot is a good space, it has a tailgate for easy access and best of all you can fold the back seats right over to give masses of room. I'm going to be using that facility when I pack it up to go to the recycling place. I haven't seen many about although one of my neighbours has a 2006 model, mine is 62 reg. If you see one it's worth checking out.

    Are you keeping yourself hydrated enough. Dehydration can cause all sorts of problems including low blood pressure. I am making myself drink more water as I've been getting headaches, which I don't usually get.

    Christine xx

  • Offline in reply to Sheltie_Lady

    I'll definitely keep my eyes open for the car you recommended .

    im always careful to drink plenty although I've got to be careful with having a hiatus hernia,(drink even a little to much and it's back up rather quickly ). When i have blood tests its very easy to drink to much and oops .

    I've found my BP is in the low 90s last few days I'll see what happens when i phone up on 20th.  it usto be low 80s or even 70s before . But never had this problem before going on stronger cancer (hormone therapy) meds ,as i say still doing odd jobs around the house and scooter shopping, just slowly and safely .

    Take care keep safe and sure. 

    Love Billy xxxx

     

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