This is brilliant. Keep up the good work. I am so pleased for him and for you.

Dave has started radiotherapy and feels ok. 2 down 18 to go!

xx

I probably shouldn’t of googled about prolonged air leaks as that’s worried me and seems copd is a risk factor. Aside from that he’s doing so well. I think I will worry more  about infections and it’s hard when they look after the kids when im at work. I know for a fact he wouldn’t want to stop doing that as he loves it but they are germ breeders.

how often Is the radiotherapy? Every day? Hope all continues to go well.

enjoy the walk and sunny days both of you x

Yes-every weekday. Google can be our worst enemy-when Dave was having chemo I obsessed about sepsis. I had a bad cough at the time and a sore throat [you'd have thought I was the one with lung cancer] but he was fine.

No kissing though and I slept in the spare room just in case!

x

Hi ladies,

How are you both? How is the radiotherapy going Monica? Homebird - any CT scan news?

After dad doing so well things got worse as his air leak got worse and he has surgical emphysema. He literally became so swollen and his eyes, neck, chest and even voice changed! He had a second drain put in on Monday and has been switched to gravity. Hoping they will clamp it soon and he can come home. I know he is getting fed up in hospital bless him. He has done so well being up and about and would of been home if it wasnt for this. Its been tough my mum travelling 3 hours daily to the hospital and wish I could help more but been juggling the kids and work too :(

Anyway hope all is well with you xx

Hi

Sorry to hear your Dad has been so poorly and so uncomfortable. We always hope everything will be straight forward and it hits us hard when its not.

I really, really hope he will improve soon and he can get home-I'm keeping everything crossed for you.

Radiotherapy has been fine so far, but like your Mum, the travelling gets us down although we just have a 2 hour round trip. However, we are exactly half way through-one more fortnight and 10 more treatments to go. We're counting the days and have just started to think about booking a really nice holiday next year.

Thinking of you and your family,

Monica x

Thanks Monica. Thats great news its going so well and those last treatments will fly by. A nice holiday sounds just what the doctor ordered. Where do you think you will go?

I'm really hoping he will be home over the next few days. The hard thing will be not mixing with the kids and how we juggle the childcare. Mum says she still wants to come but I worry she may catch something. Her argument is she has been sat on a train full of germs every day to visit him x

Hi LD

The childcare issue is tricky, especially as it will be difficult for her to come and not cuddle or touch them too much. I'd be inclined to ask the doc what he/she thinks and follow their advice.

We booked a Rhine river cruise for September before diagnosis so we're doing that already with no insurance complications but Dave hasn't wanted to think about next year's holiday or indeed anthing in the future. He's just now coming round to the idea that he might have a future. We're contemplating another river cruise for 2020-this time to the Douro in Portugal but insurance will be tricky this time. We may need to wait a little while.

x

Hi there, so sorry that your dad is still in hospital and hope that things improve and he will be home soon. Yes it is a bit arkward for you with them looking after the children but as Monica says have a word with the nurses and ask their opinion. The traveling must be awful for your mum and I was so glad that I stayed in a hotel right by the hospital. Still hopefully it won't be too long now. No news on the ct scan so I suppose we had better stop burying our heads in the sand and give them a call. 

Glad that all is going well for you Monica and what a lovely thought being able to go on holiday. We might do a couple of coach trips if we can. We are currently waiting on a cataract operation and a new drug for the Arthritis. 

Take care Homebird.

Thanks both. He has had the drains clamped and x rays look good so awaiting a decision from the team meeting tomorrow (nobody wanted to make a decision without the consultant even though on Friday she said see you at outpatients) Fingers crossed for good news tomorrow.

Mum has said she wants to come and look after the kids, and dad will be ok at home. She thinks I am being OTT as its no different to travelling on the train with kids and visiting and I guess I visit after being with them. There were even kids on the ward the weekend. I think as long as he doesnt mix (that was what they said) and we practise good hygiene (I am OTT anyway) then what else could we do. Youngest doesnt go to nursery so shes not out mixing with germs etc. My mum is also a carer so she would be out in the community. Its so hard to know how far to take it. I actually cant find local childcare available either.

I dont think Dave should "think" he has a future I would say he definitely does. He has done so amazing! Holidays sound lovely and hopefully you can find some specialist insurance.

I am sure the CT is clear as they wouldnt leave you this long surely. My dad had cataract op too and did really well with that.

I am hoping dad is well enough for a little UK break with the kids in summer. 

Hope your both well and had a nice weekend x

Hi there, I have been thinking about you today and hope that your dad will soon be home. I am sure that he is getting fed up being in hospital for so long. To begin with you will be quite anxious but I'm sure he will get on better being home with a bit of 'normality '.  I bet the children are looking forward to seeing him.  Did they take any lymph nodes away during the operation to do a biopsy on them?

i phoned the hospital today regarding the CT scan and the secretary is looking into it. Since the sepsis my husband hasn't been able to go back on his Rheumatoid Arthritis drugs, they are trying him on an infusion on 9th April so are hoping to get the cataract done before then. It will be nice to 'tick all these boxes' and move on.

take care x