Good luck! Again the always give you worst case scenarios. Have faith. Hugs.

Callie

Doctors have to mention bad possibilities like wound healing issues but I had the "maximum" radiation plus terrible radiation dermatitis on the exact same skin that my surgeons operated on and the wounds all closed just fine. In fact, in two years I could barely see the scars. Don will probably be fine on that.
Charm

Thank you both! I keep telling myself doctors have to tell you all possible scenarios, but I just hate thinking if he has to go through something else.

So glad you updated Callie. You have many people praying/ thinking of you. Hang in there and keep us posted!!
Kathy

Hi Callie. You are just like the rest of us. Normal. I too can't but help worry that Kris may have to face more surgery / treatment. Many times each day I have to tell myself not to borrow sorrow from tomorrow. This is easier said than done. One day at a time Callie.
Kris's surgeons also said that the prior radiation would make both the surgery and healing difficult. But the surgeons did a great job and Kris healed without any problems. Like Charm, you have to look very hard to even see the scar now. Apart from the hole in his neck that he breathes through of course. LOL
Thinking of you and your family. One day at a time Callie.
Tammy

Callie,

I'm so glad that his surgery got moved up to the 24th.

I can't imagine why they wouldn't give Don something to help him sleep. Sometimes all it takes is a low dose of an anti-anxiety med, like clonazepam, to help him sleep. When I was first diagnosed, I was a total mess. I couldn't stop my entire body from trembling. I was pregnant and the only person who would give me anything to help was the high-risk OB-GYN that took over my OB care when I was going through treatment. She said that I was "on a spitting dose", meaning that it was so small, not to worry. Only as I got closer to delivery, did I have to wean off of it and by that time, I was well on my way to recovery. This may be something you want to ask for again because Don is doing to need all the rest he can get and it's not fair to make someone suffer more than they already are.

Good luck to the both of you and thank you for the update.

xoxo,
Kerri

Thank you all for the wonderful words and prayers. I know everything happens for a reason and if we hadn't been sent for the biopsy his airway would most def. be completely shut by now. I've tried to get him to go for a walk outside during the day or anything to give him a little exercise, but i've been unsuccessful. He still has excessive mucus coming out of the trach tube. He already takes robitussin for mucus and nexium for acid. He usually is up spitting that out or letting me suction him every 30 minutes to an hour. He never sleeps for more than an hour straight. He dozes 24/7! We both dread, but can't wait for his surgery on the 26th so we can start the next chapter of his recovery.

Thank you all,
Callie

Ok guys I need some more advice please!!! Last Friday on July 20 @ 3 am I found Don on the floor unconscious, stiff and his eyes wide open. I called 911 and suctioned him out. He was responsive before the ambulance arrived. During that episode he had also lost control of his bladder. We went to hospital they ran tests, nothing showed, so we went home Saturday afternoon. He had to have a blood transfusion at the hospital as well. Anyways we get home and he has a lot of facial swelling. The doctor said to give him benedryl and if it worsened to bring him back. It went down some. Monday morning around 8:00 he said he was feeling light headed he then passed out repeatedly every few minutes each one only lasting a few seconds. I called 911 again took him to hospital where they said his heart was plummeting causing his blood pressure to plummet in return causing him to pass out. Again this time he lost control of I his bladder as well. They transferred him to UAB heart doctor. It hasn't happened since we have been down here. He is still severely swollen around his face and throat area. The doctors have said it doesn't look as though it's his heart. They are saying it has something to do with his vagus nerve running from his heart up his throat. Two possibilities: tumor has spread to vagus nerve causing it damage which causes all other problems or it could be his neck swelling causing it to put pressure on the nerve and causing the same problems. We'll find out more after CT . Has anyone ever experienced any problems such as these? Thank you all in advance! The doctor said if it is the cancer they won't be able to do his scheduled surgery on Thursday. Any prayers are greatly appreciated!

Callie

Callie,

If it is nerve involvement it considerably complicates things so I'll be interested in seeing what the CT shows. The swelling makes sense to me so I'm surprised they didn't prescribe a steroid to bring down the swelling. If they haven't...why not? Depending on the answer makes me question the quality of medical care he's receiving.

If it is nerve involvement and you're not currently being seen at a CCC then get to one or get a second opinion.

Keep your chin up

Eric

Hi Callie,
I have no answers for you.
Kris had a similar thing happen with his chemo. He too would pass out and I would have to shake him to rouse him and get him to take a breath. It was very frightening. We never did get an explanation from the chemo docs.
I am praying that Dons CT shows no nerve involvement. One day at a time Callie.
Hugs and hand holding to you, Tammy