News from Looneyland

[looneytunes]

Hi to all my IHD family.  I'm sorry I have been absent for a few months though I have been lurking quietly behind the scenes.  So much has happened in Looneyland that I've had very little energy or time left over at the end of a day.   To bring you up to date:

February 2012 hubs switched over to nocturnal in-center 3 x weekly.  We moved from the farm (and sold our cows) over to our lake home to be closer to the clinic.  He did very well...so well that in June we bought a small town restaurant/cafe'.  (that's about when I started lurking and quit posting much)  He said it was always something he wanted to do and since he was doing so well on nocturnal, I agreed and we jumped in. 

August 2012, he started a downhill slide...excessive fatigue, general weakness, leg pain, gastro problems, etc...etc...not able to help much in the restaurant at all.

October 2012, a week long stay in the hospital.  He had been complaining of right hip pain for several days and the pain finally got bad enough for him to agree to go to the emergency room.  One MRI later, morphine was being administered and he was admitted with a diagnosis of a non-displaced fracture of the greater trochanter.  No fall, no trauma, nothing...just a fracture appeared.   An orthopedic surgeon was called in and a drug given to try to jump-start the bone healing.  Orders to stay non weight bearing for 8 weeks and then come for a follow up visit.  The orthopedic doctor stressed how brittle the bones were and told hubby to consider himself like glass... very fragile. 

November (mid month) 2012 after a few weeks of non-compliance with the non-weight bearing orders (anyone surprised   I wasn't!) we go back for our follow up visit.  Films taken, not much healing going on.  Sent home with more pain meds and more orders for him to stay off of it.  Warning given that if the bone was not healing to itself, it probably wouldn't heal to metal (if surgery was needed to keep it together) and he could be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Fast foward ....January 2013.  Better compliance but hubby is now in severe pain.  Worse than the pain he experienced in October while in the hospital.  I call the orthopedic doc and we go in for a visit.  X-ray taken and then sent for another MRI.  That was done on January 28th.  We waited a few days for the result and finally got a call this Monday.  The orthopedic doc called us.  He said there is a large aggressive lesion (tumor was the word he used later in the call) showing in the MRI at the top of the femur that was not there in October's MRI and hubby was to have a CT scan of his chest, abdomen and pelvis as well as a full body scan STAT.  Also, he has already set up an appointment with a leading bone oncologist in the big city for next week on the 14th! 

Needless to say, we are both a little (ok...a lot) terrified.  I know it could be benign but I also know it might not be.  So...right now we are in a holding pattern for another 7 days.  We did the CT scans yesterday and will do the full body scan tomorrow.  Though we have agreed to say nothing to our kids or friends till we know more, I did not agree to silence on IHD.   
Both of us are trying hard to be strong and positive for each other but it's like there is a huge elephant in the room that we are ignoring.  And the chatter in my head is deafening!  So I am dumping it all here. 

Thanks for listening my friends.  I feel a little better after saying all this.  Prayers are appreciated. 

[MooseMom]

Oh my.

Oh my.

Oh my.

Well, first of all, I am really glad you thought to use IHD as your emotional dumping ground.  That's what this site is here for.

I was about to say that I can't imagine the panic and dread you must be feeling, but actually, yes I can.  I wouldn't wish this kind of anxiety on my worst enemy.  I don't hate anyone quite that much.

I'm glad to hear you moved from the farm.  You're brave to start a cafe!  I LOVE those sorts of small town eateries.  What's on your menu?

What's the cause of such brittle bones?  I know it's a stupid question considering that this is a kidney forum, but his case seems to be particularly extreme.  Is it all due to his ESRD?

I'm wishing you and hubby all the luck in the world.  And I am so sorry you have to wait a whole week for results.  Please do keep us posted, and do continue to dump your psychological rubbish right here.

[MaryD]

 

Hoping your elephant disappears.  Good thoughts going your way.

[boswife]

oh Looney you've been on my mind lately (been feeling down myself  and thought of all us wives/givers have gone through) and was wondering just whats been up.  Im so sorry to hear the latter part of this post...  And what a horrable wait you have     I know we all wish we could say 'dont worry' but we also know better.  I know the fears your going through because have been through similar and the burning chest of fret, and busy head is nearly beyond bearable.  Im sorry Looney    And you both have my prayers.      

[okarol]

  Glad to see you posting but am very upset about hubby. Geeez and having to wait to hear what's next, it must awful.
Sending you hugs and love - dump any time! 

[Rerun]

Prayers going up.  I'm glad he got his cafe for a little while.  You are so good to let him do that.  And it will give him something to look forward to.

Hang in there.   

[natnnnat]

   Heartfel prayers offered.  Hope you are doing time alright today Loony.

[amanda100wilson]

I am so very sorry about this news.  I wonder if he tumor and frqcture are related, not that he fracture caused the tunir, but that there were already cells there going wrong.  this must be a terrifying time for both of you.  it's ashame hqt you have to go through the torture of waiting for these results.

[billybags]

Jan, you know I am praying for you my friend.

[willowtreewren]

Jan, this is disturbing news indeed. No wonder you are terrified. 

And the nocturnal seemed like such a good solution that was working for you. I will be sending healing thoughts to you daily.

 

Aleta

[cariad]

It's good to hear from you, looney, but I'm so sorry to read that things have been so rough. I'm keeping a good thought for you, hoping that easier, happier days are soon to come.

[looneytunes]

Thanks all for the good thoughts, cyberhugs and prayers.  Can only wait for now.  6 days to go. 

MM:  the cafe is open 6am to 2pm and our niche is breakfast.  Lots of biscuits and gravy, omelets, home fries and pancakes.  We offer comfort food for lunch...burgers, meatloaf, ham and beans, fried chicken.   Since I love to cook, I really do enjoy it. 
Come on down! 

[Poppylicious]

Looney lovely, I'm so sorry about hubby ... sending you both very positive vibes from a chilly England. 

*huggles*

Oh, the food in your cafe sounds utterly naughty and extremely divine!

[del]

   Sorry that things have been so rough!!

[lmunchkin]

Late getting here, but Jan, I hate to hear this. Let us know how things turn out.  He was doing so well on Nocturnal & things seemed to be looking up!  So sorry dear.  Loved the restraunt idea.  Will try someday to make it there!

Prayers for you both,
lmunchkin

[boswife]

any news for us Looney...  Prayers with you

[Jean]

Oh, Looney, good tohear from you, but not so great with that news. Good that you sold the farm and things were going so well for you. This damned disease!!! Sending positive and good thoughts your way.

[looneytunes]

Well, my friends, thank you all for your prayers and support.  I have to ask for them a while longer.  We did go to the oncologist yesterday (it was a LONG day) and the upshot is a surgical biopsy is needed which will happen on the 26th.  They will remove a large chunk of the tumor for analysis.  The doctor said that these type of tumors rarely begin in the bone but are normally from another part of the body.  While she said it is possible this could be benign, she was guarded as in her experience, it did not appear to be acting like a benign tumor.  The biopsy will give us definitive answers as to what we are up against.  Surgical removal of the whole tumor may not be an option due to the location of the tumor and the amount of involvement in the bone.  Enough of the bone has been destroyed that there most likely will be no way for any reconstruction that will allow hubby to use that leg again to any great extent.  So we are still in a holding pattern and the hope that this is "nothing" is getting slimmer.    And the chatter in my head is beyond deafening at times.  He has now confided in his sister and one friend but we are still playing this one close to the chest and not telling our kids. 

Again, thanks to all of you for the hugs, prayers and support. 

[Darthvadar]

Thinking of you, Jan...

What a terrible situation....

Hope it all works out well....

Love...

Darth....

[boswife]

my heart goes out to you both.  Im sure your in 'another world' at this time, but still i pray that it all comes out better than it's looking.    Im sorry dear lady for these worries and   I wish better for you all.

[okarol]

  Sending prayers up. 

[Jean]

So sorry. Hope the Dr. is mistaken.   

[Grumpy-1]

my prayers are added to the rest. Grumpy

[brenda seal]

my thoughts are with you

[boswife]

Just thinking about you Jan and hoping your hainging in there.  Hows hubby feeling?  any changes that may indicate things are getting better??  Wishing you and praying you good things comming up...