I'm Back
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@BShark i think lots of people have had digestive issues of various degrees of severity. Whatever happens i hope it settles down for him and it becomes predictable and manageable.
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@BShark your brother is lucky to have you. I’m sure he’s very grateful! As much as you all have been through, there are still some positives. You have options. Be very thankful that his issues are physical and not mental. Anyone in this country who is suffering from severe mental issues is absolutely screwed. My wife’s brother struggled with several severe mental problems for years. We tried, begged actually to get him help and every single institution, without fail, said “if you don’t have an extreme buttload of money, we don’t give a crap”. He finally ended his own struggles with a rope.
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@approxinfinity They don’t think he will need a colostomy bag at least… Hopefully that proves true.
ETA: It really does help to just have a place to talk about this.
I’ve never been a big support group kinda guy but have recently started attending one and man does it help to say things to people who really understand and care. Mine is super specific to care givers/partners of cancer patients who are also parents of young kids. Seems so hyper specific but with the power of the internet there is a community out there for everyone.
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@benshawks08 Talk, man. Talk. It helps.
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Get it out brother
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They ran some more scans this morning and are going to see if the surgery isn’t needed. It responded better than expected. They are going to see if he can drink liquids without getting sick.
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Keep us posted
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Things are very not great atm
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Sorry to hear that. Anything you want to talk about?
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@BShark sad to hear. We are here for it if you need to talk about it.
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Things are very not great atm
Hope things turn for the better. We are here if you need to share/vent.
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hang in there. Been worrying about you. 
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I need to vent/cool off right now. So they prescribed him meds as he left. One of the meds for pain…right on the FUCKING LABEL “do not take if you have or are recovering from a bowel blockage or narrowing of the intestines”. Nothing was said by the doctor about this when going over the meds before he was discharged. First few days back home he was miserable until we figured out he needed to stop taking that. Last couple days much better so far…
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@BShark WOW. Well, I’m glad things are going better.
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@BShark the doctor AND the pharmacist should have caught that. So frustrating.
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My partner’s oncologist is great and we love her. But at one point she shared how many patients she’d seen that day and the number was shocking. I don’t know how any person, no matter how smart, compassionate, organized and meticulous they may be, can handle the volume of patients most of these doctors see with any kind of real understanding of a patients full story.
Luckily my partner is so personable that everyone loves her immediately and she is purposeful about building those relationships so that she gets the best care she can. She learns more about her phlebotomist than I do about people I’ve worked with for years, lol. But the system is so broken.
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@benshawks08 Definitely a major takeaway for me has been how overworked people in this sector are.
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@BShark I vividly remember my hives from my prescription for an antibiotic after oral surgery that turned out to be amoxicillin despite my penicillin allergy written on the dentist’s Rx form itself. Should have been Azithromycin. Never again will I blindly accept a prescription!
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@BShark I’d make sure the dr knows what happened!
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@BShark Wishing the best for you and your family
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@BShark what was the medicine? if the medicine was a pain pill/narcotic, it is to help lessen his pain with a potential for constipation, which could cause another blockage. He should have been given something along with it to prevent the constipation side effect. If he was receiving the pain medicine while hospitalized and was having normal BM’s once the bowels started working again, then the likelihood of a blockage is low. You should have been told about that potential side effect though before being discharged. Unfortunately, discharge instructions, too often, are not as thorough as they should be. This occurs because of staffing shortages, staff apathy, and the patient wanting to get out of the hospital hours, if not days, before it occurs.
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@BShark what was the medicine? if the medicine was a pain pill/narcotic, it is to help lessen his pain with a potential for constipation, which could cause another blockage. He should have been given something along with it to prevent the constipation side effect. If he was receiving the pain medicine while hospitalized and was having normal BM’s once the bowels started working again, then the likelihood of a blockage is low. You should have been told about that potential side effect though before being discharged. Unfortunately, discharge instructions, too often, are not as thorough as they should be. This occurs because of staffing shortages, staff apathy, and the patient wanting to get out of the hospital hours, if not days, before it occurs.
He did not receive the medicine until after discharge as far as I know. Though I will say I don’t know exactly what they were giving him while he was in there. I’m doing what I can but I can only stand being in and around hospitals so often, that I wasn’t there a ton during those 10 days. I did visit several times and talk to the nurses etc… This is stage 4 colon cancer so normal bms don’t really exist anymore.
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Back on the chemo grind next week
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Good luck man.
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@benshawks08 not looking great lately. He doesn’t want to eat
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Don’t give up hope! He needs you. I know it’s hard. 🫶 what’s the dr say? I’m so sorry!
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Chemo is tuff.
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@Crimsonorblue22 said in I'm Back:
what’s the dr say? I’m so sorry!
Not really any answers at this point. Is what it is, just have to try to keep living. Last few days mostly better again but his weight is down a lot since the blockage. Needs to try and get it up but eating potentially makes him feel much worse so he often does not want to.
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@BShark Every case is different, and listen to the doctors, but your “cure is as bad as the disease” comment made me remember one of my uncles. He suffered with prostrate cancer and went through all the procedures - chemo, radiation, etc. When he was on death’s doorstep he said no more “treatment”. He lived another relatively good 12 years.
If you’re inclined, you’re already praying. If not, a bunch of us are praying for you, for your brother. Hang in there.
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He passed peacefully today.
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@BShark oh no! Wasn’t ready for that. I’m so sad for you and your mom.
🫶
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So sorry for your loss. Do what brings you comfort. We’ll be here when you want us.
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Sorry BShark
Praying for you in this tough time
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He passed peacefully today.
Im so sorry. We are all here for you when you need
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Take as much time as you need. Hoping the best for you and your family
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I’m sorry to hear this and you have my deepest condolences. Stay strong.
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Man, I’m so sorry @BShark
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So sorry to hear that man.
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Thanks everyone. He’d want nothing more than a HAWKS victory against Missouri. We had some good final words several days ago, it really helped me be at peace knowing he was. Last few days were more or less nonverbal.
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Sorry to hear brother, I hope you can find peace in knowing he is now free from the pain and the constraints of his body. When you lose someone close to you, it never gets better. You will just learn how to go on without them.
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I am sure he passed feeling far more at peace due to your love and the protection you gave him. Not everyone has that. Be good to yourself. I aspire to be as caring as you.
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@BShark - Very sorry for your loss. It’s great, though, that you had that conversation. It will stay with you forever.
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@mayjay well said!🫶
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@BShark I’m really sorry to hear that, my friend. Remember that death is not the enemy, it’s going to happen to us all eventually. Passing peacefully is a blessing. I hope you and your family will find peace soon.
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@BShark I hope you and your family find solace in this time of loss.
I am reminded of this quote, which has helped me process intense emotions during loss: “What is grief, if not love persevering?”
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Oh no. How sad. So sorry @BShark
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I am sorry to hear of your brother’s passing. Thank you for sharing his life and the struggles you have endured for him. Our struggles reveal the character of a person. Based upon what you have shared, you are top notch. May you find peace in knowing that his suffering has ended.
