Good morning everyone,
OH what a tale to tell. Sorry that I have been so tardy in responding
to your many enquiries. The trip to Vancouver was both the best of
things and the worst of things. The trip down to the Coast was tiring
and long. We arrived in Vancouver at 6:00ish on Sunday night May 30th
in the pouring rain. We unloaded the car and got it parked in the
Cancer Lot, for which we paid $14. per day. We had reserved and IV
Pole but, they didn't have any and we are counting on it. So they
call up the cancer agency/institute (I think) and one will be sent
right over. Dolores went straight to the dinning room for dinner and
I sacked out. About 7:00 the IV pole arrives and I started a tube
feed. We know know that I cannot tube feed while we are driving. We
tried both days and both times I got horribly sick. That pretty much
deals with the trip and the arrival.
Monday AM we have a 9:30 appointment ant the Hypereric Unit located
and Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). We had to be up really early
5:30 to get my meds in me and have a nebulizer (1/2 hr.) and a tube
feed (3 hours). Dolores was able to have breakfast in the dinning
room while I was on the tube. The Mason's provide a car service for
the cancer patients and we had arranged for a drive to VGH upon our
arrival the previous evening. Lots of time to spare I think we
arrived at the Hyperbaric unit with minutes to spare. We met with Dr.
Campana the Director of the unit and were given the cook's tour and an
orientation session. Both Dolores and I were most impressed with the
facility and the staff. What's more, they think I an a good candidate
for Hyperbaric Treatments.
The Masons pick us up at the hospital and took us back to the Lodge
(Jean C. Barber Cancer Lodge) where we were staying. I then had to
have another Tube feed and then it was off to see Dr. Anderson for
3:20 PM. The Mason's drove us again. Dr. Anderson was running over
an hour late and I was anxious. Finally we get in to see him and this
is where things went down hill and fast. He is always pretty abrupt
and short because, I think, he is running so late, but that's his
concern not ours. Any way the first thing he does is ask questions
about the fistula and what we've done since Dec. 3oth when Dr. Filatov
discovered
it. Then he scoped me. He didn't freeze me and before you know it I'
bleeding, coughing and the wind pipe is going into spasms and he
doesn't have a smock on and of course I coughed blood and mucus all
over his dress shirt and the floor. Get this he was upset with me and
wonders what his wife will think of having to get him a new shirt, as
if I care. anyway, he said the fistula was healed he could find no
evidence of it. That was the only positive thing which happened
during the whole appointment.
I asked Dr. Anderson what next and why was I still vomiting out of my
Trachea Tube if the fistula was healed? Simply said my epiglottis and
larynx are both severely damaged fro the radiation and when I vomit,
it comes up the esophagus through the laryxn and out the trachea tube.
He said that was it and I would have a gastric tube forever. Nor
very encouraging and he didn't have any alternate suggestions.
Next morning Tuesday May 2 we came home. I was sort of in shock as
you can imagine.
Since we've been home, Dolores has been busy. We've been to see Dr.
Filatov (June 14th) and during his examination of my larynx and area
he was able to confirm that the fistula has indeed healed and and is
no longer a worry. He has make a referral for me to see another
surgeon her in town who will do a Gastroscopy (scope down the throat,
esophagus and ultimately into the stomach to see if there is something
that can be done with the existing food tube and if necessary replace
it.
That brings us up to date. Sorry I just haven't been up to
writing anybody since we got home. I've been sick most every day and
the drugs I'm taking take away my ability to sit down and concentrate.
Rick
