Where To Begin
I've got a real mixed bag here I think so I sure hope I don't ramble too much.
Well, hubby's bone scan results were negative which was a blessing from our Lord for sure but they were still puzzled by his elevating PSA level. It is possible that he is experiencing a condition called PSA bounce which some men do go thru for a couple yrs after treatment. So for now, they will monitor him quite regularily & we'll see fr there. A next thing they would consider would be hormone therapy but we're not even going there at all yet.
My dad has been going thru some prostate monitoring & we found out this morning that he does have an aggresive form of prostate cancer. They can't do surgery because of his age & his prostate is too large for brachy therapy. He would have to have the traditional external beam radiation which I could tell he was not at all pleased about. However, they are going to arrange for a CT scan and bone scan to see if anything has spread elsewhere. My dads not a man that is openly communicates easily or that you can tell whats going on in his heart & soul type of thing but we stopped for a coffee & so that he could have some breakfast & he did say at one point that he felt like he was shaking on the inside. I thought it was good that he at least expressed some kind of emotion. I assured him that it was perfectly normal & that it was good he said something. The one thing I didn't do was get on a pulpit type of thing & preach to him as I know thats not the way to handle my father. Now when I look back on this morning I don't really know if I did accomplish anything worthwhile at all, although, I do know if was good having my hubby there as he could relate it to better with him then I could of course & they did talk somewhat.
As for me, I'm doing OK I think. I've been having my usual sleep issues but it's affecting me more right now for some reason. We go to bed abt 8:30ish & I'm usually up between 6 & 6:30ish. I average abt 5 hrs sleep but I do have the odd weird night where I'll actually sleep 4 hr stretches, wake, but then do another 4 hrs. My system sure is shocked by that I tell ya. As I said, most of the time I'm on top of my game with the sleep I do get, but I'm really dragging alot lately. My rheumy took me off prednisone, with cautions of course, to see how things go & so time will tell I guess. Most of the time I'm told it's amazing how I can handle stress but I've a dear dear friend here who feels that the strange moments of draining fatigue is my body doing it's thing to release tension & stress & that's it's way of saying "whew, this is tough, I'm pooped".
Home issues. We've just recently found out we've got a collapsed sewer problem. The good thing is it's on the city property so it's in their ball park. However, I'm waiting to find out if there's all kinds of paperwork they will want to see from us. City bureaucrats do like their paperwork don't they. It's been hard sometimes here cause it's like we need to do a 24 vigil in the basement to make sure it's not backing up. At least we're somehow still able to laugh abt it all. It's become second nature that first thing in the morning we turn the basement light on & check to make sure the floor is dry. Aaahh, this too shall pass right!!!
Well I was positive I had something else I wanted to get down here but alas my brain is refusing to think anymore so I'm thinking it's time to sign off for now.
I so love all of you that take a moment to check my journals & I so take to heart all your advice.
Well, hubby's bone scan results were negative which was a blessing from our Lord for sure but they were still puzzled by his elevating PSA level. It is possible that he is experiencing a condition called PSA bounce which some men do go thru for a couple yrs after treatment. So for now, they will monitor him quite regularily & we'll see fr there. A next thing they would consider would be hormone therapy but we're not even going there at all yet.
My dad has been going thru some prostate monitoring & we found out this morning that he does have an aggresive form of prostate cancer. They can't do surgery because of his age & his prostate is too large for brachy therapy. He would have to have the traditional external beam radiation which I could tell he was not at all pleased about. However, they are going to arrange for a CT scan and bone scan to see if anything has spread elsewhere. My dads not a man that is openly communicates easily or that you can tell whats going on in his heart & soul type of thing but we stopped for a coffee & so that he could have some breakfast & he did say at one point that he felt like he was shaking on the inside. I thought it was good that he at least expressed some kind of emotion. I assured him that it was perfectly normal & that it was good he said something. The one thing I didn't do was get on a pulpit type of thing & preach to him as I know thats not the way to handle my father. Now when I look back on this morning I don't really know if I did accomplish anything worthwhile at all, although, I do know if was good having my hubby there as he could relate it to better with him then I could of course & they did talk somewhat.
As for me, I'm doing OK I think. I've been having my usual sleep issues but it's affecting me more right now for some reason. We go to bed abt 8:30ish & I'm usually up between 6 & 6:30ish. I average abt 5 hrs sleep but I do have the odd weird night where I'll actually sleep 4 hr stretches, wake, but then do another 4 hrs. My system sure is shocked by that I tell ya. As I said, most of the time I'm on top of my game with the sleep I do get, but I'm really dragging alot lately. My rheumy took me off prednisone, with cautions of course, to see how things go & so time will tell I guess. Most of the time I'm told it's amazing how I can handle stress but I've a dear dear friend here who feels that the strange moments of draining fatigue is my body doing it's thing to release tension & stress & that's it's way of saying "whew, this is tough, I'm pooped".
Home issues. We've just recently found out we've got a collapsed sewer problem. The good thing is it's on the city property so it's in their ball park. However, I'm waiting to find out if there's all kinds of paperwork they will want to see from us. City bureaucrats do like their paperwork don't they. It's been hard sometimes here cause it's like we need to do a 24 vigil in the basement to make sure it's not backing up. At least we're somehow still able to laugh abt it all. It's become second nature that first thing in the morning we turn the basement light on & check to make sure the floor is dry. Aaahh, this too shall pass right!!!
Well I was positive I had something else I wanted to get down here but alas my brain is refusing to think anymore so I'm thinking it's time to sign off for now.
I so love all of you that take a moment to check my journals & I so take to heart all your advice.
Replies
DS is the best way to let all our feelings out or otherwise they would stay bottled up, so don\'t worry about \"rambling\" on. It is the best medicine. You have had so much to deal with, it is no wonder you are stressed. Yes, this too shall pass! (a great saying!!!) Hugs and love to you!!
I\'m so sorry to hear about your dad. I think it\'s great that you are there for him on his terms. I think if you hang in there, in time, it will all pay off and he will learn to ask for help, etc. I\'m thrilled, though to hear hubby go past that hurdle. Do you remember that one article I sent you a link for that talked about psa bumps sometimes meaning nothing? or something of that nature. I surely hope that is the case with your hubby!
That\'s sad to hear about your sleep issues. I hate it when I have times like that. Sometimes I just want to get out of bed at 3:30 am and begin my day, I am so sick of lying there awake. I hope it passes quickly for you. Mine tends to get better when I can get outdoors and get some exercise. NOt always easy for us lupies is it, though?!
I hope you get some results on your sewer problem. What a pain! I\'m glad you can journal. I can\'t do that on DS. I will have to try it again, but I am not too hopeful. I miss hammering out my emotions. I need to find a fix for that soon. New computer, new browser will fix it, but that\'s probably $3000 away. : )
Miss you, hope you are ready for Christmas and feeling blessed, xoxo, m
Pat .. I am so sorry to hear this about your dad!! Glad you and Mel could talk with him , knowing Mel went through this should be a help for him.In time I am sure he will ask for more help. This is probably hard on him know what he has to go through. I will be praying for your dad.
Your probably not sleeping to well because of all this going on. It will settle down and your rest will return to what it usually is. I just pray your not coming down with a cold or the flu.Was your basement dry today? Hope you get that straightened out as soon. Please take care yourself. Are you all ready for Christmas yet? Terry bought me something but he won\'t give it to me before Christmas. LOL
Love and hugs and kisses from my house to your house. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
HI Kitty, I\'m so sorry to hear about your dad. You say you don\'t know what you accomplished when you visited him but I\'m sure just BEING there with him did more than any meds can. Men are strange communicators and I wonder if just dropping by, with your hubbie, more often is an idea? We females just blurt our feelings out and I\"m glad we can, huh? Your dad is on my prayers list.
Good news on your hubbie\'s report! Your sleeping patterns likely are impacted by these worries in your head, I know mine are.
Love, prayers and hugs, hun! xo