SleepyHead
Mar 12, 2003, 02:28 PM
Not only have they not dealt completely with the pain he's having from
the gangrene, but they've sent him home with some kind of medicine
that's supposed to reduce the pressure in his blood vessels. According
to my friends from the local state hospital, the pressure therapy has
been around for 30 years, and is a valid form of treating of gangrene.
However, when I told them that Daddy's 4 black toes with no redness of
2 weeks ago had turned into 10 black toes, plus blackening of the top
part of the balls of his feet, all surrounded by a quarter-inch band of
red which further extends around the sole of his left foot, they were
infuriated that the doctors at WK hadn't amputated both legs below the
knees before even thinking of sending him home. According them,
gangrene that persists like that in spite of the medication is not to
be tolerated any longer than necessary, as further spreading may lead
to more radical amputation - especially given both Daddy's heart
condition and the cancer.
As to the cancer, Momma is convinced that he has first-stage squamous
cell carcinoma of the lungs. I can't seem to make her realise that the
doctors simply cannot be certain of that until they do the PET-scan. I
also haven't told her (mostly because she won't listen) that when
squamous is found in the lungs, it usually has metastasized theire from
other distantly located cancerous organs, but it has been known to
manifest in the lungs first.
Squamous metastasizes more slowly than other forms of cancer - which is
good news if he only has it in his lungs, and rather bad news if the
cells in the lungs are mere metastases.
His PET-scan is scheduled for Friday - but if they don't do something
about the severe pain from the gangrene, cancer won't have a chance to
take him from us - he's already talking suicide.
Prayers, please - lots of 'em...
*fierce huggles*
Sleepy
the gangrene, but they've sent him home with some kind of medicine
that's supposed to reduce the pressure in his blood vessels. According
to my friends from the local state hospital, the pressure therapy has
been around for 30 years, and is a valid form of treating of gangrene.
However, when I told them that Daddy's 4 black toes with no redness of
2 weeks ago had turned into 10 black toes, plus blackening of the top
part of the balls of his feet, all surrounded by a quarter-inch band of
red which further extends around the sole of his left foot, they were
infuriated that the doctors at WK hadn't amputated both legs below the
knees before even thinking of sending him home. According them,
gangrene that persists like that in spite of the medication is not to
be tolerated any longer than necessary, as further spreading may lead
to more radical amputation - especially given both Daddy's heart
condition and the cancer.
As to the cancer, Momma is convinced that he has first-stage squamous
cell carcinoma of the lungs. I can't seem to make her realise that the
doctors simply cannot be certain of that until they do the PET-scan. I
also haven't told her (mostly because she won't listen) that when
squamous is found in the lungs, it usually has metastasized theire from
other distantly located cancerous organs, but it has been known to
manifest in the lungs first.
Squamous metastasizes more slowly than other forms of cancer - which is
good news if he only has it in his lungs, and rather bad news if the
cells in the lungs are mere metastases.
His PET-scan is scheduled for Friday - but if they don't do something
about the severe pain from the gangrene, cancer won't have a chance to
take him from us - he's already talking suicide.
Prayers, please - lots of 'em...
*fierce huggles*
Sleepy