Breast cancer

[Koolau]

Good one! Hope it works.

BTW I didn't mention it, but the PT guy they sent over yesterday (first time) had me stand on tiptoes for a staggering 10 times. That was the entire workout. What amazing exercise. Before they sent him, I had been doing the same thing on my own 30 times/day instead of 10.

I'm not napping yet because I just know this isn't over. I won't be able to nap soundly until I feel like there's a chance they'll let me sleep a few minutes.

When they come next time, tell them to "show" you how to vacuum and do dishes and move the chair over to the other side of the room... When they come back the next time, tell them you already "forgot - please show me again." Maybe they'll finally get the message and just quit coming.

Best to you through all of this.

 

[Jerry1]

Good! Be sure to keep moving all afternoon. Hurry it up!!!! Don't quit! It's "important" for YOU to keep moving without respite no matter what, so "find ways" to do that ASAP and start humpin it. And whatever you do, don't pause for a fraction of a moment.

As for me, I've been through a lot in recent weeks, I'm exhausted, and it's orders of magnitude more important for me to take a nap this afternoon.

Believe me, I know and greatly appreciate the value of a nap and sleep in general. Unfortunately, I also know how quickly I lost a lot of muscle by being in the hospital for a couple weeks. I’m sure you appreciate that given what happened when you had COVID. I was just trying to reinforce that after you jettison the PT scam, that you’ll still need to keep moving. Though I understand that some days in this journey will not be moving days. They’ll be “leave me the “f” alone” days.

 

[W2R]

The PT bimbo squad called me at home again tonight at around dusk (5:40 PM, SUNDAY night, do you believe it? wow!), to schedule when they are going to invade my home. I told them that I reconsidered and decided not to do any more therapy. This time they threatened to go on up the line and report me to some sort of higher up health care bureaucracy that is in charge of their PT bureaucracy.

The intentional harassment is sure getting tiresome. I haven't been counting but I think this is about the dozenth phone call from them about this.

On other topics, tomorrow I have to go get an MRI of my tumor and whatever else needs imaging. Hopefully should be a "piece 'o' cake".
I've already had a mammogram, an ultrasound, a biopsy, and a PET scan of the area so this should just be adding some more imagery.

Feeling better each day and I hope this keeps up. My second chemo treatment is in 10 days.

 

[Car-Guy]

The PT bimbo squad called me at home again tonight at around dusk (6:30 PM, SUNDAY night, do you believe it? wow!), to schedule when they are going to invade my home. I told them that I reconsidered and decided not to do any more therapy. This time they threatened to go on up the line and report me to some sort of higher up health care bureaucracy that is in charge of their PT bureaucracy.

You are far more tolerant than I would be. A few calls like that (after I said no nicely once or twice) and the PT bimbo's would be learning a new vocabulary from me that would make most sailors blush.

 

[W2R]

You are far more tolerant than I would be. A few calls like that (after I said no nicely once or twice) and the PT bimbo's would be learning a new vocabulary from me that would make most sailors blush.

Thank you - - I've been thinking that you are absolutely right! Having been a Navy wife for 20 years, I have heard some interesting phrases I could try out. Or, I could just hand the phone to Frank, who grew up in New Orleans back in the days when the mob ruled and things were a bit rougher down here.

 

[misanman]

Curious about what exactly is a "bimbo"?

 

[FindingForward]

The intentional harassment is sure getting tiresome. I haven't been counting but I think this is about the dozenth phone call from them about this.

I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. The PT/OT company harassed my sick parent endlessly - she was in no shape to do any PT/OT, as she had other serious medical complications and severe pain from that nearing end of life, but they wouldn't let up and kept threatening that her insurance would cut off medical payments if she didn't cooperate with prescribed therapy. Horrible.

They act as if it's in the patient's best interest. (In some cases, like post surgery/restoring function, it definitely is, as outcomes are compromised without it.) But in other cases? Please! They couldn't care less about her health - it was all about the billing. And some of the OT stuff was ridiculous.

 

[Koolau]

It sounds like you're being your own advocate through all of this. I think you're doing just fine. Don't let the bimbos get you down.

Thanks, too, for the reports. We're cheering for you from the sidelines. Blessings and aloha.

 

[pacergal]

wow, so sorry you are having to deal with the problems of OT/PT, it sounds like a horrendous company.
Luckily, the company my father dealt with were very good, but when he was done and told them no more, they left him alone.

You are your own best advocate. Take care!

 

[Walt34]

This time they threatened to go on up the line and report me to some sort of higher up health care bureaucracy that is in charge of their PT bureaucracy.

Tell 'em go go ahead. What are they gonna do about it - revoke your birthday?

 

[W2R]

Couldn't get the MRI done. After spending an hour or two preparing and waiting (no other patients, either!), they told me I wouldn't be capable of climbing high enough into the very large MRI machine to get properly placed. Yes, I'm both big and tall, but I told them I'd give it my best shot. They refused, saying they had nobody to catch me if/when I fell. OK! Fine by me. My oncologist is going to look for a better MRI facility somewhere around here.

Meanwhile, enjoying life and waiting until my next chemo infusion which is scheduled for Wednesday, August 21st. Hope you all are doing well!

 

[aja8888]

Couldn't get the MRI done. After spending an hour or two preparing and waiting (no other patients, either!), they told me I wouldn't be capable of climbing high enough into the very large MRI machine to get properly placed. Yes, I'm both big and tall, but I told them I'd give it my best shot. They refused, saying they had nobody to catch me if/when I fell. OK! Fine by me. My oncologist is going to look for a better MRI facility somewhere around here.

Meanwhile, enjoying life and waiting until my next chemo infusion which is scheduled for Wednesday, August 21st. Hope you all are doing well!

Good luck! None of this stuff is ever easy.

I met with the surgeon today that put the stent in my Carotid artery for a follow up visit. Two more months on Plavix and then a 6 month ultra sound on the neck (maybe CAT scan) to see if the artery is still at 50% flow.

 

[braumeister]

MRI adventure sounds strange. Climbing up onto it?
I've had several of them in different places, and they just rolled me up next to it on a gurney and I rolled over onto the MRI platform that slid into the machine. Same thing in reverse afterward.

 

[W2R]

MRI adventure sounds strange. Climbing up onto it?
I've had several of them in different places, and they just rolled me up next to it on a gurney and I rolled over onto the MRI platform that slid into the machine. Same thing in reverse afterward.

I thought it was strange, too! Also strange that one of the top hospitals in New Orleans apparently didn't even have an "open MRI" that one could just walk into. Oh well. Guess they (or some other facility) will get back to me.

 

[steady saver]

That's so weird. I've never heard of having to "climb up into" an MRI machine.
Oh well, you got the rest of the day off. Yay on that part.

 

[jazz4cash]

This thread is tremendously helpful to me as a secondary caregiver. I am grateful that W2R and others are sharing their experiences.

 

[Dawg52]

Sorry for your MRI experience. A pita to have to go somewhere else.

 

[Walt34]

Couldn't get the MRI done. After spending an hour or two preparing and waiting (no other patients, either!), they told me I wouldn't be capable of climbing high enough into the very large MRI machine to get properly placed.

That sounds like nonsense to me too. My experiences (note plural) parallel braumeister's. There was no climbing involved with any of them. I think I've had about four now. Maybe five.

 

[athena53]

That sounds like nonsense to me too. My experiences (note plural) parallel braumeister's. There was no climbing involved with any of them. I think I've had about four now. Maybe five.

Yea, I find that surprising. I've gone for breast MRIs and now that I think of it I sort of had to climb up onto the table. I'd say it was the height of a regular kitchen table. Never thought about it but I'm still nimble and have good balance- it does seem odd given how many people who need MRIs may be older, sicker and have mobility issues.

 

[W2R]

That sounds like nonsense to me too. My experiences (note plural) parallel braumeister's. There was no climbing involved with any of them. I think I've had about four now. Maybe five.

I've had an MRI before too, 45 years ago and there was no climbing. Also I have never been at a major urban hospital where the prospect of having to pick up a patient that had fallen, or holding her hand so she didn't fall, was a show stopper. My rollator walker is apparently not allowed near the MRI machine.

My oncologist possibly thinks I'm an uncooperative patient after this and the PT/OT situation. We'll see. Then again, after all the prior imaging (mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy, PET scan, and more) it also seems strange to me that an additional MRI is all that important. But apparently it is.

 

[W2R]

Yea, I find that surprising. I've gone for breast MRIs and now that I think of it I sort of had to climb up onto the table. I'd say it was the height of a regular kitchen table. Never thought about it but I'm still nimble and have good balance- it does seem odd given how many people who need MRIs may be older, sicker and have mobility issues.

I am all of those and yes it does seem odd. The one they showed me (in a photo) was a good half foot or foot higher than a regular kitchen table and then once I was on it, I'd need to crawl a couple of feet further, up a sloped area to get a bit higher than that. No stool to help me get up there, and nothing to hold onto like a rail, either. It also seemed odd to me that none of the dozen or so very big, strong orderlies standing around could possibly give me a boost, steady me, or whatever while I was climbing.

 

[MC Rider]

I think be as uncooperative as you need to be to be in control of your care. But only as much as needed.

 

[Car-Guy]

I think be as uncooperative as you need to be to be in control of your care. But only as much as needed.

I've pushed back (said no) to certain tests and/or treatments when they just didn't make sense to me... After-all, doctors aren't Gods.

 

[Ronstar]

Couldn't get the MRI done. After spending an hour or two preparing and waiting (no other patients, either!), they told me I wouldn't be capable of climbing high enough into the very large MRI machine to get properly placed. Yes, I'm both big and tall, but I told them I'd give it my best shot. They refused, saying they had nobody to catch me if/when I fell. OK! Fine by me. My oncologist is going to look for a better MRI facility somewhere around here.

Meanwhile, enjoying life and waiting until my next chemo infusion which is scheduled for Wednesday, August 21st. Hope you all are doing well!

That sounds like nonsense to me too. My experiences (note plural) parallel braumeister's. There was no climbing involved with any of them. I think I've had about four now. Maybe five.

I agree - I've only had a couple of MRI's. Both times it was a tube about the height of a bed. No climbing involved.

 

[are_we_there_yet?]

Hello W2R. I am not as active on this forum as I should be, but I do enjoy the community quite a bit (from the sidelines). I want to send you good vibes and well wishes from this internet stranger.