Brian again.
23/1/2017
Treatment in Geelong ceased on Friday and drain-tubes removed on Sunday ready for transport by ambulance back to Portland Hospital on Monday, arriving here at about 4.30pm.
25/1/2017
Back in Portland Lorraine's condition is :- Very short of breath - running on oxygen, no cancer treatment drugs being administered - we were told in Geelong that the healing required after removing the drains would not occur if Lorraine was on the cancer drugs. We have to wait till next Thursday when Lorraine will see her Oncologist to see what the next step - if any, will be. The only treatment she is getting is the oxygen and pain relief. On Tuesday we meet with the Palliative Care nurse to plan Lorraine's return to home and what home help is available.
But currently Lorraine is housed in North Ward at the hospital with the best view over Portland harbour possible.
Today Adrian left for Melbourne to start a holiday with Simon and Caitlin in New Zealand - visiting the "Lord of the Rings" sites. They are all avid fans, so should be a great trip.
Brian
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Tuesday, 17 January 2017
16th and 17th January 2016
Brian again:
16th January 2017
Lorraine wrote : I am very thankful for the professional care given to me while in Geelong Hospital.This includes Oncology specialists (Cancer), Thoracic Team (to sort out the lungs as I am still quite short of breath while talking or doing anything physical) and the Heart Specialist Team (as I have shown signs of Atrial Fibrillation (unsteady heartbeat). At times there have been up to 9 specialists in the room all at once.
Life has been quite busy as not only do all the specialists come but also a dietition, social worker, Infection Team, not to mention frequent visits from the ward nurses checking monitors, showering, administering drugs - intravenous and pills etc., and of course the very welcome visits from friends and rellies including Marlene, Caitlin, Jen Merrett, Nicky and Andrew Schultz and not to forget Brian.
17th January 2017
Early afternoon Lorraine had a further CT Scan and Ultrasound to positively identify where the fluid build-up was located after which two drain lines were inserted which Lorraine says are draining slowly. She has also been given a different cancer drug after being taken off the old one a couple of days ago.
Lorraine has a suspicion that she may not be kept in Geelong Hospital much longer as things appear to have settled down. Time will tell!
16th January 2017
Lorraine wrote : I am very thankful for the professional care given to me while in Geelong Hospital.This includes Oncology specialists (Cancer), Thoracic Team (to sort out the lungs as I am still quite short of breath while talking or doing anything physical) and the Heart Specialist Team (as I have shown signs of Atrial Fibrillation (unsteady heartbeat). At times there have been up to 9 specialists in the room all at once.
Life has been quite busy as not only do all the specialists come but also a dietition, social worker, Infection Team, not to mention frequent visits from the ward nurses checking monitors, showering, administering drugs - intravenous and pills etc., and of course the very welcome visits from friends and rellies including Marlene, Caitlin, Jen Merrett, Nicky and Andrew Schultz and not to forget Brian.
17th January 2017
Early afternoon Lorraine had a further CT Scan and Ultrasound to positively identify where the fluid build-up was located after which two drain lines were inserted which Lorraine says are draining slowly. She has also been given a different cancer drug after being taken off the old one a couple of days ago.
Lorraine has a suspicion that she may not be kept in Geelong Hospital much longer as things appear to have settled down. Time will tell!
Sunday, 15 January 2017
15 January 2017
Brian here:
There have been some changes since the last blog, firstly I am going to transpose some notes Lorraine wrote while in Portland Hospital on Saturday 14th January while waiting for a patient transfer vehicle to take her to Geelong Hospital.
Her notes:-"Oh the difference a day can make.
I've been disappointed over the 'slowness' of my recovery from the 'pleurodesis' over the past week or two - culminating in a few very uncomfortable and rather breathless nights.
However yesterday was the funeral for our dear friend Richard von Stanke. Richard's cancer battle lasted 16 years, including periods of remission - and there was no way Brian and I would have missed it!
So on Friday, after the funeral, off we went, following what became an unexpected teary outburst over the phone to the District Nurses - most unlike me!, to Portland Hospital A&E, where I was attached to Oxygen - ahh quite a relief, and had a further Xray and CT Scan.
It appears that the pleurodesis has not worked as well as it should have, so after a comfortable night at the hospital, I am scheduled to be transferred to Geelong Hospital today (Saturday) at 1pm.
Guess that's it for today.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring?"
Brian now - As all of you who know Lorraine personally would know she is very good at hiding her pain/feelings, but I was aware that she was not well and so was she - when she would not move out of the house - even to go to church something had to be very wrong. When asked she would always say she was feeling a bit sore, but thinks that generally since the 'pleurodesis' that things are improving.
Back to Saturday - the patient transfer vehicle did finally arrive and left for Geelong at 5:15pm. for a 4 hour trip there.
Sunday morning (today) I received a phonecall from our good friend Jen Merrett, who just happened to be in Geelong and knowing Lorraine was in hospital there visited and was able to tell me the details - including what she could overhear the team of doctors discussing Lorraine.
Apparently her heart rhythm was very fast and she had very low blood pressure, she has been stabilized by medication through the day.
I was still in Portland at this stage, but left immediately for Geelong. By the time I arrived Simon and Caitlin were there and although pale and quite weak Lorraine was much better.
Tomorrow a team of doctors will be deciding the next move.
Please keep Lorraine and myself in your prayers - they are a great help!
Special thanks to Jen Merrett and the Portland prayer team for all they have done.
Brian
There have been some changes since the last blog, firstly I am going to transpose some notes Lorraine wrote while in Portland Hospital on Saturday 14th January while waiting for a patient transfer vehicle to take her to Geelong Hospital.
Her notes:-"Oh the difference a day can make.
I've been disappointed over the 'slowness' of my recovery from the 'pleurodesis' over the past week or two - culminating in a few very uncomfortable and rather breathless nights.
However yesterday was the funeral for our dear friend Richard von Stanke. Richard's cancer battle lasted 16 years, including periods of remission - and there was no way Brian and I would have missed it!
So on Friday, after the funeral, off we went, following what became an unexpected teary outburst over the phone to the District Nurses - most unlike me!, to Portland Hospital A&E, where I was attached to Oxygen - ahh quite a relief, and had a further Xray and CT Scan.
It appears that the pleurodesis has not worked as well as it should have, so after a comfortable night at the hospital, I am scheduled to be transferred to Geelong Hospital today (Saturday) at 1pm.
Guess that's it for today.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring?"
Brian now - As all of you who know Lorraine personally would know she is very good at hiding her pain/feelings, but I was aware that she was not well and so was she - when she would not move out of the house - even to go to church something had to be very wrong. When asked she would always say she was feeling a bit sore, but thinks that generally since the 'pleurodesis' that things are improving.
Back to Saturday - the patient transfer vehicle did finally arrive and left for Geelong at 5:15pm. for a 4 hour trip there.
Sunday morning (today) I received a phonecall from our good friend Jen Merrett, who just happened to be in Geelong and knowing Lorraine was in hospital there visited and was able to tell me the details - including what she could overhear the team of doctors discussing Lorraine.
Apparently her heart rhythm was very fast and she had very low blood pressure, she has been stabilized by medication through the day.
I was still in Portland at this stage, but left immediately for Geelong. By the time I arrived Simon and Caitlin were there and although pale and quite weak Lorraine was much better.
Tomorrow a team of doctors will be deciding the next move.
Please keep Lorraine and myself in your prayers - they are a great help!
Special thanks to Jen Merrett and the Portland prayer team for all they have done.
Brian
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
5 January 2017 A New Year Begins...
It's 2017 - and that means it's exactly 2 years since I have been made aware of this cancer journey. Perhaps there's a somewhat strange sense of irony that 2 years ago I was in Geelong hospital, going through a myriad of assessments - and here I was almost to the day, two years later, back in Geelong hospital, recovering from pleurodesis surgery.
I've been home just over a week now - and I have to say that I haven't bounced back with as much gusto as I might have hoped. It's taking time for the swelling to go down and the pain to lessen in the right lung area, but at least all the draining tubes are gone and stitches are out. I've also been a bit breathless, mainly at nights, which requires a bit of propping up with extra pillows to relieve symptoms. But while progress is slow, I feel I am definitely on the improve. I'd love to be doing a bit of pruning in the garden here and there - though Brian is doing a very good job of this, and his efforts, combined with a wet year, have resulted in the garden looking downright respectable and colourful.
Fortunately I don't mind the odd game of test cricket and even the Big Bash series (as long as I remember that I need to barrack for Melbourne Stars).
I've been home just over a week now - and I have to say that I haven't bounced back with as much gusto as I might have hoped. It's taking time for the swelling to go down and the pain to lessen in the right lung area, but at least all the draining tubes are gone and stitches are out. I've also been a bit breathless, mainly at nights, which requires a bit of propping up with extra pillows to relieve symptoms. But while progress is slow, I feel I am definitely on the improve. I'd love to be doing a bit of pruning in the garden here and there - though Brian is doing a very good job of this, and his efforts, combined with a wet year, have resulted in the garden looking downright respectable and colourful.
Fortunately I don't mind the odd game of test cricket and even the Big Bash series (as long as I remember that I need to barrack for Melbourne Stars).
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| Wow, accidentally managed to have all 5 grandchildren in the one photo (well done Caitlin) |
Thursday, 29 December 2016
30 December 2016 And home again...
Wow I can hardly believe that I am home again.
Christmas Day was spent recuperating in the Geelong hospital - and that was certainly a first! It began with an early morning Christmas Day breakfast hand-made and prepared by Jen - and how could resist the delectable Portland strawberries and raspberries to nibble on during the day!
The doctors who performed the pleurodesis were both surprised at how well it all went, so I was happy with that. Unfortunately for 4 days I had to remain attached to a suction tube approx 4 metres in length - just long enough for me to hobble into the en suite, but otherwise most inconvenient! So when it was finally removed early on Boxing Day, it was just a matter of going through all the discharge paperwork - and head for home. What a relief that has been, for Brian as much as for me.
Since arriving home, I have been managing pain fairly successfully, the stitches have been removed - and then Christmas has begun! With visits from Sonya, Scott and 4 children, Dale and Kodey, Simon and Caitlin, and Adrian - we had a lovely time enjoying the children's excitement and playing inside - as the weather was decidedly damp and humid.
And now for a few Christmas pics. Quite honestly I didn't know how pale and scrawny I look until seeing these photos, but then again, it's not all about me - rather the family fun we were able to share. I have lost around 5 kg over the past few weeks, (normal for me after surgery) but that will change as my appetite improves.
Christmas Day was spent recuperating in the Geelong hospital - and that was certainly a first! It began with an early morning Christmas Day breakfast hand-made and prepared by Jen - and how could resist the delectable Portland strawberries and raspberries to nibble on during the day!
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| Christmas Day - attached to my tube, and wearing a Christmas hat strategically designed (unsuccessfully) to hide the curly, wiry tufts of hair appearing under my hats and wig! |
Since arriving home, I have been managing pain fairly successfully, the stitches have been removed - and then Christmas has begun! With visits from Sonya, Scott and 4 children, Dale and Kodey, Simon and Caitlin, and Adrian - we had a lovely time enjoying the children's excitement and playing inside - as the weather was decidedly damp and humid.
And now for a few Christmas pics. Quite honestly I didn't know how pale and scrawny I look until seeing these photos, but then again, it's not all about me - rather the family fun we were able to share. I have lost around 5 kg over the past few weeks, (normal for me after surgery) but that will change as my appetite improves.
 |
| All the family - with the five grandchildren |
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| The children always love a story.. |
Thursday, 22 December 2016
23 December 2016
Hi, Brian again,
Just re-reading the last blog again - found an error in the dates - Lorraine's operation was on Wednesday not Thursday, as I had written.
Blessings to you all for Christmas.
Just re-reading the last blog again - found an error in the dates - Lorraine's operation was on Wednesday not Thursday, as I had written.
Blessings to you all for Christmas.
23 December 2016
Hi, Brian again,
Lorraine is still in Geelong Hospital recovering from her operation on Thursday evening. The following are her words:-
"At last it feels like things are on the mend. Despite some early negative predictions from two surgeons, all went ahead on Wednesday evening ("night -Brian") with very pleasing results. Pain is decreasing every day, and each surgeon had the grace to say that it went much better than they expected.
So on Christmas Day I will have the lovely present of removal of all drainage tubes, and all being well we will head back home to Portland on Boxing Day.
Christmas lunch has been posponed for a week or two. Back in Portland we will look forward to catching up with children and grandchildren, but will sadly miss our Miller Christmas gathering in Melbourne........ perhaps next year.
Meantime, crank up the air conditioners, out with the Aerogard and have yourselves a very Merry Christmas."
Lorraine is still in Geelong Hospital recovering from her operation on Thursday evening. The following are her words:-
"At last it feels like things are on the mend. Despite some early negative predictions from two surgeons, all went ahead on Wednesday evening ("night -Brian") with very pleasing results. Pain is decreasing every day, and each surgeon had the grace to say that it went much better than they expected.
So on Christmas Day I will have the lovely present of removal of all drainage tubes, and all being well we will head back home to Portland on Boxing Day.
Christmas lunch has been posponed for a week or two. Back in Portland we will look forward to catching up with children and grandchildren, but will sadly miss our Miller Christmas gathering in Melbourne........ perhaps next year.
Meantime, crank up the air conditioners, out with the Aerogard and have yourselves a very Merry Christmas."
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