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DISQUALIFIED for TheraSphere

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Posted 3/27/2006 12:51 PM (GMT -7)
The angiogram on Friday revealed there is too much blood shunting from the liver to the lungs to make TheraSphere treatment safe.    sad     knew this was a possibility, but it's a huge disappointment.  Instead, I will go for chemoembolization of the liver tumor on April 7th.  I will be admitted overnight for this, but will have pain, nausea and/or vomiting, extreme fatigue, and some hair loss for several weeks afterwards.  This treatment involves injecting chemo into the hepatic artery that feeds the tumor, and also will shut off the blood flow to the tumor to keep it from growing more, or possibly even shrink it.  It is a maintenance thing, to keep the tumor contained and to prevent liver failure.

Continued prayers are appreciated.

Connie

Posted 3/27/2006 3:12 PM (GMT -7)

Connie,

I can feel your disappointment!! I am disappointed as well! I will continue to keep you in my Prayers!! Just know I am here for you!! Love, Hugs and Prayers!!

Teresa

Posted 3/27/2006 3:36 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Connie,

You are in my prayers. I'm so sorry you were disqualified for the prefered treatment. We will be there for you thoughout your chemo treatment.

We love you,
Barb
Posted 3/27/2006 7:02 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Connie, I am so sorry to hear that the treatment is not going to be. I was so angry to hear this because of how long the government kept you hanging in limbo. I feel your dissapointment.My heart & love go out to you sweetie. I am here for you thru the chemo hon. Love & Hugs. My thoughts & prayers are with you. later.....
Posted 3/27/2006 8:00 PM (GMT -7)
I am so sorry for the huge disappointment! My thoughts and prayers are with you
trish
Posted 3/27/2006 9:40 PM (GMT -7)
Thank you all. It's been a very surreal day...after all the waiting and tests, to find that it's a "no go." I could have had the chemoembolization months ago, but waited for the TheraSphere. I'm coughing up junk again, too. Nobody has said anything about my chest scan, though. I asked if anything new was seen, and was told "no." Well, I will try the offered treatment once and see how it goes. My sister is going to try to get down here again, and a friend in VT is also planning to come sometime in April. Meanwhile, I have all of you to "talk" to.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 3/27/2006 11:23 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Connie , that certainly was a lot of waiting & all you had to go thru with the tests just to hear this. Something like that would certainly knock the wind out of your sails. I wish I was there to give you a hug sweetie.Did you ask them if there is a relation between your liver & the junk you are coughing up?I hope the chemo helps Connie. I'm glad to hear the last visit with your sister went well. I hope this visit will to Hon. I'm glad she will be there with you. You need all the support you can get right now. You sure do have us to talk to sweetie. We are all here for you. Take care Connie. Love & Hugs. My thoughts & prayers are with you. Please know I care! later...
Posted 3/28/2006 3:22 AM (GMT -7)
What disappointing news for you. I can't begin to imagine how you must be feeling. I hope the alternate treatment is not too stressful and makes a difference. Glad you have family and friends to share the load, as well as your friends on the Forum. Take care.
Marg
Posted 4/3/2006 6:47 PM (GMT -7)
Hello Connie,

My Thoughts and Prayers are with you. Hope the Chemoembolization goes well on Friday. Will you have someone staying with you, after the procedure?

 

Love & Hugs!!

 

Teresa

Post Edited (TDT) : 4/3/2006 8:14:28 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/3/2006 7:17 PM (GMT -7)
Thanks, everyone. I'm actually trying not to think about it. My sister is coming down on Thurs. night to take me to the treatment on Fri. It's scheduled for 11 a.m., but I'm sure I will need to be there earlier. I will call the nurse liason tomorrow. Sis will stay until Sun.  If I need someone here after that, Bill or someone else will come.

Bill has been in the hospital since Fri. with chest pain. They have done every test imaginable and have not found anything, so they are releasing him tomorrow. He's not a complainer and would never have stayed there if he wasn't having such pain. He has COPD and emphysema, is on 2 inhalers, and STILL smoking--so we think it has something to do with that. I told him I hope he will try to stop smoking now.

I've been sleeping a lot, and also watching movies. My sister gave me a DVD player for my b.d., so I'm catching up on all the movies I've missed. Friends and neighbors have been loaning me DVDs, and I also have joined Netflix.

Thanks again, to all, for the prayers and well wishes.
Connie

Post Edited (hep93) : 4/3/2006 8:24:34 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/3/2006 9:14 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Connie,I'm really glad your sister will be with you when you go thru the treatment & for the few days following.It's important to have the support. I also pray Bill will be there for you as well.I'm glad that everyone is getting movies for you as this will certainly help keep your mind occupied on something positive. Let me know how it goes & remember I am here for you. My Prayers are with you always. Love & Hugs. later.....
Posted 4/4/2006 10:59 PM (GMT -7)

Hi Connie,

Sounds like you will have good company & transportation, for Friday. Hope Bill made it home okay! Sounds like you have the support in line! SMOKING......I have been smoke free for 2 days now! scool It hasn't been easy, I have patches. Love, Hugs, and Prayers!!!!

Teresa

Posted 4/5/2006 7:40 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Teresa,That's fantastic you've been smoke free for 2 days. Way to go girl you can do it!
Hi Connie, Hope Bill made it home & that his problem has resolved itself.Let us know how the chemo goes. My thoughts & prayers are with you. later....
Posted 4/5/2006 8:44 AM (GMT -7)
Teresa, congratulations! It is SO hard o stop smoking if you have been doing it a long time. I was a 2-pack a day smoker for 40 years--stopped over 3 years ago when I was in a spica cast and in hospital for 2 months! It takes what it takes, I guess!

Bill was not discharged yesterday because his temp was 1 degree above normal! He was so ticked off! He has no more pain and is anxious to get out of the hospital and home to his own bed. Everything has returned negative, so they just don't know. His pain is gone, so hopefully he will go home today.

I'm a little nervous about the chemoembolization, but glad that I will be in the hospital overnight so they can watch out for me. I was told to expect pain, nausea and vomiting, extreme fatigue, and loss of appetite. However, they will give me meds to counteract the nausea and pain.

Again, Teresa...WTG! They gave me patches in the hospital. I used them for 2 weeks after discharge and then made it without them. You can do it!

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts and prayers.

Connie
Posted 4/6/2006 5:39 AM (GMT -7)

Connie,

I can understand the nervousness!! I'm sure they will keep you as comfortable as possible. My Prayers will continue for you!!!

Hope Bill finally made it out of the hospital. Not the best place in the world to rest or dine!! I am glad the testing has been negative! I hope he continues to do well!!

Thank-you for your support on my torturous venture to quit smoking!!! I am still smoke free. I have been smoking between 25-30 years. So it is not easy. Keep finding myself grabbing for an imaginary pack! lol I am pretty determined to kick this habit!

Good Luck Tomorrow!

Love,Hugs, and Prayers!

Teresa

Posted 4/6/2006 6:39 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Connie, Remember sweetie when you have your chemo I will be with you in spirit. My thoughts & prayers are with you always.
Hi Teresa, glad to see you have great determination to kick the smoking habit. Especially right now with what you are going thru with Mark's pending transplant. Good luck you can do it! I'm proud of you.Take care. later....
Posted 4/8/2006 6:25 AM (GMT -7)
Teresa,keep it up girl! The first few days seem hard,but I have been smoke free for 9 mths now and cant imagine picking the nasty things back up! Just wait til food tastes wonderful to you again,and you wake up and realize,your not coughing and wheezing! :hugs: good luck!
trish
Posted 4/10/2006 12:08 AM (GMT -7)
Sis came down on Thurs. evening and i had the chemoembolization on Fri. a.m.  She and Bill have been with me in the hospital and at home.  Bill went back home last night, and sister went home this afternoon.  The pain has been the worst.  I have 2 pain meds to alternate.  No appetite and some nausea, so I'm sticking with some liquids.  I had back pain until tonight when it switched t belly pain.

Will try to get back to sleep now. and write more tomorrow.

Thanks for the support!

Connie

Posted 4/10/2006 8:08 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Connie,
Thoughts and prayers are with you. It sounds like you are not having a picnic. Hopefully the side effects of pain and naseua will decrease and subsequent treetments, if they do more, will be easier on your body. I'm glad Bill and your sister were there with you.
Thanks for the update.
Hugs,
Barb
Posted 4/10/2006 8:32 PM (GMT -7)

Hi Connie,

I know it is rough, after the treatment. Hope the pain meds are helping!! Wish I could be there to help you!! Love, hugs, and Prayers!!!

Teresa

Posted 4/11/2006 10:44 AM (GMT -7)
Connie,
Im so sorry your having such a painful time,Ill be hoping that it helps you so much,that the pain will be worth it.:hugs:
trish
Posted 4/12/2006 5:26 AM (GMT -7)

Connie,

My Thoughts and Prayers are with you! I hope your pain is under control. Love and Hugs!

Teresa

Posted 4/12/2006 10:18 PM (GMT -7)
Hi, everyone. This was my first day of actually feeling better. Not so much pain, thanks to the meds and the fact that I'm 5 days post procedure. I was very weak yesterday and had to force myself to eat...mostly soup, jello, Slim Fast--nothing heavy. Bill is doing better...came to see me in the hospital and also stayed for a couple of hours on Sat. night while my sister went out to a fancy dinner with an old friend. They never did find out the source of his chest pain! Sis left on Sun., but I really didn't want anyone here. I have had the phone off the hook and haven't wanted light or sound, not even to watch TV or to be online or watch movies until tonight. I'm still sleeping a lot. Still hard to focus. I never imagined I would be so sick with this treatment!

Once I have recovered from the chemoembolization, I will have the angiogram redone to find out if the blood flow to the lungs and diaphram has decreased by half. If it has, they will do the TheraSphere treatnent on me.

I will try to keep you all updated.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 4/13/2006 7:15 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Connie,
Wow, you have been through alot. I'm glad it's only a one time deal and that you finally are having better days. My prayers are with you that you have achieved the desired results and that they will recommend you go ahead with the treatment. Hang in there.
Big hugs,
Barb
Posted 4/13/2006 3:35 PM (GMT -7)
Thanks, Barb, and everyone. I never imagined that this procedure would have such intense side effects. I think doctors minimize things. They did the same thing with my hip replacements. I've never been one to just "bounce back," though...even when younger. I certainly hope what I've been through is going to be worthwhile. I slept until 5:30 this afternoon, and the lack of appetite is still there. The pain has diminished a lot, though, thank goodness.

How is everyone else doing this week? I'm concerned about members who are recently diagnosed with hepatitis or cirrhosis, and they never come back. I hope they are getting followup care. It's so dangerous to just ignore it (the "ostrich syndrome.")

Hugs to all,
Connie

Post Edited (hep93) : 4/13/2006 10:27:49 PM (GMT-6)

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