Posts by Angela Wright

Olivia Gray54 said:Thanks everyone for the support. Believe me, I'm actually holding up pretty well considering everything, and Mom is staying incredibly positive—we’re all right there by her side. 🙂 The surgery is tomorrow, so if everything goes according to plan, we'll see what the next steps look like...

Honestly, if I weren't a believer and if Mom wasn't such a woman of faith, I don't know how we would be handling this whole situation. But seeing her so incredibly calm despite the prognosis is something else. She’s cheerful, she cracks jokes, she eats and drinks (well, as much as that tumor allows since her appetite isn't great), and whenever we're with her, we all try our hardest to lift her spirits and drown out any negativity... I can tell how much that means to her, and it really keeps her going. 🙂
Please keep her in your thoughts tomorrow; she needs all the good vibes she can get! 🙂

Zachary Howard2, hang in there—both you and your father-in-law. No matter how heavy things feel or how hopeless it looks, stay positive and don't throw in the towel. I'll be praying for you both. 🙂

I read your first post and it honestly hit me right in the gut. It brought back that whole feeling of helplessness, despair, and pure frustration that comes with such a damn hopeless diagnosis, especially when Mom lived such a saintly life...😢...
...but now I want to tell you that she does have a chance, and she absolutely needs to take it and fight. If it's God's will, He will reward her faith and her strength... you just have to take it one day at a time, and I can see your mom is mentally wired exactly for that. That's huge.

Tell me, did Mom enjoy BBQ and smoked meats?
I remember reading an article somewhere about how in the Midwest, there's a high number of people suffering from thyroid issues specifically because of those kinds of dietary habits. Apparently, it's terrible for the thyroid. Similarly, gallstones can damage the thyroid and potentially trigger cancer.

Well, I'm glad you finally found out about the MRSU... 🙄
Hopefully things will actually start moving in the right direction now.

Amanda Miller69 said:I’m seeing nothing but bad news here today, so I don't have much better to report myself.

I think I finally wore the Doctor down yesterday with my relentless questioning, and he finally laid it out straight: the cancer has progressed to Stage IIIC. It’s breached the esophageal wall and hit the lymph nodes—including the ones near the stomach. Essentially, the advanced stage of the cancer is what's causing these current post-op issues where he just can't get his digestion working.
He said they won't be discharging him until they get this sorted, but who knows if or when that actually happens... I have a gut feeling he might never leave that hospital again.
Yesterday, they gave him a blood transfusion, glucose, and sodium chloride (if I remember correctly), which seemed to perk him up a bit, but then he was back to vomiting something greenish by the evening. They also switched his "food" over to Prosura.
Also, my sister-in-law came by yesterday—she's a nurse, by the way—and noticed some yellowing on his neck, which definitely isn't a good sign.
I’m guessing it’s liver-related; I don't know if it's starting to fail? My mom had that yellowed look in her face when her liver began to give out... they’re running a urine culture today to see what else is going on.
Bottom line: things aren't looking good.

Ugh 😢
That yellowing could also be bile since he’s constantly vomiting.
Well, at least you managed to push the Doctor into giving you the real story.
Look, you need to try and lower the tension now. What happened, happened, but it doesn't mean the game is over. You have to take it one day at a time. He needs some mental lifting right now. I'm sure it meant the world to him having his daughter visit.

Amanda Miller69 said:My sister-in-law is visiting from Sweden today (she works in medicine), and a friend of hers who works over in Jordan mentioned he saw my father-in-law. He said he’ll probably head in for surgery this Wednesday, but we’re heading over to see him this afternoon, so we’ll get the full scoop then.
It's an issue with the sphincter; I know Native stuff won't fix this, but it might just be what you suggested—getting his levels up before the procedure.
I'll ask about his glucose too, though I find it hard to believe they're incompetent enough to have skipped that step.
The doctor taking over while he's under Medicare is a professor, so I assume some expert actually knows what they're doing, but hey, it never hurts to double-check.

Honey, I have seen so much stupidity in my time that I’ve occasionally wondered why I didn't just enroll in medical school myself instead of wasting my time here on TTF...
Regarding the doctors managing the case and their vacations: in my experience, the relief doctor often avoids digging too deep into the specifics because they don't want to accidentally insult the primary doctor's professionalism. They tend to stay out of each other's lane, mostly just playing it safe to avoid any "preventable errors." That’s why summer and the holidays around Christmas and New Year's are the absolute worst times to get sick and end up stuck in a hospital.

Amanda Miller69 said:I'm taking both that and the Native propolis to him today.
Yesterday the doctor told my husband they're basically spinning their wheels; they tried treating that muscle again, but it’s just not cutting it, and they don't dare perform surgery because he's too weak (they're probably terrified he won't make it off the table).
The whole situation feels grim to me; at this rate, he’ll literally starve to death even though they're "feeding" him with Ensure.
If Native and probiotics actually help, great, if not, then God help us.
My husband is being a realist, but he says it isn't fair and that he should at least get a shot at further treatment.

Look, neither propolis nor Ensure is going to fix his sphincter (assuming that's what we're talking about here), but at the very least, it might perk him up enough to handle a minor procedure. Just be careful when you give him the propolis—mix it into some yogurt, otherwise, it’s just going to stick to the inside of his mouth.
He’s asking about getting hooked up to glucose, too. To me, Ensure doesn't feel like much of a substantial meal.
Why don't you ask them if some antispasmodics might help ease that cramping? They’d probably have thought of it themselves if it worked, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Matthew Walker13 said:So, I'm 18 and I still haven't hit puberty. It’s honestly causing a lot of issues for me—like, whenever I'm around girls, I just feel so insecure. I have no idea how they’d react if things ever got more intimate. On top of that, there's the fitness side of things. I've been training consistently since I was 16; hitting the gym, running, watching my diet... my brother is actually a fitness instructor, so he handles my workouts. But I'm seeing zero physical progress. I mean, I *feel* stronger and more fit, but it just doesn't show on the outside. I know I should probably see a doctor, but I'm actually kind of embarrassed to even bring this up to one. Any advice? Has anyone else dealt with something similar?

Have you had your first wet dream? Do you have hair under your arms or in your pubic area? Has your voice cracked or deepened? Has your Adam's apple become more prominent?
If even one of those is a "yes," then you are absolutely in the middle of puberty, and judging by your post, mentally speaking, you're already there.😉

Adding probiotics won't hurt him; if anything, it’ll make things better. Just give him a heads-up before you start giving them to him. You can easily mix them right into his Ensure. Places like Whole Foods carry all sorts of different kinds—just ask the staff there which one would be the best fit given the circumstances.

urbanseal2 said:I’ll try to summarize what’s going on, because the real issue is that I’m terrified of actually seeing a doctor. No matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise or play detective with my own symptoms, I know I have to face this eventually. Here is what I've been dealing with:
About 5 or 6 years ago, I first felt this shortness of breath—that specific sensation where it feels like your lungs just can't catch a full breath. That feeling would linger for a week or two, and then everything would seem fine for about six months before it hit me again. Physically, I’ve always stayed active—cycling, tennis, you name it—and I never really felt like it was holding me back during sports..
Then, early last October, things took a turn. One morning, out of nowhere, I felt terrible. There was this choking sensation on my left side and in my neck area, accompanied by heart palpitations. My blood pressure spiked to 180/110 and my heart rate shot over 100. I rushed to the ER, and they gave me some kind of sedative injection which made me feel better pretty quickly. They also prescribed me some Xanax to take until the course was finished, acting as if I was just stressed out about something..
Since then, through to today, things have actually gotten slightly worse. I don't feel the palpitations as much anymore, but I get these episodes where I feel unwell—that same choking sensation on the left side and a sense of lightheadedness, like I’m about to pass out. It mostly happens in the evenings. Sometimes I also feel weakness in my left arm or a dull ache when these episodes strike. When that happens, I take a 1.5mg or 3mg Xanax pill, and that unpleasant feeling subsides quickly.
On top of that, I often feel the need to cough; my phlegm is usually clear and sticky or white and sticky...
I'm 30 years old, and honestly, the worst part is that I'm acting like a child. It sounds ridiculous, but I am genuinely scared to go to the doctor for tests or imaging of my lungs and heart because, based on these symptoms, I'm convinced that's what the results will show....

If anyone has dealt with this or heard of someone with similar symptoms, please, anything would help. This constant anxiety is killing me. I don't know where I stand, but the thought of a doctor telling me it's something dangerous is paralyzing. At the same time, I know that by delaying the checkup, I'm only hurting myself more. I'm just lost at this point.🙂😕

Two things come to mind:
1.GERD

2. Hyperthyroidism

In any case, you should start with your primary care physician for standard blood and urine work, and then follow whatever path they refer you toward for specialists.

Michelle Sullivan87 said:My cholesterol is slightly elevated, but I’m pretty sure my weight gain played a huge role in these liver issues—especially since the weight came on so fast, which is a massive shock to the system.

My blood pressure is mostly fine. It fluctuates a bit, sometimes low, sometimes high, but nothing too extreme.

And yeah, I also wondered if it was diet-related, but it’s not like I’m starving myself or skipping meals.

Fluctuating blood pressure isn't "fine." If I were in your shoes, I’d get a 24-hour Holter monitor done just so you actually know what's happening. Beyond that, talk to your doctor about starting an aspirin regimen to help thin your blood, given the cholesterol and what looks like circulation issues. If they give you the go-ahead, you'll need to watch your stomach; even with enteric coating, those things can be hard on your gut, so you definitely shouldn't take them constantly without breaks. You'll likely feel better once your circulation starts moving properly.
Aside from the weight issue, it wouldn't hurt to have your thyroid checked, along with a full hormone panel. Everything in the body is interconnected, and hormonal imbalances could easily be why you gained weight so suddenly.

What’s your blood pressure looking like?
Aside from any medications you might be taking, liver lesions are most likely being driven by obesity and fatty liver buildup.
Start taking some Milk Thistle; it'll help kickstart the regeneration process and clear those lesions out.

Nancy Lee said:Hey there,

It’s been over 8 months since my dad passed, yet I still find myself checking this thread every once in a while.
My heart goes out to everyone who has lost someone dear, and to everyone currently in the fight—I wish you all nothing but strength to keep pushing forward.
Unfortunately, we’re back in the trenches, and this time the battle feels even more brutal than it was with my dad. We just found out my daughter is dealing with a neurodegenerative disease. What can I even say that makes sense? Nothing. Life is just incredibly harsh and unforgiving. I’ve grown used to how ruthless it can be toward adults, but seeing it hit a child... it's different. Sometimes, if I can even call it that, I feel a sense of gratitude that my dad isn't here to witness this, because I honestly don't think he could handle the weight of it. But I know he's watching over us from above.

Oh, dear Nancy Lee, I truly don't have the words...😢
I know that absolute despair and terror you feel when your child is suffering.
Hang in there, and please keep posting if you need a shoulder to lean on. This thread is a safe space for all those heavy diagnoses.

Amanda Miller69 said:Liquid food seems okay, and he’s drinking water fine too; it’s just solid food that’s causing issues.
I’ll ask about it, even though they’ve already started him on some antibiotics via IV.
It feels weird that they have him in isolation, too. The nurses say there's a reason for it, but they won't tell me anything, and I'm such a dummy—I completely forgot to ask the doctor. I’m guessing it’s some kind of bacteria (likely something hospital-acquired).

I am so sorry you’re going through this struggle, but hang in there—you are incredibly strong.

Go to a health food store and grab some probiotic powder so they can give it to him. Those antibiotics are going to wreck his system along with the diarrhea. He really needs to boost his immunity, too. He can definitely take Prosura or Ensure. Also, bring him some homemade food from home... you know as well as I do, if he gets totally depleted and slips into cachexia, then all the oncological treatment won't matter. All that rushing to get an earlier surgery will be for nothing if he doesn't have the strength left.

Amanda Miller69 said:Sometimes I feel like everything has just gone completely sideways. Instead of my father-in-law getting better, things seem to be spiraling downward. It’s already been three weeks since his surgery.
That muscle—the pyloric sphincter—has clamped shut and is blocking food from passing through. They tried relaxing and dilating it, but it looks like nothing is working. My mother-in-law was visiting him yesterday and overheard something about a bacterial infection (I’m assuming a hospital-acquired one) causing the diarrhea. They’ve even put him in diapers. I called him yesterday, but he could barely talk because he said he couldn't even hold the phone in his hand😢.
I feel like he's just wasting away. It kills me being this helpless, unable to do anything except lean on the doctors to fix this. They told me if it doesn't relax after two or three more dilations, he’ll need surgery. He's so weak, I honestly don't know if he can handle another operation.
What should I do?

I can't believe this!😲
You’re going to have to get on their backs and stay on them until they get this man upright again. Is there any way for him to take probiotics, or does he just vomit everything up? Of course he’s wasting away, man—he’s losing electrolytes, food isn't staying down... I really hope he’s hooked up to an IV, for God's sake...
Life is just brutal... you try to rush everything to prevent complications, and then something this retarded happens. Unbelievable!

cosmiclynx14 said:inra I feel terrible about this. I’m praying to God for some kind of miracle here... is he still taking beta-glucan or any other immune support?

I asked him today if he was feeling any side effects—you know, checking for things like nausea or whether his appetite had tanked—and he just laughs in my face and says he feels fine. Well, clearly, that means he’s got zero appetite.

Yeah, I noticed she’s scaled back her workload herself, so most of her time is spent just relaxing at home or heading out for a little walk in the hills in the afternoon. She handles all the heavy lifting and essential tasks on her own, but honestly? I’m just glad she’s finally realizing that she actually needs to rest.

I honestly don't know—it’s nothing short of a miracle how he manages to stomach all of this.

So, someone mentioned to me today that they heard rumors about some new medical facility opening up over in Salzburg—some kind of experimental setup specifically focused on intestinal health or something along those lines. They weren't exactly sure if it's a full-scale hospital or just some cutting-edge research site, but the details were pretty fuzzy. Does anyone here actually know what's going on with that? Angela Wright Maybe you’ve heard the news?

Give me some more details. I’m going to run this by someone who knows exactly what’s what and can tell us if it's actually worth our time.

Amanda Miller69 said:Does anyone know if it's normal for my father-in-law to vomit every time he eats? A medical student I know mentioned that vomiting is a common symptom after esophageal surgery, but this has been going on way too long. Today they were giving him an IV antibiotic and had to perform a transfusion with five units of blood. Is it possible he picked up some kind of bacterial infection? As for the doctors, honestly, you can't get a straight answer out of them for anything—getting any actual information is impossible.

From what I understand, yes, though I have no clue how long it takes to stabilize. Since they reconstructed his esophagus using part of his stomach, they likely removed the sphincter as well. There's a shorter path to the mouth now, which is probably why he's throwing up... I really don't know for sure. One thing is certain: he definitely needs to be eating smaller, more frequent meals...
As for bacteria, of course that’s a possibility in a hospital setting, but that would almost certainly show up as a fever or through specific markers in his blood work...
I am so sorry to hear this 😢 Can't you use your connection to the nursing staff to dig up some better information?

Elizabeth Johnson13 said:Thanks for getting back to me so fast. I’ve been digging around for more perspectives—talked to specialists at Mayo Clinic, doctors over at Johns Hopkins, and even checked in with a gynecology clinic in Vienna—and honestly, everyone is saying the exact same thing, even regarding the medication options they suggested. My scans show everything from my abdomen to my lungs and lymph nodes looks clear; there isn't even any fluid buildup. Still, I can't shake this fear that I'm just running out of time over the next few months. Regarding clinical trials... do you just apply yourself? Or is it something handled through an oncologist if you're already undergoing treatment?
Thanks

You can either apply on your own or have your oncologist nominate you. Every single study has its own specific set of criteria you have to meet to be considered a viable candidate. Your best bet is to just send your medical records and inquiries to as many different sites and studies as possible that look promising, then wait to see what sticks.

Elizabeth Johnson13 said:Hi everyone, I hope this subforum is the right spot—if I’m wrong, feel free to move this...
Basically, three years ago I had surgery for ovarian cancer. A cyst was ruptured, and I went through six rounds of chemo. Things started getting messy about eight months ago when doctors found a nodule in my abdominal wall... they say it was caused by the laparoscopy. It was originally stage one, but they started with a laparoscopy, and once they realized it was malignant, they had to switch to an open laparotomy...
To get back to the point... the nodule was removed, but the PET scan shows infiltration along the abdominal and pelvic walls, and into the iliacus muscle... the recommendation is to start chemo first... mentally, I am completely falling apart. I’ve seen countless psychiatrists and psychologists, and I’m taking everything they’ve prescribed... also, since starting the fifth round, I’ve been running low-grade fevers around 99°F, but my oncologist isn't paying attention—is it just the body defending itself? Please, if anyone has experience with these temperatures or doing chemo without surgery, let me know. My only real hope feels like having the surgery followed by chemo... that seems logical to me... but this way, I just don't know... thanks for any answers, and please ask if I missed anything or if I wasn't clear. Best regards.

Hang in there, dear... I don't have much direct experience with ovarian cancer. Zachary Howard2 knows way more than I do, so I'm sure he'll chime in.
From what I understand, it's actually quite common for things to get complicated like this, and with many diagnoses, the protocol is to lead with chemo to try and shrink the metastases or at least pull them back partially, making the tumor much easier to remove later.
If I were you, I would absolutely seek a second opinion at an outside hospital or look into clinical trials. Given where you are in this process, I think you might be a strong candidate for a study.

You can find a page here with a map showing the number of active clinical trials in Europe. Just click on a country and it will list all the relevant studies for you.

Austin Ross2 said:it's not like women don't deal with this after 35... I'm only 19 right now.🤷

Usually, this happens later in life, though there are outliers where younger women experience it too. But if you're seeing this at your age, something else is likely going on. It sounds like your hormones might be completely out of whack. Have you had any unprotected sex recently? It’s a known thing that women can experience a miscarriage without even realizing they were pregnant, often just thinking it's an unusually heavy period.
Bottom line: if I were in your shoes, I’d get to an OB-GYN immediately to rule out any serious complications that aren't worth waiting around for.

If you have a fibroid, there's a chance it could be bleeding. You need to get yourself to an emergency gynecological clinic right away to find out what's actually going on.

Linda Patel21 said:Angela Wright, you’re absolutely right about everything. Even through my own medical struggles, I ended up learning things I never should have had to deal with, but honestly, that knowledge was the only thing that kept me sane while I was stuck in the hospital. My biggest regret, though, is feeling like I couldn't do more for my dad when he was fighting gallbladder cancer with metastases. Even now, I still struggle with this nagging feeling that I missed something, despite everyone around me insisting we did everything humanly possible. I miss him so much. I just hope that, eventually, I can find the same kind of peace you found after losing your mom.😢

I had already made my peace with losing my mother while she was still breathing. It wasn't some sudden shock; it was more like watching a light slowly dimming, one flicker at a time, until there was nothing left but the physical shell. I watched her fade piece by piece. Honestly, I found myself praying to God to just take her—to end the struggle and spare everyone the agony of watching her suffer.
What I just can't wrap my head around is that she was handed such a hopeless diagnosis right from the start. It wasn't like there was any real fighting chance to begin with. For someone with a spirit as restless and vibrant as hers, that illness was nothing short of degrading—it stripped away every ounce of human dignity. Honestly, even now, that’s the part that still eats at me.
We’re definitely missing something vital. I was watching the Vine yesterday, and there’s this scene where the actor playing Guberina talks about his late daughter, Luke. He says she was the salt—the essential seasoning of his life—and that none of the good things that have happened since feel quite right without her. She should have been here to experience it all. She earned that right. 😢