Posts by Kimberly Green23

We placed my aunt at a facility there about three years ago. She was still quite mobile, but she had some wounds on her lower legs that needed professional care, and she was 95. Both we and she were incredibly satisfied with the care, but they informed us they couldn't keep her beyond a three-week period. Naturally, they didn't tell us this until just two days before that deadline expired, and they did it by simply giving us a call and telling us to come pick her up. Her primary care physician suggested there might be an option to pay for her stay privately—meaning it wouldn't be covered by Medicare—but the hospital staff insisted that such an option had been abolished. Later, I heard from an acquaintance that private payments are actually still an option (perhaps that is the corruption that Zao little bear is talking about).

Even after all these years, the scar hasn't fully faded away. It’s actually a bit brighter than it used to be, though it isn't quite white yet—it has more of a pinkish hue to it. I would honestly prefer if it turned completely white because my skin is extremely pale, which would make it much less noticeable. In the beginning, I tried applying some over-the-counter scar cream, but once I realized it wasn't doing much, I just gave up on it. I can't say I've entirely gotten used to it, either. Since the scar resulted from surgery following a major car accident, what bothers me most is when people start asking those intrusive questions, you know, like "So, what happened?" or "Was it really bad?" and all that. Otherwise, my arm felt tight for a long time. I spent over six months going to physical therapy sessions to get my muscles functioning again (and I had to do that twice—once right after the accident and again after they removed the surgical pins). The therapists told me that the movement helps soften the scar tissue to reduce that pulling sensation. It seems they were correct, because from a functional standpoint, I don't have any issues now; I can even carry heavy things, like groceries or whatever else comes up in daily life. But, don't tell anyone, but whenever I'm feeling lazy or just don't want to do something, I still manage to use the excuse, "I can't, I had an injury," and then the scar serves its purpose perfectly well.

I have a similarly massive scar running down my upper arm from a surgery I had over a decade ago. Since it spans the entire length of my arm and expanded to over an inch wide quite rapidly, I actually consulted a plastic surgeon (via my insurance provider) to see if they could fix it. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately, depending on how you look at it—he informed me that due to my specific skin type, I am prone to hypertrophic scarring. He warned that even after a corrective procedure, the scar would likely widen again within two or three years, leading to a perpetual cycle of surgeries. I decided to pass on any further operations. I simply am not prepared to go under the knife every couple of years. When I'm feeling particularly self-conscious, I just wear long sleeves, but otherwise, I don't mind much. As someone once wisely noted: if people don't like looking, they can just look away.

Zezu, please accept my sincerest condolences.

slyrider11 said:I want to thank everyone for the kind words of support.
Mom should be coming home this Monday or Tuesday, and I am truly hoping she can recover in the comfort of her own house (as much as that is even possible).
For the moment, she isn't experiencing intense pain, and I sincerely hope it stays that way. My biggest worry is for her, and for her grandkids who are so incredibly attached to her—this would be absolutely devastating for them.
If anyone here on the forum has dealt with this specific type of tumor, I would dearly love to hear about your treatment experiences or anything you can share.
Please forgive me if someone has already posted this and I simply missed it.

I hesitated for quite some time before deciding whether to reach out. To be honest, my stepfather faced a situation almost identical to what your mother is going through right now. Removing the tumor wasn't an option, so the doctors attempted a bypass instead. Unfortunately, within less than a month, the procedure became futile because the tumor had grown too large again. The one small glimmer of light in all that suffering was that, until his very last day, he remained entirely free of pain. I realize that what I’m sharing isn't exactly comforting, but please, try to make the most of these precious moments and surround your mom with every ounce of love and attention you can give.

brightgardener8 said:Dear friends,
My mother passed away yesterday. 🙂
She suffered for far too long, so in a way, I feel a sense of relief that her struggle has finally ended.
I truly hope she is in a much better place now.

Nothing will ever be quite the same without her.

brightgardener8, please accept my sincere condolences, even if they are a little late. You are absolutely right—things won't be the same, but you will find the strength to move forward through the beautiful memories you hold of her.

Amanda Miller69 said:I placed my mother in care near Jordanovac, and I can say they were professional through and through. There is no charge for the first three weeks (unfortunately, my mother only lasted eight days due to advanced cancer), provided you go via a referral from a primary care physician and have the hospital write a recommendation. After those initial three weeks, you pay for one month, then there is another window where three weeks are free. Visiting hours are every afternoon and on weekends as well.
Whatever you do, stay far away from New Marof; I have heard nothing but terrible things about them from everyone.

Good luck.

I am inclined to agree with Amanda Miller69 regarding the Jordanovac location. My husband’s grandmother was there for three weeks at the beginning of the year, and both she and our family were exceptionally satisfied. They truly acted with professionalism and genuine humanity. However, once those three weeks concluded, they informed us that the option to pay for an additional month had been abolished last year, meaning Grandma had to be discharged, only for us to be told we could bring her back after a week or two with a fresh referral. We had to scramble to find an alternative quite suddenly. Since her medical needs weren't particularly intensive, I somewhat suspect they might not have been entirely transparent about the billing situation; it felt as though they simply wanted to clear the bed. It is worth inquiring further.

Melissa Kim45 said:My mother fought a long, hard battle. She was a winner in her own right, and a truly great one at that.

Melissa Kim45, please accept my sincerest condolences.

dustyranger11 said:My father passed away today. His suffering has finally come to an end.
I want to thank everyone here who has offered me support through this forum.
I still have a few remaining insurance policies and various paperwork to settle, so please reach out if anyone could use any assistance with those.
Now, I am faced with a profound emptiness and some very difficult days ahead without him.

Please accept my deepest, most sincere condolences.

My stepfather unfortunately lost his battle today. The only small comfort is knowing he didn't suffer for long. Now we find ourselves wondering if he could have dug deeper to find the strength to keep fighting, but that's just how it went; he simply lost his will and surrendered to fate. He wouldn't allow us to try and pull him out of that lethargy. I want to extend my deepest thanks to Melissa Kim45 and Agna for their incredible support, and of course to all the other members here who helped us with their advice. I will continue to follow this community, and if I am able, I will try to offer some advice of my own.

Betty Sanchez82 said:Hello everyone. I am looking for some advice regarding mouth ulcers and canker sores. My father has finished two rounds of chemotherapy, which he handled quite well. However, he’s now dealing with gums that bleed during brushing, and his mouth and tongue are covered in painful white blisters. He would normally be able to eat just fine, but these oral pains are making nutrition very difficult for him. Does anyone have any suggestions on how we might best alleviate this issue?

You might want to try asking at a local pharmacy. I recall they carry a certain purple solution used specifically for when little kids get canker sores. I used to apply it to my daughter when she was small and it worked wonders, though I can't recall the specific name. Unfortunately, I am unsure if it is effective for adults, but I assume it would be; the pharmacists should be able to tell you.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for your responses and your support. My mother called the folks over at the Hospice today to see if they could provide any helpful information. They informed her that, based solely on the discharge summary, she should be eligible for diaper benefits since it counts as a specialist's opinion; consequently, she plans to visit her doctor again tomorrow. Hopefully, she will have better luck this time around. Having learned from all of your shared experiences, I advised her to simply refuse to be brushed off and to remain persistent. On a brighter note, she is absolutely delighted with Ms. Goga from the Hospice, who has been such a pillar of support and told her she can reach out to them anytime with questions or concerns. It is truly heartening to know there are still people willing to offer selfless help outside of this forum.

Greetings everyone. Sending huge amounts of support to slyseal28 and Grace Fowler. Please continue to stay just as optimistic as you have been so far.
It has been quite some time since my last update. My stepfather had been doing significantly better, but then he developed a bladder infection. His primary care physician prescribed certain antibiotics, but failed to consider that people with sensitive stomachs shouldn't be taking them—and he is currently dealing with adenocarcinoma. Long story short, he turned yellow and ended up spending three weeks in the hospital. He is back home now and feeling slightly improved. In his discharge papers, they recommended he use adult diapers and receive visits from a home health nurse. This is where we hit a wall. The substitute GP (his regular doctor is on vacation) refuses to authorize the insurance coverage for the diapers without a recommendation from a neurologist at the local health clinic, but there is no neurologist available until the end of the month and nobody is filling in for him. I keep insisting to my mother that the hospital’s recommendation should be sufficient and that a neurologist isn't necessary, but I am not entirely sure if my reasoning holds water. Furthermore, the head home health nurse refuses to sign off on the paperwork for regular care, claiming that the last time she saw him he was doing quite well—but that was two months ago. Does anyone have any advice on how to handle such nonsense without completely losing our minds?

Greetings, everyone. I am in need of a small amount of assistance. Could someone please recommend a reputable nutritionist located in Washington, D.C.? My stepfather had his check-up today (it has been one month since his stitches were removed). The doctor is extremely satisfied with his progress and has scheduled his next follow-up for five!!! months from now. Since he has begun eating more significantly (I simply could not believe it when my mother informed me that he was eating crepes yesterday), we would like to consult with a professional. I recall some of you mentioning that you received dietary instructions from a nutritionist, though I cannot seem to recall any specific names being mentioned.

I am reaching out to you all once again after quite a long hiatus. I really wanted to offer some support to Betty Sanchez82. My stepfather underwent surgery for a stomach tumor just over a month ago. To put it bluntly, they essentially opened him up and stitched him back together. Initially, an acquaintance of ours—someone with extensive experience working with oncology patients—gave us a prognosis of about one month, noting that internal bleeding was highly likely. Fortunately, that deadline has passed, and he is still doing quite well. He isn't experiencing pain, only occasional vomiting, which is becoming less frequent and less intense. We are now looking forward to him surpassing even the three-month milestone set by his surgeon. Also, to boost his immune system, we have been following the advice of a friend who went through this nearly twenty years ago and remains perfectly healthy; she recommended a specific herbal tincture from a practitioner in Pittsburgh. So far, it seems to be helping. We shall see how things progress in the future.

This is actually my very first time ever posting on a forum. I have been reading through this entire thread—though I am currently running behind on work—and I have been feeling so much joy seeing all your positive test results, while also grieving alongside you for your loved ones. You all have already helped me so much, but I find myself in need of some advice. My stepfather has been diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma. Just two months ago he was perfectly healthy, but then this stomach nausea started appearing. He honestly thought it was just the result of eating a few too many pastries. When even a strict diet wouldn't settle his stomach, he finally went in for an exam. An ultrasound revealed some slight thickening of the stomach wall, and after a gastroscopy and biopsy, the diagnosis was confirmed. His markers didn't show anything unusual, and the CT scan showed only changes in the stomach and something undefined on the adrenal gland. He underwent surgery three weeks ago, but it was unsuccessful. They told us they essentially just performed a "bypass" so he could still eat, but removing the tumor was impossible because it has spread throughout the abdominal cavity, involving several organs and intertwining with the main vein and the aorta. Naturally, they gave us a prognosis (oh, how we love those prognoses), offering one estimate of about a month, and another suggesting three to five months. They haven't mentioned any further treatment. For now, he is sticking to pureed foods; fortunately, he still has an appetite, though the meals are tiny. What is bothering him most is what he calls "saliva," which forces him to vomit after certain meals (not always, but mostly in the evening). He says it is a clear liquid, which is why he thinks it is just saliva. Has anyone here had similar experiences, and how did you manage them? I tell him that this is likely quite normal so soon after surgery, but I don't think I sound very convincing to him. Oh, I have rambled on far too long. Please forgive me.