Posts by loneridge80

Angela Wright said:Well, we are finally home after 74 days in the hospital. I feel so much better mentally now. The little one is making progress and growing fast. They've already called us in for rehab.

I am incredibly happy for you. You have been in my thoughts constantly. Sending kisses to both you and the baby!

Angela Wright said:Phew...😢
Alright, let’s take a breath and try to be rational here.
She's in the hospital now, and they're going to stabilize her. She collapsed because of severe edema. They'll likely put her on Manit and dexamethasone. I expect they'll run another scan immediately, too. Since Manit and dexamethasone work fast, her condition should improve shortly. They might even implant that pump I mentioned to you earlier. Make sure to ask about everything and write down all your questions before you get home!
You absolutely need to call Medicare and ask to speak with someone who can clarify the status of that transfer request. We're dealing with a critically ill patient who cannot afford to wait while her current doctor fails to provide adequate care. Tell them an advocacy group advised you to call personally; there's no sense in us handling this when we've already told you to report the doctor regarding your next steps.
And file that complaint against the doctor! I know you don't have the energy for it right now, but if you don't, she'll just keep taking it out on the next person who walks through the door.

The worst part is that I'm not even there since I don't live in Washington, D.C. Her mother-in-law is with her—she's 76, and honestly, I tip my hat to her; I thank God for her every single day.

Correction to my previous note: she received word from the Klović clinic that the request for Dr. Mlikotic was denied, and now she's being told she can only choose from three other doctors who have been completely sidelined?!

I really don't get Ivana. If Dr. Mlikotic confirms that I am requesting him because he is our family physician—my entire family sees him—who in the Social Security Administration has the authority to deny that?!

Angela Wright said:File a report with the Social Security Administration. Send a letter to Dr. Mary Hrastinski (supervision and control) at Margaretska 3 or via fax at 01/4806 308 stating the doctor's full name and her Community Health Center, then briefly and clearly explain exactly what happened and all the failures regarding your sister.
I just called Medicare and they were actually very kind; they truly care about treating us right, so they'll look into this.
Now, just go see a different primary care physician and transfer my sister's care to them. You'll get the necessary forms to fill out there, and you won't ever have to deal with that woman again—not even a phone call or a glance—because the transfer is handled through the system.
Don't let this weigh on you anymore; just get it done.

My dear Angela Wright

My sister is actually in the Emergency Room right now because she took a turn for the worse and can't even stay on her feet. They put her on an IV (the exact same one her GP said wasn't necessary) and she’s heading for an emergency cranial CT scan with contrast.

We already submitted the request to switch her to a different doctor (in her own neighborhood!!) but that request is still stuck with Medicare or wherever else, and nothing has been resolved yet.

It's enough to drive you crazy!!!

Dearest

I took your advice and sent my niece to see her primary care physician. I’d heard some rumors about her before, but this latest situation is just completely unacceptable.

The doctor actually told her she could get an IV drip once she finishes chemotherapy?! She claimed it wasn't necessary right now—though I have no idea how she reached that conclusion without even checking. And if she really wants treatment, the doctor suggested she go to a local Community Health Center in her neighborhood?! As if she should just take all those papers and wander around from place to place.

To make matters worse, this same doctor dismissed the lumps on her back as mere fatty tissue that any surgeon could easily remove (even though they were actually melanoma metastases). When she was vomiting, the doctor blamed it on a simple bacterial infection, leaving her to suffer through two months of constant sickness until she finally went to a private specialist for a real exam.

What kind of doctor is this? Who in God's name does she think she's serving?!

I honestly feel like this is going to end terribly because I am at my wits' end.

Hello to my brave community
I could really use some advice. My sister is battling malignant melanoma and is dealing with constant nausea—partly due to the disease itself, partly from radiation, and honestly, because we’re racing against the clock. She’s currently taking Reglan, but it just isn't doing the trick.

Since she starts chemotherapy this Monday (ugh), and we all know the vomiting that usually comes with it, I’m terrified this will leave her completely depleted. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I’ll definitely be discussing all of this with her doctor on Monday, but in the meantime...

feralridge3 said:I suspect a huge part of my issues stems from the radiation therapy. 🤷

My sister is dealing with dizziness too, and her doctor mentioned it's just the lingering effects of the radiation even weeks later. I'm hoping things settle down soon for both of you. Sending my best wishes.

I picked up some organic royal jelly for my sister since I read it’s great for boosting immunity. Does anyone else here actually use mushroom-based supplements?

Gary King2 said:Hey again, everyone! Hope you're all having a great day!
I just received the diagnosis for my cousin: secondary malignant lymph node tumor, specifically malignant melanoma. loneridge80 It looks like this diagnosis is identical to what your sister went through. Honestly, I’ve read so much negative information over the last couple of days that I feel like I’m spiraling into depression myself. I’ve talked to so many people, but everyone says something different—most of it is either redundant or just plain useless—leaving me completely lost on what my next move should be. I already received some private messages after my first post, so I want to say thanks to everyone for reaching out. As for what I've done so far? I found out that after Dr. Tom at the Mayo Clinic discharged my brother following his first round of chemo, he didn't prescribe any medications for him to take while recovering at home, except for... Any recommendations? He didn't explain why he's taking Procter & Gamble products or Nexium, or what their actual purpose is. It’s been about fifteen days since his second cycle ended, and we still haven't received a discharge summary, so I'm completely in the dark regarding his latest test results. Meanwhile, my cousin has become anemic and dropped 15–20 pounds in just two months—it got to the point where he lost his coordination and can no longer care for himself. We have to wait until May 27th for his next cycle to start, which feels incredibly slow and overly simplistic if we're dealing with an aggressive cancer. Since some people suggested looking into alternative therapies, I went ahead and ordered several boxes of Amway ImmunoAHCC capsules, hoping they might provide some support. I spoke with a representative from GNC, the distributor here in the States, and they were very optimistic, but we won't know if they actually work for another two weeks or so. loneridge80, if your sister isn't already taking something like this to boost her immunity, I’d suggest looking into it. I’m certainly no expert, but most people seem to agree that you can't win this fight without extra weapons in your arsenal.
That’s all I have to say on the matter. If I had known things worked this way, I definitely would have gone to medical school. Getting actual, honest information from doctors—especially oncologists—is nearly impossible. It feels like you're asking them to walk through fire with you just to get a straight answer instead of some basic updates.

loneridge80, I've been searching for positive ideas too, but honestly, every time I try, I just end up more disappointed. Still, that doesn't mean I'm going to stop looking.

Just wanted to give you all a quick laugh—I actually ended up setting my trash can on fire because I was too lazy to reach for the ashtray during a moment of inspiration. Those cigarettes are definitely going to catch up with me one day, haha. Sending good vibes to everyone for a speedy recovery!

My sister is battling metastatic melanoma, with two metastases in her lungs and brain. It all started with just a simple mole on her thigh. But I’m not losing hope—and more importantly, neither is she. Her lymph nodes are clear and there's no immediate danger, according to the doctors. Thank God her stomach, pelvis, and everything else looks okay.

The biggest issue with doctors is that they often decide a patient should just give up because of a specific diagnosis; they think they've seen it all before. But then what? Where do they get the right to stop fighting on someone else's behalf? If a patient still has the will and the strength to fight, the doctor's job should be to encourage them and push for new insights or experimental therapies. By doing that, they wouldn't just be helping the patient—they'd actually be learning something themselves instead of just writing people off from the start. That’s what really gets to me.

And what happens when they start lecturing me about wasting money?! Who do these personal bankers think they are?

The least of their concerns should be my financial situation.

Whenever I find myself spiraling into a depression, Angela Wright lifts me back up with her mindset and her sheer will to fight. Major respect to her.

Seeing this young man battle melanoma and respond so positively to chemo really gave me the strength to keep pushing forward.

feralridge3 said:It’s such a blessing to have someone by your side—someone who can act as a filter for all the information coming at you.
If I had a team behind me, maybe they would have given me the real scoop on how things actually stood, but I've had to handle everything entirely on my own. 😢

A few weeks ago, my sister was diagnosed with advanced malignant melanoma. I am doing everything in my power to stay right by her side and filter through the flood of medical info hitting us, but honestly, she seems five times stronger than all of us combined. The way she processed the diagnosis and organized her thoughts... I don't think everyone could handle it like she did. But then again, she’s always been this way: brave, unshakable, and ready for the fight.

She’s already finished five radiation sessions and is now waiting to start chemotherapy. Since she struggles with nausea, I’m really worried about how she’ll manage the chemo. I know medicine has come a long way and treatments aren't what they used to be, but it frustrates me when doctors seem unwilling to explain things. When you try to ask a question, they almost act like you're doing something wrong just because you read up on something or heard something elsewhere.

I don't even want to bring it up with friends, relatives, or neighbors. Most people immediately jump to the worst-case scenarios, and I really don't need that right now—and more importantly, my sister doesn't need it.

If anyone has any positive perspectives or advice, I would truly appreciate it.