According to their website, they offer CT scans in Orlando too. It’s covered by insurance if you have the referral, so just check it out and give them a call.
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Posts by Anthony Rodriguez7
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Give them a call right away and ask. That contract should cover all their outpatient clinics... it really ought to.
ruggedfox11, does anyone have experience with Quest Diagnostics in St.? They just renewed their contract with Medicare, and they actually reached out to us to schedule my dad's appointment, but we had to push it back because of his condition. They told us to just give them a call whenever he's ready.
I’m starting to feel like we have nothing left to lose. Honestly, this dream keeps haunting me—I can't help but wonder if God is trying to send us a sign, or maybe just some encouragement. Something, I guess.
We just got word that they might discharge Dad this Friday. His physical therapist made some progress; he actually managed to sit up and even stand on his feet. When they asked if he could see the church through the window or describe what was outside, he didn't react, unfortunately. But the doctor thinks being back home with us might give him the mental and physical boost he needs. Fingers crossed.
It is absolutely gut-wrenching to look at him like this, especially when he doesn't respond to us.
Once he's home, we'll have home health nurses coming by, and he'll need regular blood work to make sure his sodium and potassium levels don't spiral out of control again.
Thanks for the links. I’ll definitely look into them, though I've been down a Google rabbit hole for days already.
And once again, thank you, Angela Wright, for the reply, for checking in, and for all the time and effort you put into this. This forum helps more than I ever could have imagined.👍I'd send a heart icon if I knew how... but I'm still figuring this out.🙂
We just got word that they might discharge Dad this Friday. His physical therapist made some progress; he actually managed to sit up and even stand on his feet. When they asked if he could see the church through the window or describe what was outside, he didn't react, unfortunately. But the doctor thinks being back home with us might give him the mental and physical boost he needs. Fingers crossed.
It is absolutely gut-wrenching to look at him like this, especially when he doesn't respond to us.
Once he's home, we'll have home health nurses coming by, and he'll need regular blood work to make sure his sodium and potassium levels don't spiral out of control again.
Thanks for the links. I’ll definitely look into them, though I've been down a Google rabbit hole for days already.
And once again, thank you, Angela Wright, for the reply, for checking in, and for all the time and effort you put into this. This forum helps more than I ever could have imagined.👍I'd send a heart icon if I knew how... but I'm still figuring this out.🙂
Angela Wright, I’m glad you reached out. I’ve been following your posts closely, hoping you might have some insight into this paraneoplastic syndrome. I’d need to double-check if my dad actually had a CT scan with contrast, but right now, things are stuck. The doctors claim his rapid decline is driven by the syndrome itself, yet the "cure" is treating the tumor—which they can't do because he's too weak for chemo. It’s a vicious cycle. It feels like we're just spinning our wheels while precious time slips away. They stabilized his sodium and potassium levels, so now they just run blood work every single day and call it a day...
Robin Diaz4, ruggedfox11, I noticed you both mentioned beta-glucan and raw propolis. We started Dad on those the moment we got the diagnosis, even during chemo, because his doctor gave us the green light. I also read somewhere that it was safe. Now, looking back, I wonder if we made a mistake... I wasn't exactly making the smartest calls there.
Rachel Williams, I am so happy to hear about your mother; I truly hope things stay that way. It was a good call to mention RS oil. We picked some up yesterday, but when I asked the oncologist, he advised against giving it to him while he's in this state of confusion. To make matters stranger, I had a dream about Dad last night. He told me he came specifically for the oil. 😢
Robin Diaz4, ruggedfox11, I noticed you both mentioned beta-glucan and raw propolis. We started Dad on those the moment we got the diagnosis, even during chemo, because his doctor gave us the green light. I also read somewhere that it was safe. Now, looking back, I wonder if we made a mistake... I wasn't exactly making the smartest calls there.
Rachel Williams, I am so happy to hear about your mother; I truly hope things stay that way. It was a good call to mention RS oil. We picked some up yesterday, but when I asked the oncologist, he advised against giving it to him while he's in this state of confusion. To make matters stranger, I had a dream about Dad last night. He told me he came specifically for the oil. 😢
Thanks for all the replies and for reaching out. ruggedfox11, those bruises could actually be an early sign of pressure sores. The doctors here at the hospital suggested using Dove calendula cream—you can find it at CVS. It’s pretty affordable, so it might be worth a shot to see if it helps.
Unfortunately, my dad is still in the hospital and things aren't looking great; they’re mentioning something about paraneoplastic syndrome... I honestly regret even posting because I don't have any good news to share, but I felt like I owed you all a response.
Unfortunately, my dad is still in the hospital and things aren't looking great; they’re mentioning something about paraneoplastic syndrome... I honestly regret even posting because I don't have any good news to share, but I felt like I owed you all a response.
Right after I hit send on my last post, Mom calls to say they’re keeping Dad in the hematology ward. Apparently, his sodium and potassium levels haven't budged despite the IV fluids, and they're talking about some kind of electrolyte imbalance. Does anyone here know much about how that works?
I refuse to believe it’s gone to his head; things don't move that fast. It’s a huge relief that your husband is an oncologist—having someone to turn to when things get heavy is everything.
My dad finished all his tests, and honestly, it feels like we triggered a panic for nothing. The neurologist said everything looks fine on that front; based on the CT scan from last week, there's zero chance anything happened in his brain (ruggedfox11, I can't remember when his wife had her scans, but maybe this neurologist's input carries some weight here). His ammonia levels are normal, too.
The doctors told us not to overthink it or compare him to other patients. They say everyone is different, and that these symptoms could be coming from either the chemo or the illness itself.
But if you actually saw him... the change is hard to wrap your head around. Common sense and logic tell you something just isn't right, that there has to be more to the story. You find yourself stuck wondering whether to push back or just wait, and who exactly you should call. I was just scrolling through some posts and saw one where Angela Wright wrote to someone, "you'll find out 'wow' soon enough"... except in our case, this "wow" feels more like a "how is this even possible?" kind of shock.
The weirdest part is seeing the oncologist look startled, too...
All I know is that I'm praying for a miracle. I just want my dad back—the old version of him—even if it's just during the breaks between chemo rounds.
My dad finished all his tests, and honestly, it feels like we triggered a panic for nothing. The neurologist said everything looks fine on that front; based on the CT scan from last week, there's zero chance anything happened in his brain (ruggedfox11, I can't remember when his wife had her scans, but maybe this neurologist's input carries some weight here). His ammonia levels are normal, too.
The doctors told us not to overthink it or compare him to other patients. They say everyone is different, and that these symptoms could be coming from either the chemo or the illness itself.
But if you actually saw him... the change is hard to wrap your head around. Common sense and logic tell you something just isn't right, that there has to be more to the story. You find yourself stuck wondering whether to push back or just wait, and who exactly you should call. I was just scrolling through some posts and saw one where Angela Wright wrote to someone, "you'll find out 'wow' soon enough"... except in our case, this "wow" feels more like a "how is this even possible?" kind of shock.
The weirdest part is seeing the oncologist look startled, too...
All I know is that I'm praying for a miracle. I just want my dad back—the old version of him—even if it's just during the breaks between chemo rounds.
Dear ruggedfox11 and Robin Diaz4,
Thank you for reaching out. I’m sending those hugs right back to you, along with my hopes for a quick recovery and nothing but positive diagnoses... It’s truly a shame we all find ourselves meeting in a place like this.
ruggedfox11, regarding your question about whether side effects can show up a few days late—absolutely. My dad's condition took such a sudden turn after just one round of Chemo, despite him being a relatively healthy, physically strong guy (and he's only 60, if that matters). I've done a lot of digging into this, and it turns out many people don't feel the brunt of the side effects until day 5, 6, or even 10. A neighbor of ours has lung cancer—a different type than the micro kind—and she often found the worst of it hitting her between day 6 and day 13. I'm sure there are others here who have experienced similar timelines or know more than I do; I haven't managed to catch every single post yet.
As for my dad, I finally got a hold of his pulmonologist/oncologist yesterday. Once I explained what was happening, he immediately suggested we contact a neurologist and get his ammonia levels checked. Because of that, an ambulance rushed him to the hospital this morning for those tests. My mom is with him while I'm stuck at work, and frankly, I don't think I need to explain how much I'm struggling to function right now. Reading some of your posts, I realized I'm going through the exact same thing... His illness is constantly looping in my head. I'm so scattered that when my kids try to talk to me, I realize I haven't heard a word they said. I suppose that's just part of the territory; these situations are brutal.
Thank you for reaching out. I’m sending those hugs right back to you, along with my hopes for a quick recovery and nothing but positive diagnoses... It’s truly a shame we all find ourselves meeting in a place like this.
ruggedfox11, regarding your question about whether side effects can show up a few days late—absolutely. My dad's condition took such a sudden turn after just one round of Chemo, despite him being a relatively healthy, physically strong guy (and he's only 60, if that matters). I've done a lot of digging into this, and it turns out many people don't feel the brunt of the side effects until day 5, 6, or even 10. A neighbor of ours has lung cancer—a different type than the micro kind—and she often found the worst of it hitting her between day 6 and day 13. I'm sure there are others here who have experienced similar timelines or know more than I do; I haven't managed to catch every single post yet.
As for my dad, I finally got a hold of his pulmonologist/oncologist yesterday. Once I explained what was happening, he immediately suggested we contact a neurologist and get his ammonia levels checked. Because of that, an ambulance rushed him to the hospital this morning for those tests. My mom is with him while I'm stuck at work, and frankly, I don't think I need to explain how much I'm struggling to function right now. Reading some of your posts, I realized I'm going through the exact same thing... His illness is constantly looping in my head. I'm so scattered that when my kids try to talk to me, I realize I haven't heard a word they said. I suppose that's just part of the territory; these situations are brutal.
Hello everyone. Unfortunately, life has forced me to come here looking for some guidance. My father was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer with liver metastases just a month ago. Things moved incredibly fast; he already had his first round of chemo (the PE protocol) on March 10th at a clinic near our small town, USA. I drove him myself. Physically, he seemed fine—just a week prior, he was out working in the vineyard. Mentally, however, the diagnosis hit him hard. He admitted he’s been feeling "off" for about a year now—dealing with forgetfulness, depression, and a certain mental fog—which makes us worry the cancer might have reached his brain. We have a brain CT scheduled for March 15th.
He received his chemo intravenously on Friday, March 10th, followed by oral doses over the weekend. By Sunday, he was exhausted, though still upright. Monday brought a significant decline; the weakness set in, and he could no longer stand. Tuesday was even worse. Today, Wednesday, we’re taking him for that brain CT, and he has to go in a wheelchair because he can't support his own weight. Thankfully, the CT came back clear, which was a massive relief for all of us. Yet, despite that good news, his condition continues to deteriorate. It’s now day 11 since the treatment started. He’s in diapers now, and if he tries to get up, he collapses immediately. My mother is struggling immensely because he's a heavy man and she simply can't lift him. She has to feed him because he can't manage on his own; he seems semi-conscious, barely speaking, with his head constantly dropping. I don't know how else to describe it, but he looks like a 90-year-old battling Alzheimer. They did some blood work at the house the day before yesterday, and while most results weren't terrible, his CRP is extremely high at 114.
Has anyone else dealt with a situation like this? Is this level of decline a standard side effect of chemo, and can this state of being last this long? We are completely lost and overwhelmed. Apologies for the long post, and thank you in advance for any help or advice you can offer.
He received his chemo intravenously on Friday, March 10th, followed by oral doses over the weekend. By Sunday, he was exhausted, though still upright. Monday brought a significant decline; the weakness set in, and he could no longer stand. Tuesday was even worse. Today, Wednesday, we’re taking him for that brain CT, and he has to go in a wheelchair because he can't support his own weight. Thankfully, the CT came back clear, which was a massive relief for all of us. Yet, despite that good news, his condition continues to deteriorate. It’s now day 11 since the treatment started. He’s in diapers now, and if he tries to get up, he collapses immediately. My mother is struggling immensely because he's a heavy man and she simply can't lift him. She has to feed him because he can't manage on his own; he seems semi-conscious, barely speaking, with his head constantly dropping. I don't know how else to describe it, but he looks like a 90-year-old battling Alzheimer. They did some blood work at the house the day before yesterday, and while most results weren't terrible, his CRP is extremely high at 114.
Has anyone else dealt with a situation like this? Is this level of decline a standard side effect of chemo, and can this state of being last this long? We are completely lost and overwhelmed. Apologies for the long post, and thank you in advance for any help or advice you can offer.