Desperation - any doctors willing to comment

[Iciclehead]

Dennis

[sc_rufctr]

(I'm not a doctor) I feel your pain. I hope you have better days ahead of you.

Just one day at a time and if that's too long one hour at a time.

[Arizona_928]

pain management

[Don Ro]

I hear you, man! Life is not fair.
Fighting for our physical survival is bad enough, but when we're around someone who is uncaring, it's a different kind of Hell!
BTDT.

Not meant to be flippant, but - -
.
1) "...not appearing cancerous, but will be monitored for growth and eventual excision if it starts to grow."
.
2) " I will never go to a hospital, I would rather die..."
.
How will the first eventuate if you plan to hold true with the second?

[dewolf]

You need to get on top of it. Not sure how old you are but once you've stopped breathing you have no more options. Whilst you are still breathing there are options and there are people who can and will help you. Seek those people out. I'm going through some ****ty heart problems at the moment but life is good. Just go outside and look at the night sky, or up at the clouds with the blue sky behind them. The world is good. Go have a drink with some friends and talk crap. There's a lot you'll miss if you eff off now. And if you're not happy with your wife it's time to move on. Sometimes the burden of a loveless marriage will break you down.
If I was there I'd gladly sit and have a drink with you and talk ****, Porsches, youth and girls. You know, the important stuff.

[creaturecat]

not a doc either. wishing you the best.
take care of yourself.

[Chocaholic]

Dennis,

You're an insightful and intelligent person. I make it a point to read and re-read your posts, especially in PARF as they're among the few that actually shine a light on the topic with thoughtful consideration. That's why this thread surprises me. Had no idea.

You've received some good advice. A bit concerned about the fence you've put around your healthcare options. Just watching a 6cm mass seems a rather casual approach. Not a doc but I can't help but wonder if it's not contributing to the other problems you're having. I'd want it gone but some good medical advice is certainly warranted to confirm that wait-and-see is the best approach.

If intervention is required, and it will be eventually, you'll need to have it done in a competent hospital under the care of competent physicians. All easy to type and not easy to do. I feel for you, but life is a one-time shot as far as we know. There is medication for depression...also worth looking into. Better living through chemistry man!

Sorry to hear about your marriage. But there is good medication that can help with her menopause effects too. Another topic entirely, understood.

Funny, my first reaction when reading your post was....get a dog. Seriously. My parents went through health and relationship issues about 10 years ago (they're now in their mid-80's). They got a small dog (Havanese). It has transformed their lives from focusing on themselves, health issues and all the bad things to, well....Teddy.

Wishing you all the best Dennis. You have friends here. Stay the course and see this thing through. It's worth it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Fight the good fight Dennis! Life is definitely worth living, despite its challenges. I get the impression that you are a bit stubborn about seeking out medical care, but it sounds like getting a second opinion by a specialist or two would be totally justified. No one doctor knows everything, we just went through a month of hell thanks to a general practitioner falsely diagnosing my 12 year old son with a heart condition. After finally telling him to pound sand and seeking the advice of a pediatric cardiologist, all is well. Not all docs are created equal!

[widgeon13]

Day at a time and I love the dog idea.

Hope things get better for you.

[ckelly78z]

All is not lost, we all get sick, with some getting it worse than others. I have many friends that have never been sick a day in thier lives, but they smoke like a chimney, drink like a fish, and eat like a pig. I've never done any of those things and have had every ailment known to man. After having chemotherapy for 9 months....a few years later,one of the drugs I had been given, I developed pnuemonia also that led to heart failure (some of the same symptoms you described) I actually went to work every day, and as you said, was dragging my butt around and getting winded at the slightest thing. My heart pumping efficiency (ejection fraction) was 13% and I was retaining alot of fluids.......go get checked out !

[turn9]

Hi Iciclehead,

I'm a chest surgeon. Sorry for your present health problems and hope you'll overcome them.
A few thoughts, based on the limited info available:

A 6 cm lung mass is not something you watch to "see if it will grow" before pursuing definitive diagnosis.

A biopsy and a PET scan may be indicated at this time

If your doctor is not a lung diseases specialist ("Pulmonologist") or a Thoracic Surgeon, you should ask for a referral or seek a consultation directly for a second opinion.

If the mass proves to be cancer but with no spread beyond the lung surgery may be indicated at this time.

Obviously, these are general recommendations. My main advice is to encourage you to not delay in obtaining a clear diagnosis and then, appropriate treatment. There has been great progress in the management of lung diseases and you can benefit from them.

Best of luck to you,
Regards,

T9

[74-911]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Dennis,

You're an insightful and intelligent person. I make it a point to read and re-read your posts, especially in PARF as they're among the few that actually shine a light on the topic with thoughtful consideration. ......

Wishing you all the best Dennis. You have friends here. Stay the course and see this thing through. It's worth it.

My thoughts exactly Dennis. I'm not a doc but Turn9's post makes a lot of sense to me.

[Neilk]

My wife had a mass in her lung so they did a lobectomy arthroscopically. Surgery took a while but when she was out of the recovery room and in her room, she was sitting up and in great shape. When she was discharged two days later, her first stop was the grocery store. I am saying all this so that you can see that going to a hospital to get it taken care of does not have to be a chest splitting surgery. It is how important that see a doctor who does it and thinks your a suitable candidate.

Best of luck!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by turn9

Hi Iciclehead,

I'm a chest surgeon. Sorry for your present health problems and hope you'll overcome them.
A few thoughts, based on the limited info available:

A 6 cm lung mass is not something you watch to "see if it will grow" before pursuing definitive diagnosis.

A biopsy and a PET scan may be indicated at this time

If your doctor is not a lung diseases specialist ("Pulmonologist") or a Thoracic Surgeon, you should ask for a referral or seek a consultation directly for a second opinion.

If the mass proves to be cancer but with no spread beyond the lung surgery may be indicated at this time.

Obviously, these are general recommendations. My main advice is to encourage you to not delay in obtaining a clear diagnosis and then, appropriate treatment. There has been great progress in the management of lung diseases and you can benefit from them.

Best of luck to you,
Regards,

T9

There ya go, Dennis.....sounds like great advice. You're lucky you have the Canadian heath care system....take advantage of it!

As for the wife.....trade her in for a dog from the local shelter....or even better make it 2 dogs!

Everyone experiences speed bumps in life. Everyone. Just gotta keep going.

Please keep us posted.

[Rot 911]

Dennis, you've been given lots of good advice. Give it some serious thought. I know how you feel as I have been there (and was going to post about my next hurdle, but instead am posting here). I just turned 60 in June. When I was 55 I was in a situation similar to yours, except I have Crohns disease and it was my intestines, not my lung. I was facing surgery and eventually had 18 inches of my small bowel removed. Prior to surgery I was thinking the same as you, didn't want to go in a hospital, fear I might not come out and the only reason I didn't blow my brains out is because I thought I might screw it up and end up a vegetable. But I had the surgery. It sucked and many a night I laid in that hospital room wishing I would just die. A few times I gave thought to busting open the morphine machine and giving that plunger one final push. But I didn't and eventually got out and back on my feet. 5 years later I'm in better health than I have been in the last 10 years. I run most mornings and have started motorcycle track days!

Become educated about what is going on with your body. That way you can discuss your issues with your doctor in a knowledgeable manner. Find a hobby that gives you pleasure when nothing else does. I started track days back in March and the thing I like most about it is when you are on the track you have to focus your attention 100%. It is the only place where stray thoughts can't come wandering in.

[sand_man]

Please Don't Give Up!!!

I'm not a Doctor. But some excellent advice has been given along with some user experiences. As others have pointed out, don't give up on modern medicine, learn what's going on in your body, and what your options are.

I love the idea of getting yourself a dog/cat (if you don't already have one). And while your current condition might make it difficult, having hobbies always helps me with the blues. Hell, make your hobby and passion, getting well! I once worked with a guy who said he feels depressed when he doesn't have trips on his calendar to look forward to. So he uses travel (no matter how short or small the trip) as his escape and distraction from the crapola that life dishes out.

[sammyg2]

Every man needs something to look forward to. A goal, a reward, something.
Find that something in your life and grab onto it.
Obsess if necessary, but get yourself something to work for and to work towards.
That will change many things.

[recycled sixtie]

Yes Dennis your posts as mentioned above are definitely worth reading and you sound like a decent fellow. You are obviously in Alberta and if you live in Edmonton give me a call and we can go for a coffee or a beer. If you live outside Edm. ph. me anytime. I will pm you a ph. number. Yes get another opinion and fight the good fight.
Guy

[Targa Me]

Hang in there Dennis.
Never give up.
My prayers are sent your way.

[island911]

Ditto (esp) Chocaholic's post for me. --we want you to stick around.

Not a pep-talk in the vid, but great info.