IronMom45

6 years later, my friend, I’m checking in on you!

Hello darlin! We're coming up on 3 years in a few months and I wanted to check in and see how you are-
I'm starting to finally feel like my old self but don't want to get too cocky! I'd love to hear from you!

Where did you get your picture? I wish to steal it, I mean borrow!

So sorry, what now? Chemo, radiation? I go from ct scan to pt scan every three months. No cancer since December, my dr says my cancer is very aggressive, didn't give me much hope. Playing the waiting game, Scary.

Hi Iron Mom, thinking of you today. I'm in Oregon now, doing the Opdivo for my stage 4 lung cancer. I went to Soaring Spirits Survivor Camp at Suttle Lake this summer and made some new friends. I hope you are doing well.

Hi IronMom I haven't checked in for a while. I continue to pray for you. You are one tough cookie! God's blessings to relieve pain and vomiting. Tmcq

Thinking of you! Know it has been tough. You are an amazing, strong woman and can do this!! Praying for you and your family.

Here I am again... checking in and letting you know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Peach is one of my favorite colors and "Yes" when I wear it I will be thinking of you. Those will be many thoughts your way.

Just dropping by to say "hi" and let you know I am thinking of you. Praying that you are recovering and getting to enter your clinical trial.

As you can see, we're worried about you. I hope you're doing better.

I am always thinking and praying for IronMom and all others on this site.

I was hoping for an update, too. Hope you are out of ICU and soon to begin your clinical trial.

Just sending a thought to hope you have started the trial and are feeling better.

Ironmom45, I'm sorry to hear that your chemo isn't working. I'm local to your area. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.

Hi IronMom45,

You have been on my mind a lot in recent days. I am finally making it to your wall to tell you that I'm praying for you and hoping you're having better days.

Hugs!

IronMom, I missed all this information just learned of it today. I've been more off the forum than on for awhile now because of my own drama. Hugs. Prayers, love to you.

Dear IronMom,
I am praying sometime is coming together for you. Some kind of anything to work for you. U of M is a fantastic center if they had anything to help you. I hope so..

I hope you get some resolution to this problem. Long-term pain isn't good for anyone, especially when you have others who depend on you. Take care.

Hello my friend - hope you are able to go outside for a bit. Are any flowers in bloom in your area? You are here supporting others in such a loving way. And, being iron Mom taking care of yourself; sterile dressing changes, etc. Bless you.

Thought I'd continue our conversation on your page. My one kidney is still doing fine. I am not scheduled to go back for 3 months but I did email the Dr last night about my issues. My local chemo doc is out of town this week or I'd call him. Hoping I can make this new drug regimen work.

P.S. I also saw something online that said a kidney cath can be hooked up to a bag (usual scenario)...OR the bladder, in which case bag not necessary. Have you heard anything about that?

Thanks so much for your 2 replies, IronMom. They were very helpful. I saw the urologist today. He said I could have a nuclear scan first to see if there is a blockage or just some reflux. Apparently, ureters have anti-reflux valves, but stents do not. So I have appt. Tues. for nuclear scan. Am keeping fingers crossed that I don't need neph tube. Yes, it's just one side (so far, though I have another malignant lymph node in the groin on the other side too). I asked about metal stent. He said they don't do those much as they are more uncomfortable than the plastic stents. (Don't you love it when docs call pain discomfort?! )

I will ask Greg to give you my email address so if I do need a cath, we can communicate more. Doc did say home health aides can help, and I have Medicare & a supplement so would probably be OK. But I remembered that you said your bag broke in the middle of the night. Also read online that infections are easy to get with cath, & my blood counts (as yours are, too, I'm sure) are low from chemo anyway. So far, I haven't had any infections & would like to keep it that way.

Also, I keep hoping for a more normal life eventually & want to go on a cruise in Nov. (assuming I'm still alive). I may plan for it but take trip cancellation insurance with pre-existing condition rider. It's only a week, out of Miami, so not too far away. I live in the Tampa Bay area. Also want to be able to go in swimming pool (not that I do that much anyway, but this is Florida, so my condo has a pool. Also like showers. I did the sponge bath/seat in tub thing when I broke my ankle a couple of years ago, but that was only for 3 mths. When I had a lung catheter to drain fluid from my lungs after debulking surgery, a nurse drained it every 3 days, & showers were difficult, trying to keep it dry. But it, too, was just temporary, about a month or so.

Hope this isn't too long a response. Sorry. You are my inspiration & encouragement. You've been through so much & keep fighting. I pray for you every night. You deserve to live a long & healthy life. As you said, they come up with new things all the time, so it's not too far-fetched to think they may cure you--or at least control the cancer & let you live a reasonably normal long life.

IronMom, I read online that having a kidney cath requires help, as it's in the back. I live alone & have no help. Can you handle yours alone? How do you manage showering, avoiding infection, etc.?

Thinking of you as I go in for a stent this morning.

Hi Ironmom, How are you doing? I haven't seen anything from you lately. I hope you are doing better.

Hi! Woke up thinking about you and wonder how you are doing? Your strength and attitude are inspiring.

Hi IronMom how's your weather there? We are back to clouds here in Portland but had 70 degrees at the beach Monday Tuesday.

Hi IronMom like the post :0) nice to have hair curly or straight. Enjoy