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Hello Claude
I got my wack upside the head April, 2014. Have read through the postings in this thread. Know all about that roller coaster of emotions. Going back to work can help with the head spin that happens. I was diagnosed April 17 during the busiest time of year. First cysto May 1 and surgery May 12. Took the week off and then back to work. Other than my husband and one support employee, no one else knew until just before my surgery when I told my sons. Rest of family didn’t find out until middle of June once I had the results. However you let people know, don’t beat yourself up about whether you are doing it the right way or not. Just do it as you feel up to it.Anyway, why I am posting: my last surgery I had to wait four weeks for the results. Just to let you know this does happen. I do suggest you get a hold of the urologist’s office just to be sure your results aren’t sitting there in no man’s land.
After three surgeries and five scopes in one year and mine going high grade with the second last scope/surgery, I am getting the swing of things with BC. After swinging from the rafters for a while, I got my poop together, so to speak, and realized that, if I have to have cancer, this one definitely isn’t the worst to have. I realized this after I stopped researching on all those sites that are doom and gloom and scare the pants off you (Cancer Society, Mayo clinic, etc.) and once I found this site. Much more realistic and real life info on this site. So, I can’t emphasize enough: too much research is NOT a good thing.
If you can, try and participate in the walk the end of September. You will make contact with a lot of people who can show you that life does continue. As several on this site have put it: it is just a “new normal”.
Take care
Hi Cheryl,
I agree!! Those other sites just make you more & more depressed and scared. People at work have been asking, those in my dept that knew I was off sick for a couple of weeks and I told them what happened…nothing to be ashamed about…if someone has the same issues and are unsure, then it might help someone go right away and not wait like I did.
Since the TURB I haven’t had any issues, a few specks in my urine this week, but I think it might be scabs and maybe the lack of water since I didn’t want to stop on the highway every 5km to pee!!
Hope you are doing well, and yes, if I’m to have cancer, this one isn’t as bad as the others!! I keep saying “It is what it is, and it could be worse”.
Claude
Hello Claude
The timing sounds right for the scabs (usually week 4-5).
Here is your laugh for the day: I wasn’t told about the scabs so when they happened after my second surgery (4 tumors removed so there was a lot of blood) I immediately and precisely proceeded to swing from the rafters. Thank goodness the urologist got back to me right away and was so calm and reassuring.
Do keep up with the water, though. Makes a huge, huge difference after any procedures whether scope, TURB or BCG. Don’t blame you about not wanting to stop on the highway, though. Time your water intake so that you are close to a bathroom when needed.
Another laugh for the day: last week we went to Calgary (6 hour drive). Some of the stretches were a little long for me so my husband got several good laughs watching me do the mad dash from my vehicle into WalMart for the bathroom. I can say I intimately know all the WalMart washrooms between Battleford and Calgary. Some of them I even know exactly how many seconds it takes to get to the washroom.
Heh, if you can’t laugh, especially at yourself, then life will really suck.
Take care
After 5 weeks I would think that the Uro or GP should have the results by now – Just my feeling.
On to something more entertaining …
We have to drink copious amounts of fluids to deal with: Healing, Avoiding UTI, Flushing out the BCG, Making sure we don’t get “Stopped-up” and… and …
Anyone, other than me, get the “sloshies” ? – That is when you drink so many fluids that it moves around in your stomach like a water sloshing in a barrel ?
Just got my Foley Catheter out on Wednesday. The longest I can go right now without visiting a washroom is about 20 to 30 minutes. I can just barely make the drive to work without wetting myself. No Walmarts en route – But a Timmy’s is always there!!
DDep
Thanks for the chuckles!! Being in the middle of northern Ontario, places to stop are few and far between….the occasional highway rest stops, which I think I’d rather pee myself than go in those!! It’s all about timing!!
Hello DDep
Are you drinking caffeinated fluids or sugary drinks? These will aggravate the bladder and you will need to void more often.
Try clear water. If you can’t stand water, then add a slice of lemon.
The urgency will slow down as time goes by. Right now your bladder is doing the “what in the **** is going on!”
Are you sure about the job security? Right now you may be going through the stage where everything is elevated for stress and you may be reacting to your world being turned upside down and loss of control over your world (reference the “facing bladder cancer” tab for the stages you mentally go through) . Are you under provincial or federal labour laws? Either way, you should have some job protection. It is a little different under the two options. Something you can do: check with the applicable labor laws in regards to what your employer can do and not do with you. Then, if you are protected, go talk to your boss and ask to take a leave of absence. You can go on EI medical. Under EI medical you are not required to look for work. Check with EI to determine what your benefits would be and how long your benefits will go. Most provinces have job protection when you take a leave of absence I just don’t remember what Ontario’s rules are. While this may sound like a scary option, being honest with your employer is usually the best option and gives your employer some surety as to what to do with the work load. Just be sure you are protected from your employer straight out laying you off. I say this from an employer’s perspective. Over the years, I had two employees dealing with medical issues. Even I started to get grumpy about not knowing who would be at work each day and having to juggle workloads and it takes a lot to get me grumpy. With the one, I finally told her to go on sick leave and then EI medical until she could get things straightened out. Then I could provide some stability to the rest of my staff for workloads.
Here is a laugh: after a BCG treatment I was picking raspberries and, sure enough, urgency hit. Distance from raspberries to house has never seemed so far. Even the animals (dog and cats) were high tailing it to get out of my way! Yes, my family got a good laugh out of me for that one.
Take care
Hello DDep
Check out “Important Reading” under the “Facing BladderCancer” tab. This will help explain the bad dream thing. When I was first diagnosed I was dealing with peak season in my own business. As a result, I skipped the bad dream thing so I can’t directly relate to it.Also, apologies to anyone that read my post above about scabs in 4-5 weeks. It is actually around 2 weeks for the scabs coming off.
Take care
You’re making me wonder now Cheryl. I don’t recall scabs after 2 weeks just recently but I’m writing that off as a couple of days with very little water…back to normal now so knock on wood. I’ll mention it to the doc when I meet him, hopefully soon…
Hello Claude
Don’t panic. After my first surgery I don’t remember the scabs either. Too much going on in my life then. Also, “just” one main tumor removed for that one. Second surgery removed four tumors and boy, do I ever remember when the scabs came out! Third surgery was two small tumors and I don’t remember scabs.
Take care
Claude,
Reading from my Post TURBT instruction sheet, it states:
“,,,, You may see some blood in your urine over the first 6 weeks. It may occur even if the urine was clear for a while, do not be alarmed. Get off your feet and drink lots of fluids until clearing occurs (water is best). If you start to pass clots or don’t improve, call your Urologist”.
HTH
DDep
Hello Claude
I’m a Northern Ontario native myself. I grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, although I have been in Calgary for many year.
I had a problem telling people about my bladder cancer when I first got it. However, the more I opened up to others the more support & understanding I got. So take your time, but consider reaching out to a few people to help you thru this.
I am waiting to hear your results. I can feel for you. The wait after my first, second & third TURBTs was sooooo painful.
Listen to the advice you’ll get on this site. We’ve all been down a similar, but not the same path. Your own journey is unique.
Please tell us when you hear your results.
*** UPDATE ***
Well, I got my results today after waiting since my TURB on July 31st. New doctor in town, getting his things in order etc. Kept saying to myself “no news is good news”…
I hope I got this right: T1 high grade non-invasive inversion (Next time I’m bringing a voice recorder!). With that said, in the next coming weeks, I’ll be going for a chest x-ray, CT scan, and another TURB. The doctor also mentioned that afterwards, more than likely have BCG treatment.
Not exactly how I wanted to start Monday morning but it is what it is…
Claude
Hello Claude
Could be worse! Regardless, you can now move forward on attacking those little buggers. In the meantime, take a deep breath, climb down from swinging on the rafters, find something to laugh about, cry and hug those that are close to you. It does help.
If you have to have BC, non-invasive is the best words to hear.
New doctor in town would make me nervous: what is his experience as a doctor and with BC? I have seen all kinds of treatments happening on this site and there are some who still have their bladder but wouldn’t if they hadn’t gone for a second opinion. I really, really wonder if unexperienced uros jump the gun on BC.
Others can correct me if I have this wrong but non-invasive means the BC hasn’t made it out of the bladder thus the x-rays, CT scans are not necessary. As my uro explained after I queried him because my GP had already scheduled a CT scan: there are risks with a CT scan especially if it isn’t done right with a BC patient. In other words, the standard dye used with a CT scan can trigger more tumors. Ask questions of your doctor and find out his history. Can do this by contacting his office and contacting the provincial physicians association.
The “inversion” thing is new to me and I don’t have a clue.
Get a copy of the pathology report.
Also, my uros, their staff and the local chemo unit nurses have emphasized that it is really important to start BCG a month after surgery. Why a month? Bladder needs time to recover from BCG. With my last round, had surgery June 1 (high grade non-invasive), TURB July 2 (was sure there was still tumor in my bladder and I was right) and tumor removed then started 6 BCG the next week. Checkup last week: all clear! This after 3 surgeries, 6 scopes and 18 BCG treatments.
Take care
Hi Cheryl,
Like I said, I’m not sure if I got everything correct…was a lot of info which is why I should have brought a voice recorder. Would they be able to email me a copy of the pathology report if I ask? Can’t hurt to try I guess.
The doctor is new in town…a urologist, a young guy and he performed the original TURB on me. I don’t have a reason to not trust him…yet!
He did mention that he had removed a little bugger from the prostate, which is why I think he would like the CT scan. After researching a bit this morning, the way he described what was removed, was long on the surface. I’ll ask for a copy of the report…would help me better research this little bugger.
I already mentioned it to my family and took the full day off work instead of the original half day…
I’ll get more info soon
Claude
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