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Cody's Health Problems

Yesterday AM, we drove up to the North Las Vegas VA Hospital for my Fibro Scan. It's been over 25 years that I've been to any VA Hospital. It was 33 miles and took us a solid hour to get there. Like most VA Hospitals, this one was pretty big as well. The scan was easy. The handheld scanner would do a little "thumping" on my stomach/liver, but that was it. After the scan, we stopped into their cafe and got some breakfast. I always take my own coffee (Community Instant Coffee), but their water tasted awful.

Unless absolutely necessary, we won't go back to this hospital ever again............just too far to drive! And, some of the traffic was, to say the least, TERRIBLE going there at 7:30AM. Hopefully, we will find out something about my liver/stomach.

Have found out that many, or more, older Veterans don't have Medicare, like I do. Don't know how long I'll have mine, once my wife's job ends, but for now, I have A/B and Supplements.
 
Bobby and I were talking about whether the VA has a patient portal (he wanted copies of his medical records), and it turns out that they do have a portal, so you should be able to look up the results of your tests on the portal if you wanted to do that.
 
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Sheryl said:
Cody, if a person has ever worked and paid into Medicare and Social Security, they are eligible for both after they retire.
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That's true, however, Veterans don't have to pay for healthcare, except for prescription medicine. Actually, due to my wife's salary, we have a co-pay for my VA prescriptions. OTOH, Medicare A (Hospital) is free, but Medicare B (medical care) has a monthly premium and deductible. We also have to pay a monthly premium for our drug plan as well as a monthly premium for our Supplement Plan for Medicare B. So, we are, basically, paying "out the nose" for our medical, except for my VA Medical, which is free to me, with the exception of my prescription co-pay.
 
Yvonne Smith said:
Bobby and I were talking about whether the VA has a patient portal (he wanted complies of his medical records), and it turns out that they do have a portal, so you should be able to look up the results of your tests on the portal if you wanted to do that.
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Yes, I've had that portal for a long time, but the portal doesn't show any exams/scans done thru Community Care. IOW, my MRI, Biopsy, PET Scan, Aorta Ultrasound and Right Quadrant Stomach Ultrasound won't show up on the portal, because these were done thru the VA, but outside the VA.
 
Cody Fousnaugh said:
Yes, I've had that portal for a long time, but the portal doesn't show any exams/scans done thru Community Care. IOW, my MRI, Biopsy, PET Scan, Aorta Ultrasound and Right Quadrant Stomach Ultrasound won't show up on the portal, because these were done thru the VA, but outside the VA.
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First, for Yvonne: I check, and print out, the results of all of my exams/scans from the portals of where they were done.

My VA doctor messaged me with the results of my Fibro Scan that was done this past Thursday (April 24) and my liver is fine...........THANK God!! So, just where is my right-side belly pain coming from? Still don't know, but could definitely be a gallbladder bile duct or gallstone/gallstones. Another scan, perhaps.

And, due to my (somewhat) chronic diarrhea, most likely due to my IR (Immediate Release) Metformin, I will change my Metformin to ER (Extended Release) and see what happens. IR Metformin creates diarrhea much, much easier than ER Metformin does.

Also, from being at the VA Hospital on Thursday, I wound up with pretty bad diarrhea on Thursday evening and Friday afternoon. My wife got it as well. We also think we got a "gut bug" while at the hospital also. We had to take a cold/flu OTC last night. This morning, we are feeling much better. Unfortunately, neither of our immune systems are very good. Now, could've this diarrhea problem been from our Metformin or from the hospital, we really won't know until we change our Metformin prescription to ER.
 
Another Update: First, yesterday we signed a Renewal Lease for 9-months for our apartment. That will take us to April 2026. After that, we will go month-to-month until we move. Didn't really want to sigh another Lease, but had absolutely no choice, due to my upcoming radiation therapy. We didn't want to stay here thru another very hot summer, but "gotta do what we gotta do", as the old saying goes.

Next month, middle of June, I'm scheduled to get the Gel Spacer put in me. It is a "jel" like substance that is injected in-between my prostate and my rectum. It is very highly recommended so the radiation therapy won't harm my rectum or get side-affects. A few days after that is done, I will go to the radiation therapy office for my CT Simulation (pictures), so the Tech will know right where to aim the radiation at during therapy.

As for my stomach, I've thought that my problem (sometimes pain) could be a kidney stone, but my VA doctor told me that I don't have symptoms for that. So, I'm really thinking it has something to do with my gallbladder and/or bile duct blockage. The only way to find that out is thru a HIDA Scan, of which we'd have to drive back up to the VA Hospital to get. I told my VA doctor that I'll put that off until I see her on the 21st of this month and discuss/show where the pain is. It appears the only time I get the pain is a couple of hours after eating something that has fat in it.

I'm also getting an x-ray of my right hip replacement, being that I get some pain there sometimes. The hip replacement was done in Oct. 2005.

So, for now, that it. Well, let's put it this way.............that's enough! LOL
 
Cody Fousnaugh said:
Another Update: First, yesterday we signed a Renewal Lease for 9-months for our apartment. That will take us to April 2026. After that, we will go month-to-month until we move. Didn't really want to sigh another Lease, but had absolutely no choice, due to my upcoming radiation therapy. We didn't want to stay here thru another very hot summer, but "gotta do what we gotta do", as the old saying goes.

Next month, middle of June, I'm scheduled to get the Gel Spacer put in me. It is a "jel" like substance that is injected in-between my prostate and my rectum. It is very highly recommended so the radiation therapy won't harm my rectum or get side-affects. A few days after that is done, I will go to the radiation therapy office for my CT Simulation (pictures), so the Tech will know right where to aim the radiation at during therapy.

As for my stomach, I've thought that my problem (sometimes pain) could be a kidney stone, but my VA doctor told me that I don't have symptoms for that. So, I'm really thinking it has something to do with my gallbladder and/or bile duct blockage. The only way to find that out is thru a HIDA Scan, of which we'd have to drive back up to the VA Hospital to get. I told my VA doctor that I'll put that off until I see her on the 21st of this month and discuss/show where the pain is. It appears the only time I get the pain is a couple of hours after eating something that has fat in it.

I'm also getting an x-ray of my right hip replacement, being that I get some pain there sometimes. The hip replacement was done in Oct. 2005.

So, for now, that it. Well, let's put it this way.............that's enough! LOL
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Hope this is over soon, and you have complete and lasting good health.
 
Update: First, I was prescribed the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin 500mg every 12 hours for the "rectum spacer" I got last Wednesday at my VA Community Care Urologist office. The last time I had this antibiotic was for the biopsy I had in February. This antibiotic was fine for the biopsy, but for the "rectum spacer", either my liver or gallbladder didn't like it. I seem to be fine now, but for a few days, I was wondering, as well as all of the diarrhea I was getting until now.

If you don't know what a "rectum spacer" is, it is gel that is inserted, thru the scrotum, that separates the prostate from the rectum. That way, my rectum will be spared in getting any, or very little, radiation during treatment. At first, we were undecided on whether to get the "spacer" or not, until we read about how it can save the rectum from radiation problems.

So, I got this "spacer gel" put in on June 11th and this past Monday, June 16th, I had the CT Simulation done at the Oncologist office. The Tech took pictures of the area that will get the radiation and he also placed markers on me for where the radiation will go. I'm scheduled for my first radiation therapy/treatment on the 26th of June. I will get 27 treatments that will last only about 15 minutes or less. I will get each treatment 5 days a week, Monday thru Friday, but nothing on weekends. Weekends are for healthy areas around my prostate to recuperate from the radiation during the week.

My wife will be taking me to each treatment and bringing me home. How much fatigue will I get..............I won't know until I start the radiation therapy. I will be able to do some things at home that I done before (laundry, loading-running-emptying the dishwasher, but will have to rest in-between things. Radiation can take the "get up and go" out of you!

I will also have to drink two 16oz of bottled water 45 minutes or so before each radiation treatment. That is to protect my bladder (somehow).

That's it for now. Will let you know how my first treatment will go, but my 1/2 brother made it thru his. I talked to him last night. Cancer hit his prostate as well, but, apparently advanced to his lymph nodes. One thing is FOR SURE, my 1/2 brother is a whole lot more tougher than I am. He totally/absolutely loves hard-physical work, like vehicle mechanics and building construction (his own). He is 81 years old and I'm now 76.

One last thing, don't remember if I mentioned this in this thread, but my wife lost her 17 year old son (years and years ago) to cancer. That is why she is so "insisting" on me to get this taken care of.
 
Cody Fousnaugh said:
Update: First, I was prescribed the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin 500mg every 12 hours for the "rectum spacer" I got last Wednesday at my VA Community Care Urologist office. The last time I had this antibiotic was for the biopsy I had in February. This antibiotic was fine for the biopsy, but for the "rectum spacer", either my liver or gallbladder didn't like it. I seem to be fine now, but for a few days, I was wondering, as well as all of the diarrhea I was getting until now.

If you don't know what a "rectum spacer" is, it is gel that is inserted, thru the scrotum, that separates the prostate from the rectum. That way, my rectum will be spared in getting any, or very little, radiation during treatment. At first, we were undecided on whether to get the "spacer" or not, until we read about how it can save the rectum from radiation problems.

So, I got this "spacer gel" put in on June 11th and this past Monday, June 16th, I had the CT Simulation done at the Oncologist office. The Tech took pictures of the area that will get the radiation and he also placed markers on me for where the radiation will go. I'm scheduled for my first radiation therapy/treatment on the 26th of June. I will get 27 treatments that will last only about 15 minutes or less. I will get each treatment 5 days a week, Monday thru Friday, but nothing on weekends. Weekends are for healthy areas around my prostate to recuperate from the radiation during the week.

My wife will be taking me to each treatment and bringing me home. How much fatigue will I get..............I won't know until I start the radiation therapy. I will be able to do some things at home that I done before (laundry, loading-running-emptying the dishwasher, but will have to rest in-between things. Radiation can take the "get up and go" out of you!

I will also have to drink two 16oz of bottled water 45 minutes or so before each radiation treatment. That is to protect my bladder (somehow).

That's it for now. Will let you know how my first treatment will go, but my 1/2 brother made it thru his. I talked to him last night. Cancer hit his prostate as well, but, apparently advanced to his lymph nodes. One thing is FOR SURE, my 1/2 brother is a whole lot more tougher than I am. He totally/absolutely loves hard-physical work, like vehicle mechanics and building construction (his own). He is 81 years old and I'm now 76.

One last thing, don't remember if I mentioned this in this thread, but my wife lost her 17 year old son (years and years ago) to cancer. That is why she is so "insisting" on me to get this taken care of.
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Cody,
I hope all goes well. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.
I had 3 Fiducial marker installed yesterday. My radiation will start in July.
 
Cody Fousnaugh said:
Update: First, I was prescribed the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin 500mg every 12 hours for the "rectum spacer" I got last Wednesday at my VA Community Care Urologist office. The last time I had this antibiotic was for the biopsy I had in February. This antibiotic was fine for the biopsy, but for the "rectum spacer", either my liver or gallbladder didn't like it. I seem to be fine now, but for a few days, I was wondering, as well as all of the diarrhea I was getting until now.

If you don't know what a "rectum spacer" is, it is gel that is inserted, thru the scrotum, that separates the prostate from the rectum. That way, my rectum will be spared in getting any, or very little, radiation during treatment. At first, we were undecided on whether to get the "spacer" or not, until we read about how it can save the rectum from radiation problems.

So, I got this "spacer gel" put in on June 11th and this past Monday, June 16th, I had the CT Simulation done at the Oncologist office. The Tech took pictures of the area that will get the radiation and he also placed markers on me for where the radiation will go. I'm scheduled for my first radiation therapy/treatment on the 26th of June. I will get 27 treatments that will last only about 15 minutes or less. I will get each treatment 5 days a week, Monday thru Friday, but nothing on weekends. Weekends are for healthy areas around my prostate to recuperate from the radiation during the week.

My wife will be taking me to each treatment and bringing me home. How much fatigue will I get..............I won't know until I start the radiation therapy. I will be able to do some things at home that I done before (laundry, loading-running-emptying the dishwasher, but will have to rest in-between things. Radiation can take the "get up and go" out of you!

I will also have to drink two 16oz of bottled water 45 minutes or so before each radiation treatment. That is to protect my bladder (somehow).

That's it for now. Will let you know how my first treatment will go, but my 1/2 brother made it thru his. I talked to him last night. Cancer hit his prostate as well, but, apparently advanced to his lymph nodes. One thing is FOR SURE, my 1/2 brother is a whole lot more tougher than I am. He totally/absolutely loves hard-physical work, like vehicle mechanics and building construction (his own). He is 81 years old and I'm now 76.

One last thing, don't remember if I mentioned this in this thread, but my wife lost her 17 year old son (years and years ago) to cancer. That is why she is so "insisting" on me to get this taken care of.
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Hoping for the best outcome Cody, bless her heart about the son. We do think of you and Tony and others here too. Not long on Prayers but do mention yall in them
 
One thing I really don't understand is: All of us hear, and sometimes see, the survivors of lady's breast cancer, but how often, if at all, do we hear about/see those men that have survived prostate cancer? And, there are ads on tv, pretty constantly, asking for money for two different Children's Hospitals for their cancer research/treatment.

As for myself, I'd never heard of prostate cancer until I was diagnosed with it, and told by my 1/2 brother, that our dad had some type of cancer. Basically, I only knew my dad for the first 6 or 7 years of my life.
 
Cody Fousnaugh said:
One thing I really don't understand is: All of us hear, and sometimes see, the survivors of lady's breast cancer, but how often, if at all, do we hear about/see those men that have survived prostate cancer? And, there are ads on tv, pretty constantly, asking for money for two different Children's Hospitals for their cancer research/treatment.

As for myself, I'd never heard of prostate cancer until I was diagnosed with it, and told by my 1/2 brother, that our dad had some type of cancer. Basically, I only knew my dad for the first 6 or 7 years of my life.
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Men just don't talk about it @Cody Fousnaugh. Women are much more open about health issues. Since the directed radiation treatment was developed, I think survival is pretty good. Breast and prostate cancer are not too different in the rates, but breast cancer gets more publicity. Here is an article about such things. Lung cancer is still the deadliest cancer followed by colon cancer.
 
Cody Fousnaugh said:
One thing I really don't understand is: All of us hear, and sometimes see, the survivors of lady's breast cancer, but how often, if at all, do we hear about/see those men that have survived prostate cancer? And, there are ads on tv, pretty constantly, asking for money for two different Children's Hospitals for their cancer research/treatment.

As for myself, I'd never heard of prostate cancer until I was diagnosed with it, and told by my 1/2 brother, that our dad had some type of cancer. Basically, I only knew my dad for the first 6 or 7 years of my life.
Click to expand...
I have friends who have gotten through prostate cancer.
The thing about it is, if they live long enough, ALL men will get prostate cancer but few will die from it, doctors say.
What long enough is is different for all men.
The frustrations from treatments are the worst--waiting, wrong treatment and then switching...
 
My first radiation is this coming Thursday morning. I can only hope that, once I drink the two 16oz bottles of water, I can hold my bladder until the therapy is over. I've been told by my 1/2 brother, who went thru the radiation therapy, that each session is pretty short. It takes longer for the preparation to get the radiation than it actually does getting it. I sure hope so!

After it's over on Thursday, will have to find out when I get my second session and on and how I will feel after getting that session. I have been told that I will get fatigued and have to take "resting" breaks during the day to get my energy back up. Will have to see what happens.

Both of us are continuing to wear N95 masks when grocery shopping or being around a lot of people. Our immune systems definitely aren't the best, like they use to be, so we are going to take the chance of getting anything.
 
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