Is this normal

You need to get in touch with the emergency number. I did a few weeks ago after having severe headache and had to go to A and E.

Hi ,

I agree, he should seek medical advice immediately.  Hopefully he has done so by now.

If he is now feeling OK he still needs to seek advice, possibly from his oncologist, his GP or A and E so that he knows what to do in case it recurs and in case any of his medication need adjusting.

Please let us know how you get on.

Gragon. x

Hi

My name is Ellen and I’m one of the nurses who work with the Online Community. The team have asked me to have a look at your post as it sounds as if your husband needs to be seen by a doctor today.

I can see that  Ormebeau and Gragon have advised that you call the emergency number or take your husband to A&E. I hope that you have already done so.

While it’s understandable why he may not want to call the emergency helpline but it’s important that you give them a call so that he can be properly assessed today.

If his symptoms are getting worse you need to call 999.

Please don’t hesitate to get back in touch with us and let us know how he gets on.

Best wishes and take care

Ellen-Macmillan Online Digital Nurse Specialist.

Hi, sorry but I've just read your post.  I really feel you should get your husband seen immediately.  Please don't leave this until tomorrow.  Ray

Thank you all for your helpful reply’s, we are now at the oncology day unit. I agree it needed to be assessed, but also very difficult if the patient doesn’t want to be seen as wasting the hospitals time. I will update you all when I know more.

Hi All

I wasn't sure how to post a update to you all. My husband was diagnosed with a severe chest infection! AND we was also told my husband has a fracture on his hip, ( where he has lesions ) he had a CT scan last Friday and was told he must at all costs not fall and was told he must be extra vigilant. He is using crutches. Apparently it is to be decided if they are able to operate. We knew nothing of this until a doctor on the assessment unit mentioned this to us this afternoon! So now a 3 week wait until we next see the consultant! Thanks for all your reply’s, it was very much appreciated. 

Hi  ,

Thanks for getting back to us and letting us know how your husband got on at the hospital yesterday. I’m so glad you took our advice and managed to get him seen by a doctor. It’s great to see that you’re getting support from other in our kidney cancer group There really is nothing quite like the support that you can get from other who know what it’s like.

I hope you don’t mind but I thought you would benefit from having support from the nurses working on the Online Community too.

We can appreciate that it must be difficult for you when you know that he really needs to be seen by someone and he is adamant that he doesn’t. Hopefully being told yesterday that he had a severe chest infection might make him accept that if he is unwell he needs to be seen. It may have given him a fright once he realises how unwell he was.

Hearing the news for the first time that he has a fracture on his hip must have been a shock to you both. Waiting 3 weeks to be assessed by a doctor does sound like a long time. We would advise that you call his specialist nurse or his consultant looking after his kidney cancer treatment to see if he can be seen sooner.

I have read from your profile that you have mentioned that he has previously had 5 sessions of radiotherapy to masses near his hip bone. That may be one of the reasons that the doctors are waiting a few weeks to see how effective the treatment has been.

It sounds as if his scans need to be reviewed by an orthopaedic consultant in the first instance to find out if they can operate. However, the priority now will be to make sure his general health is ok and that his severe chest infection is being treated.

You don’t mention if he is still in hospital or if he was discharged. If he is still an inpatient you can ask if an orthopaedic review can be done.

Can I ask if you’re both getting support at home from social and healthcare professionals? If not, it would be worthwhile having a talk to your husband about what support you feel would help you both. Your GP can make the necessary referrals or if he’s still in hospital just now you can talk to the nurses about his discharge plan.

Caring for someone who has an advanced cancer can be rewarding but it can be difficult at times too. So, it’s important that you get support and look after yourself too.

It’s great to see that you’ve already joined our supportive cancer kidney, family and friends as well as our chemotherapy group, but you might also benefit from talking to others in our carers group too.

It can be helpful to give our Support Line a call and talk to one of our nurses. You can give us a call on 0808-808-0000. Our lines are open every day 8am till 8pm.

If you felt you would rather ask us a question online, you can ask one of our nurses or our other professional volunteers here.

Best wishes and I hope your husband feels better soon.

Ellen-Macmillan Online Digital Nurse Specialist.

Thank you Ellen for your concern, it’s much appreciated.

My husband was allowed home, they did mention staying in overnight but he was allowed home with antibiotics. The assessment unit have called this morning to see how things are. Yes it was a shock to be told that yes there is a fracture. We only saw the consultant on Friday for a review and a Zomata infusion afterwards, both of these appointments were already made. When we mentioned his hip pain and mobility was getting worse again it was decided he would have a exray, soon after a CT was organised. He did have a CT scan arranged for the 25th of May, this appointment has now been cancelled. We then saw the consultant again who explained that he had to be very careful and no load bearing on his left leg. The dr yesterday did not realise we had not been told. It’s good now that we know as my husband now knows to be very careful. But I agree it is a long time to wait, but I expect there is lots of dr’s that need to be be involved to assess his various medical conditions. The five radiotherapy sessions helped for a few weeks but unfortunately his mobility has worsened. The radiotherapy was in March. A McMillan nurse is coming to see us on Monday at home for the first time. 

Maureen

Hi Maureen ()

Thanks for getting back to us again and giving us more information about your husband’s situation. It does sound as if you’ve both been going through a difficult time.

Macmillan nurses are experts in managing symptoms as well as providing that all important emotional support too. So, I’m glad to read that there is one coming to see you both on Monday.

If your husband is in pain and it’s not being controlled, then it’s important that you contact his GP to let them know so that he can be reviewed and assessed. If you’re worried about him over the weekend, we would advise you call NHS 111.

Best wishes to you both and take care.

Ellen-Macmillan Online Digital Nurse Specialist

Hi Maureen,

Thank you for getting back to us and letting us know about your husband.  It was good that he agreed to see somebody as otherwise, if the infection progressed, it is likely he would have been spending time in hospital getting intravenous antibiotics.

I don't know if you would have found out any quicker in this instance but I always ask for copies of any reports or tests to be given to me as well.  However, they usually only give them to me after I have seen the doctor so that they have the opportunity to explain them to me rather than me trying to interpret them all myself.  That way not only do I ensure that the results get explained to me but I cannot be "fobbed off" with a comment that they are satisfactory or some other such platitude.  I also get to read them at my leisure with plenty of time to make sure I understand what is occurring and I can also check back against previous reports to check any changes in size or location of the tumours over time.

Having the Macmillan nurse is a great idea as they will be able to advise you about loads of ways that you can get some assistance and additional support.  I used the services of the Macmillan nurse at my hospital as well as the helpline and they were really helpful.

All you need to do now is make sure that having your husband being careful and looking after his hip does not mean that you are having to do all the running around after him!

Wishing you both all the best,

Gragon x