No Specific Topic

Poor old hubby's always in the way they never learn.lol 

Had a call from the Falls Dept. They have two approaches. We could either see the consultant and look at whether there is a clinical reason for his falls, or the Falls Programme which is more therapy and exercise etc. 

He has had three falls in the last two weeks and is covered in bruises. He has a huge lump on the back of his head which he refused to go to A&E with saying he would just take paracetamol. I was concerned as he is on blood thinners. However, he finally went to the doctors and they have advised him that it is a superficial blood clot which may take weeks to go. It does cause him pain so he is on paracetamol regularly. He has been lucky so far and not broken any bones. The last fall outside saw him land in my precious pots by the front door which are planted with lovely bedding plants. Lots were crushed so I was torn between checking out how he was and thinking about how much damage had been done to all my hard work!!! 

I have suggested that we see the Consultant first to see if there are any physical reasons for his constant dizziness, but I am afraid it is not helped by the other habit he has which I have mentioned before. At least things are on the move whereas there is still no sign of an appointment with Neurologist to rule out (or in) Parkinsons.

Hope you are doing okay.

Gina

Gina, the falls clinic are very thorough in their investigations.

Sorry to hear about your pots.  That would be Tracey as well.

I was supposed to be getting referred to neurology, but ended up back in the memory clinic, (some different tests though, appointment lasted nearly 3 hours).

They will do a good job for Richard, as they want to try and find out the causes of the falls.

I am back there tomorrow hopefully to get a lot of the results of the tests so far.  Physio after the meeting.  Hope they don't take my stick away.

I'm still in a dark place in my head.

It's a wonder Richard has a blood clot, being on blood thinners.

Hello Gina

Sorry to hear the problems are still swirling around you.  It must be so wearing, worrying and (as far as your plants are concerned) annoying. It sounds as if the Consultant might be the better option so long as you don't have to wait too long and, whilst waiting, Richard falls and sustains a bad injury? As you say, the 'other problem' will not be helping the situation.

Let me know when you can escape and we can meet up for coffee.....or ice cream? I enjoyed meeting with you the other week

Take care x

Hello Steve

The sentence that jumps out for me is, 'I'm still in a dark place in my head'. I'm really sorry to hear this and hope you have been able to get some help for this too?

I think the unseasonal weather is not helping people's mood right now?

Look after yourself x

Thanks Steve, yes I do hope they get to the bottom of why he keeps falling.

I am really concerned about R's memory problems too. The evening after he had fallen the previous night in the bedroom and blocked the door, he couldn't remember doing it. I had had to patch up his arm which was bleeding profusely as he obviously had scraped it on something on his way down, because his skin is so thin. The evidence was right there before him with half his arm in large hospital type plasters and he asks me "when did I fall?"

Not only does he need a carer but a PA because he never remembers appointments and where he is supposed to be going. Tomorrow, the dressings are being replaced and Wed he has a heart scan to see if that is causing his dizziness. 

I am concerned that you are still in a dark place as you have seemed to have been doing so well. Is it something specific or just a general malaise? I suspect that work is not helping the situation. Can you not have a word with some of the cows and see if they cheer you up?  Have you tried getting into a good book? In the 70's when we were going through the cold war, I was so depressed and worried what the future would hold for my two young girls that I decided to read the Lord of the Rings again. It proved to be really good therapy as a complete fantasy world, far removed from the real world that seemed so unsettled at the time. A few chapters of that at bedtime and instead of dreaming about nuclear war, it was more about whether the hobbits would survive another adventure. Okay, yes I know I am crazy but it got me through, plus it is such a large book it took me ages to read. . Also, as WW says, it cannot help all this changeable weather. One minute I get the shorts out and the next the thermals (well not quite, but certainly a warm coat). At least I am not in Italy at the moment as 30 deg is too hot for me normally, let alone 40 deg.

Let us know the results of your tests and hope your physio helps. 

Best regards

Gina

Gina, WW, Brian, thanks for your concern.  It is all stemming from work.

My head is like the weather at the moment, dark clouds and rumbles of thunder.

Gina, I will let you know everything from my appointment today at the falls clinic.  Hopefully it's good news.  By using the stick, I haven't had any further falls.  It took some getting used to, knowing that my coordination isn't the best.

I just hope they don't want it back.

Hopefully I should hear back from the memory clinic soon (if they remember).

Apologies to anyone reading this, sorry it's not about Prostate Cancer.  It's all about the fallout afterwards.

I am glad that I had the Hormone and Radiation treatments.  In remission for nearly 1 and a half years.

Don't be put off by my story, I will get sorted out... eventually...

Hi Gina and Steve

I have read both of your stories and as I read somewhere on another thread 

"Prostate Cancer - the gift that keeps giving".

Well it's so true - I wish you both the best and hope you both get (Gina for "R") and Steve the help you need to get over the additional issues you have.

Life goes on, and on a personal note I am starting to think I can't blame all my woes on the PC - I think some are caused by the onset of old age - for goodness sake - I am only 67!!

Best wishes to all.

Brian.

Hello Steve, there is absolutely no need to apologise!  This  has proved to be a safe place to talk about our feelings with due respect and support given to anybody and everybody - you very much included!

I disagree, though! I think that this low mood you are experiencing might be very much associated with the prostate cancer - perhaps a delayed reaction? I know you are a very sensible and responsible adult but I hope I won’t offend in using the analogy of our childhood days?

You have been through the trauma of diagnosis and treatment and experienced health issues since. In the meantime your workplace has appeared to be a stressful place. Your brain/ mind can only take so much before it starts to rebel and say to you that ‘you don’t like playing this game any more’!  if you then add all the stress that we are going through with inflation, war, volatile politics etc I think your brain is well justified in telling you that the rules have changed and it’s no longer a nice game.

As children we could literally throw our toys out of the pram and stop playing the game we no longer like. As adults, we can’t do that! We have bills to pay, families to support, responsibilities… so we plod on and on and our brains and bodies rebel in more sophisticated ways - often with manifestations of problems with our physical or mental health. ( think how they tell us that high stress levels reduce our immunity to the cold virus)

I think you have had counselling since your diagnosis? Or am I muddling you with someone else? If you haven’t, could you benefit from some, or, perhaps, some more?  Is there anything in your life that you could change for the better or anything you could do to get more rest, relaxation or fun?

receiving a cancer diagnosis is a profound experience - perhaps more so because of the fact that, in our childhood, it was mostly seen as a death sentence. It brings us face to face with our own human frailties and the fact that we are not going to live for ever. It is an enormous and very scary shock. The diagnosis and treatment is not easy and far from dignified. We are shaken to the core and, might I suggest, it is such a ‘life jolt’ that things are never quite the same again. It all takes getting accustomed to - if we ever can?

sorry, I’ve typed an essay and did not mean to! I just want you to know that we are here for you - just as you’ve been here for us! I am sure everyone is concerned about you and hoping things soon get sorted. Perhaps we should have a new rule - nobody should apologise for how they are feeling?!!

take care of yourself and keep in touch!

xxx