Today I went to collect my medication including my new antibiotics and more steroids , as the pulmonologist stated there was more interested for me ! An appointment as been made for me to go into hospital on the 23rd August and I will stay in over night as they want to do a biopsy on my kidneys , what I was originally told I had 3.8 cm cyst on one kidney and a 2.7cm on the other but today the pharmacist explained that the biopsy is important I asked why a biopsy for a cyst she explained that the Greeks call a tumor of any description a cyst and even though the sizes may seem small they need to find out if they are melignant or benign like they did with my leg , hopefully they will be Benign 🤞🤞🤞 but the pharmacist explained that this could also be the cause of my high white cell count . If that's the case they need to do further tests on my lungs aswell .so I know I'm getting sorted out but it really is starting to get a bit stressful .
Thankfully I'm hoping that welfare will have a placement for my stepfather by the time I go in hospital . The pharmacist was very helpful and explained so that even a village idiot like me could understand.🤣
Your pharmacist has been very helpful it seems Dave. It's bound to be stressful for you right now but the medics are moving with your best interests in mind. The 23rd August is quite near so hopefully that will stir the welfare team into finding a placement for your stepfather. Wishing you well xx
The pharmacist as been very helpful over the past few years which is really good . She's also getting me vaccinated which is something I've been struggling with getting because I don't have Greek health cover but she's using a back door into the system so I'll get done while I'm hospital
Some good news with getting vaccinated, you really do not want to get Covid. From my own experience it was worse than when I had Pneumonia. The fatigue and increased shortness of breath with 3 months of Long Covid was very hard to deal with, putting my top left lobe to one side, I am still not sure whether the other multiple areas of scarring that is suddenly of concern and showning up is a product of that Covid infection.
No wonder yr finding it stressful. Youve lot going on.and yesterday,well u were really put thro it.take it 1day at a time.rest up as much as yr able xx
You’ve gone through a lot recently and it seems as if the Greek health service is doing it’s best for you. I hope they find a placement for your stepfather, that’ll be one less worry for you.
It will help if I know that my stepfather will be in a care facility so I can concentrate on myself for once . Hope that doesn't sound too selfish because it's not meant to be
Not at all selfish Dave, you need to put yourself first at this time.
Trust everything works out well for your step father's care as well as your own thus helping to relieve some of the stress, it certainly looks like the medical profession in Greece are looking after your health well.
Not at all selfish at all. My husband is in the early stages of dementia, and it’s difficult to not focus on his issues, but I have my own health issues of my own related to my rheumatoid arthritis.
I totally agree with this. I think it’s very hard being a carer for a relative. Your inner conscience makes you give more than you need. I hope you understand this and it doesn’t make me sound like a selfish person.
Your no way selfish I'm feeling exactly the same way but the welfare worker really put me down the right direction apparently it is common for family caregivers to feel this way .
I hope the further tests sort some things out for you so that something can be done and make life less stressful. It will be easier if your stepfather can be found a placement. That will help too. All the best x
I will do but in all honesty it's kinda put me on edge . I get adjusted to one lot of problems and now something else . Sometimes you just want it to stop if that makes sense . I feel like my whole body is fighting me , but as the pharmacist said this as been building up over the past few years and I've been pushing it on the back burner , it's my defence mechanism . But she also said that I should know when you have one serious problem others become linked to it . My lungs my leg my kidneys .
Well it’s all happening Davey and I can understand you’re feeling somewhat stressed. It will be great for your stepfather to be settled somewhere too. I really hope the biopsies go well and the tumours/cysts are benign. The pharmacist is doing a good job. Xxx👍😘
It seems like my attitude and respect for the people have drawn me in and accepted . Everyone as had their part to get me where I am now. But as I said to the pulmonologist because she said about support groups in Athens I said I have one on my phone . Here
As anyone should if you're in a foreign country! Pity it doesn't happen here often enough! I seriously think you are so much better off in Greece what with the attention you are receiving and the weather and fresh food is a bonus I should imagine. Glad to see you have had a welfare officer out to see you so quickly. It didn't take her long to assess the situation did it?!!!
Well not got much planned at the moment except for one thing I'm going to watch the stars from my varanda tonight and every other night for as long as possible
That's very informative from the pharmacist, a kidney biopsy is not to stressful but important to do and they keep you in overnight because of you blood pressure and being kept an eye on, I had it done in 2016 .Good luck Davey1963
Thanks yes because the pharmacist speaks fantastic English the pulmonologist said that any information I need from any of the specialists will be passed on through the pharmacist I get the information pretty much the same day because she lives local so not going out of her way and she can explain in easy terms all the information they need me to be aware of . It's like this morning I had a bit more information which when I had my meeting with all of the specialists I asked for , I asked for a DNR notice to be placed on my file which is my right as I'm well aware of what it is and I'm not suffering from any issues mentally . Well Elani the pharmacist dropped my dad's eye drops off Which he as for pressures and she also informed me that on all medical documentation here my DNR notice as been placed on it . So another thing dealt with .
Always a difficult one the DNR if you have certain conditions I know that uk hospitals put it on your notes as standard ,my mum had copd and dementia so they called us into the office and told us it was protocol there.1 thing I worry about if I go in for a knee op with bronchiectasis, asthma and copd will they do the same to me ?
Tough one , I made the decision to have it , I was asked several times if I was positive I wanted it adding and they got the same answer . It personal choice yet again some may say I'm wrong because I could last a year three or five only god knows but I want to go on my terms .
Well with my next of kin being my stepfather who as dementia it's not an option . I've got everything else pretty much covered I've handed via post my emergency contact information to the British consulate here on the island which I was told I had to do beings I'm aware of being terminal . So I have all bases covered
At the moment all I'm seeing is one problem adding to another the snowball effect and it's getting me down big time . I put on the brave face and keep smiling but it's not how I'm truly feeling
Big virtual ((((hugs)))). It's a bit like when you have to walk through a blizzard: head down and just keep going one step at a time. What is lovely are all the caring Greek people who are doing their best to support you through this. One of the things I have always loved about Rhodes.
You are well into the system now Dave so hopefully you will have all necessary tests and biopsies , and be treated for the outcomes. Wishing you all the very best for next week. Thinking of you xxx 😘
Don’t put yourself down Dave, your coping with a lot which hopefully is slowly getting sorted out. Fingers crossed that the Social move quickly and get your Dad sorted too. Take care. Jax 🐶x
I sure hope so I want him to spend what ever time he as happy in some way he needs help I can't give because my own health issues have kinda taken over .
Wow, Davey, you have a lot going on at one time. I wish you the best news with the biopsy and hope all gets sorted out for you. Your attitude is very admirable. You're a warrior for sure!
My Son has Polycystic kidneys and he has lots of cysts on his. Let’s hope it is cysts and nothing else. I’ve got the worry of a nodule in my lung and interstitial at the base of my lungs.
This is the one thing that is concerning me because I've heard of cysts on the kidneys before but here a cyst is what they call a tumor and obviously having a benign tumor on my right shin bone they called it a cyst but the pharmacist explained that it's a tumor and that is how it is called here . So I'm linking my lungs kidneys and leg all together as a job lot of that makes sense to you
Oh dear, all the best of luck to you, the good thing about being in hospital is they wait on you hand and foot, a nice change from always caring for others.
Yes, same in Australia, family members help with changing bed sheets, showering, laundry, but we do get meals, tea and coffee served to us by the hospital. Nurses provide medication too.
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