And now what did you do TODAY?

[n_maher]

Sorry to hear about your dad, but like Steve I'm glad you got the chance to say goodbye.

Me: yesterday I mowed the lawn for the first time this season, ugh. Today I'll hopefully finally make it back out on the bike for a ride aft a week of feeling not great.

[boomana]

Really sorry to hear. Hope the visit went as well as can be expected and you were able to say what you needed to.

Ditto. I hope it offers some comfort for him and your family that you can be with him in the end.

[Wmcmanus]

Drove home to Oklahoma to say goodbye to my Dad. He's in a hospice dying of stomach cancer and has no time left. He's still conscious and in no pain, but having pretty labored breathing while talking. Never drank or smoked in his life.

Fucking stomach cancer...

So sorry to hear this. I've been there with my dad, and know that it's not easy and it's not fair. Make the best of your time with him. Just being there for him will mean more than you can know.

[morphsci]

Sorry about your dad, but also glad you were able to say goodbye.

[archosman]

Our family has always gotten along with each other and we're all close, so there's not much to say that hasn't already been said. All 3 of us have come in. I'm the last one here. Don't think he wants to leave, but he needs to know we'll be allright.

[manaox2]

Sorry to hear about the unfair condition of your dad Steve. I hope you manage to share all the love you can in these moments with your father and the rest of your family.

[Dreadhead]

Really sorry to hear. Hope the visit went as well as can be expected and you were able to say what you needed to.

This.

Fuck cancer.

Edited April 29, 2012 by Dreadhead

[tyrion]

I'll say it again, cancer sucks. Very sorry to hear about your dad.

[swt61]

Feel better Nate!

[grawk]

My heart goes out to you. Cancer does suck. At least you had the opportunity for closure.

After getting in at 2am from the wedding, I got up at 7 and drove 8 hrs home to make my daughter's soccer game.

[Salt Peanuts]

Sorry to hear about your dad, but like Steve I'm glad you got the chance to say goodbye.

This.

[Voltron]

More good wishes for you and your dad Archosman, and more disdain for cancer.

As for me, I talked on the phone with my dad yesterday for 30 minutes early in the day and caught up with his post-stroke rehab and other stuff from the week. Then, a couple hours later we got a call from him in a panic because he was home alone (don't ask why, too annoying) and stuck walking down the hall with his leg paralyzed and feeling like he was about to fall. He uses a walker now and carries the phone on it, luckily. I talked him down a bit while Claire called 911 (even though he lives an hour away) and he managed to open a heater closet and sit on the ledge without hurting himself.

Next was the worst part because he stopped talking to me even though I could still hear him. He seemed to be breathing heavily and I thought he was muttering quietly. I kept talking and trying to get a response but got nothing. I thought he was having another stroke and/or dying. It was an awful experience. The line died so I called right back and remarkably he answered and then put the paramedics on the phone because they had arrived. Fucking nightmare.

He has had blood clot problems in his left leg for 25 years but the stroke meant no more blood thinners. Turns out his right leg was full of new clots from his calf to thigh and his leg is swollen and unresponsive. They put in a filter a couple weeks ago so he hopefully cannot throw a clot to his lungs or brain. Now he is back on thinners and we have to hope for no brain bleeds. Balance is tough.

I spent about 8 hours at the hospital yesterday, stayed at my dad's house and went back this morning. He is very discouraged after working hard at rehab and sees his upcoming 90th birthday as his last if he makes that. Like cancer, getting old really sucks.

Think good thoughts HC friends. It has helped in the past. :/

Edited April 29, 2012 by Voltron

[shellylh]

Jeez Al. That really sucks. I am sorry you have to go through with that. I can imagine how scary that phone call must have been. Hope your dad gets better and makes is to his 90th.

[tyrion]

Damn Al, sorry to hear about your dad. Good thoughts coming at you.

[jvlgato]

Best wishes and prayers for HC Dads!

[Dreadhead]

Damn Al, sorry to hear about your dad. Good thoughts coming at you.

^this

[Torpedo]

Complicated situation Al, it's difficult finding a balance between clot production and bleeding risk. Hopefully they get it and your dad improves soon. Best wishes

[morphsci]

Good thoughts being sent your way Al, for you and your dad.

[Grahame]

Good thoughts to all those enduring suckage in their lives. May it un-suck before too long.

[grawk]

Always, Al.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Took 3 back to back 2.5 hours finals. One more on Tuesday but that one is cake and I got plenty of time to study for. Non take home final exams are so undergraduate...

ps. congratulations to you and yours larry.

Thanks!

PS: I assume you brought the right calculator?

[jpelg]

Echoing everyone's sentiments & well-wishes to archosman & Al. With an 81 year-old dad in failing health, I can truly empathize. It's really tough. My best to you both & your families.

[Wmcmanus]

PS: I assume you brought the right calculator?

This! Too funny, Larry.

Al, sounds like "home alone" is not the norm, which is good. I'm sure your dad needs company as much as anything these days, but really sorry to learn about his medical problems. I'm sure he was just as scared as you were, but thankfully you and Claire were able to help from a distance, and then be there for him. Just remember, there is no better way to spend your time in a bad way, if that makes any sense.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Drove home to Oklahoma to say goodbye to my Dad. He's in a hospice dying of stomach cancer and has no time left. He's still conscious and in no pain, but having pretty labored breathing while talking. Never drank or smoked in his life.

Fucking stomach cancer...

Our family has always gotten along with each other and we're all close, so there's not much to say that hasn't already been said. All 3 of us have come in. I'm the last one here. Don't think he wants to leave, but he needs to know we'll be allright.

I know it's tough dealing with this kind of thing - we've had a mix where some family members have died slowly and others who have died suddenly. Neither scenario seems to make it any easier. When they've died suddenly we've wished for more time to say goodbye, and when they've lingered we were glad to be able to say goodbye but we struggled with watching them suffer longer. My prayers are with you.

More good wishes for you and your dad Archosman, and more disdain for cancer.

As for me, I talked on the phone with my dad yesterday for 30 minutes early in the day and caught up with his post-stroke rehab and other stuff from the week. Then, a couple hours later we got a call from him in a panic because he was home alone (don't ask why, too annoying) and stuck walking down the hall with his leg paralyzed and feeling like he was about to fall. He uses a walker now and carries the phone on it, luckily. I talked him down a bit while Claire called 911 (even though he lives an hour away) and he managed to open a heater closet and sit on the ledge without hurting himself.

Next was the worst part because he stopped talking to me even though I could still hear him. He seemed to be breathing heavily and I thought he was muttering quietly. I kept talking and trying to get a response but got nothing. I thought he was having another stroke and/or dying. It was an awful experience. The line died so I called right back and remarkably he answered and then put the paramedics on the phone because they had arrived. Fucking nightmare.

He has had blood clot problems in his left leg for 25 years but the stroke meant no more blood thinners. Turns out his right leg was full of new clots from his calf to thigh and his leg is swollen and unresponsive. They put in a filter a couple weeks ago so he hopefully cannot throw a clot to his lungs or brain. Now he is back on thinners and we have to hope for no brain bleeds. Balance is tough.

I spent about 8 hours at the hospital yesterday, stayed at my dad's house and went back this morning. He is very discouraged after working hard at rehab and sees his upcoming 90th birthday as his last if he makes that. Like cancer, getting old really sucks.

Think good thoughts HC friends. It has helped in the past. :/

My prayers are with you too, and I'm glad you got to spend time with him after this event. Our sick or ill elderly always seem to call their family before they call 911 when something is wrong. It's so reassuring that they put their faith in us like that, but we need to work extra hard to educate and to get them to call 911 first and not lose time waiting to get our advice. In my father-in-laws case it might have made a difference.

My brother-in-law had a conversation with my wife's father last summer, where their father was sounding a little incoherent in a phone call. Father-in-law had experienced a few days of sore throat and coughing and he'd agreed to see the doctor 3-4 days prior. He never went to the doctor, but called his son when he was worse. He'd been on oxygen for emphysema, and had mild diabetes, hypertension and angina, but didn't describe any symptoms indicating anything serious was happening. But he wasn't making a lot of sense when he was talking, and then he was describing urinary incontinence while on the phone but without seeming alarmed by it himself.

So my Brother-in-law called me immediately while he was rushing on his way to go check on him. I told him to call 911 right away in case father-in-law was having a diabetic crisis or a stroke. The paramedics got there less than 5 minutes later, but father-in-law was already down and gone. My brother-in-law arrived while they we're finishing up with CPR. Sometimes EMS gets there in time, and sometimes not, but early intervention and access always increases the odds of a good outcome. I'm glad they were able to get there in time for your dad!

[n_maher]

Al, you're in my thoughts bud.

Me: I managed to make it out for the usual 17mi loop. Felt good for the first 14, hurt for a mile or so and then recovered somewhat. With a little luck improvements will continue and I'll ride to work this week.