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While my stepdad is doing well in the "remaining cancer-free" front, his vision is another story.
Before he was even diagnosed with cancer, he was found to have Diabetic Retinopathy (I'll call it DR for ease of reference in here). This condition may have come along probably 10 - 15 years down the road for him, but due to the car accident he was in earlier this year, it was accellerated.
The DR was treated with laser surgery, but his vision has been hazy on an average day, and almost non-existent on a really bad day. So, my stepdad can no longer work - which had him depressed for a while.
Anyways, a few days ago, he was having problems with the DR, with bleeding in the retina. So, on Tuesday night, it was back to the doctor for more laser surgery to stop the retinal bleeding. Unfortunately, my stepdad was in quite a bit of pain from the surgery, so it had to be stopped halfway through - to be continued another day.
As for the dialysis and such ... well, that seems to be going alright. I haven't heard of him experiencing any more problems with hypotension, so I take it to be a good thing at this point.
Although ... it seems that the chemotherapy may not be totally at fault for my stepdad's experiencing organ failure as he did several months back. Actually, it could be due to the CAT Scans done, with contrast dye ... without the requisite prior testing of kidney function. Yes, apparently when CAT Scans with a dye are done, the patient is supposed to have the kidney function tested beforehand, as the dye can be detrimental to someone with renal failure or any kidney problems. (Go ahead and cringe with me, my lovelies...) And my stepdad had not one CAT Scan with the dye - but TWO of them. THEN, the hospital started slapping labels on his chart indicating that he was allergic to the contrast dye - guess they realized that they'd fucked up *just a little* and were trying to cover their asses.
All my stepdad can say is that he'll be glad when the year is over. Considering that 2003 was a total Hell Year for him, I would have to agree with that sentiment.
And that's what's happening with my family right now. It will get better - oh yes, it will. It can only get better from here, dammit.
Before he was even diagnosed with cancer, he was found to have Diabetic Retinopathy (I'll call it DR for ease of reference in here). This condition may have come along probably 10 - 15 years down the road for him, but due to the car accident he was in earlier this year, it was accellerated.
The DR was treated with laser surgery, but his vision has been hazy on an average day, and almost non-existent on a really bad day. So, my stepdad can no longer work - which had him depressed for a while.
Anyways, a few days ago, he was having problems with the DR, with bleeding in the retina. So, on Tuesday night, it was back to the doctor for more laser surgery to stop the retinal bleeding. Unfortunately, my stepdad was in quite a bit of pain from the surgery, so it had to be stopped halfway through - to be continued another day.
As for the dialysis and such ... well, that seems to be going alright. I haven't heard of him experiencing any more problems with hypotension, so I take it to be a good thing at this point.
Although ... it seems that the chemotherapy may not be totally at fault for my stepdad's experiencing organ failure as he did several months back. Actually, it could be due to the CAT Scans done, with contrast dye ... without the requisite prior testing of kidney function. Yes, apparently when CAT Scans with a dye are done, the patient is supposed to have the kidney function tested beforehand, as the dye can be detrimental to someone with renal failure or any kidney problems. (Go ahead and cringe with me, my lovelies...) And my stepdad had not one CAT Scan with the dye - but TWO of them. THEN, the hospital started slapping labels on his chart indicating that he was allergic to the contrast dye - guess they realized that they'd fucked up *just a little* and were trying to cover their asses.
All my stepdad can say is that he'll be glad when the year is over. Considering that 2003 was a total Hell Year for him, I would have to agree with that sentiment.
And that's what's happening with my family right now. It will get better - oh yes, it will. It can only get better from here, dammit.
