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Sorry for the late reply.
I have been admitted to Kloof Hospital last night.
I was losing the fight against malnutrition and dehydration. And in a bad way as well.
I have been compared to an Auschwitz prisoner even though I could not keep anything down for 3 weeks.
Now we have time to sort out the feedings and all the things needed with the TPN.
Feeling very tired and weak. Been sleeping most of today. And will be on new pain medication as well. The 20mg of Morphine seems to do the job, but just
Was hit by a serious curveball yesterday. So Momentum approved the TPN feeding that I need. But no one told me about the equipment needed for the TPN. It seems like there is a pump needed and lines and all things that we were not told about. It might actually be cheaper to go into hospital to get the TPN infused.
We are now working with the dietician to see if we can find a solution, but at this stage I am loosing a huge amount of weight that I can't afford at this stage. The morning the scale said my weight was 51.7kg's, down from 52.5kg's on Monday.
The 2nd bike I have available for sale for my fight against cancer:
https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/513350/merida-one-twenty-400-2021
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Anyone watch the new Dexter yet? Worth it or not?
On 11/13/2021 at 8:25 AM, copperhead said:How are you doing Sir? I am in Tulbagh and wow what fantastic weather. I hope you are both getting in some valuable down time. Greetings to your uncle and aunt for their part in all this. Happy Saturday Cois.
Was doing okayish. Landed on Saturday Afternoon in JHB. Got very sick on the flight and vomited a few times during and after the flight.. Miss the calmness of the Cape. Got seriously lost on Johannesburg Airport. Got separated with my wife and saw that she could not cope in situations like that. Spent almost two hours attempting to get to my car. At least the valet agency understood. But having to move with a mobility device at ORT, is a mission. Half of the elevators does not work and the staff is not as helpful as they are at Cape town.
The week took a bit out of me. I lost 3 kg's last week. Standing on 52.5 kg at the moment. Ended up in the surgery of a doctor yesterday with severe dehydration. Doctor said I will have to stop eating as there is a severe abdominal blockage. So I am very weak and bit out of it.
The last days I have spent in bed attempting to recover a bit of my strength.
Momentum approved my TPN feeding, so I will be able to get the needed nutrition in my body soon. Just need to sort out the logistics and doctors room to get the process going.
Oom Jacques gave me something to sell to help with the funding of my cancer fund…
https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/512133/2021-marida-onetwenty-600
will post the other for sale item later on.
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Today we ventured out in the direction of Robertson.
We had a stunning lunch at Bon Courage wine estate and the a quick stop at Springfield Wine estate to get a bottle of wine for Grant at Createk as a thanks for giving me a chance when no one else did.
the weather has been a bit chilly the last few days, but we have been resting much more than at home.
We have been snapping a few bird picks and a few of the local mice family living in-front of our room. So we are very blessed.
On Wednesday i have to visit a doctor in town to remove my stitches. And must say I can’t wait to get rid of these stitches.
Made it to Cape Town.
flight went well. It just took a lot out of me. The staff of Lift was super helpful and accommodating. We were first to board the craft and the last to get alight. At CPT they had an elevator that took me to where we needed to go. Everyone was super helpful and at no stage did I feel like a burden on anyone. Even the car valet was super helpful at ORT.
Only problem is that I am super nauseous and vomited twice. On out way from the airport to Roberson and just after lunch. So that is a bit of a worry. The flight was rough as well with a lot of turbulence so had to keep their paper bag close at hand the whole time.
But we are safe here. And just the change of scenery is awesome.
Checked in at ORT.
glad I have the mobility Scooter as I would not be able to have walked in. Forgot how huge this place is.
Just a huge shoutout again to everyone who made this vacation possible for us. Reinet is in a serious need for a break and this could not have come at a better time.
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12 hours ago, Muttley said:@CoisJust wanted to wish you and the Mrs an awesome trip and safe travels ????
Hoping that this trip gives you guys all the energy and strength that you need to kick the cancers butt!
Thanks Muttley.
I can feel now that I need this break, The skeleton that stared back to me in the mirror of the bathroom scared the crap out of me a few minutes ago.
Just getting out will help a lot. I just need to get the ability to eat back. I can't eat anything and keep it down at this stage. So that is a bit of a worry at the moment. I can't remember when last I had a proper meal. And I can feel the weakness creeping up ever so slowly and starting to suck every ounce of energy out of me.
5 hours ago, copperhead said:Cois, how you doing friend? I won't be on the internets for a day or two. I think you leave tomorrow for your vacation. If at all possible please just enjoy it. I hope it rejuvenates your body and mind. May you and your wife connect and let this time give you both a boost and time for peace. Safe flight, travels and holiday.
Today is a bit tough. Feeling of weakness is slowly creeping up on me again. I struggled to get up the stairs this morning at the office. Been having a few issues the last week with keeping food in. This morning vomited up my breakfast toast while I was busy eating it. At least I did not vomit all over my keyboard or screen this time.
We fly out on Saturday morning. And this break is needed. I am just not sure how to keep my emotions under control as I cry at the thought of the generosity of the people here on Bikehub and my uncle and aunt for letting us stay with them for this break.
To be honest I am not looking forward to the flight and the drive to the airport. Will have to take along a few drinks to drink on our way to ORT. But I am looking forward to the quite and the being off the grid for a week - Will be using Solar Power and rain water at my uncles. Eskom does not have infrastructure there. Will be online as they have a great wireless connection in the area.
So the coming weekend will be the 3rd time I will be in a plane. So excited as we will be using Lift. So I am excited to get to see an Airbus on the inside. We will be sitting at the tail end due to the wheelchair access so will be weird not to be at the front end of the craft. But as FAIK I will be first on and last off. One of the drawbacks of having to use a mobility device.
Just made our flight bookings.
We will fly out on Saturday 6 November and will return on the 13th of November.
can’t wait to get out and on Vacation. Just a few days of no worry will be awesome.
thanks to everyone that contributed to the vacation.
It means the world to us!
At last. The surgeon is sending me home today. He thought I was jobless and thus not in a hurry to get out of the hospital to save my job.
So he was shocked when I asked for a sick note.
I asked about the plan forward and he said I can go on eating till the TPN Feeding has been approved. The TPN will be to take up nutrients and the needed building blocks. But at least I can eat things that are easy to digest and that has a high load of nutritional value.
So now we can plan our vacation in the Cape.
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Still not discharged from hospital. The doctor does not want to send me home before approval for the TPN has been granted.
the last application took two months. So there is no way I will stay here for two months. I will rather take my chances outside on my own following my own diet than a bag of liquid
So I am super duper frustrated with the surgeon.
there is also no contingency plan if the TPN is not approved, adding a load more of frustration to the whole situation.
Spoke to the surgeon this morning.
i can go home, as soon as Momentum approved my application for home based feeding.
Dr said it is easy to place the port needle, one just need to be super hygienic and clean when using the port as you will access the port 4 times a week and not once a fortnight.
Had a rather rough night. I can never sleep in the hospital. Have a bit of pain where the surgery was done.
Came out of the ER, everything went well.
just very hungry.
still attached to a BP system to monitor my vitals to make sure my heart keeps on working.
28 minutes ago, ChrisF said:Can they give you "food bags" to take on holiday ? Is this something you can administer on your own ?
HOPE this news is not a ball-and-chain that ties you to the hospital ....
Just told Reinet that I am not sure. We will have to see how thing works.
I am going to be tried to the hospital because they need to supply the “food”
so either go on Holiday, carry on with my own diet and what we have been doing, or try to follow the doctors diet and restrict me to nothing and dump the idea of the holiday. I do not want to be a huge burden on anyone and being on this diet is a huge restriction on me.
Got a low blow today.
The diet the surgeon think I should be on from now on, means I will never eat anything again.
everything will be via a tube and will come in a bag.
so for someone loving food and something in the mouth it is a very hard blow.
we have to wait for the medical aid to approve the plan.
At this stage It seems like treating the cancer on my own with dewormer is an better option. The dietician wasn’t to happy with the proposal, and asked me I will cope, and I could only say that I will have to try and adapt and to make this work, but nothing per mouth sucks big time.
it has such a huge mental aspect that this might be the last blow for me.
18 hours ago, Steven Knoetze (sk27) said:Sorry if this comes across as insensitive, but do you mean sharing this part of your story. If it helps even one person here it will be valuable information.
I do know that it will be very personal and specific, so if it's an uncool request, please say so.
The most important thing is if you think something is wrong, rather go see a doctor.
I saw bleeding but thought it was just another bug in the water supply giving me a hard time.
And make sure your doctor knows of things that are wrong. The GP I saw didn’t really care about care. She was overworked. So switched to another Doctor. The doctor picked up on the 2nd visit that things were wrong.
If you have constant bowel problems rather go and see another doctor. If things does not clear up with meds there are something else that is wrong. Get the proper medical care. Get to another doctor if you see problems that does not clear up. Most doctors are just a money mill. Make sure your doctor knows your history, and just because you do not have a family history means nothing. I am on stage 4 with no family history at all.
Tomorrow will go onto the operating table.
Dr van Niekerk is going to replace my old port with a new port. So I will be able to do my own “feeding” at home as my current port is a bit temperamental due to a blood clot around it. So it does not provide me with a consistent flow. So it is not reliable.
it is not a huge procedure. Will be done in an hours time. But will be going under for the procedure.
at least I know what will happen and how things are going to happen.
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3 hours ago, BigDL said:****, I don’t know what to say here. I’d love to make a donation, and have been doing so through backabuddy so far, but if they are charging you to access funds, then I am reluctant to do so further through them and it’s a pain for you if I send money from here to your sa bank account. I wonder if you would be kind enough to let me cover the cost of one of you to fly to the cape and back. If you would pm me details, I can either pay the airline directly via visa or can give you my card details to make the payment. Alternatively, if you’re happy to do the paperwork, I can transfer from here to you and cover the cost that way.
My (unmet) friend. Every day I think of you so many times. I hug my wife and my children harder and count my blessings. Your journey and story have made me approach so much differently and, when I get stressed, I sometimes reflect on your story and have a word with myself.
Thank you for sharing your journey. You are facing that thing we fear the most; with humour, with courage, with persistence, with a focus on your wife, and with a humility that is incredible. I don’t pretend to know how you’re feeling but hope that, if I ever get the news that you have got, I can face it with similar courage. You are an example to me and I thank you for that.
Thanks BigDL. Means the world to me. As long as I can touch someone in any way it gladdens my heart. If I can touch lives in any way it is great. We are missing out so much every day. Even with my family being torn both geographically and emotionally it would be great to be used as an example of what not to do. I spoke to one of the nurses yesterday. She had questions on how I knew something was wrong. So I spoke to her about my journey. And it all comes down to getting to a doctor before it is too late. And mending things before it is too late.
Let me check with Reinet in the morning on what would be the best and what will work out with the least cost to you. I know the Investec account was created with the least amount of fees, but we can work a plan. I hate paying fees on anything so let's see what will work the best.
She works with international transfers every day and would know what the costs will be for funds being transferred. I know a bit of computers but the financial world and fees are a mystery to me most of the time.
Backabuddy is a great platform, and they need to pay staff and rent and all the things going with a business. But in the end, they become expensive.
So I will get back to you ASAP on what will work the cheapest.
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Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer - the long winding road it has become
in Training, Health & Nutrition
Posted
Sorry for being this quiet.
Not in a good place. Vomiting up everything. Waiting for momentum to still approve the TPN.
i had a consult with Hospice last night.
i will be going under hospice care as soon as there is a bed for me.
thanks for all the prayers.