Thanks folks. Today is back home day. Things are looking up, I'm responding favorably to treatments. Steroids are being cut back, breathing treatments as well. The port is a bit of a inconvenience but I've gotten used to it. I've had, wonder of wonders, a few nights when I slept all the way through. Still up at the crack of dawn but not before dawn itself. Since I've been under doctors care I've gained a little over fifteen pounds. When I entered the hospital I was down to 115.6 lbs, down from my usual 145-150. Now I'm up to 132 and still going. One thing is I've got more energy than I know what to do with. Because of the meds they have me on. But to have that level of energy before I've even had my first cup of coffee is unusual. 

Now all ye lubbers....got off yer duffs an' git crackin'. Times a'wastin'   

Good to hear you are getting better Ross. I have a few health issues and will be 69 this year, but my issues are nothing like yours.

Home now and pigging out on pizza. Surrounded by my cats the moment I walked in the door. Jessie is out collecting my meds, more meds...yuck...organizing the myriad doctor appointments I have coming up. Gonna be busy for a bit.

Glad you're home Ross!

And this time, stay at home.... no more hospital sentences.  Orright!!!!  

Like everyone else, I'm glad that you're back at home in your own surroundings.  Hospitals are good to be in when you're feeling sick, but not so good when you're feeling much better.

I was up at the hospital on Sunday night with extreme chest pain, vertigo and vomitting - had kept absolutely nothing down for over two days - and was severely dehydrated.  I told the triage nurse that I needed to lay down somewhere as I kept passing up whilst sitting up, that it was causing dry- reaching due to pressure on my stomach.  She told me that I could lay on the waiting room seats and offered me a pillow.  Wow, a pillow?  Those seats are the most uncomfortable to sit on, much less lay down on, yet despite telling her that I have chronic back issues and hip pain, she insisted that was all there was available.  I tried laying on the seats but it was nigh impossible to get even remotely comfortable... no width to lay flat.

Anyway, to cut an even longer story short, the woman who saw the triage nurse before me was told it would be a 6 to 8 hour wait before a bed and doctor became available.  That meant the wait for me would have been around 9 to 11 hours, going on the premise of an hour per patient.  I arrived there by ambulance around 1.00am, which would have meant I was trying to lay on those damned seats until 10.00am to 12.00am.  There was no way I could manage that.  After over a couple hour of trying I told the triage nurse that I'd be better off at home.  An ECG showed my heart to be fine, so there was no reason for me to stay after a maxalon shot had help to ease the nausea and vertigo.

I came home and am feeling better now, though.  Well no worse than usual.  However, it is a sad indictment on the Ipswich Hospital.   Other major hospitals in SE Queensland have endeadvoured to cut their ER wait times down to around two hours, less in some cases, even during peak periods, yet the hospital here still has ridiculous waiting times of 6 to 8 hours or more.

Uvah, I'm 66 as well. We are BOOMERS. I've been following your Borgness. Glad to hear that things are improving for you. Compared to your problems I'm lucky but I realize how quickly things can change. I need a hernia repair and the circulation in my legs ain't good. Smoked cigarettes for many years. Also I've been out of work since December and I'm getting pretty heavy. Today I started an exercise regime. Hope I can keep at it. Walking. I used to run but those days are long gone. They say walking is just as good as running. I walked 2 miles today and during the first mile I felt it! Second mile was better. Could have walked farther but my thought was to increase a wee bit at a time. To make a long story short the 1952 people need to take care of themselves. Hope things keep improving for you Mr. Ross.

Yup, we're the Boomers alright. And yes things are looking up. Shame Mark had to go through all that. I was lucky, when I got to the ER last Sunday night it was less than ten minutes before I was taken inside and started on a one hour breathing treatment. Then an X-ray, a cat scan, which gave me a panic attack because I was unable to breathe lying flat. An hour later I'm in my room, comfortable and on my way to dreamland. That was at three in the morning. My daughter was exhausted and she had to work at eight am. 

An update on me:

Just spoke to my oncologist today. The radiation is doing its job on the right side of me however the cancer has spread and is affecting the left side now. Further treatment is not going to help therefore my condition is......Terminal. Weeks perhaps months to go and I bet my doctor a penny, all he has to bet with, that I can stretch it out. Where I go from here is anyone's guess. So if somewhere down the line you don't hear from me for a bit you'll know why. All my love to you guys at WC and SD for all of everything up to and including my weirdness. 

Ross... crap. So sorry to hear.

Can't even begin to imagine what you must be feeling.

Sorry to hear this Ross, but don't worry, you'll be well taken care of in Heaven when your time comes.

I plan on keepin' 'em waitin'. Lol

Argh, not what any of us were hoping for.  I've never been able to decide if advance notice of the journey would be a blessing or a curse, a little of both I suppose.  Hang tough.

Ohmigosh, this is serious.   I will definitely pray for you.

In light of this situation, damm the political correctness, being seen as "proselytizing", or getting along with other religions/non-religions by dancing around the subject.  I pray not just for your health, but that you know Jesus Christ.  He will take your hand and show you the way to the next life, in peace.   John 8:51 in the Bible says, "Truly, truly I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death."     It doesn't mean you will never die--only that you will never see it.   You will be like, "Wait.  I'm dead?  But I'm not!"

Look to Jesus, man!

p.s. to the mods of this forum, sorry about the religion thing; this situation is extenuating.

<dupe>

My thoughts and prayers will be with you through your journey, no matter how short, or long it will be Ross, you're a great person with a sense of humor, great qualities my friend. 

Very sorry to hear this Ross. My thoughts are with you. 

Many thanks for your thoughts and prayers my friends.   

@tetleytea...Though I'm not a religious person all I can say is I'll be too busy tokin' on a joint to notice.  Thank you.

Dang Don, leave some room for the rest of us!     

OMG Ross I just read this, I am so sorry I thought you had this fixed. My prayers are with you my friend.