Spoke to my older brother, Michael, in Florida this weekend and he said he hadn't been feeling well. He didn't want to go to the doctor because he has no health insurance (he is a self-employed home builder, so you can imagine how business is going these days). I told him to get his $$$ to the doctor.

Well, I got a call Sunday from my mother saying that Michael had been taken to the emergency room Sunday afternoon. He has a bleeding ulcer and low hemoglobin due to internal bleeding, and he also has a tumor in his stomach. They've let him out of the hospital for the Thanksgiving holiday, but he has to report back on Monday for surgery to remove the tumor and hopefully repair his stomach.

Would appreciate any prayers and good wishes you can send his way.

Thanks.

Glad to hear that surgery went well. Lots of prayers that the pathology report has good news.

Sheri,
I do hope your brother is ok and the biopsy comes back negative. Will continue to keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

Jill

Glad that the surgery was successful and that much of his stomach remains

I'm glad that the surgery went well.

Continued best wishes to you and your brother.

Hi all...here's an update on my brother.

Surgery went well. They didn't end up having to take much of his stomach...only what was around the tumor. They did, however, end up removing his spleen, but not because it was diseased or involved with the tumor.

He is pretty doped up on pain medication and in critical care. I spoke with him today, but only for a few minutes.

Unfortunately, it will be a few more days before they have the pathology report on the tumor (i.e., whether malignant or benign).

Thanks again for your prayers and positive thoughts. Keep 'em coming for a positive pathology report.

Sending my thoughts and prayers too. I am especially sorry this is happening during the holiday season and tough economic times.

Sending lots of good wishes and prayers to your bother, you and your family!

I'll be continuing to send lots of prayers.
Hopefully it will be benign.

Okay, finally caught up with the bro-ster. He has had a consultation with his regular physician and a surgeon this week.

His regular physician concurs with the ER doctor that he needs to have surgery and told him to prepare himself to lose perhaps half of his stomach.

The surgeon said that it won't be until he goes in to biopsy the tumor that he knows what his plan of action will be for sure; i.e., malignant vs. benign, independent tumor vs. connective tissue from the tumor to the stomach, etc. He said there is a possibility that Michael could lose his ENTIRE stomach and would basically have the equivalent of a gastric bypass if the tumor is malignant AND there is a lot of connective tissue.

Surgery is next Wednesday. He says he'll likely be in the hospital about a week followed by 4-6 weeks of recuperation at home.

I told him that it's really important to follow the doctor's orders both in the hospital and once he gets out...I told him about my friend David's gall bladder surgery (the old way, where they cut you open) and he was told that it was extremely important for him to to "exercise" his lungs and abdominal muscles after the surgery. Michael said "Well, you know how I am about following orders." Argh.

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers.
Sheri

Thanks for your prayers and thoughts, everyone. I'm waiting to hear back from Michael and will let you know when I do.

I used to be very dutiful about doctors and all that stuff but after my interactions with the medical community in 2007-08, I have to admit to more than just a little reticence to let them anywhere near me. I never understood people who refuse to go to the doctor and I don't know that I'm quite there yet but I can tell you that I won't be rushing off at the first indication anymore. I managed to get myself in for my annual exam but not without a fair amount of anxiety and I will go ahead with my mammograms likely but my attitude has truly changed. I feel on NUMEROUS occasions in the last 2 years that I have been put through quite a bit in the interest of covering certain doctor's behinds. That says to me they have either done a very poor job explaining why they were doing things or they really were covering themselves.

I hope things work out ok for your brother Sheri. I've been thinking of you and him and sending positive vibes.

Peg

My mom avoided going to the doctor. She hated doctors.

Well... she died. Due to not going to a doctor when she would have needed one for real.

...

Another interesting thing is how when you ask someone why they aren't seeing a dr for medical condition X, "that could be really serious, you know", they often scoff and say, "okay, so I die, I'm okay with that" -- and when it becomes apparent that they in fact REALLY WILL DIE or are in danger of dying, they suddenly panic and start fighting tooth and nail. Where's all that "okay with dying" then? Being okay with your own mortality more often than not rests on the secret conviction that you're immortal.

quote:

Originally posted by Sheltieguy:

quote:

Well...being a man...

I can relate to that. At the first hint of trouble, I rush my precious doggie to the vet.

As for me, I avoid doctors like the plague.

My fiancee could be on his death bed and avoid the doctor, but if his doggie was sick, he would be at the vet in lightning speed!! He says he will just "get over it" and no doctor. My father is the same way! I can remember my dad being sick as a dog (no vet needed!), and he refused to go to the doctor. And he always recovered! My grandmother never, ever went to a gyno for a Pap smear, mammogram, etc. She birthed all her children at home with little help from a doctor! Now, remember, this was in 1941 and 1947!! Dr. midwife, who ever knew you could birth a baby without or with little help?. I know how important physicals, Paps, etc are but how do the men (and some women) make it through life without visiting the doctor?!!!

Jill

Sheri,
Any news?

quote:

Well...being a man...

I can relate to that. At the first hint of trouble, I rush my precious doggie to the vet.

As for me, I avoid doctors like the plague.

Well...being a man...and being my brother...he did not go back into the hospital on Monday as directed. Instead, he chose to get a second opinion, which was to be yesterday. I will call him today and get the scoop.

What he wants is for someone to tell him he doesn't have to go under the knife...but with a bleeding ulcer AND a tumor, I can't imagine he's going to get what he wants.

Thanks for asking!

Sheri-how is your brother doing after his surgery?

Jill

Prayers for Michael coming right up!

Linda

Of course Sheri, I'll pray for your brother.

Dawn