Tim was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer June 30. Doctors tell us it has metastasized to his liver, lungs and several spots on bones that are giving him pain. He’s been gradually losing weight over the last year or so and had a basic lack of energy. Last fall he lost a toe to infection and has been strictly monitoring his blood sugar. Initially he gained strength but then started to become weaker and weaker and started to suffer from loss of balance. Visited ER in mid May for weakness, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath. Also, blood pressure dipped drastically low whenever he changed positions. Released with ER evaluation of low blood sugar. In early June he had a long-awaited (months) appt with a new primary care provider who referred him to a bunch of specialists…many of whom didn’t have appts for months out. A couple of weeks later pain developed in his hip and leg sending him to urgent care and treatment for sciatica. Was prescribed muscle relaxers. He then checked in with a chiropractor for a back adjustment that caused pain to show up in his rib. An ER visit and X-ray showed nothing. ER doc speculated that an old rib injury may have flared up and since Tim is on blood thinner, his pain is not likely caused by blood clots. Released with advice to take Tylenol for pain.
At his cardiologist visit at the end of June he was found to have drastically low blood pressure, was severely dehydrated (although no one drinks more water than he does). Sent to the ER for IV fluids, which perked him up immensely. Cardiologist ordered a CT scan which revealed the dreaded spots. After hospital admission, oncologist confirmed cancer with a biopsy. Pain in calf was blood clots. It seems that cancer can reduce the effect of blood thinners. Now we wait. Tim chooses to fight this. Chemotherapy commences this week. He’s only 62, folks…the world still needs lots more of his goodness and wisdom.
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