Well…We made it home. It was no small task to get here and it was a endless game of catch up once we got here.
Being we were discharged on a Sunday and the hospital pharmacy wasn’t open and our local Wal-mart likely didn’t have the meds Kramer needed we had to go to the Lacrosse Wallgreens. There was a big hassle over what meds the insurance company would cover now and which needed pre-authorization. UGH. We ended up having to pay cash for one….then tomorrow I have to call the insurance company and then call Wallgreens and then do all of that before the seven days run out and be back to Wallgreens to pick up a reimbursement for the difference between what I paid and what the insurance covered. OH MY WORD. The man is sick. He has lung cancer, bone cancer and broke his neck. I think that’s enough to “authorize” medications he needs for pain. But…I’m being a big girl and only ranting to all of you as no one else can do anything about it anyway. It certainly isn’t the clerks fault.
All of that took about an hour for us to finally get the medicine. In the middle of me trying to manage it all Kramer walked in from the truck to see what was going on. UGH. He was badly in need of meds when I finally got them.
Kramer’s meds are a nightmare. In January, he took two inhalers. Now he takes over 27 pills a day. Seriously, keeping track of them gives me a headache just to think about. The 27 doesn’t count his nebulizer treatments or the feedings via his feeding tube. Kalissa ended up coming over and set up an app for his Kindle that is helping him track it….again, Kramer is learning something new as he didn’t regularly use the Kindle before. Little by little he’s coming into the modern world. I’ll tell you more about the app he’s using once we test it for a few days to see if we like it.
Being I spent a week in the hospital one would think I got LOTS of stitching done. I didn’t. I didn’t at all. Kramer saw lots of doctors often and keeping track of it all, plus going to my own appointments took up lots of time. We also had LOTS of visitors and we so appreciated that. Visitors was more fun than stitching.
Kayla was one of my visitors. She seemed to be on a mission to get me out of the hospital and get me back on track with food after my 2 week long low-iodine diet. We got burgers at the The Crow in Lacrosse.
I HIGHLY recommend it. YUM. This was a Crow Burger on a pretzel bun with sloppy fries. Oh my. It was so much food that it was my lunch and supper.
As for stitching. I was almost done with my “Faith” but didn’t like the color choice for the house so stopped here until I could get home and get a better color. See the moon…(Don’t worry, I can’t see it the best either) well the house was supposed to be the same color. Kelli suggested a blue that is used in the whole series and I’m thinking I might follow her advice and use it.
Do any of you have opinions??
I ended up starting something else….this. A blog reader sent this to me. I thought is was so appropriate to stitch. It says, “When we do what we can, God will do what we cannot.” That saying is one that’s VERY relevant to me now.
The cloth I’m stitching it on has VERY small holes so it’s a little slower stitching than I’m used to. I love it the saying so it’s worth the extra work.
Our drive home included some of this….
Kramer is so missing farming. Although it’s great entertainment to watch the equipment as we drive, we both can’t help wish he was driving across the field rather than driving across NE Iowa into Minnesota and then into Wisconsin to get his cancer treatments.
We’re making the trek again today. We have an appointment with the oncology doctor and then radiation. This is supposed to be the last week of radiation. May that be true. We’re ready for a new chapter in this book of life.
I’m glad you got to go home. So sorry about the delay in the pain meds script. Been there and did that years ago with my spouse. Total bummer. Thank God you had cash to pay for the meds. I know that they’re generally Not cheap. Am continuing in Prayer and praising God for what he’s doing in your lives.
You both must be very happy to be home and so happy for you both. Keeping you both in prayer.
Jo I keep you in my prayers. I know what you are going thru. My sister also has bone cancer. The journey has been two and a half years for her. It’s been a long hard journey that no one prepare you for. Join a caregivers support group. This helped so much to talk to someone who is going thru the same things that you are. I learned more from them in some cases than from the doctors. My sister got to the point where she didn’t want to eat because the food tasted funny. Talking with people in the support group, some had the same experience. It was suggested she use plastic eating utensils. Wow this worked. She was tasting the metal in the silver ware.
I will continue to pray for you all and that the insurance is a quick fix and that radiation is done today. As for the stitching, you can make your house any color you want! I love that so many stitchers switch out the colors and make it their own design. Safe travels!
The war on opioids has caught many who truly need a consistent pain regime in the war zone. JDoctors and pharmacists are just afraid. Just watched a documentary on this. So keep your pain doctors close as they will be needed every step of the way. Praying for you all.
So pleased that Kramer has finally got home. Prayers and blessings for his and your wellbeing.
Because Roger misses farming so much, perhaps he can record/dictate some of his experiences and knowledge when he feels like doing something more. Having family history as a hobby can strengthen positive feelings, and remind each of you that life is eternal, and has been wonderful.
Even taking the picture of farm equipment and just telling what the machinery is used for, and if Roger has ever used it or seen it used, could help him feel better in his current situation.
One of the fun things to read on thepioneerwoman.com are her husband’s explanations about aspects of their ranching life.
So glad to hear that you all are home, with enough medication to keep him going. Prayers for all of you!
So happy you were able to go home! Also, your good test results was an awesome piece of news! Hope your day goes well today! Drive safe!
“There’s no place like home!”, as Dorothy reminds us. So glad to read you’ve made it there, even as treatment continues. Praying for some more good news for you all this week.
I second what Ruth said above about Roger doing some recording when he’s feeling up to it. Maybe family members could jot down a few questions to spark the conversation. I spent one day a week in 2016 doing that with my dad, and am so glad for having taken the time to sit with him while he recollected, ask more questions and tease out the details. All the best to you all on the last five radiation treatments this week!
Ruth has a good suggestion that might help Kramer when he is feeling up to it. It is surely something the children and grandchildren would appreciate when we are all long gone! What I would give to hear my grandmother tell about her life in England before immigrating to America in 1890s!
Glad you’ve made it home and hope the change is positive for all!
Praising God that ya’ll are home, but good heavens…what a fiasco with the prescriptions! You have enough to deal with without having to fight with the insurance. Sheesh. Hope the coming week is less hectic and that Kramer’s pain is at a minimum. Hugs and prayers for all of you.
Home, what a joy to read this! I’m sorry you had the hassle at the pharmacy but you got this. I continue to keep you both in my prayers. Welcome Home!!!
Jo,
Not to be picky, but he has lung cancer in his bones, not bone cancer. Sorry. The cancer has spread to the bone. It is the same cancer. I done want to sound out of line when I say this but that is where so many people make the mistake of saying it all wrong. Sorry.
I know it is a horrible situation to deal with no matter what. The radiation should help with the pain also in his neck. Now that it has spread to there, it may spread to some other bones. The one doctor I used to work for used to describe radiation as spot welding as it can be given in various places. Eg. If the cancer moves to different bones, radiation can be given there.
Cancer can be tricky that way. It is a nasty disease.
I keep your whole family in my prayers. ❤️
So glad you all are home. Blessings and prayers that things get better for you both.
Wonderful news to know you are home! You are in my prayers.
-Jean ❤
Dear Ones, I’m so glad you are home! I’d call the insurance pharmacy escapade typical and so unnecessary, but that’s my opinion. The interview…I made a list of questions for my grandpa to answer. I asked about childhood, church , school, chores through the years, meeting our grandma, etc. I can go on if you like. HA! It was too sweet when we got to his kids, my mom & her brother. His sibling group was 14! I used a cassette tape recorder, yes, it’s that old! I eventually did the same thing with my folks. Priceless hearing their voices. When Kramer is up to it or wants to do it. Sometimes hearing a conversation about the work days farmers put in is something we’d never see a “Job Description” written for!
Wishing you a good day by day, step by step journey along this road. Drive safe!!
Gloria
Try getting his pain meds from the hospital pharmacy and in liquid from so you and put them through the feeding tube. We did that for my daughter and it made it easier and the hospital is not as nervous to dispense the high doses cancer patients need. Also a good pain management doctor when you see what the new normal is is essential. Get one at the cancer center. It is worth the drive. We found local pain management was afraid of her and really wasn’t much help. We drive to upenn 75 miles away now but so worth it. I continue to keep you all in my prayers.
Hey Jo. Sending you lots of hugs… went through 18 months of chemo, radiation for hubbys small cell lung cancer which metastasis to bone, brain and other areas. Praying that everything works for him. It’s a tough road that I am familiar with.
Maybe someday our country will get national health care. It’s hard enough to fight cancer without navigating the system of $$ and paperwork and networks.
My daughter is a leukemia survivor. We were lucky to be military dependants at the time.
Thank you for sharing what you are all going through. My heartfelt sympathy with you accessing the convoluted health system over there. I am so thankful to live here in Australia with our universal healthcare – Medicare. Sending many hugs to you and your family. Sam the Aussie
So happy to hear you will be home for awhile. as I know you are too.
I’m so sorry to hear about the prescription/insurance problems. Like many others have stated, it’s the opiod scare. Praying the situation can be taken care of quickly for Roger’s and your sake. Keep on them! And keep in touch with your doctors about it.
Praying for all of you!