I have GREAT news!!!!!!!!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
I have GREAT news!!!!!!!!!!
8
Wed, 08-25-2004 - 12:11pm
Start out with the bad news: I called my friend Geri at 3 yesterday to find out her test results, and her husband (hereinafter referred to as JERK!!!!) answered the phone. Jerk said she was sleeping. I said "well, what are the test results????" And Jerk didn't know! Jerk didn't go with her to the appointment (even though he has Tuesdays off!) because it's "too stressful" for him! So he didn't know!!!!! I lost it on him and started yelling and said "YOU DIDN'T GO?!?!!? It's too stressful FOR YOU? Your wife might have cancer again but it's too stressful FOR YOU?!?!?! Had I known you weren't going - *I* would have taken the time off work and *I* would have went! I can't BELIEVE YOU LET HER GO BY HERSELF TO THAT APPOINTMENT!!!!!!" He was silent and then said "I'll tell her you called." And hung up on me. JERK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She called me back at home last night. NO CANCER. She DOES have walking pneumonia AND - the source of the pain and swelling - 3 broken ribs!!!!!!! The doctor said due to the chemo and radiation she went through, along with being post-menopausal and having osteosporosis, her bones are frail and weak and she probably broke them COUGHING!!!!!! They put a rib wrap on her that she is to wear whenever she is upright and mobile, prescribed her Ibuprofen 800 for the pain, and gave her Cipro for the walking pneumonia (which she had no idea she had). They said she should be feeling better energy, sickness wise within 7 days, but that her ribs will probably be sore and tender for the next 3 to 4 weeks.

She is very upset with Jerk. She said last night that when she woke up he asked her what the doctor said and she said "if you wanted to know, you should have been there!" and went to her bedroom (yes, her, they don't share a bedroom - and yes, I'm wondering what kind of marriage this is!) I'm going to go over Saturday and if she feels up to it, we'll go out for lunch to celebrate. She was laughing so hard she was crying last night - saying over and over - "broken ribs! I never thought I would be so happy to have broken ribs!!!"

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2002
Wed, 08-25-2004 - 12:22pm

Min, I'm so thrilled to hear that your friend's cancer is in remission!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-25-2004 - 12:28pm
WOW MIN, that IS GREAT!!! So glad it wasn't the worst news...Just...things that can be fixed. Ehm...the jerk can be fixed too...she needs to think about that. blech...
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 08-25-2004 - 12:48pm
Thanks, you two. She is on all sorts of vitamins and minerals . . . she goes every other week and gets B12, calcium and iron shots. Sadly, there isn't much they can do. She said her doctor told her "I TOLD YOU we would have to about kill YOU to kill the cancer! You thought I was kidding!" She just has to take care of herself and be tender with herself. She said the doctor scolded her for not coming in when she had a cold awhile ago, which was the starting point for the pneumonia which caused the broken ribs. Her doctor told her "I don't care that you were raised that you don't go to the doctor for every little sniffle! You are a 57 year old woman who is only 2 years out of INTENSE cancer treatment - you get a little sniffle, you come see me!!" I hope she listens.

Last night she was very happy when I was talking to her. I'm not sure, exactly, how to approach her about leaving JERK (and Maggie - I like your name for him better!!!!) I know that she was in the process of leaving him when she was diagnosed with breast cancer the first time, but he asked her to stay so that he could take care of her and so that she could keep his health insurance. I think it's fear that keeps her with him now. If she WERE to get cancer again - she would NEED his health insurance, she would NEED his financial support. It's such a sucky position to be in. She was talking about moving to Minneapolis - in with her daughter - if she did have cancer - because her daughter would take care of her (VERY true) but didn't know what she would do for insurance. Medicare is NOT a good option because then you don't have access to good doctors or timely treatment. You get what you get and that's it. And I know she couldn't afford COBRA. I'd like to encourage her to talk to the attorney I worked for (who did family law) about if she would qualify for alimony or if the Court would demand due to her health and the length of their marriage (10 years) that he continue to provide her health insurance. It seems to me like she should be eligible for something under Nevada law. But I don't know how to bring it up. Even though we are great friends, because she is 57 and I am 29 - we do have a mother/daughter dynamic to our relationship, generational differences, etc., and I want to respect that.

ANYHOW! She's cancer free at the moment, taking her antibiotics (and I had to tease her - I said "I got pregnant on Cipro! You watch yourself now!" LOL), and her ibuprofen and wearing her rib wrap.

Avatar for cl_beckty
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 08-25-2004 - 1:18pm

OMG!!!!


I am OVERWHELMED with good news. I felt SOOOO burdened for her and I am just nearly in tears with happiness for all over this news!!!!


I can't even think what to say!


I was having such a rotten day here at work, but everyone's joyful news is turning it around quickly.


Becky

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2003
Wed, 08-25-2004 - 2:08pm
That's great news! I'm sure you're relieved to know she's going to be alright. But what a JERK her husband is. TO not go to an appointment because "it stresses him out"!! I have no words to express how angry that makes me. Some men are so unworthy of a good woman. This one seems to fit in that category. Good for her for telling him off and good for you for spilling your guts to him as well!

Mel

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Avatar for cl_tcranky1
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 08-25-2004 - 2:26pm

That's great news!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2004
Wed, 08-25-2004 - 5:16pm
That is wonderful news. Who would have thought of a broken rib!

Your news made my day - it shows that just when you thought the worst is here you can get good news out of the blue.

Thanks for sharing!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2003
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 11:57am

I am very happy to hear that!

Kim