James

About James

Well you’d think as a nurse I would know about Prostate cancer, but as a perinatal specialist I was way out of comfort zone. Jim 55 received his diagnosis on a fluke, he had a PSA while applying for an insurance policy after one of our daughters was married. After a repeat lab test and confirmation by biopsy we learned his cancer had metastasized to the anterior ramus of his pelvis. His treatment was radiation therapy, Casodex and Lupron.

Radiation area expanded to include the pelvis. I began reading everything I could find including Rudy Guiliani’s book how he arranged his radiation treatments so he could continue to work. So Jim would work at being a building inspector then swing by my hospital get treatments and rest when he got home.

After the course of this he developed radiation proctitis so now I had to deal with a guy who gets woozy at sight of blood. I accompanied him to all doctor appointments because he would quickly have fuge in the meetings…I became his memory, interpreter along with case manager. He had 29 episodes of hyperbarics in mornings I would take my coffee break which was walking him to the hyperbaric chambers just off my unit. When the tube failed he had 5 argon plasma treatments…On these days of colonoscopy type treatments I was his chauffeur home. When these weren’t effective we were off to a surgeon who suggested formalin enema in the main operating room. At last it seemed he was on the right path…for a few months. In the meantime he had a cardiac echo and eventually anaortic valve replacement. He was a great patient. But he had breakthrough rectal bleeding, it was decided how much could he mentally tolerate, because next option would be colostomy. He decided he’d hang in. Occasionally he might experience small smudges especially if he has either diarrhea or is constipated. My job becomes making sure he doesn’t get into trouble either with meds or diet.

As time progressed his short term disability was extended to long term. His pelvic pain in left hip exacerbated and he had MRIs and we sought assistance of pain management Dr. He has had various opioid meds which he keeps pain at 5 to 6/10. So we juggled trying to keep him as healthy as possible while dealing with an appendectomy, celebrating the births of 7 grandchildren all since initial diagnosis in 2002. But in May 2016 what seemed a UTI became worse nightmare, he ruptured his bladder had a cardiac arrest and pnemothorax. He was intubated in SICU for 9 days. When he finally woke up because I knew this guy would he had a suprapubic Catheter and bilaterally nephrostomies. He had had so many transfusions and tests, but he couldn’t understand why or how this happened. Miracles do happen. I sat by his bedside advocated told them he could have a life with quality. In meantime I planned what we would need at home. A few doctors wanted to send him to long term care. I said “NO!” he needed rehab 2 times a day. I spent days at beside urging him to try one of our daughters came from New York she felt he was dying… packed her negativity up sent her back…another daughter drove 50 miles daily to sit with me and cheer him on. Late nights our son came helped bathe him did physio with him. I had his glasses on ,TV so if he woke he knew where he was. Our son bought exercise bands we filled water bottles for arm weights. When he went to rehab I took clothing got a private room so I could stay all day. We watched TV he went to gym…he had to leave for transfusions twice. Assessments at hospitals had them surprised no bed sores or skin breakdown… I had Butt paste for him if incontinent had him chgd asap. I told them he needed to ne able to get in wheelchair and be able to transfer from bed to commode chair to car to wheelchair. While his hemoglobin was low and certain meds were exhorbitant I found options acceptable to doctors. He was re-hospitalized for more blood but haf MRSA in his blood, 10 days later he was transferred to another rehab who really worked him 4 months after initial rupture he walked to the car. He had rehab meds wonderful support and April 2017 nephrostomies were removed. He still has suprapubic catheter and it’s changed every 6 weeks and Lupron 22.2 mg every 12 weeks. He is now seen by a medical oncologist at MIami Cancer Institute and takes Zytiga 1000mg daily with Prednisone 5mg instead of Casodex. The left leg is weak but he walks, drives putters in the yard with orchids. He has been to Beech Mt NC with our daughter and her family while they skiied. He has watched the eclipse with is grandkids, Endured Hurricane Matthew and Irma. My job since I retired in December 2015 has been private duty nurse. He follows his sports and can fry an egg or two… while I do his meds, keep the calendar, update all doctors insist on him using a wheelchair if we have appointments on several floors, I order supplies for his catheter like foley leg bags, chux, depends. He has a cpap and his hospital bed . The other member of his team is Monty our Westie who follows his every step. Life is different for us. When old friends ask if I’m enjoying retirement I tell them as long as I have Jim its good. N o we aren’t traveling sitting upright in hospital chairs to spend nights when he’s nervous has wrecked my back, knees but a 70 yr nurse probably has crappy ones. We have been a team for 50 yrs this November. 16 years of Prostate cancer has been a challenge but I think we have met the challenges. He says he couldn’t have done it without me…its best compliment.

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