Not great news from my Doctor..... (2 Viewers)

[msusaintsfan]

I wanted to wait till today to say this and not bring anyone down this past weekend.

A state of the union so to speak. This is the way I feel about things. I want to get some things off my chest and am allowing a look inside my mind. This will be the only time I speak on this and leave it at that. I am still processing everything from Friday, which I will get too.

As many of you know this is not my favorite time of year. It will be 7 years next month since Melissa passed away and it has been a long 7 years.

It has seemed like my life has been a continuing downward spiral with nothing to look forward too.

My health has continued to decline over these last few years. It happens. You get older, things happen. I get it.... and I got it for sure.

Diabetes has wrecked my life these past couple of years. I lost a toe because of it last year. Last October I woke up one day and everything was dark. Ended up my eyes weren't in good shape. So since then, once a month,I get a shot right in each eyeball...fun fun.

Then something else started happening in October. I started experiencing pain and excessive swelling of my legs. I am fatigued all the time. It hurts to walk, even bending my knees can be a difficult task.

In January, I was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease, put on diuretics and other medications to improve and slow down the progression.

On Friday, I was informed I am now stage 5 and will begin the process of getting on the list for a kidney and a pancreas transplant. I have reached the stage of no return. He said it was a very quick progression, thinks the chemo i had 16 yes ago just absolutely wrecked my insides. In two weeks I meet back with the Doctor to go over my options for home dialysis. Then beginning all the tests I have to go through for a committee to decide to put me on a transplant list.

What a great way to start your weekend right?

Honestly, I don't know how I am going to make it financially through this. I am already stretched thin to the max as it is. Mentally I am just numb. I have been through so much I don't know what to feel at this moment.

As far as the transplant goes there is a feeling of guilt that someone has to die in order for me to receive a pancreas. I know a donor does it for a reason, but it still difficult for me. I don't want anyone to die just so I can live.

I never felt survivor's guilt from recovering from cancer 16 years ago until Melissa passed away. Then I felt it. I feel sometimes I have lived well past my expiration date.

So it has been a heck of a few last days. So much to process. So many questions for the Dr.

 

[superchuck500]

Man, that's so much to take at once - so sorry this is all happening. Seems like take it one day at a time is good advice here but I don't want to sound trite.

I do know that no one dies to give someone else a transplant - the organ's availability is a mere collateral consequence, there is absolutely zero reason to feel any guilt about that.

If there's any way to help with the finances let us know.

 

[DaveXA]

I wanted to wait till today to say this and not bring anyone down this past weekend.

A state of the union so to speak. This is the way I feel about things. I want to get some things off my chest and am allowing a look inside my mind. This will be the only time I speak on this and leave it at that. I am still processing everything from Friday, which I will get too.

As many of you know this is not my favorite time of year. It will be 7 years next month since Melissa passed away and it has been a long 7 years.

It has seemed like my life has been a continuing downward spiral with nothing to look forward too.

My health has continued to decline over these last few years. It happens. You get older, things happen. I get it.... and I got it for sure.

Diabetes has wrecked my life these past couple of years. I lost a toe because of it last year. Last October I woke up one day and everything was dark. Ended up my eyes weren't in good shape. So since then, once a month,I get a shot right in each eyeball...fun fun.

Then something else started happening in October. I started experiencing pain and excessive swelling of my legs. I am fatigued all the time. It hurts to walk, even bending my knees can be a difficult task.

In January, I was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease, put on diuretics and other medications to improve and slow down the progression.

On Friday, I was informed I am now stage 5 and will begin the process of getting on the list for a kidney and a pancreas transplant. I have reached the stage of no return. He said it was a very quick progression, thinks the chemo i had 16 yes ago just absolutely wrecked my insides. In two weeks I meet back with the Doctor to go over my options for home dialysis. Then beginning all the tests I have to go through for a committee to decide to put me on a transplant list.

What a great way to start your weekend right?

Honestly, I don't know how I am going to make it financially through this. I am already stretched thin to the max as it is. Mentally I am just numb. I have been through so much I don't know what to feel at this moment.

As far as the transplant goes there is a feeling of guilt that someone has to die in order for me to receive a pancreas. I know a donor does it for a reason, but it still difficult for me. I don't want anyone to die just so I can live.

I never felt survivor's guilt from recovering from cancer 16 years ago until Melissa passed away. Then I felt it. I feel sometimes I have lived well past my expiration date.

So it has been a heck of a few last days. So much to process. So many questions for the Dr.

Man, what a tough road. I'm not great with words but I've seen family members go through similar wringers and all I can do is love them and try to be as positive as I can. We'll be pulling for you and hope you can find a little peace through the storm. Take care man.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Wow man
Hard to fathom what to say and can’t imagine what you are going through
I just wish you all the peace and strength you can handle

 

[Swampy Saint]

Prayers are with you brother.

 

[Madmarsha]

Michael, I saw your post on Face book and didn't know what to say and still don't. Thank you for letting us know. After all, being Saints fans over the years has sort of felt like being in a support group, right? And we've all posted personal stuff here in this community which has been a help to have someplace to vent to. So I can say little but tell you I'll pray for you.

 

[whodatbe]

I feel for you bro. Is there a timetable for this waiting list?

 

[Bleu Raeder]

I am not sure what to say except for we've got you. We will be in this fight with you.

 

[Optimus Prime]

I’m so sorry to hear that

Hoping for the best

 

[msusaintsfan]

This why I decided to tell everyone on here because yall were so supportive when Meillsa passes away. The SR family even sent flowers for her funeral and that meant the world to me.

I consider yall family.

The good thing is since it is two organs the wait list is about a year. If it was, let's say, just a kidney it would be 3-6 years.

Why a short wait you may ask? The answer is simply. A double organ transplant is a more expensive surgery. So hospital like to do them. It is a million dollar surgery.... no joke.

I pretty much have to do every medical test known to man before I am "officially" put on the list. Which my Dr said can take up to 6 months to get approved, which he feels like just a formality.

So eta is by , not this Christmas, but the next I should be getting the transplant. Surgery will either be at Tulane or Oschner in NOLA.

 

[Madmarsha]

And, Michael, hey, if you need a kidney, all you gotta do is ask ....





.... I'm sure someone here will give you one.

Not me, of course. I'm a horrible human being who can only deal with things with a morbid humor.

 

[kizzy821]

And, Michael, hey, if you need a kidney, all you gotta do is ask ....





.... I'm sure someone here will give you one.

Not me, of course. I'm a horrible human being who can only deal with things with a morbid humor.

I'm a full organ donor. May my raggedy inerts make someone else's dream come true.

If I had the strength and motivation, organ donation would be one of my main causes.

 

[sfidc3]

Hoping for the best for you man, I know it is hard not to worry about all the details (especially financial) but your main goal needs to be survival….step 1….the other steps will be smaller….

 

[Goatman Saint]

Hoping all the best for you.

About the donor if this happens. Many of my family are, and my mom was also. I did the final agreements and such for the donations after she passed. She was very upfront about how it was the last gift that she could give people to help them live a better life. She was proud to do it, and I know if she knows what happened she would be very happy that her gift has helped people. So while I understand your point also, I simply want you to know as someone who has been on the other side of this, the people who do this are very comfortable in the knowledge of what they are doing.

 

[sammymvpknight]

I’m sorry to hear that you’re suffering right now. It’s never too late to improve your health. There are certain things you can change, and others that you can’t. Do what you can to maximize your health. It’s important not only for your physical health, but also your mental health. If you feel you are having problems coping I would seek mental health resources.

This is all very important for your transplant candidacy. Organs are prized possessions and I have seen people passed over because they didn’t demonstrate the ability to do their part (whether it’s mental health or diet/etc). It’s time to wake up and take this seriously. You can do it.