How to travel before time runs out?

Ken,

Sorry about the medical news. The advice others are offering seems to make some sense but I'm not a Doctor.

You've helped out a lot of people here and probably elsewhere in life. any of them have a camper? You might make a direct appeal to them if they'd let you rent or borrow it. It's probably the off season for most of them to use it. The things are very costly to rent but maybe someone who owns one and is underutilizing it considers it sunk cost and wouldn't need much to let it go to a good cause.

I can understand how you might view this trip as very important and I applaud you for looking into it. I hope you can make it work. Whether or not you can pull it off I encourage you to spend as much quality time as you can with your child. She'll probably appreciate that time with you more than the specifics of the trip.

Best wishes.

Kenneth I am so sorry to hear how you were treated. You do not have to put up with a careprovider who is not "available". As stated by so many here,education and action is the key.

I believe that sometimes Drs. give you the worst scenario because many people do NOT do anything for themselves.
At a hospital near here they have a gym for patients where there is medically supervised exercise and dieticians that are covered by insurance as long as it is "Necessary". Check into your area. A swim class at the Y for seniors may help for someone who has a hard time with moving around.
As far as your family goes, none of us knows the number of our days so all of them should be lived to the fullest. I would give anything to laugh and argue with my dad one more time.
Make a start and let us know of your progress.
Jodi

Ken,

The way most campers guzzle gas, it might be cheaper just to drive a regular car and stay in motels. My gas guzzling MH only gets about 6 mpg so it just sits in the yard now.

12 1/2 yrs ago a well respected oncologist told me I was stage 4B non hodgekin's lymphoma. He put me on high doses of chemo. After 4 rounds he said the disease was already aggressive and resistant. He gave me a prognosis of 2 to 3 months to live. All I could say was 'but God'. I quit the chemo. Fired the doctors. (After getting 2 more oncologists that said the same thing.) And got on with my life, learning to trust God. I said to my family 'I'm putting my life in God's hands, if He wants to take me home I am ready'. I still asked Him to let me stay, but told Him it was in His hands, just take care of my baby girl. I have had several remissions and relapses. I recently went back into a spontaneous remission after a long 3 yrs with rapidly growing tumors. The tumors suddenly started shrinking a couple of months ago and now I can hardly find any of them, and those have shrunk way down!

Docs don't know everything. The statistics said that with my dx I would surely die. I am NOT a statistic!

I will be praying for you, Kenneth.

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I believe in God's willingness to heal.

Cyngbaeld's Keep Heritage Farm, breeding a variety of historical birds and LaMancha goats. (It is pronounced King Bold.)

Ken,a couple things.
This coming from medicine is a good thing background.

You must never,ever ever run out of Lasix,3 days off could overload and KILL you.

Get those blood sugars under control if possible.I dont see where you are using a sliding scale of insulin to fill in during the times your sugars are so high.Tell Doc you need a diabetic teaching consult(If you havent had good diabetic teaching up to this point,accepting sugars of 400 tells me you havent).Get an endocrinologist consult.If Dr wont do it,its new Dr time.400 sugars are absolutely unacceptable and will destroy you.I dont believe the insulin caused the weight gain,and losing weight usually lowers sugars.Easier said than done though.

Back to what I said about PROACTIVE,you must take charge in making sure you get the care you need when you need it.Ive always had docs that can see me that day if emergency,or within 2 days if not(flu) and the rest I can schedule as needed for med refills.So those types of Drs are out there,please for your sake find one,or tell Doc your concerns about waiting and see what he says.He really cant help you unless you both communicate fully.

***Upshot,get to an endocrinologist and never run out of Lasix.EVER!!***Remember the trend here,folks surviving are doing so because they are agressively in charge of their health care.Ken,I really believe if you take charge you are going to be OK.

BooBoo

Folks like RIOs Dad,they are indeed out there.Lots of em.

As for the tape,just a super idea!

OK,so much for my 2 cents worth.Ken,if you want to pm me feel free,been into this for 30 years now,so I will help if I can.

BooBoo

First, find a GOOD diabetic specialist and work at improvement from there. Second opinions are important Here's my story to share: My uncle (diabetic) could not pass the service physical for WWII because of his heart...he lived a very good life and died at 87!!!!!!!!!

BTW,Ken are you the gentleman who was considering gastric bypass related to morbid obesity?There was a thread last year was that you?I completely glossed over the weight issue and missed the boat seriously with my previous posts after that.Others fortunately picked up on it.

With 378 lbs and 5'11' that weight is your biggest health threat of all,the rest is pretty much related to that,in one way or another.Get that wt. under control,control the diabetes,watch the CHF and meds.If you can do all 3 your prospects are good to see your grandchildren.The weight is the key to the whole thing,if you continue at 378 plus,I will be very frank,your time is limited.Morbidly obese people with multisystem problems die early,its pretty much a safe bet.Telling it like it is,you dont need BS at this point.

The meds for CHF and diabetes can prolong your life some,but the obesity is whats probably hurting you the most.Thats up to you,and completely in your control.Apparently your Doc was trying to shake you up to get through to you,and he did a good job.Sure got your attention.Now lose that weight.

That I dont know how to do.Others have offered good advice about diet and excerise,you become a diet/fitness expert too.Any dieticians/personal trainers here? Ken needs your help.

BooBoo

Ken--My stepdad also takes Lasic and to counteract the potassium deficit (side affect of Lasic) he has the choice to either eat one banana a day (contains a days worth of potassium for an adult) or take a potassium supplement. He chose the banana of course, and the legs cramps he suffered at night also went away (that is one sign of being potassium deficient). Being diabetic you would want to balance the banana as a fruit and a starch to not let it throw off your usual starch intake. As for the sleep apnea (stepdad has that too) he tried the nose strips, I think they are called Breathe Right and said those worked ok but the maching the gave him to sleep with works wonders, it pumps just regular air through a mask into you, creating a constant flow of air when you stop breathing for a sec. and thus you don't have a lack of air that would wake you up, kind of like a back up breathing machine. He says he hasn't slept so well in years (he was recorded in a sleep study as waking up 58 times in a 5 hour span) I think the machine is called a CPAC, bet someone here can chime in on that Now if he can remember to keep his mouth shut when he sleeps it will help even more, I told him to ask for a chin strap to keep the mouth closed, otherwise when your mouth flops open at night, with the mask on, it literally pushes the air up your nose and right out your mouth, feels weird, gives you a sore thoat and defeats the purpose of the mask. I am hoping we are helping and not just overwhelming you, but your gettings lots of help here, and I think it good sound advice. Take a deep breath and relax, you have time for decisions, and even time for smiles.

__________________
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him float on his back.

My humble opinion for CHF is to watch the fluid intake and output. What kills you in CHF, is fluid overload. You should be taking some type of diuretic and lasix is one of the old ones. Potassium supplement because the diuretics can deplete your body of potassium and a potassium defficiency can cause cardiac arrythmias among other unpleasant side effects
KEN... man you have got to lower your blood sugar. NOW!!! A 400 glucose is damaging all your organs and your eyesight. If your doctor will not help you it is time to get another one. There are hundreds of really good doctors out there and just as many who got by with a C- grade. You need to eat right and exercise and take your insulin. You need to go on a diabetic diet and have a registered dietician help you with it. I am only telling you this because we all want to you to be with us for a long long time.

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Living the good life in Kansas.

Wish I could help out with an RV or something but sadly I can't.
Previous respondents are right, you need to get your blood sugar under control. Has your dr ever mentioned an insulin pump to you? Lots of serious diabetics do better with them and the associated education.
If you could get that under control you might be candidate for other types of treatment. Is the dr who gave you this news your family dr or a heart specialist? There is an operation, I don't know the name of it, where they wrap muscles tissue from your back round the heart like a bandage holding it tight. They then "teach" the muscles to contract and work like heart muscle. I had a friend whose life was prolonged by a good ten years after local cardiologists had given up on her by going to a good teaching hospital and participating in late stage clinical trials.
Don't just lay back and take this drs opinion as the be all and end all.
My MIL's records indicate she should have died of heart failure at least 30yrs ago. Now she has outlived her husband and siblings by several years!

Fight back..it's a war..who is going to win..you or the disease? Lots of us care and want you around for a lot more years and so do your family!
You'll be in many prayers tonight Ken.

PQ

WOW
OK so I need to become a specialist on CHF and Diabetes.

For those that don't believe that insulin causes weight gain I'll try to find the link to the Mayo Clinic where they did a study on 1000 patients and 700 gained weight with no change in diets just added injectible insulin.

I have to agree I will try to not run out of lasic again.

As to feeling like the trip I'd have to take frequent breaks and need a camper/van somewhere to lay down and rest. I'd do it for my daughter and to help destress. I've wished a million times that I'd video taped the trips back then. But I just went thinking I was bullet proof.

Today is starting out a bit rough I've gained 13 pounds of the fluid back and it'll take the lasic a bit to reduce it back down.

Most of you know that I've been under tremendous stress since dad died. What with the IRS, my uncle and debts. This health problem has to be addressed first but it's hard to do that.

booboo I'll pm you afterwhile I have a couple questions and I bet you can answer them.

Thanks for caring.
Kenneth in NC

I would agree with the others. the extra weight and increased fluid retention all increase the preload your heart has to pump against increasing the damage. The high glucose will lead to kidney failure fairly quickly as well as damaging your vision. Once the kidneys are shot its dialysis 3 times a week which pretty much can wipe you out in between treatments. there are also problems with anemia as the kidney function decreases and hormone output ceases. You need to get on top of this NOW...waiting any time at all will shorten yoru life....get up and get some excercise everday even if you don't nwant to do it.

Kenneth, sorry my post offended you. I counciled diabetics that were hospitalized for years. My experience has been that diabetics with a victim mentality never handle their obesity problems and die. I care about you, but this is not the time to play "nicey" with you. The weight gain with insulin should be a temporary thing that can be handled in the long haul.
I will not respond to your posts again. Please get help before you die unnecessarily.

I must say I'm impressed with the avalanche of advice coming in from anonymous medical experts from around the country. Maybe this is the start of a whole new trend in the treatment of illnesses.

I propose we start a new forum, perhaps call it "What's Ailing You," and really get into it. Think of the money we'll all save. How about it, moderator.

I can't help with the camper troubles, but I can say that if I had 6-12 months-- or 6-12 years for that matter--I would be busting a nut to make sure my partner and kid weren't left with crushing debt rather than worrying about seeing the Grand Canyon again.

Sell the guns, sell a car, sell the house and get something smaller, file bankruptcy: do whatever it takes. They don't deserve that fate anymore than you deserve yours. Now's the time to take care of each other. Best of luck.

We covered the medical aspect,lets do the travelling bit.

RV travel is expensive,usually renting a rig is expensive.Mine gets 8 mpg on a good day,high up over 7000 feet I got 3-4 MPGS!

So when we do big month long trips,the expense is big too.But if we can afford it we do it still.I dont think many folks want to loan one,as breakdowns and care and handling is a learned experience,and to give to a person to learn on your rig its idiosynchrocies is just a plain bad idea.This is how even a generous person has to look at it.

We do lots of little trips to local campgrounds.3-5 days is still 75 bucks gas,15/nite if lucky at county campgrounds,food,etc,looking at a couple hundred minimum.

Your daughter will remember the time spent with you just as much as the place.So dont project YOUR desires of what to see unto her,a simple trip with my nephews to nowhere special,just out somewhere has had huge impacts with them,they still talk about these few trips,and want to travel this country themselves just from that little exposure.One fella is now a campin' fool,cant wait to get his supplies out,throw em in the truck and go out with his friends.
Im sure that in my legacy these trips are what they will remember most fondly about me and the Missus.

I think you should try the tent camping option,waaaaay cheaper.You dont need a paid for campground and can go just about anywhere.A couple hundred bucks or so can set you up well,esp. if you garage sale/thrift store the items,nice father daughter time right there.You can blast off to places faster and cheaper in your car.A couple years ago wife and I spent 2 months in a small tent in a campground overlooking the ocean.Now Im sure not Grizzly Adams and she isnt Calamity Jane,but its doable.Really you only need the tent to sleep in.You can stay at motels cheaper than bringing a MH most times.Since I dont know how well DD will take to camping,motels might be the best answer.

We still do the camping route,I have those big plastic tubs( 1.5 X 3 feet,about 18 inches high with lids) set up in the storage below on my old VW transporter (pick -up styled one)So everything is always there and ready to go,tubs are awesome to make camping easy on a moments notice.We then pitch the tent on the pickup bed,dont even get wet or rocky ground(we have plywood over the metal bed),geez its slick.

Anywho,your DD will remember the memories of Dad and camping,and see things you wouldnt have dreamed of.It doesnt have to be the grand canyon,it can be a lake,trees,stream,desert,doesnt matter,all will form the best of memories.Its the time spent together that counts most.

We love going to the county parks 35-75 miles away,just because its quiet and a change of view..They sure dont offer much else scenery wise,been better places, but still,its NICE to just be out.I love to travel,no matter where,its the Mr and Mrs BooBoos' hobby.Weve done the whole west of the country so far.

Ken,can you elaborate more on travelling and whats doable from your perspective?Do you have a truck,pickup-camper is a good way to go,and campers can be had for a song.

BooBoo

Booboo travel by RV has it's advantages the most obvious is you sleep on your own bed each night and not on the "less than clean" and quite often not very comfortable motel beds. There was a thread a while back and and many posters here voiced how bad motels have become about cleaning the rooms.

Motels are charging more now than before. Up near Murphy NC we encountered a Motel wanting $107 for one night (last year) Campgrounds are also getting into higher rates up from the $8-10 to $30+.

The Grand Canyon is NOT on my daughters list. She wants to go to "PIONEER VILLAGE" in Nebraska, Visit my Cousin in California, MESA VERDE, and both her mother and her wants to revisit Circus Circus at Las Vegas. In fact my wife wants to renew our vows in the "Little White Chapel" in Las Vegas where we got married eons ago.

We have a 1995 Dodge Dakota. It's not the best travel vehicle. Whether we take a trip or not is yet to be seen.

All in all this has been a trying past few months.

Started back on lasic today. 90mg today and 45mg thereafter for next 90 days.

Kenneth in NC

Yep,sure is nice having your own bed and bathroom too

Sounds like an awesome itinerary you have planned.I figured a one month trip in the MH is about 2000.00.Maybe more.

We also have our portable sat dish for tv anywhere.Nice and warm in bad weather/rain.Own kitchen,sure is a nice way to travel.Cell phone,all the comforts of home.

When we had the big fires in CA last year was it? we were traveling the Oregon,utah colorado,N.M and arizona route.We got home and the Mtn was evacuated.We got put up in a county park FREE for evacuees.We were so lucky,had all the above while families were living in tents.And it was cold,windy,finally rained and snowed and they got the fires out.

So yes indeedy,Love that RV traveling,can see why you want to do it.Sure hope you make it,best wishes coming at you!

BooBoo

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