DENTAL TRAYS APPOINTMENT

Went to my dental appointment during a terrible thunderstorm.  Hoping I don't get a sore throat which I do everytime I go out in the rain and get wet.  

I brought along my trays from my whitening kit and asked if I could use them instead of having a new set made.  The dentist looked at how they fit my teeth and said yes I could use them.  He gave me some special toothpaste to use and ordered the Fluoride that I will pick up next week.  This visit was $50 as  opposed to the $225 that I would have had to pay for the Fluoride trays.  Very happy about that.

For the last two days I have been feeling a pain in my throat on the left side but not on my tongue.  It feels like it is behind and up from where my tonsil was removed.  Could the cancer be spreading?

I'll have the PEG in two days and then after the weekend I'll have the radiation mask fitted with a practice run-through.  I've read that the treatments begin right away.  I should be through with the 7 weeks of treatment the first week of August - just in time for my 70th birthday on the second.  However, the rads still cook you for a month or so afterwards so I'll be sick for weeks after treatment.... but no more mask and rads.  That's a good thing.

  

PRE OP APPOINTMENT

Had appointment for Pre Op today at 1:00 at the Outpatient Pavilion.  The nurse went over all my surgeries, meds, ailments, etc.  Was told not to take my blood pressure meds or diabetic meds the morning of surgery.  Can take Xanax.  Good, cause I'm going to need it.

Also had an EKG.  I was given two packs of antibacterial scrubs to wash my stomach area with the night before and in the morning as well.  I am to leave it on for five minutes then rinse off.  No blood work.   All this took 2 hours.  

They will call me the day before the surgery on Thursday to let me know what time to arrive at the Outpatient Pavilion.

The Cancer Center called me today to schedule my radiation mask fitting.  They wanted me to go in on Friday, the day after my PEG tube surgery.  I declined and they said they would call back on Monday.  There's no way I can go through that while my belly is still sore from surgery and I'm still on pain meds.

ESTATE PLANNING

Filled out forms today to take to the attorney.  Completed the Living Will, Medical Power of Attorney, and Durable General Power of Attorney.  Now I have to get my son and I to sign in front of an attorney and have signatures of witnesses.  That's one less thing to worry about in estate planning.  My son will need to sign the 2 forms for Power of Attorney in order to access my financial accounts to keep up insurance payments on the house after my death and even prior to my death if I become incapacitated.

Still have to meet my son at the bank in order for him to sign a "Signature Authority" on my checking accounts and a "Payable Upon Death" provision to my stock accounts.  That is going to be a problem as he feels it is too difficult to come here to my bank due to his job.  I offered to go to Baton Rouge to do the signing but now I will be scheduled nearly every day for some type of procedure and then Radiation treatment begins.  I will not be able to go to him - he will have to come here.  If he does not complete all of these signatures prior to my passing, he will have to go to court to access my money after my death.  I may have to assign someone else to be Power of Attorney for my estate.

Filled out an application to become a member of Acadian Ambulance Service.  The fee is $67 yearly.  I just may need this transportation if I fall ill in the middle of the night due to dehydration from throwing up.  This is a serious condition and needs immediate attention.

MEMORIAL SERVICE COST

TGMC called this morning to inform me that my upcoming procedure will require a $275 copayment.  Then the dentist sent me a text informing me that my upcoming procedure will require a payment of $225.

Later the Funeral Home called to set up an appointment for me to come in and complete the contract.  I met with a nice lady who explained some things that the other gentleman had not on my previous visit.  He also had not quoted me the correct price of my policy.  She asked if I wanted flowers.  After giving it some thought, I decided to go ahead and purchase the cheapest flowers for my own Memorial Service at a cost of $150.   That is really strange.  

She also added the cost of the obit in the local newspaper which is also $150.  So the grand total is now $2895.  I paid her $1500 and will be paying $78.00 a month for the remainder of the cost.  I plan on paying $100 a month till it is paid off.  If I pay off earlier I will get a discount.

 A worker from the Council on Aging also came to my house to do the necessary intake for me to get transportation services to the cancer center for my medical treatments.  I am so relieved that I won't have to drive myself.

It has been a busy day.

JUNE 1ST PEG TUBE SURGERY SCHEDULED

Saw Dr. Pellegrin today.  We talked about my colonoscopy and I informed him about the problems I had with the meds he gave me.  We agreed that I don't need to take any more meds.

He then explained in detail how the upcoming PEG tube surgery would be performed.  I will be sore and he will be giving me meds for pain.  I am to flush the tube with water daily and when I start radiation therapy the nurses will show me how to care for it as I use it to feed myself when I can no longer swallow.  

I then was scheduled for surgery at the TGMC Out Patient Pavilion on June 1st.  They will call me the day before to tell me what time to be at the Pavilion.  I am scheduled for Pre Op on May 29th at 1:00pm at the Short Stay Clinic.   

It is recommended that someone stay with me afterwards as well as that night.  My friend Evelyn will be taking me to the Pavilion and my Friend Sylvia will be staying with me overnight.

When I left the clinic I drove to the Funeral Home and submitted my completed packet of information.  I was told someone would be calling me to complete the intake process.

APPOINTMENT TO SEE GASTRO DOCTOR FOR PEG TUBE PROCEDURE

Called the Council on Aging today and asked about Medical Transportation.  They asked a few questions and then said that I do qualify.  Someone will be coming to my home to take an application, and they will call first.  I'm also going to ask for meals on wheels for the first few weeks of treatment then I will be using the tube for feeding.  I will also ask for home health services. 

Gastrointerologist Dr. Pellegrin's office called today to schedule me for the PEG tube operation.  I have an appointment for tomorrow to speak with him and fill out paperwork and then to schedule the procedure.

From what I've read, I won't be able to swallow food towards the last few weeks of radiation and will need to use the stomach tube.  I remember my dad using the PEG tube toward the end of his life.  My mom and I would sit with him on my sofa and make it a social event. It seemed to please him.  That was in 1989.

FUNERAL POLICY

Had my stitches removed today.  Afterwards, I talked to my dentist about Fluoride Treatment.  He said he called my Radiation Oncologist but could not reach him.  He explained that I would have to have impressions made and then they would make my dental trays.  I am to do the treatment twice a day during my course of Radiation Treatment.  He made me an appointment for a week from today.  My mouth is still sore from the surgery and root canal performed last week.  I'm also still on the antibiotic.  He cleared me for Radiation Treatment.

When I left his office I drove to the Chauvin Funeral Home.  I've been  planning for a long time now to make arrangements for my funeral - even before all of this cancer started.  So I was given a booklet to fill out information and the gentleman explained the prices to me.

Here is the list and prices:

- Direct Cremation =   $1500

- Crematory =                $595

- Permit from Coroner = $75

- Memorial Service =    $395

- Death Certificates =      $30

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TOTAL                        $2585

I told him I had a will and I have written my own obit.  I have written my wishes as to how I want my memorial service to go as well as how I want my ashes spread.  He told me to put that all in my will.  So I will take it to my lawyer and have that done in a week or so.  I also made a list of friends that I want contacted and invited to attend the Memorial Service.

I felt good when I left the funeral home.  It was a sense that I felt I was getting one more thing accomplished that my son won't have to worry about.  I still have to get a Durable Power of Attorney and Medical Power of Attorney done as well as put my son's Signature Authority on all my financial accounts as well as a Payable Upon Death provision to stock accounts.  I'll also complete a Living Will.  These are things that we all have to do in life - eventually - so why not now.  

And here's a little something I put together just for fun.