Greetings everyone. Hope you're all doing well. I haven't had a chance to read anything in almost a week, so forgive me if I've missed anything.

My father-in-law was pretty much dragged to the doctor by my mother-in-law this past Monday. He'd been fighting what he insisted was sinus congestion for 3 weeks, but after falling asleep while driving home from the airport on Sunday (at noon), it was time for a second opinion.

A catscan revealed what appeared to be a growth on his brain and that his brain had swelled because of that, which was causing him to randomly fall asleep. Initially, word was that they'd operate Tuesday, so my wife was on a plane on Monday. As of now, late Wednesday night, a full-body scan has revealed no other abnormalities and the brain swelling has gone down. We should know soon what exactly he has, be it a tumor, infection, parasite, cyst, or something else. Then, they'll decide what it'll take to clear it up.

Hopefully that means I can get my wife back soon and, more importantly, that my FIL can get back to work and back to living.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers, and please go to the doctor when you're not feeling well.

-Rob

 

You got my prayers Rob. take care.hope all turns out well..doug

 

Rob I hope they figure out what is going on with your father in law really quickly and that he can get back to his life very soon! I think it is a good sign that the swelling in his brain is down!!

Prayers and good throught from my family to yours!!

 

Holy $%*@! That is scarey. My friends wife had a tumor on her brain about 4-5 years ago and it caused migrain type head aches. Surgery and treatments and she seems to be fine and living a normal life, we go camping all the time with their family. Hope all goes well for FIL

 

Prayers indeed for your father in law also for your mother in law, wife and you.

 

Rob...Good thoughts for your FILs swift and complete recovery!!!

 

Any update Rob?

 

You got some from New Mexico... Let us know how it is going.

 

OK, finally an update.

My FIL went in for surgery this morning. They removed 90-95% of the tumor, which was the size of a lemon. They're indicating that chemo should control what's left, and that it won't be the really nasty, nauseating chemo that people hear about. An MRI every 6 months from now until eternity, and I believe that he should be good to go.

We won't know until Thursday at the earliest if the tumor is malignant or benign. The doctors & nurses did say confirm that the tumor was located in a part of the brain that we don't normally use (unless you're a prodigy), so it should not change his life much at all.

What made this even tougher was that last week was supposed to be a week-long vacation with my family that had been planned for months. I got home from the trip yesterday, and hopefully my wife will come home from TN this Wednesday. I think right now that would help her quite a bit, just getting away from it all.

Thank you all very much for your thoughts and prayers, and just for reading this.

-Rob

 

Glad to hear things are looking better for your fil and for your family..

 

Your family is in our thoughts & prayers Rob. Sounds like pretty good news after the operation.
Yea, don't only go to a doctor if you don't get the answers you want go to another. I almost died because of a couple of doctors that were POOR DOCTORS at best. Hind sight I should of had the wife load me in the truck & take me to my old doctor in Lovelock when I was so sick. NEVER AGAIN will I hesitate to do that.
Craig

 

heres hoping its benign Rob!!

 

Rob, glad everything is working out for the better, i cant belive i did not see this thread before! i need to stop using the userCP so much,
Prayers from Tucson my friend!

 

One last update to close this out:

My FIL went home last Thursday. He has been released to do anything he feels well enough to do, except drive. So far, he spends his mornings at the shop, and afternoons at home getting some rest.

The tumor was malignant. Radiation starts within the week and runs 4-6 weeks. I believe chemo follows, or may run in conjunction (I should remember). The first 18 months will tell more about what the future has in store. We're all hoping and praying that he'll be around for another 20-40 years.

Through all of this, two bright spots. First, my wife has been hired back to work, and will be teaching 2nd grade this time around. Second, and more important, is that my in-laws are already showing signs of growing closer from this ordeal. You hate to see something this terrible be the catalyst for putting things back in order, but at least it's a good sign for them. That should help my FIL recover even more.

Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers.

-Rob