⚡DEADHEAD⚡
Footballguy
Energy is precious; put it toward things that get you where you want to be. There will be a time for regrets, like smoking, but not now. Will be thinking of you dude. You got this.
Thanks man appreciate that. Yea it was always smoke em if you got em everytime we were hurry up and waiting. I mean we use to get cigarettes in our c-rations.I had a good friend of mine who was in the Army and served in Vietnam. He also contracted hep c - more than likely the way you did. He also started smoking at that time. We talked about that from time to time.
And during those times, smoking was certainly a more accepted part of society. Especially being in the military - it was a comfort of home. It was something a lot of guys in his platoon did. Something they could do to ease their own personal tension during those times. They had no idea that it was bad for them - heck, nobody did.
I suspect a lot of army platoons go through this. And choosing to smoke may or may not have been a choice for you. Maybe it just was. And now we all know the addictive properties of it.
It's easy to blame yourself NOW, because now you know the harmful effects of it. But when you started, I'm sure it was something guys just did.
You simply cannot beat yourself over this. Otherwise you could beat yourself up over a thousand other decisions that may have put you in peril over your lifetime.
But the one thing you can control now is YOU. You have a great heart - that comes out loud and clear in your initial post where all you care about is your wife and daughter. That is a ton of strength my friend. Take that positive, protective feeling and apply it to yourself. You deserve that - you've earned it.
You are a good man.
Positive thoughts your way, Rusty. Couldn't have said it better than this post, so I just quoted this. I just also wanted to add that you can count on this community for support and a place to vent.I would also say it's ok to be scared. And it's ok to tell your wife you are scared.
See your doctor, get the facts, and fight this thing. Which, judging by how you have always represented yourself here - you will. You're a strong dude - you got this.
Probably wouldn’t make a whole lotta sense now until you get a handle on the lingo, which unfortunately you will. At least I did. Although I have a cousin who is an MD so she helped me with the jargon early on.rustycolts said:My youngest daughter set up some kind of portal thing for me so I can go onto the computer and read reports and tests Docs have done. Think I'm going to hold off on that till I see doc. Ignorance is bliss right now until I can speak with Doc and get facts on tests and what exactly is going on.
Aren't you a cancer beater yourself?simsarge said:What Cheezy said. Mental strength is what will pull you guys through. Lean on each other and remember to work together and tag team the hell of this.
Sorta. Still flareups that need to be treated every so often. But nothing insideous for 3 years and counting. :knocks wood:Aren't you a cancer beater yourself?
Good luck, gb.So after a week of trying to get referrals and authorizations finally going to see Doc Tommorow hopefully get some answers.
Good luck. Sending positive vibes!!!So after a week of trying to get referrals and authorizations finally going to see Doc Tommorow hopefully get some answers.
Best of luck to youHey guys I have been coming here for dang near 20 years. I haven't posted a whole lot but really enjoyed reading the forums. I feel like I really know some of the posters here even though we may not have interacted at all. I really kind of need a place to talk right now. My wife bless her heart is not really the one I want to express some of these things with she is just too emotional. Plus she is just recently fighting breast cancer herself.
The past few weeks I have had a foreboding feeling like something wasn't right with me. Then about 2 weeks ago my neck right under the jaw line swelled up to the size of a softball man it was painful. The lymph nodes around an old tumor that was not malignant had swollen. This old tumor is called something I really can't recall the name just know that it sounded German and that older folks and smokers get them but they are usually not cancerous. Anyway had a biopsy done and just found out it is malignant. So now needless to say I'm really scared and I can't say that to my wife.
It's my own dang fault smoked for all those years so stupid. Now I know it doesn't just happen to other people. I'm so worried for my wife right now and my daughter Megan. They depend so much on me Megan is special she will always be about 12 years old. I just don't know how they would manage without me. Such an idiot for smoking all those years.
I know that this doesn't have to be a death sentence. I've already kicked hep c in the butt. Took those treatments back when they were torture. I don't see the Otolaryngologist until next week so I'm really getting anxious. I would really appreciate any positive thoughts you guys can send my way. And thanks for letting me vent. I may be doing that alot.
great news best wishes to you!I went to see the Specialist. Turns out that the mass was the same thing I was diagnosed with back in 2014. It is called a Warthin tumor I have more than one now. These are almost never malignant. The only treatment is to either monitor closely or remove the masses. The surgeon said that he would rather monitor and if gets huge again try antibiotics. Surgery is last option he wants to try because it involves removing salivary glans. So pretty good news.
I'm really kind of aggravated with the first ENT Docs because they were the ones who diagnosed this years ago. I mean they left me twisting in the wind for over a week. The nurse did call me and told me they were referring me to a specialist because the biopsy came back positive. Now I have been known to get people off topic because I tend to run my mouth when I should be listening or even when I'm not listening and pretending to. So it probably was not the nurses fault I more than likely got her confused. It's just there was really no communication from that office at all.
I just want to thank you all here for the support. It really is amazing that so many kind and good hearted people have managed to find this little area of the internet. I don't think that is easily found many places on the net even if you google it. One good thing that has come of this is no cigarettes in almost 10 days hope it sticks. Again I want to thank everyone you guys and gals are great.
It's okay to be scared. All my best to you.Hey guys I have been coming here for dang near 20 years. I haven't posted a whole lot but really enjoyed reading the forums. I feel like I really know some of the posters here even though we may not have interacted at all. I really kind of need a place to talk right now. My wife bless her heart is not really the one I want to express some of these things with she is just too emotional. Plus she is just recently fighting breast cancer herself.
The past few weeks I have had a foreboding feeling like something wasn't right with me. Then about 2 weeks ago my neck right under the jaw line swelled up to the size of a softball man it was painful. The lymph nodes around an old tumor that was not malignant had swollen. This old tumor is called something I really can't recall the name just know that it sounded German and that older folks and smokers get them but they are usually not cancerous. Anyway had a biopsy done and just found out it is malignant. So now needless to say I'm really scared and I can't say that to my wife.
It's my own dang fault smoked for all those years so stupid. Now I know it doesn't just happen to other people. I'm so worried for my wife right now and my daughter Megan. They depend so much on me Megan is special she will always be about 12 years old. I just don't know how they would manage without me. Such an idiot for smoking all those years.
I know that this doesn't have to be a death sentence. I've already kicked hep c in the butt. Took those treatments back when they were torture. I don't see the Otolaryngologist until next week so I'm really getting anxious. I would really appreciate any positive thoughts you guys can send my way. And thanks for letting me vent. I may be doing that alot.
congrats rusty!I went to see the Specialist. Turns out that the mass was the same thing I was diagnosed with back in 2014. It is called a Warthin tumor I have more than one now. These are almost never malignant.
Yep I missed this too. Glad that things are looking up. That original post was definitely scary.Hi @rustycolts Sorry I was late to this one. Glad to hear it's heading in the right direction. I will be praying for you for continued good health. Rock on.