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9 1/2 Years Later

Forums General Melanoma Community 9 1/2 Years Later

  • Post
    Niki
    Participant

      Hi All,

      I was very active on this board in the 2007 to about 2010 time frame. My husband, Joe, had a Stage IIA nodular melanoma (2.5mm, nonulcerated, high mitotic rate, though I don't remember the number at the moment) removed from his right earlobe in January 2007. He had no other treatment besides WLE/SLN. He also had a PET/CT scan for about the first two years. All has been well. We opted to stop the scans and move on. I have to admit I was obsessed with melanoma research for a couple of years. About drove myself bonkers (and I'm sure my husband too)! But, I did feel I was very well informed if he had needed to make treatment decisions in those years. 

      Anyway, I've been out of the melanoma loop for a lot of years. About two weeks ago, Joe started having pretty severe pain in his left jaw area. He's had two tooth abscesses/root canals before, but he said this didn't feel like those did. He saw the dentist on Wednesday. She did bite wing xrays on that side and an exam and said she didn't find anything that would lead her to believe he had an abscess or anything along those lines. She referred him to an endodontist. He saw him yesterday. He also couldn't find anything and suggested a referrel to a periodontist. This is all fine, and we're hoping it is something dental though he has no evidence at all of gum disease. Endodontist gave him a Rx for amoxicillin (in case there's some kind of infection that's not readily evident) and 800 mg ibuprofen, which has helped with pain management since yesterday.

      The pain has been up and down, at times very severe. So while pursuing the dental options, I thought it might be a good idea to get our family doctor involved. She thought with his history and with the dentist and endodontist not finding anything, it would be a good idea to get a head CT scan. That will happen on Wednesday afternoon.

      So, here we are. I needed someone to vent to who would understand how hard the waiting is. Janner, if you're still here on this board, something you said all those years ago has really stuck with me. That was, "When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras." I've thought back to that quote many times over the years. I shared it with my husband a few days ago, so I'm hoping he's looking for horses too!

      Will let you know what happens. Thanks for listening. Niki

    Viewing 14 reply threads
    • Replies
        JC
        Participant

          I thought it was "Look for the most likely explanation first, then look for zebras."  🙂

           

           

          JC
          Participant

            I thought it was "Look for the most likely explanation first, then look for zebras."  🙂

             

             

            JC
            Participant

              I thought it was "Look for the most likely explanation first, then look for zebras."  🙂

               

               

                Niki
                Participant

                  Yes, exactly! That would be the horse. I may not remember the quote word for word, but you get the idea!

                  Niki
                  Participant

                    Yes, exactly! That would be the horse. I may not remember the quote word for word, but you get the idea!

                    Niki
                    Participant

                      Yes, exactly! That would be the horse. I may not remember the quote word for word, but you get the idea!

                    stars
                    Participant

                      Niki, I'm sorry to hear you are playing the waiting game again. Like Janner said… well, we're not 100% sure, but it involves horses and zebras and most likely yours is a horse. Or something! You sound like an amazing caregiver. Hang in there!

                      stars
                      Participant

                        Niki, I'm sorry to hear you are playing the waiting game again. Like Janner said… well, we're not 100% sure, but it involves horses and zebras and most likely yours is a horse. Or something! You sound like an amazing caregiver. Hang in there!

                        stars
                        Participant

                          Niki, I'm sorry to hear you are playing the waiting game again. Like Janner said… well, we're not 100% sure, but it involves horses and zebras and most likely yours is a horse. Or something! You sound like an amazing caregiver. Hang in there!

                          stars
                          Participant

                            Just a thought… it's not heart-related is it? It might be referred pain from somewhere else in the body (e.g., heart problems can cause jaw ache).

                            stars
                            Participant

                              Just a thought… it's not heart-related is it? It might be referred pain from somewhere else in the body (e.g., heart problems can cause jaw ache).

                                Niki
                                Participant

                                  Don't think it's heart related. I do know about that connection. Hopefully, with the family doc involved that will be looked into as well. 

                                  Niki
                                  Participant

                                    Don't think it's heart related. I do know about that connection. Hopefully, with the family doc involved that will be looked into as well. 

                                    Niki
                                    Participant

                                      Don't think it's heart related. I do know about that connection. Hopefully, with the family doc involved that will be looked into as well. 

                                    stars
                                    Participant

                                      Just a thought… it's not heart-related is it? It might be referred pain from somewhere else in the body (e.g., heart problems can cause jaw ache).

                                      Cathy M
                                      Participant
                                        Smart move getting the family doc on board…better yet the doc ordered the CT. Good luck Wednesday !!
                                          Niki
                                          Participant

                                            Thanks! He seems to be feeling a little better in the last day, so maybe it's the antibiotics helping some unseen infection? 

                                            Niki
                                            Participant

                                              Thanks! He seems to be feeling a little better in the last day, so maybe it's the antibiotics helping some unseen infection? 

                                              Niki
                                              Participant

                                                Just received Joe's CBC results. Slightly low RBC, Hemaglobin, and Hematocrit. He had low blood counts a year ago as well. Ferritin is normal so it's not an iron deficiency anemia. I didn't think too much of it a year ago because the doc didn't either. But with the jaw bone pain issue now and low blood counts still, it's a little concerning. Probably time to investigate what's causing the low blood counts.

                                                Niki
                                                Participant

                                                  Just received Joe's CBC results. Slightly low RBC, Hemaglobin, and Hematocrit. He had low blood counts a year ago as well. Ferritin is normal so it's not an iron deficiency anemia. I didn't think too much of it a year ago because the doc didn't either. But with the jaw bone pain issue now and low blood counts still, it's a little concerning. Probably time to investigate what's causing the low blood counts.

                                                  Niki
                                                  Participant

                                                    Just received Joe's CBC results. Slightly low RBC, Hemaglobin, and Hematocrit. He had low blood counts a year ago as well. Ferritin is normal so it's not an iron deficiency anemia. I didn't think too much of it a year ago because the doc didn't either. But with the jaw bone pain issue now and low blood counts still, it's a little concerning. Probably time to investigate what's causing the low blood counts.

                                                    Niki
                                                    Participant

                                                      Thanks! He seems to be feeling a little better in the last day, so maybe it's the antibiotics helping some unseen infection? 

                                                    Cathy M
                                                    Participant
                                                      Smart move getting the family doc on board…better yet the doc ordered the CT. Good luck Wednesday !!
                                                      Cathy M
                                                      Participant
                                                        Smart move getting the family doc on board…better yet the doc ordered the CT. Good luck Wednesday !!
                                                        Cathy M
                                                        Participant
                                                          Just checking in on you Niki and Joe…hope that scan went well and that jaw pain has resolved itself.
                                                          Cathy M
                                                          Participant
                                                            Just checking in on you Niki and Joe…hope that scan went well and that jaw pain has resolved itself.
                                                            Cathy M
                                                            Participant
                                                              Just checking in on you Niki and Joe…hope that scan went well and that jaw pain has resolved itself.
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