Jump to content

tatlyn

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    296

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by tatlyn

    Wow, so this is the alternative?

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    I'm so very sorry Lori. My heart is breaking for the anguish you feel. (((Hugs))). Your Mom's unresponsiveness does seem to coincide with the medication increase. Do you think she has more time Lori? Since you question if she might be overmedicated, could the hospice people perhaps cut back a bit, or maybe even change the medications, see if the pain might be controlled with a lesser amount or different drugs that would also allow her to be more alert?

    Just as a side note, we've recently began working with a symptom management nurse and the first thing she did was change my Dad's meds from the Oxycontin/percocet combination, which were no longer effective for him and which the nurse, in any case, just doesn't like for a number of reasons, to hydromorp contin and dilaudid for breakthrough. These meds quickly got the pain back under control and although they are much stronger drugs, my Dad tolerates them much better. He said yesterday that he has saliva in his mouth for the first time in months.

    I will keep your Mom, you and your family in my prayers. God Bless.

    Lynda

    more chemo

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    I understand your struggle and I sympathize. When in doubt, I always err on the side of imparting the positive and discarding the negative. I don't, won't buy into doom and gloom predictions and I've always encouraged my Dad to do the same. Had he based future treatment on the predictions of the surgeon who first diagnosed his lung cancer, my Dad likely would have foregone treatment altogether or in the alternative, had the treatment but with a mindset that it would be futile. Something lacks when a person enters a battle with the belief that they will lose it. If I'm reading your post correctly, your Mom made the decision herself to have more chemo based only on the information that there had been a reoccurrence and not on any prediction of success or failure therefore, I would encourage her to be hopeful. I wouldn't perpetuate the Doctor's doom and gloom by relaying his statistics. I like Don Wood's response.

    Best to you and your Mom,

    Lynda

    An apology for prayer???

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Dear Jen, you are a sweetheart for offering your love, support and yes, especially your prayers to those in need of comfort. I believe in the power of prayer and you can send them this way anytime you like :)

    p.s. I've just read in another thread your good news. I am so thrilled for you, your Dad and all of your family.

    Best,

    Lynda

    What to say...

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Oh, Kelly, I do to (hope next week brings better news and health, for your Mom.) When you wrote, "but I'm not the one who is tired all of the time", it really struck a chord with me. I can't count the times I've said similar things myself in answer to people asking how my Dad is doing. I'll say, "all in all I think he's doing pretty well but of course, I'm not the one who has to be sick for even a minute or in pain, etc., etc." My Dad also lives alone and although he's only 4 minutes away and I'm over there several times a day, it breaks my heart that he is alone. Dad hasn't been doing well the last few days, the pain under his arm is back and he had a day today that prompted him to say that he couldn't wait for this to all be over. I don't know what to say either. I think we just have to always hope for the best and pray that tomorrow will be a better day. I wish I could give you a big hug. Prayers for you and Mom.

    Best,

    Lynda

    Update on my Dad...

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Hi Rod and welcome. Not much I can add to the good answers you've already received above but I would recommend, since your Dad is diabetic (as my Dad is) that you might want to look into Glucerna as supplemental nutrition, rather than the Ensure, as it is specifically formulated for diabetics. It also helps, in and of itself, to regulate blood sugar. As Ry mentioned, steroids can also raise blood sugar levels.

    Best,

    Lynda

    not good news

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Dear Marie, I'd like to give you a big hug, (((Marie)))

    I'm so sorry that you are facing this. I wish that in later stage cancer's, the Doctor's would stop talking about *pallitive chemo/treatment* or as your Doctor said, treatment to make you feel better. Treatment is treatment is treatment and each time the cancer is knocked back because of a particular treatment, you're ahead of the game and winning. As Tracey said above, "Who knows, what is incurable today may not be incurable in six months." Hold on to that thought Marie and don't let anyone, ever, take your hope away. You're in my prayers and I wish you everything good!!

    Lynda

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

  I accept