Fay

I will send up prayers right now. Hoping this is a small bump in the road. Faylene

Hi Val, Sorry to hear you have pain. My mom seemed to have better relief with the fentanyl patch than the morphine. Perhaps you could try that. Faylene

I'm praying hard too Cheryl. I'd like to someday make it down to see your horses! (And you and Jack of course!!) Faylene

Hey Cheryl, if you decide on a fall or winter date, I might just join you guys to escape our cold!!!! Never been to Texas Faylene PS I'm feeling left out too!

Oh David, I hope you are feeling loads better now. Hope everyone has a wonderful time. I will be thinking about you all tomorrow. Faylene

Congrats on the good news. Faylene

Hi Minnie, Great to hear from you again. I agree that it is good that your mom is having an MRI. Signs and symptoms of brain mets are different for different people. I will keep your mom in my thoughts and prayers, and cross my fingers for good results. Faylene

I'm joining you Connie, and pouting. Would love to be there to meet everyone. Faylene

Thanks for the great clarification. Hope you visit and participate on the site often. Fayene

Mine too didn't take much thought!! Real name: Faylene, shortened to Fay. I was never called Fay until I started working in the O.R. 16 years ago. Now that is what I am called at work. Friends still use Faylene. I can't quite think of any nick-names I had, except names my brothers called me, and I won't repeat those! faylene

Kathleen, Does she drink alot of water before, during and after chemo? It is VERY, VERY important. Once when my mom was dehydrated she had alot of those same symptoms. Hoping your mom improves. faylene

Connie, I like dizzy, how about dizzy and lizzy. David, My friends mom had gamma knife procedure for a brain met today. Procedure went well, and she is feeling fine. Hopefully that will be an option for you. You guys will be in my prayers, faylene

So sorry to hear the news. It's great that you and your sister will be together. May you find comfort in family and friends. Faylene

Ginny, I am in awe of the relationship you two have. Truly a love story. Prayers for comfort for you both. Faylene

Shelly, Good luck tomorrow. Only positive thoughts are allowed. Faylene

Hi Elaine, Interesting article. A few big breaths every once in a while will not disturb the acid-base balance of the body, but hyperventilation will (continuous big breaths). After surgery (abdominal or thoracic) we encourage our patients to take big breaths every once in a while to open up the lungs (some of the alveoli in the lungs collapse, and big breaths open them up). Some of you may have had to use an incentive spirometer post surgery to monitor how big you breaths were, and to try and increase them to pre-op levels. It seems everything in moderation is good, too much of anything is a bad thing! Faylene

My deepest sympathy to you and your family. May the love of friends and family surround you, and may you find comfort there. Faylene

Prayers and good thoughts headed your folks way. Faylene

Cheryl, So glad to hear you are home safe and sound. Pull up a chair in front of a window with a view of your paddock and watch those beautiful animals of yours. I find horses are very therapeutic, but I'm sure you know that too. Glad to hear you have a plan of action. I'll be saying prayers for you. Faylene

Connie, That was so touching. I love that verse. Faylene

Pain clinics can do wonderful things. Let's hope that control comes with his first appointment. I'll be praying hard. Faylene

Wow Connie, That is great news! Keep it up!! Faylene

Waiting for your return. We've missed you Cheryl. Faylene

Beth, I'm sorry for your loss. May friends and family surround and support you and may you find comfort in their love. Faylene

Hi Nandie, My mom also had chemo and radiation together. During her last five treatments and after, she had lots of pain. Her Onc, gave her a presc for liquid morphine, but she had a real tough time swallowing it. He switched her to fentanyl patches which worked wonders. She swallowed a mixture called pink lady just before eating. Drinking aloe vera juice also seemed to help the healing. She didn't really feel better and eat well until about a month after her last treatment. Hope that helps, Faylene