angelofcharlie20

oh wow.....

Don, Please be assured that prayers are coming your way. Give my best to Lucie. Best, Shirley

Hi All, My Father has been in the hospital since last Sunday for pneumonia. They've done a few diagnostic tests for verification. He's been on antibiotics since Sunday, but nothing has worked. He had a bronchoscopy on Saturday and the results still aren't back yet. I'm just so afraid that this will do him in. Anyone experience this before that can help? Sorry if the post is a little choppy... Shirley

Update: Still not any better, in fact a little worse. My Father had a temp of 104 last night and has been having chills. Why isn't this getting any better? Anyone else who's experienced pneumonia before? Shirley

Hi All, The doctor's can't figure out why my Father still has fevers even after starting on 2 kinds of antibiotics. I think he had what is called a bronchoscopy today to take a look. No results yet. Please pray that they find the right antibiotic for the pneumonia. Shirley

Jen, One life at a time...... Great job. Shirley

I'll take one of each

(((Grace))) Good Lord - I am speechless. Your post definitely moved me. I am so sorry that you are going through this right now. I cannot even begin to imagine the position you're in right now and honestly do not know if I would be able to handle it as well as you have so far. I know that it seems like there is no hope, but there must be something else out there for your husband. I know you like your onc. lots, but maybe if he can't drum up anything a second, third opinion are in order. Praying for more uplifting news and strength for you and your family. Best, Shirley

You can add my prayer to the list Peggy. Shirley

Update for the day... I spent about 10 hrs at the hospital today to keep my Father company. The doc had ordered a CT scan to get a more accurate look at the lungs and to verify the pneumonia. He said that typically fevers don't occur after 48 hrs of being on antibiotics. Thankfully, the CT scan showed that he has pneumonia and that it's not cancer activity. His symptoms tends to be chills, fever then followed by sweating. After the sweating stage he feels much better. He had a temp of 101 this morning and then normal for the majority of the day. Once I left, he developed another 101 temp. He has a little SOB when he has the fever, fatigue. He also has low potassium and magnesium levels so he took some potassium pills and had a magnesium drip. We had a student nurse for the beginning of the evening. He was very attentive - but unfortunately he made my Father scream in pain when he repeatedly try to put another IV in - since that was unsuccessful we ended up using the old IV site. Ugh. The nurse who gave the heparin shot wasn't gently either in the morning - it was literally a stab to the stomach. It also took an hr to get an ice pack for the fever. I ended up running down to CVS and bought some no freezer needed disposable packs. Then the nurse brought a pack that was just cool. Sorry, definitely rambling right now. Thanks for listening though. Best, Shirley

Guess he's not coming home tonight. Argghhhh. Just had the chills and his temperature is creeping. Shirley

Amanda, I'm not sure what those symptoms are about, but I would give the doctor a call "just in case." I know that fatigue is one of the symptoms of stopping Decadron, I'm not sure if the doctor told us if there were any more. Good luck, Shirley

Jodi, So sorry that you had to find us here. Maybe you could ask to see if there are other treatment options that would be kinder to you Dad's body. It's worth a shot. Please keep us posted, Shirley

Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley

Melinda, Please know that I have your family in my thoughts and prayers. Shirley

First update of the morning.... My Mother just called and said that my Father had chills last night around 3 am and then spiked a fever to 104. Still waiting for the doctor to see what the plan is. This is all so yucky Shirley

Oh Sheri I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. Your Dad had beat this horrible disease one time - who is to say that he does not have another miracle up his sleave? If the doctors are not giving you enough treatment options - please go for a 2nd opinion. Even if they do give you some treatment options that sound good to you - it never hurts to see what another oncologist has to offer. Where has the cancer spread to? Maybe you can look into more area specific treatments. Is there a chemo regimine? I'm rambling now, but good luck Sheri and give your Father my best. Shirley

Another update.... My Mother had originally called to say that the doctor said that my Father has a lung infection that showed up in two spots and that he can go home and recover if he wants with some antibiotics. Doc said that it would be better to go home so that he's not exposed to more germs than necessary. Doc then went to look at the scans again and said that he would like him to stay overnight at the hospital for observation just for safety and that he can be discharged in the morning. Anyone have experience with lung infections? This sounds naiive - but I had bronchitis which the doc had catergorized as a lung infection as well. I'm seeing being prescribed antibiotics as a good thing. Or am I being too optimistic? Thanks bunches again Shirley

Hey There, Just a quick update. The results from the labs aren't done yet, but the doctor is keeping my Father over night since he/she doesn't understand the root of the fever. Doc thinks that it's an infection saying that he wouldn't have a fever if it wasn't so. They took some scans of his heart and liver. Please keep praying, Shirley

Hi All, Prayers are definitely needed. My mother is currently taking my Father to the ER as I type because he's had a temperature on average of 101 degrees that only break slightly. I guess he's having some chills now. Words of advice? Anyone been fevers and chills before. Thanks, Shirley

Go Rocky!

Pink Panther

I miss my Massachusetts ladies

Hi Sis, So sorry that you had to find this site. My Father was also diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and he had started to take Tarceva after chemo stopped working. Tarceva worked like a miracle for about 8 months. Unfortunately it stopped working. It is definitely worth a shot though - because the high you get when the oncologist tells you that the drug is working is undescribable. As for the rash, see if the doc can prescribe a cream. I also know that there was a post a while back in regards to washing with a special shampoo that seemed to have alleviated the rash. Good luck, Shirley

So happy to hear Lori.