peebygeeby
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Posts posted by peebygeeby
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Gracie,
Sending out prayers for your Sis. I hope thing improve soon.
Gail
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Hi everybody,
Any of you who have read my recent posts know that Hank has been experiencing extremely bad SOB. He has been on oxygen 24/7 now for over a week, and it has had us both very concerned. He literally could not walk from one end to the other of our very small house even with oxygen without becoming winded.
Today his breathing has drastically improved. No oxygen. Got up this morning and did 450 reps with a 25 lb. weight. No oxygen. Wanted to go to Atlantic City for the day, walked all over the place. (Did'nt win!!!!
) but I don't care!!! This is not to say that his breathing is perfectly fine, but it is a DRASTIC improvement. I don't know what to make of it. I suppose it could be many things. We are now a little passed two weeks from his last chemo treatment. We are now about a month since his blood clot developed. I just don't know. But it sure did make us both feel good today.His next chemo treatment should be coming up this Friday, and we will be paying close attention to how he is breathing after he has it. I am thinking that the most likely reason for the drastic breathing improvement is that he is just now getting his strength back after the last treatment. We'll have to see what develops from this point on.
It would be wonderful if he can maintain this. The shortness of breath has been the big issue here. A quote from Hank..."The cancer is not so bad, I just wish I could breathe"
I will keep you posted.
All the best,
Gail
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Tarek,
Hi, I'm sorry things are so hard for you and your Dad.
From reading your previous post it, I believe that you are at your Dad's house dealing with this alone.
Can you contact your father's doctor or make arrangements for your father to see him?
I don't know what options are available in Egypt, but maybe some home services or the equivalent to our hospice organizations here in the U.S are available. It would certainly help at this time, to take the complete load off of you, and to make your Dad more comfortable.
Wishing you peace,
Gail
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Hi everybody,
Just wanted to tell everyone this. I emailed a question to Dr. West yesterday, and received a response from him today! I can't believe the dedication of this man! Just wonderful and selfless. Restores your belief in humanity.
All the best,
Gail
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Hi Christine,
I hope this turns out to be nothing!!!!
All the best,
Gail
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Hi Karla,
I'm sorry to hear about this.
My thoughts are with you, I hope things will turn around for you and your husband.
All the best,
Gail
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Hi Mary,
Hoping for a full and easy recovery for Joe.
My thoughts are with you!
Gail
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Hi Connie,
Thanks for your reply. I guess we'll just have to hang onto hope and see what the future holds. The SOB issue has really become the major issue. Not the lung cancer! Boy, thought I'd never say that, but it's true. I don't know, but I am thinking and hoping that since it has only been since the blood clot that his breathing has become so bad, that maybe once he has really had time to heal from it things may improve. Hope this turns out to be the case.
All the best,
Gail
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Hi everybody,
I was wondering if any of you can tell me about recovery after having a blood clot.
Hank was hospitalized with a blood clot in his lung from April 16th to the 24th. Since then his shortness of breath has become much worse then it ever was. We saw his pulmonologist yesterday, and he says that in time his breathing might become better. That's good to hear, but I'm wondering if anyone out there has shared this experience. Is it likely that he will eventually be breathing better, or just a possibility?
Anyway, looking forward to hearing your experiences.
Thanks,
Gail
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Hi everybody,
Saw Hanks pulmonologist yesterday. He does not believe that we are dealing with CHF or plural effusion here. He says that the pneumonia, and more recently the blood clot have all added to Hanks breathing problems. He did say that the blood clot was not so long ago, and hopefully breathing will improve over time. Meanwhile, Hank is using oxygen all the time. Nebulizer treatments, and breathing exercises. He's feeling pretty down about the breathing situation. The cancer has taken a position on the back burner. He has said this.
The cancer is not so bad, I just wish I could breath. I have suggested that he gets a small portable oxygen concentrator so that he can continue to go out and do things and stay somewhat active. At this point he is refusing. I think he's very embarrassed about it. But I hope that he will reconsider this. My feeling is, if he can continue to stay active and do some of the things he enjoys the better off he'll be. At this point, he's just sitting watching
TV, breathing oxygen, and eating. He's gaining weight also, and that's no good either.
I can't know how he is feeling, but I believe that if I were in his position, especially with the knowledge that his remaining time on the planet may be limited, I would want to get out of the house and try to enjoy myself as much as possible. I wish I could help him.
That's whats so hard about this for me. I want to make it better, and I can't. I get angry at him. I don't let it out at him, but I'm sure he knows how I feel. This really sucks.
Thanks for listening,
Gail
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Hi Sandra,
I don't have much to offer you as far as any info goes, but I have a lot of confidence that things are going to work out for you.
Keep your chin up!
All the best,
Gail
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Hi Denise,
Hank has also been having problems with bone pain after Nulasta. The doctor prescribed Percoset after his last treatment, and he had no problems with pain this time. You might want to talk to your Doc about it, that is if Mr Tough Guy will agree to it.
All the best,
Gail
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Yea!!!!! Rich! just keep on going!
Gail
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Hi everybody,
Back in 2002 Hank had a quadruple bypass. He is seen regularly by his cardiologist.
Also, he spent eight days in the hospital from May 26-24th recently, wearing a halter monitor, and seen by a cardiologist during that period. There apparently is no issue with his heart at this time. Thanks for bringing this up though.
Thanks,
Gail
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Hi everyone,
Well, we really don't know for sure what the dramatic increase in SOB is due to.
Since Hanks release from the hospital on April 24th he has been prescribed prednisone (for his breathing issues), in gradually decreasing amounts. For the past few days he has been on only 10mg. daily, as opposed to the 40mg. daily that he was taking just after getting out of the hospital. Today, the doctor put him back on 50mg. daily with a gradual reduction to follow. The doctor says that we should see a dramatic improvement over the next couple of days, if not, Hank will have to go back into the hospital to be evaluated for any other complicating factors.
His blood counts are all good today, including PT reading for Coumadin levels, so the doctor does not think that we are dealing with another blood clot. (That's the good news!!!)
Stay tuned for further developments!!
All the best,
Gail
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Hi David,
Welcome. You have found a great place here. Don't hesitate to come here and post your feelings, and ask your questions. You will always find support here. A GREAT bunch of people.
All the best,
Gail
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Hi,
I'm so sorry this is happening, and so soon. It's hard to know what to say. My personal experience with losing my Dad to Cancer happened a couple of years ago. It was almost a surreal experience. He was my best friend and the greatest love of my life. I knew it was coming, and although I could'nt imagine letting him go, I think what I wanted more than anything was for him just not to be suffering with a quality of life that was no longer livable for him. When the time came, I was surprised at my reaction. I went into autopilot mode.
I functioned, and did what I had to do. I never imagined that would be the case. When I thought about what my reaction to his death would be, I thought I would just fall apart.
I did'nt, I don't think you will either. Our minds have a funny way of sort of numbing down a bit in times like that. It's self protection, and it's a good thing.
I miss my Dad every day, I always will. But, it's a funny thing, even though he's not here in a physical sense, it's like he never left. It's so hard to explain. I wish you as easy a time as can be had with this, it's going to be alright.
All the best,
Gail
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Hi guys,
Well, I have spoken with the on call doctor. Since Hank is up and moving around, no fever or chills etc. he told us that we should come in to the office tomorrow. No need for an emergency room visit at least!
Thanks for your replies,
Gail
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Hi everybody,
Happy Mother's Day.
I have been wonderingi if chemo itself (Carbo/Taxotere) can by itself increase shortness of breath.
After Hanks second treatment he developed a blood clot which landed him in the hospital.
We found out he had the blood clot because in the days following that treatment his shortness of breath increased and I contacted the doctor. Since his release from the hospital following that episode he has been taking coumadin to prevent clotting problems.
We are more than a week passed his third treatment now, and it seems as though is breathing problems are again increased despite oxygen usage. We have an appointment to see his pulmonologist on Wednesday, but I am now wondering if there may be something significantly wrong which was brought on by the third chemo treatment, or if the chemo itself might be what is causing the increased SOB.
Anybody have any first hand knowledge about this that might be of help?
Thanks,
Gail
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Hi everybody,
Hav'nt been posting much in recent days. Just don't have much to say right now I guess.
We are one week passed third chemo treatment. Basically went pretty smoothly. Adding the Percoset after the Nulasta injection really helped this time. About the only new issue is some tongue soreness. Not enough to affect appetite though.
Stiill, and even more so, the big issue here is extreme shortness of breath. Using home oxygen, nebulizer treatments, and if anything, breathing is getting worse. This has us both very concerned, and depressed. Hank is not nearly as concerned about the cancer as he his about his breathing decline. We have an appointment with his pulmonologist scheduled for Wednesday. I do hope that there is something more that we can do to rehabilitate him to a good extent.
All the best,
Gail
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So great Alisa! May the good news just keep coming!
Gail
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Great news Sharon!!!!! keep on keeping on!
Gail
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I am so sorry about the loss of your Dad, it's very hard I know, I hope that you will soon begin healing, and begin to feel better.
As for the support, or lack of it that you received from your family, all I can do is reiterate what's already been said. It is very difficult to face the decline of a loved one head on.
I know that when my folks were both ill I would have rather not had to deal with it at all.
My first impulse was that I wanted to be as far removed from it as possible. That is the way I am feeling now as well, dealing with Hank's illness. But of course I would never do that.
The circumstances won't allow me to do that, and neither will my heart.
Who knows why your Dad's siblings have behaved as they have. You may find in the future that the reason is that it was simply to painful for them to face it, and being that they were not part of your immediate household they could remove themselves from the situation.
Sort of "out of sight, our of mind" If you feel that you can forgive them for their behavior you will be better off in the long run.
Feel better soon,
Gail
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Hi Missy,
Thanks for your very thoughtful post.
I guess we're going to work through this in our own way as it naturally unfolds.
On the one hand, I remain ever hopeful that Hank will somehow find a way through this, at least for a good long while. On the other hand, I know the odds are stacked against us.
I guess you're right, it's good that at least the gorilla is still in the room.
Thanks for your kind thoughts,
Gail
) but I don't care!!! This is not to say that his breathing is perfectly fine, but it is a DRASTIC improvement. I don't know what to make of it. I suppose it could be many things. We are now a little passed two weeks from his last chemo treatment. We are now about a month since his blood clot developed. I just don't know. But it sure did make us both feel good today.
Why am I so worried?
in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER
Posted
Hi Denise,
I am thinking of you and wishing for the best possible results.
I also understand how your feeling. The idea of being alone, is very frightening for me.
I have no family. My parents died a couple of years ago, and aside for some good friends
I have no one except for Hank. The thought of losing him, is to much to think about, it instantly brings tears. I do my best in coping with this situation when I do everything I can to distract myself from it. It's not easy to do, but I have to make a big effort to get my mind involved in something else when it begins to wander off to that bad place.
No matter what, the tears do and must come. The stress has to be relieved somehow.
At our last visit to the oncologist's office, I was talking to one of the nurses there. A really nice woman named Gloria. As we were talking, the tears just started to fall, they fell all the was home, about an hour and a half worth of tears. I felt embarrassed and sorry that I had broken down with someone that I really don't know well, but I forgive myself now, the release has to come. This is a tough thing to go through. I never imagined how tough it would be.
I also remind myself, that sooner or later, no matter what the final outcome of this lousy situation is, it will be alright.
I'm keeping you and Tom in my thoughts, and wishing you all the best,
Gail