gerbil runner
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Posts posted by gerbil runner
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Glad to hear Don's feeling better and you're benefitting from his energy. Hope he lets you sleep, though!
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I gave birth to my first son on July 20th in FL. Was married to a guy who got his way with the AC by turning off the condensor at night (imagine trying to sleep in 90 degree, 90% humidity when you're 8-9 months pregnant)
.And you learn to pay close attention to what the cat is watching
. I love New England! -
I hope I am not being too blunt, but the morphine may be the difference between a peaceful death in 24 hours, or a horribly distressing (for your dad) struggle which lasts for days. Unless your dad has strong feelings otherwise, the goal will be to keep him comfortable and not in distress.
I know many families feel horrible guilt over the use of morphine in a dying person, and there are certainly cases where the morphine is not used properly. However, when my mother was first hospitalized, we had many discussions with medical staff about morphine (we were concerned because Mom was at risk of lung hemorrhage and is sensitive to pain meds), and I would not hesitate to make my mother comfortable with morphine. The feeling of being unable to breathe is terrifying for a patient, and hard for the family to watch. The fear and distress can overtax the heart, hastening death. Without a crystal ball to ensure a perfect decision, you can only do your best.
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Oh Shar, prayers and hugs going out for you. Hope your husband recovers quickly and completely. Any chance of getting help with the driving or housework through a local Cancer organization? Seems like both you and your husband would be eligible.
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Wendy, I'm so very sorry hospice let you down. I also think you should let the director know how you feel.
It sounds like you are in a fairly rural area, but I wanted to mention that in many areas, there's more than one hospice organization. In our small state (RI) there are 3, and they all cover the entire state. So if one did not respond the way we needed, we would call another organization.
It seems like hospices can vary greatly in services offered and philosophies of care. I'm generally not in favor of the gov't increasing their level of interference, but it looks like something should be done about standards for hospice, especially now that insurance will often pay for it.
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Prayers for safe travel and some good time with your Pops.
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If food seems to be too much of a challenge, try milkshakes (perhaps with a little Ensure hidden inside). Not eating gets to be a bad habit. There are medications to help stimulate appetite.
Even though your dad is struggling with chemo, it doesn't mean he won't improve.
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Hope your mom does well with the new treatment.
I think a lot of people change their minds about serious decisions when the chips are down.
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Nancy, I'm so sorry. Please be good to yourself, and may you feel some peace.
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Gee, Fay, you have all the luck
!Just wanted to put in my 2 cents worth - I didn't have lung surgery, but after my gallbladder was removed, my throat was really sore and I was hoarse. One of the nurses told me the tube used for anesthesia can rough up the vocal cords. Could that be your mother's problem, Terri? I hope it is something simple like that.
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Congrats and thanks! You're a great, unique person who brings a lot of fun to this board.
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I'm so sorry you're facing this part of the journey now. It's not right, it's not fair, and it's horrid. Please be kind to yourself. I pray you will have enough help to be able to concentrate on just being there for Mike. I'm so happy for you that he was able to participate in the wedding. May you find treasures along this difficult path.
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This is certainly not a "fair weather friend" sort of place. When you need to tell us you aren't coping as well as you'd like, well, that's what we're here for.
I hope you and Don will share many more good times together. Even though things don't look hopeful right now, it's not over. Enjoy every day and keep an eye out for new possibilities.
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Thinking about what Fay said, maybe you could try some non-fat yogurt. It wouldn't hurt, and can help build up the normal bacteria you need. If dairy bothers you too much, there is soy yogurt available. Consumer Reports just did an article on the "active" cultures available in yogurt and supplements, and yogurt is much better. But if you hate yogurt or can't get it down, try a supplement.
I'd go to a gastroenterologist for help. Even if it has nothing to do with cancer, it sure is affecting your quality of life. And if you can't eat properly, it will interfere with your ability to survive cancer.
Hope you get some answers and relief soon.
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I'ts hard to realize you're on a one-way street and don't much care for the scenery. I pray you will feel loved and supported as you care for Don during this difficult time.
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Karen, there just aren't words big enough for a time like this. Your fortitude amazes me. May you and Faith find comfort. I pray the rest of your family will have strength and peace also.
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I've never smoked, and my mom's sclc is pretty well linked to her heavy smoking for over 40 years. But at the same time, I remember her trying to quit. It was literal torture for her.
Smoking is more addictive than drinking or heroin, yet there is no inpatient treatment for smoking. Heck, you can go to a fat farm to lose weight, but smokers have little help. I believe most need a lot of medical support, like antidepressants and the like, but few will get what they really need to quit.
And even if cigarettes magically vanished, there would still be a lot of new lung cancer cases for the next 40 years.
You MUST forgive your mother so you can move on, so you can love and support her. You don't have to feel she is doing the right thing. Just love her. Her smoking says more about the nature of addiction than the quality of her character.
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I'm so sorry to hear David has passed. Praying for strength and peace for the Chapmans. David is at peace, but my heart breaks for his family...he will be sorely missed but never forgotten.
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I'm so sorry.
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That's great! Best wishes for continued "no news".
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I'm so sorry things are not going well right now. Hopefully hospice will get Mike comfortable soon, and you can have some good time together.
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Hope you have some better days ahead. My mom had WBR in March and is finally getting rid of most of the side effects. Maybe a little more time will perk you up.
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mom
in SCLC GROUP
Hi, Troy.
I know how frustrating it is to not have a 100% diagnosis. My mom had brushings and washings from her lung and pancreas which were inconclusive, and her first bronchoscopy biopsy was inconclusive also, though it put her on a ventilator for a couple of days due to bleeding. Her second bronchoscopy finally yielded results. Yet she achieved remission from extensive sclc, and despite brain mets, she's still fighting for her quality of life. Fishing, reading, and thinking of painting again.
Hang in there, try to get your mom to get a second opinion if she doesn't get a good diagnosis. If it is small cell, it can respond really well to chemo.
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Aww, Beth, this stinks! I'm so sorry to read this.
Avoid dairy (vanilla soy milk is pretty good) and fats if you can to keep your gallbladder quiet. Hang in there.
Sandy S NEWS!
in GENERAL
Posted
Thanks for the update, Becky!
Sandy, hope you have an easy recovery and really good news from the path. report.