gerbil runner
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Posts posted by gerbil runner
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If he's not eating, he could have low blood sugar or some mineral imbalance. Is he drinking enough? Dehydration will make anyone disoriented. Don't wait around on this.
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Thank you all for your input. Mom has mostly dealt with panic attacks by deep breathing and other self-help techniques. She was worried because the last panic attack was the first time since she started experiencing them that she was unable to stop it.
She is a cardiac patient (2 minor heart attacks), so she's had several EKG's since this all started. Still, it's worth keeping in mind. Thyroid is a good one to check.
When she originally started having the attacks, her dr. prescribed Xanax in small doses. It didn't help at all.
The idea of inducing a panic to learn how to stop it is interesting. Wonder if Mom would try it.
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My mom has been prone to panic attacks for the past 12 years or so. She takes Paxil, and was able to pretty much head off an attack by breathing deeply, etc. But a couple of days ago she was out wig-shopping and got one so bad she threw up (panic attack, not wig). It's very disconcerting to her, because she never knows when an attack may come, and it makes her worry about going out. She's seeing the dr. for a scan on the 20th and planning to ask for help. Mom's determined to get this back under control, and pronto.
I was wondering if anyone else here has experience with panic attacks, or whether anyone knows if chemo or other meds (such as pain meds or steroids) might increase panic attack problems. Everyone here is so great about sharing info! Snowflake, I told her about your "Fantasia" episode because she had had hallucinations in the hospital after coming off the respirator. Her visions involved barking dogs - not nearly as entertaining.
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I am so sorry you're going through this worry with your dad. Unfortunately, the only info I can give you is, yes, it is possible for the fluid to not contain cancer cells even if cancer is there. My mother had 2 bronchoscopies (the second one took samples from 3 different areas) which showed only "atypical" cells. It took a needle biopsy of the met in her pancreas to confirm small-cell lung cancer. Mom had had bleeding after the first bronchoscopy (spent 5 days in ICU on a ventilator after that), and they knew because of her CAT scan it was almost certainly cancer, but it was still a bugger to get a diagnosis.
I pray your dad only has an infection. Hopefully all the tests will be for nothing.
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prayers for you and your mom.
Jen
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Flabet, I'm so sorry your husband lost his battle with this horrid disease. I looked back at your posts, since this happened before I joined the board. I admire your strength in still coming to this board and responding.
I do not mean to imply in any way that you (or the dr) did not do enough for Doug! Also, it seems your husband was not fortunate enough to get really good responses to chemo. Not fair. Not fair at all (but then, what part of this disease is). The speed at which sclc can move is my very point. There may be a window of only a week between "not quite right" and "too sick to be helped by the treatment".
I'm only hoping to convince my mom (and maybe raise awareness) that sclc waits for nobody, and any symptom or problem should be checked. With this disease, we need all the help we can get.
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...but it seems that the most common scenario for those who lose the battle with small-cell lung cancer is that the cancer "outruns" the patient's ability to hang on for more treatment. In other words, patients get too debilitated to survive long enough for another round of chemo to knock back the cancer. This seems different from other cancers, where often the patient will run out of options for treatment.
So I get the feeling that a sclc patient should become something of a hypochondriac. Let no symptom go unchecked, stay as strong as possible, eat like a horse when you can. Scan frequently, treat agressively as possible.
Am I wrong? Am I missing something? It just seems that most who lose the sclc battle had not run out of treatment options, and could have survived/thrived longer with better management. I do NOT mean to make any caregiver feel that he/she has not done the best possible in those cases - I'm primarily trying to convince my mother (who will wait and wait and wait before calling a dr.) that she will be much better off if she changes how she deals with discomfort and "minor" illness. My mom was coughing up blood periodically for 3 months before she saw a dr. KatieB, I have read several times that you felt your dad could have done better if he had been more open about symptoms he was experiencing. That's the kind of problem I'm trying to address.
Any other thoughts, comments?
Jen
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Holly, no matter how "great" an onc is supposed to be, no matter how well respected, if he doesn't want to agressively treat your husband no matter how clearly you state your wishes, he isn't helping. All his knowledge and expertise are being witheld. Find someone who WILL treat your husband!
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New dr., now, pronto! Quick, while your husband still has the strength to fight!
How many chemo drugs has he been given? There must be something that hasn't been tried.
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Tom, I am so sorry to read you have lost your mother. I hope things will get easier for you as time goes on.
Jen
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Hi, Denise. Sorry you had to find us, but it's a good place for support.
Jen
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I'm so sorry to read of Sam's passing. My sympathy goes to you.
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Dave G's list inspired me to plug these celebs into a very basic spreadsheet. Name, date of death, claim to fame, and misc. notes. Would there be a way to post it here? Maybe in a place where we could all contribute to it as needed? One of the advantages to a spreadsheet is it can be sorted alphabetically in a heartbeat.
Let's not forget Andy Kaufman, the comic, who was a non-smoker and died of lc.
And I agree, this business of always asking lc patients if they smoked (as if that means they deserve it) is cruel. Most forms of cancer are affected by lifestyle choices. So are diabetes and heart disease. Let's educate to reduce smoking, but give lc patients all the funding, support and research needed!
Jen
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Crystal, so sorry to read your mother-in-law has passed. Sometimes sclc moves really fast. It took my mother almost 3 weeks to get a firm diagnosis (3 bronchoscopies and a pancreas biopsy), and she was fortunate to be strong enough to stand the wait.
Hope your family will find comfort.
Jen
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For a huge selection of hats, caps, turbans, bandanas and scarves (as well as very nice wigs), check out www.headcovers.com.
Jen
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Well, the chemo was too tough and has been changed, but the good news is...the chest x-ray done on Monday no longer shows the tumors! The onc is very pleased, even though he says to assume the cancer is still there. Mom will have a cat scan on the 19th - we'll see how the pancreas tumor is faring.
Mom feels really good right now. Her blood counts are great, her appetite is good, no side effects after 2 days of the new chemo. We're going out Friday to shop for wigs. Her hair is going fast, and she ordered a wig online, but wants to try some on.
BTW, anyone who wants to look at hats, caps, turbans, bandanas, and nice wigs...try www.headcovers.com. Over a hundred headcovers, not counting the wigs. Even a couple of headband wigs, meant to be really easy to wear. The site is geared toward cancer and other medical hair loss.
Jen
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My mom is losing her hair, and I've been searching the web for wig info. I found a site specifically for "medical hair loss", and they have great info, as well as lots of wigs. They also have over 100 hats, caps, and turbans. Pretty, stylish ones. Also bandanas, scarves, and gift ideas for cancer patients.
Check out www.headcovers.com
Best selection of non-wig headcovers I've found.
Jen
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Yay, Dave! I was concerned for you. Glad to hear you're doing ok.
Jen
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My mom was put on that exact routine. The first day took 8 hours. She hasn't lost her hair, but she says it feels "funny". Unfortunately, she got uncontrollable diarrhea and spent a week in the hospital. My mom tends to get the worst of any and all med side effects.
Stay on top of any problems and drink like a fish! Good luck.
Jen
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Ginny -
Glad to read that the Duke is hangin' tough. Hope the cancer cells are suffering far more!
Jen
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Me, too, please. I'm not one for chat, but I'll check in on a weight-loss thread. Lost 25 lbs. in the past 6 months and have 20-25 more to go. I started running in June, and love it! Mom's diagnosis kinda blew up the running habit, so I have to re-dedicate.
There's a terrific site, www.fitday.com which is FREE and will teach you a lot about what you are actually eating. It tracks a wide variety of nutritional info as well as calories burned through exercise. Check it out!
And for those interested in physical exercise, there are many programs which will take you from running 60 seconds at a time to running for 30 minutes at a time. It really works! www.coolrunning.com has the "Couch to 5k" program which is great for sedentary beginners. It worked great for me.
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Thanks, everyone! Mom got released yesterday and celebrated by going out to lunch. Today, I get to take all 3 boys down to visit.
She's getting the week off from chemo, and next week will go in 3 days, and then get 3 weeks off. Dad didn't remember the name of the chemo, but promised to get it for me so I can look it up here. She has a PICC line now, too.
They still have the d@mn Thanksgiving turkey in the freezer. We're thinking New Year's may be the day we finally get a real family holiday.
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Well, Mom is feeling better. We kept Christmas pretty simple. Dad came down Christmas Eve (my husband's family all comes down Christmas Eve) and had a Midnight Mass to play for, so he was doing better. Christmas Day, Dad, my aunt, and great-aunt and great-uncle all visited Mom first, then came here for dinner. The little guys, Danny and JJ, had a great time with the new toys and provided a lot of laughs for all the adults. I went in to see Mom in the afternoon, and gave her new clothes, which she loved.
The infection is under control, and we're hoping Mom will get to come home on Saturday. Her chemo is going to be changed, though. I don't know what the new meds will be yet.
Thanks for all your empathy and encouragement. Usually, we feel pretty hopeful about Mom. Just had a little trouble dealing with another hospital holiday.
Jen
A DAY TO NEVER FORGET
in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER
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Norme, so glad to hear Buddy is feeling more energetic! Maybe his appetite will pick up with the increased activity.
Jackie - hindsight is always 20/20. You did what you could and what you felt was best at the time. There is no guarantee Iressa would have given Mike more time - maybe the side effects would have hit hard. You have to forgive yourself for "errors", real or perceived. Certainly Mike would forgive you.