shrimp Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 My Dad was diagnosed with small cell lc at the end of June. He is 79. At first he passed all the tests and scheduled for surgery. He kept having pain ib his left arm. The bone scan was negative. When it became unbearable our family Dr. took an X ray. It showed bone mets to the point where his arm was broken. No lung surgery. Off to have a rod inserted in his arm. Started on Morphine. After we have him home a while, he can't breath. Tell the oncologist-his reply-you have lung cancer. It will only get worse. I demanded an O2 level. It was 87% and O2 was ordered. A few days later he started hallucinating. It became worse and worse-he became combative . He was up all night. We reported all this to Dr.He told us to take him off Morphine. He keeps getting worse. They say it is still the Morphine in his system. Night 4 we call 911 and get him to the hospital-double pneumonia and High Calcium. Since he has been admitted he he developed clots in both legs. He threw a clot 2 nights ago to his lungs. Today he had a severe episode of what they think is angina. Severe chest pressure, shortness of breath, BP 74/38. After treatment his BP jumped to 196/88. It is just one thing after another. I am scared and frustrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraL Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Oh my gosh shrimp. That is all just too much to handle. Simply awful to read about and even worse to be living it. I hope they can find something to help your dad feel better soon. Please keep posting here for support. We have a lot to give. Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp Posted August 25, 2008 Author Share Posted August 25, 2008 thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 First Off welcome to the place no one wants to be but is glad they are for all the right reasons Secondly This bugs me to ne end!!! Tell the oncologist-his reply-you have lung cancer. It will only get worse. I demanded an O2 level. It was 87% and O2 was ordered. A few days later he started hallucinating. It became worse and worse-he became combative and tried to stab my brother. Time to find an Oncologist that cares some and is willing to fight and not go "Oh WEll!!!" If I had been there I would have beena rrested for what I would have done!! Third Today he had a severe episode of what they think is angina. Severe chest pressure, shortness of breath, BP 74/38 Could this be fluid around the Lungs MAybe? Sounds like a possibility but I amnot a doctor just making a suggestion to ask about perhaps!! Hope this helps a little bit Just some random thoughts But I am not a doctor! We do ahve an oncologist on our boards though! Dr West at the Swedish iNstitue in Seattle is oour on call ONcologist. He runs a message board that lots of us belong to called Grace!! Here is a link For Ya Dr West is great about answering questions as sonn as he can!! Click on the link to go to his site; http://cancergrace.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp Posted August 25, 2008 Author Share Posted August 25, 2008 I did switch oncs. For Dads "angina" today they ordered an EKG, telemetry, upped his Fentanyl, did a chest x-ray and lung scan, nitro paste and upped his O2 to 4L. He is still experiencing pressure, but it is better. He also says he can't eat because he has so much "Stomach pressure". I worry that it might be his liver. But so far they aren't paying attention to that, with everything else that is going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley (MLC) Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Hi and welcome. I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad and everything that has been thrown at him so quickly. I hope they are able to start addressing his medical issues so that he (and all of you) can better fight this terrible disease. We're all here for you. Please continue to post and let us know how we can help. Shelley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaminkw Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 shrimp, Whew, step back, take a deep breath and count to ten. I couldn't agree more with Sandra, that was all just too much too fast. It sounds like things are beginning to be approached in a more reasonalbe manner with the new onc though. And I wanted to tell you, as a cancer warrior myself there is nothing better in this world than having a daughter who is a nurse and an oncology nurse to boot! I know, my daughter is one so girl, you just keep looking over their shoulders and making sure they're taking good care of your dad just like it sounds like you are doing. Welcome aboard. Much support to be found here. Judy in Key West Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muriel Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Welcome Shrimp. Sorry you have reason to be here, tho. I'm sorry your Dad has had such a terrible time so far. I'm really glad that he has a different onc. and hope things take a turn for the better now that he's getting the attention he deserves. Have his dr.s determined whether his cancer is NSCLC or SCLC? Just out of curiousity, what part of the country does he live in? Please keep us updated re: how he and you are doing. Muriel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce u Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Hi shrimp. Welcome to this site. Sorry to read that you Dad is having such a difficult time. You are certainly ahead of alot of us because of your medical background as an oncology nurse. Please keep posting updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp Posted August 25, 2008 Author Share Posted August 25, 2008 Dad has SCLC. His lymph nodes showed some necrotic tissue but no mets and his tumor was localized. He had passed his pulmonary function test , stress test, bone scan and CT of his head. We thought we were going to be lucky and have a good chance with lobectomies. They were going to remove 2 lobes on his right side. Then we found the bone mets to his left arm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Welcome to the board -- I am sorry about your dad. I hope he gets through this rough patch and gets the pain under control. You are doing a wonderful job advocating for him. Rochelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp Posted August 26, 2008 Author Share Posted August 26, 2008 Thanks Today was quieter. They did an echo of his heart today. His bloating is up into the epigastric area and making it harder to breath. They don't seem interested. I guess it is low on their priority list. Mom said it was softer later this eve, so maybe it will resolve itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp Posted August 26, 2008 Author Share Posted August 26, 2008 I just got word they think Dad is bleeding internally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraL Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Oh no shrimp, I am so sorry to hear that. Make sure whoever is at the hospital is advocating strongly on his behalf for any and all symptoms and especially his comfort. It does not sound that he has been receiving the best medical care and everyone deserves that. I am so sorry you, your dad and your family are going through this right now. I hope you can go and be with him. Prayers for your dad. Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patti B Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Hi Shrimp- Welcome to the boards altho I hate the reason you have to be here. Great group of people here, though. So glad you switched oncs. First one sounded like he didn't have your dads best interest at heart. It is good that you have a medical background, you can know somewhat more of what is going on. I sure hope that things begin to turn around for your dad. He is so lucky to have you by his side. Keep posted and please keep us updated on his progress. Hugs - Patti B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp Posted August 26, 2008 Author Share Posted August 26, 2008 I just got back home. Dad misunderstood. He got a unit of blood, but he is just not making enough RBC's due to his poor diet, age and recent surgeries. He has a little color now. I hope the increase blood volume eases his breathing some.They increased his oral pain meds to every 4 hours for the pressure in his chest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraL Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 I am glad to hear they are keeping him comfortable shrimp. Nobody should be in pain. Tell him if he is still in pain to ask for more relief. Take care Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isunique Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Shrimp First of all welcome to the most fantastic group of caring folks that you will ever find. I will be saying mega prayers for you and your family. Please give your dad a hug for me. I lost my Father in Dec 07 and miss that part. He didn't pass from LC, leukimia and old age (90). Take care and remember to step back from all the medical from time to time to talk about stuff not related to the cancer. Take Care Sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 I am back home and Dad was all smiles this evening. He said this is the first day he has felt comfortable. They let him stand at the bedside and he was very wobbly but that is progress. They finally started therapy on his arm. Things are definitely looking up. He gets his weekly evaluation from radiation tomorrow. Friday is supposed to be his last treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraL Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Good to hear he is smiling and more comfortable. I hope things continue to go well. Shrimp you might want to post further updates in the Family Members/Caregivers forum. More folks will be likely to read your updates there and send responses. It took me awhile to get used to this site when I first signed on and which forum to post things in. But basically, once you inroduce yourself, there are several other forums here (I hope you are reading those) to make posts. Take good care Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 I was wondering where to go from here, but forgot to ask when I posted. I have read some in SCLC section. I will start posting in the Family area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsC1210 Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Hello Shrimp and welcome I am so sorry for what you and your dad have been going through! Just too much! Please know we are all here for you and we will help you as much as we can. If you could fill out a profile, it will give us all a better idea of what has been going on with your Dad as far as treatments, etc. Click on the button at the top of the page that says Profile and just fill it in when you have a moment. Sending postive thoughts, hugs and prayers to you and Dad, Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp Posted August 28, 2008 Author Share Posted August 28, 2008 I am so sorry about your Stepfather. It is horrible when we don't seem to get answers. Dad now has numbness in his abdomen and legs and can only take a few steps with the help of 3 people. I worry about spinal mets. I thought Dad was going down fast, but your stepfather went really quick. It leaves me in ongoing shock. Hard to grasp. How are you coping? I hope the pain is easing some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dollfinn Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 Shrimp~ It seems you have taken a big chunk of scary information and your addressing each piece. Remember,pain is now the 5th vital sign and should be treated as any other vital sign. Good Job! I'll look for you in family and updates. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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