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Caregivers

Archives for January 2011

Time to change the photo
I thought it was time to update my picture to reflect reality - Doug's picture of us just after he won the championship is still the one he uses to post (on the H&N board). There's a good bit of weight change - he lost 35 lbs and I gained about 5. He is winning the race - he was trying to get from 140 to 155 before I could…
calling mswijiknyc
Question regarding sepsis on the head and neck board: asking you to field. Hugs!
Prayers for Penny and Mike
Send up prayers for them. Use the prayer for the dying I wrote. From her FB posts they have very little time left.
Separation Anxiety
I put this off for a few days, as I felt so many others had much more important issues: Doug went back to work full-time last week and I went back a bit before that. That went OK, but then he needed to travel for the job. The doctor OK'd it as long as the flights were not long (he had blood clots from the chemo and is…
Getting our life back
We found out a little over a month ago that my husband (32 y/o) has brain cancer. They found a brain tumor in late October, did surgery early November and discovered the cancer early December. This is all new to us. And considering the time line have not had much time to cope or deal with what is actually going on. Not…
Good news, bad news, good news, bad news AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
So we have decided to up our wedding. Cancer has taught us that we will have limited time together. It is not a question of if it is a question of when per his doctors. They feel they will get him into remission in time but that with his conditions he will get it again and again until the treatments stop working. My reply…
High Tide, Low Tide, Slack Tide
Friday started out bad. He was still throwing up, still in a lot of pain, so I called hospice and they had the doctor stop by. The doc changed his meds around (stronger pain and anti-nausea), and the home health aide came Friday. He started cleaning with out me asking - I'm in love :) Saturday ended up ok. His friends came…
ICU (update 1/9)
WBC--up Unknown source of infection Deactivated from the transpant list Vomited blood 3 times today, pooping old blood now, too. 3 different kinds of antibiotics, 3 seperate blood draws for cultures; two attemps at an NG tube; less than stellar nursing and MD staff on the weekends Back in ICU. I'm numb and quiet on the…
I Lost My Husband Today
The battle is over and the beast thinks it won. No way. It took my husband's body today but it will never take his spirit or mine. Paul crossed over late this afternoon peacefully at the hospice center. His decline was so rapid it seemed like it was in the blink of an eye. We had such a great Christmas. A good memory. His…
pain management visit
Heading back to the pain management specialist this afternoon. Prayers for resolution of the pain because it is really wearing on Jim. As we've said before, it is hard to watch them hurt.
Hi there, fellow caregivers, new here
Hi there. I have been riding this cancer caregiver roller coaster since 9-09 when my then 48 year old hubby was dx'd with Hodgkins stage IVB. To make a long story short, he underwent a rescue stem cell transplant with a ten-fifteen percent survival rate last Sept. Before that his disease became refractory for the second…
Rollercoaster
Once again getting ready for MRI and then the wait. Feel at wits end. Hate how this is making me feel. Put on the "happy/strong" face for friends, family and church. Inside guts are being consumed by the "unknowing". Hate how this has made been become scared, nervous, anxious. Doc prescribed anti depressents in August.…
The doc said mom has less then one friggin year!!!!
I hate cancer!
It is official
My father is still in remission from his bladder cancer, but the doctors still do not know why he has blood in his urine bag. They checked his organs and they are clear. By the way, I skipped worked today. After my moms last chemo I have been sleeping a lot and just really tired. Anyone else feel like this. I feel like my…
Cross roads
I know many of you have been where I am today. Mike lost a lot of weight last week with the diaphragm spasms/hiccups and extreme nausea he was having. My two brothers and I finally talked him into going to see his Oncologist yesterday afternoon (he wanted to wait until today since he was supposed to start round 3 of the…
Brain Surgery, Really?
One brain tumor located behind the left cheekbone, back along side the ear about the size of a golf ball? Starting to affect speech and thinking skills. It's a good thing my husband is left handed. Primary melanoma was never located but first metastasized to the leg/groin area. Tumor was surgically removed end of July just…
The #$^&@*# waiting
First we waited for test results. Then we waited for referrals. Then we waited for more test results. Then for all infections to clear. Now we wait for transplant. Met with the transplant coordinator today. They don't think my husbands health will hold out for more than a few weeks while waiting for a donor.I'm staring at…
End of the fight
My brother Jeff lost his fight with Pancreatic Cancer on December 22. He was so brave for all of us and his dignity was in tact to the end. We had a memorial for him on December 28th and it was absolutely beautiful. Jeff was a kind and warm person and there were over 250 people there that he had somehow put a stamp on…
Advise for caregivers if patient is not wanting meds.....
I've been reading posts about patients not taking meds for one reason or another. I struggle with this an extreme amount with my mom and have come to learn a few things. Maybe this can help to know these things. 1. if pills are a problem, GO LIQUID. they have lots of meds that are in liquid form. 2. Pain patches are a big…
Really Good New Year's Eve
I feel guilty about posting this, as I know that others are going through dark times. However, I remember reading similar posts when we were smack dab in the middle of the valley of the shadow of death, and (while I was envious) it helped me believe I would see good days again: New Year's Eve! All three children had…
just going through the motions...
i realized this week that i don't think i'm really "feeling" any of this. i tell people my dad has been given an open ended death sentence and that i'm keeping it all together but i don't really think i am. i keep the bills paid and food on the table but man, i need a break. it scares me to think how i'm going to be…
Fitting in
Some times I feel like I really don't fit in... Why I don't know, I am so blessed as I read others post about their struggles. My HUsband Dx LArynx Stage 4 Squamous cell Cause in 2009 and by 2010 mets to both lungs. He is still active, like today he replaced the back brakes on sons car. She eats good and dones pretty much…
New Years Eve
Have spent this New Years eve feeding pieces of fruit to my wife (53) in bed, I was advised on Dec 23 her cancer (Cervical) is stage 4B and has 1-3 months left, when first diagnosed in September she was 4A. This time last year we were cruising the Mexican Riviera, how quickly things can change she was diagnosed end of…

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