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Caregivers

Time-saving & Helpful Tips for Caregivers
Time-saving tips for Caregivers I can't wait to hear from the "veterans" on this discussion board and use what they have learned through their experience. In the meantime, here are a few things I use - **When you find yourself able to cook a meal, ALWAYS cook extra !! Put those extra, cooked, chicken breasts in the fridge…
New to the world of being my mom's caregiver.
I'm in need to support. My mother was diagnosed with a stage 4B cancer two months ago. She's since moved in with us (husband, the kids, and I), and experienced her first chemo treatment. I'm having a hard time. There are just so many emotions and thoughts and moods that I'm having. I'm sure that my mom is having them as…
Feeling a little overwhelmed and guilty
This is the 10th day after my mom's first round of chemo and I already feel overwhelmed. I am trying to balance helping her and taking care of my kids (8 and 6). There have been a couple of days that I haven't been able to go over to her house and help her out, but I have always called to make sure everything was ok and to…
Fathers Day
During the last year my wife’s cancer has steadily progressed. When she is on chemotherapy her CEA slowly comes down, but it is now hovering around 495. Her belly is distended and her lower extremities are really swollen-it adds to her fatigue. We have one daughter and she bought me a shirt. But our custom (My wife and me)…
At a crossraods with my future...
Hi everyone, I am new to the "club" but I'm relieved to be hear. I've taking care of my father who has recently been dx with lung cancer on his birthday. It's been hard for me and my family. Some members began blaming eachother over who is to be responsible. Well since I was 16, when my parents divorced, I have been…
Duration of chemo drugs in patients system?
My mom has non-hodgkins lymphoma and is being treated with a myriad of chemo drugs whose names escape me except for retuxin. I have an 8 month old daughter and we visit my mom sometimes as soon as 7-9 days after her chemo treatments. I though I heard my mom say that her oncologist said it should be safe (no longer being…
new to this and scared
Hi, I’m brand new to the forum. I don’t know why I’m posting other than to say a few things I guess I’m afraid to say out loud or admit to my loved ones. I’m in my twenties and still living with parents. My mother was just diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer this month and it’s safe to say it’s thrown me and my…
Things Caregivers Want You to Know
Caregivers are called the "hidden patient" because they go through every process the cancer patient goes through, they suffer endless physical symptoms that do not get medical attention, and they have emotional burdens that are invisible to those who have never walked in their shoes. So here are a few things Caregivers…
support/groups.... how do you find them?
My husband has GBM4 that started in his spine, and hasn't spread to his brain yet, though it has spread further along his spinal cord. Anyway GBM's aren't very common, let alone any like his. I"m having a hard time finding a support group for either him or I... there seem to be plenty of groups for breast cancer and…
Im having another meltdown!
My Husband was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer Novemer of 09.He has had radiation and on his 2nd round of chemo and also on the Tarceva. Everyday is a struggle he stays in bed all day. I give him his endless amounts of meds and take up food on a tray, at times I even have to spoon feed him. It has been so hard on all of…
In a daze
The title says it all. My love of 20 years was dx with Pancreatic 4B around May 13. After all the tests scans etc we were told he has about two months. One month is up. He has mets to the liver,omentum and mysentery. CEA 19-9 was 7,434. At first he decided not to do any chemo-since it was only to help with pain and would…
Help me, what do you think?
Hi all-This is what I am thinking. My husband has end stage laryngeal cancer. I think it's definitely getting worse. He sleeps all day most days. He was on Hydrocodone 10/325. Said it wasn't working, now got Oxycodone IR 5mg. Now he said that's not working, so I see him combining them to kill the pain. At this point I…
Something to Ponder
My father had a colonoscopy of June 8, 2009, and was diagnosised with Colon Cancer with mets everywhere. We lost our battle on May 28th. The reason I say "we" is because I was right there every step of the way. As soon as he was released from the hospital he came straight to my house where he would eventually pass. We did…
After midnight
this seems to be the only time I have to myself. I feel like it's a bad dream. My mom has MD, pretty bad, and now after surviving colon cancer 6 years ago- my father now has lung caner. And it was a horribly botched delayed diagnosis. So...he was in denial...now reality hits. He is a tough character. Very curt, no manners,…
I am now officially the WORST caregiver...ever
Well, my mom has had a rough time these last two months since her surgery. She had SO many complications. But, thankfully, she has been getting better and better, and this past week, she has shown a huge improvement. She has been off of oxygen, out of her wheelchair, off the pain meds, and even the anxiety meds. She has…
I keep snapping at my mom
I really need to learn more patience, but I swear she is being difficult. We are on day 7 after round 1 of chemo. She is still feeling having some nausea, so she was looking in her book the dr gave her about foods that might be good for her. I thought this would be a good idea until I saw the list. 1. popsicles - we have…
Hi, I'm new here
My mom was diagnosed in March with cervical cancer. We know as much now as we did the day he told her she has cancer. She has seen one oncologist, and all he has done is a PET scan (in the first part of May) and we still don't know the results of the scan. She seems to have gotten worse since March, but it could be the…
Taking advantage of help?
My sister in law comes over and cooks at least once a week, and now for the second week in a row, my neighbor has sent over two huge meals. I REALLY REALLY appreciate this. However, because I don't have to cook, i find myself sitting down to read a book, or watch tv. I feel guilty that people are doing things that I…
Any of you ever "Feel" single?
I have posted here more lately because my wife’s cancer is progressing, however just when I think she is preparing for a significant change, she proves me wrong (as in posting “Gut Feeling” a few weeks ago). My wife has the amazing ability to “Hunker down” when she is sick and she is very ill. A few weeks ago she could…
Mom (and best friend) has breast cancer...
Hi All. Just need a place to come where people understand what I am going through. In March my mother was diagnosed with Stage II DCIS with lymph node involvement. Let me start off by saying..she is my BEST friend, so this has been far from easy. After two surgeries, she started chemo this week and is doing great. My…
I Need Advice on End of Life Caregiving, please
My mother-in-law is in the hospital and has been there for over two weeks. She is 91+ and has lymphoma, bladder cancer, bone mets, and heaven knows what else. She has gone through two 6-month treatment courses and went through those with flying colors. Right now, she's hardly flying. She lived with through each chemo…
I feel like I can't do this
Hello everyone, My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in March. She is 55 years old, and is also diabetic and has heart disease. Prior to the cancer diagnosis, she has had a normal active lifestyle. She babysat my three kids (ages 12,6, and 3) three days a week, as well as worked full time. Let me add that she…
Just Need to vent!
My sister, 25, has breast cancer. She is starting chemo next week. We have never had a great relationship- fought since probably the moment she was born. Now I am so scared to lose her. I thought that maybe someday when we were on the same life path- 7 years difference we would be able to sit down and talk everything out,…
Need help with survivor
I live with my cousin who is a lung cancer survivor or 4 years. I am needing to understand what she is going through. She is very depressed and seems to have alot of self pity. She will not get out and do anything. She just wants to sit around and mope. She is 48 years old. She had part of her lung removed and one rib. Her…
What would you do?
Hi - I posted this on the ovarian cancer board, but wanted to see what you ladies thought too. Let me ask you for some advice. I know that stage IV is not a death sentence. However, my mom had read early on, that ovarian cancer caught in the early stages has somewhere around a 95% 5 year survival rate. At stage iv, she…
Mom died 1 week ago
New to boards, have been in chat a few times. My Mother died 1 week ago today. She was diagnosed with uterine/cervical cancer in January, chemo/radiation had no effect and spread to her lungs. She was in the hospital from Easter until May 18, when she came home for Hospice care. Me, my step-dad, and my daughter (19) was…
Something for the Soul...
Something to console or simply to fill a few voids. You may actually find some of these useful....... 1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents…
Hospital advocacy
my parent has stage 4 gastric CA, not able to eat/drink on TPN in hospital. the doctors are not listening to the patient/family's suggestions or desires. they told us we could go somewhere else to find care and that it's costing $5000 per day in the hospital and the chief doctor is being hounded. we have medicare. it's so…
My mom attacked me this morning
She was recently switched from pain medicine Dilaudid to Methadone, and at midnight she started her next dose and then the hallucinations kicked in. Harmless enough, thinking things weren't there and such. But then at 2:30 she got dressed and insisted she go to the ER because she was in pain. She has been on hospice for…
Suddenly became caregiver Feb 2010
It was a normal day at work for me until the call came through. My mother had called 911 and the EMS told my sister she may have had a stroke. I immediately wanted to scream but I was quickly grabbed by a few co workers and was taken to the lounge.I had no idea from that day that I would be faced with the most devastating…

Caregivers

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