My grandmother

lani812

hey guys,
I really need the help and support of those of you fighting this thing. I take care of my gma shes 75 and she was diagnosed with 3rd stage t cell lymphoma and the doctor suspects it to soon reach stage four. she is scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy soon and she is terrified.I hope that nobody gets offended for me reaching out since I am not the one with the disease but i am fighting this with her no matter how long or how hard this road is. My family and myself have experience with this decease since we lost my aunt to this 2 years ago. We fear this might turn into something genetic but even if it does we are a very united family and we stick together no matter what. My grandmother is really scared of the bone marrow biopsy. She just started chemo and she is getting very light dosages because of her age and even that was hard for her to handle. I do not mind realistic answers as well as words of advice or support. I will not be offended. I have already heard from the doctor what the outcome of this might be and i have already lost one family member who was under 50 years of age. im scared.. but hopeful.

Should I ask the doctor that she completely sedated for this??
what can I do to make this as easy for her as possible? (i bought her a journal shes writing her autobiography:)
has anybody else lost family member to this?
any elderly survivors?

plz any words would be appreciated.

allmost60

YES/Sedation
Hi,
I would definetely ask her doctor to sedate her for the BMB...especially at her age. I had one done last summer and only had a numbing agent to the skin and a low dose antianxiety pill..(adivan(sp?)... didn't help at all. I am 60 years old and will NEVER have another one done without being knocked out. She does not have to be awake to get this done. The procedure is fairly quick, so it won't take a large amount of medication to put her out. Please come back and tell us how it goes for her. Best wishes.. Sue
Follicular Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma-grade2-stage3-typeA-diagnosed June 2011.

COBRA666

allmost60 said:

YES/Sedation
Hi,
I would definetely ask her doctor to sedate her for the BMB...especially at her age. I had one done last summer and only had a numbing agent to the skin and a low dose antianxiety pill..(adivan(sp?)... didn't help at all. I am 60 years old and will NEVER have another one done without being knocked out. She does not have to be awake to get this done. The procedure is fairly quick, so it won't take a large amount of medication to put her out. Please come back and tell us how it goes for her. Best wishes.. Sue
Follicular Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma-grade2-stage3-typeA-diagnosed June 2011.

Sedation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go with the sedation. I had mine done a year ago without it. I did have a numbing agent,but it did not help with the feel of all the pushing and pulling. I thought the thing was gonna break off. It is scary to say the least. I almost passed out after the proceedure. My blood pressure went really low. That was caused by the fright. John(FNHL-1-4A-5/10)

lani812

COBRA666 said:

Sedation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go with the sedation. I had mine done a year ago without it. I did have a numbing agent,but it did not help with the feel of all the pushing and pulling. I thought the thing was gonna break off. It is scary to say the least. I almost passed out after the proceedure. My blood pressure went really low. That was caused by the fright. John(FNHL-1-4A-5/10)

why didnt the doctor tell me this was an option?
i think they might want to keep her overnight if they do sedation. Shes being treated at NYU medical. Doctor is amazing but I was shocked that she didnt give me having her sedated as an option. until i came here and heard the stories about how painful it is. She is really terrified she hasnt been able to sleep much since she found out she needs to get it. also because it will determine if her cancer is at stage four. she just had a PET done two weeks ago and she also takes heart medication. if a young person almost passed out from the procedure i dnt even want to think what this could do to her. I would give anything to switch places with her.


why didnt her doctor tell me that she can be sedated??

BMB is scheduled for this friday 8/5 at 10 am. i will let you guys know how it goes. thanks for the support.

love,
lani

miss maggie

lani812 said:

why didnt the doctor tell me this was an option?
i think they might want to keep her overnight if they do sedation. Shes being treated at NYU medical. Doctor is amazing but I was shocked that she didnt give me having her sedated as an option. until i came here and heard the stories about how painful it is. She is really terrified she hasnt been able to sleep much since she found out she needs to get it. also because it will determine if her cancer is at stage four. she just had a PET done two weeks ago and she also takes heart medication. if a young person almost passed out from the procedure i dnt even want to think what this could do to her. I would give anything to switch places with her.


why didnt her doctor tell me that she can be sedated??

BMB is scheduled for this friday 8/5 at 10 am. i will let you guys know how it goes. thanks for the support.

love,
lani

Sedation
Dear lani,

You have to insist upon sedation. I am pasting a copy from one of my files. Ask
your grandmother's doctor about this sedation. I would think you would have to
call the doctor first, asap, before Friday. This way the doctor will have the
sedation ready for your grandmother on Friday. See below for the name of the sedation.

MAKE sure with bone marrow biopsies you have Vercet given - you have no memory or pain - wouldn't think of doing without that

Please post and let us know what the doctor says. Insist on it. Love Maggie

lani812

miss maggie said:

Sedation
Dear lani,

You have to insist upon sedation. I am pasting a copy from one of my files. Ask
your grandmother's doctor about this sedation. I would think you would have to
call the doctor first, asap, before Friday. This way the doctor will have the
sedation ready for your grandmother on Friday. See below for the name of the sedation.

MAKE sure with bone marrow biopsies you have Vercet given - you have no memory or pain - wouldn't think of doing without that

Please post and let us know what the doctor says. Insist on it. Love Maggie

i called the doctor ....
so i called the doctor to request sedation and she told me that she can hold of on the BMB since my gma just started chemo. she got a PET done two weeks ago and she said that to come get the results and that we will take it from there. she said the BMB is only to determine if she is at stage 3 or 4. she said the treatment is the same for both stage 3 and 4 is this correct?? isnt 4 supposed to be more dangerous??? she said we can hold on on the BMB till we see how the cancer reacts to the chemo. is this correct?? she said shell still have the get the BMB done in due time. and that when it is done it will be done under sedation. i cant express how thankful i am for u guys and ur advice.

Does anybody know of any programs for people with lymphoma in the NYC area that speak spanish? my gma has been really sad and i feel it would do her good to hear from someone going to the same thing as her.

btw she said to tell u guys that thank u so much and that god bless you

appt. is still on for friday 10 am

much love,
lani

KC13167

lani812 said:

i called the doctor ....
so i called the doctor to request sedation and she told me that she can hold of on the BMB since my gma just started chemo. she got a PET done two weeks ago and she said that to come get the results and that we will take it from there. she said the BMB is only to determine if she is at stage 3 or 4. she said the treatment is the same for both stage 3 and 4 is this correct?? isnt 4 supposed to be more dangerous??? she said we can hold on on the BMB till we see how the cancer reacts to the chemo. is this correct?? she said shell still have the get the BMB done in due time. and that when it is done it will be done under sedation. i cant express how thankful i am for u guys and ur advice.

Does anybody know of any programs for people with lymphoma in the NYC area that speak spanish? my gma has been really sad and i feel it would do her good to hear from someone going to the same thing as her.

btw she said to tell u guys that thank u so much and that god bless you

appt. is still on for friday 10 am

much love,
lani

You are a good Granddaughter!
Iani,

Call your local American Cancer Society or even ask your Grandma's doctor if they have anyone, in a similar situation who speaks Spanish. I imagine that someone would be thrilled to have such an opportunity.

I had stage IV lymphoma. You are correct, there is not much difference between III and IV. For my lymphoma, diffuse large b cell, the treatment would have been the same.

When conscious sedation is used, there are other items that must be available. It is not usually offered in an office setting. But, good for you for being such a wonderful advocate. Please keep a notebook of all that goes on with your Grandma medically. It can be so overwhelming to try to remember all that goes on. Good luck to you.

Kellie

lani812

KC13167 said:

You are a good Granddaughter!
Iani,

Call your local American Cancer Society or even ask your Grandma's doctor if they have anyone, in a similar situation who speaks Spanish. I imagine that someone would be thrilled to have such an opportunity.

I had stage IV lymphoma. You are correct, there is not much difference between III and IV. For my lymphoma, diffuse large b cell, the treatment would have been the same.

When conscious sedation is used, there are other items that must be available. It is not usually offered in an office setting. But, good for you for being such a wonderful advocate. Please keep a notebook of all that goes on with your Grandma medically. It can be so overwhelming to try to remember all that goes on. Good luck to you.

Kellie

question??
my grandmother has T cell lymphoma. everybody i speaks to tells me of b cell. the doctor said it was rare but idk just how rare. and how do i get in contact with the american cancer society?

lani

KC13167

lani812 said:

question??
my grandmother has T cell lymphoma. everybody i speaks to tells me of b cell. the doctor said it was rare but idk just how rare. and how do i get in contact with the american cancer society?

lani

Try this
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/news/index

This link will bring u to cancer.org. This particular page offers options in Spanish and an 800 number for ACS. I hope it helps

Kellie

bluerose

25 year survivor of NHL here
I am sorry to hear that your Grandmother has been diagnosed with lymphoma. My Grandmother had it too but that was about 50 years ago (yikes I'm old, lol) and back then there was nothing they could do really and she passed soon after her diagnosis - it was very aggressive. But that was long ago before they had all of these new treatments.

Flash forward now to 25 years ago and I was diagnosed with it too but I don't know if it's the same kind of lymphoma I have compared to hers. Some people say it can be hereditary and others not so not sure what to believe. Regardless, I am sure it can skip family members too so no use worrying about it.

Now I was 38 when I was diagnosed and could handle the bone marrow transplant (autologus - meaning my own marrow) better but it was still very hard on me. Back then though even when I had it done it was much different and I was in the hospital in isolation for 2 months. Treatments have changed so much though so her doctors are much more up on what she might tolerate the best.

I don't know if they do bone marrow biopsies the same as when I was biopsied but if they do then if at all possible have her SEDATED. It wasn't pleasant. Now for medical reasons this might not be possible with your Grandmother but I have been having, for some procedures and surgeries, a thing called conscious sedation. What it is is that you are actually mentally present during the procedure but you don't know it. If the docs ask you a question you can answer BUT you have no recollection of it after it's done. So basically you forget about it all. It's my best friend. I even have that for dental extractions. Cancer procedures can be traumatic for some patients so if at all possible why go through it if you don't have to? Ask her doctor about conscious sedation. It doesn't have the after effects of regular anaesthesia either and is easier on the body - way easier.

If you are concerned that maybe the current doctors aren't working with you or giving you all the options there is no harm in a second opinion. I had 3 opinions before I moved on many things. Why not?

It's normal for her to be afraid, especially at her age, she is very very fortunate to have a granddaughter like you. Many people find themselves abandoned when they need help the most, your Grandmother is blessed to have you fighting the fight with her. This will help her greatly, my hat is off to you. Remember though, you need to take care of yourself as well, many caregivers forget about themselves and you won't be of any use to her if you crash. Take time to care for yourself too and get in some respite to help with her if she needs constant care.

All the best. Keep us posted. You have come to the right place for support.

Blessings,

Bluerose

lani812

bluerose said:

25 year survivor of NHL here
I am sorry to hear that your Grandmother has been diagnosed with lymphoma. My Grandmother had it too but that was about 50 years ago (yikes I'm old, lol) and back then there was nothing they could do really and she passed soon after her diagnosis - it was very aggressive. But that was long ago before they had all of these new treatments.

Flash forward now to 25 years ago and I was diagnosed with it too but I don't know if it's the same kind of lymphoma I have compared to hers. Some people say it can be hereditary and others not so not sure what to believe. Regardless, I am sure it can skip family members too so no use worrying about it.

Now I was 38 when I was diagnosed and could handle the bone marrow transplant (autologus - meaning my own marrow) better but it was still very hard on me. Back then though even when I had it done it was much different and I was in the hospital in isolation for 2 months. Treatments have changed so much though so her doctors are much more up on what she might tolerate the best.

I don't know if they do bone marrow biopsies the same as when I was biopsied but if they do then if at all possible have her SEDATED. It wasn't pleasant. Now for medical reasons this might not be possible with your Grandmother but I have been having, for some procedures and surgeries, a thing called conscious sedation. What it is is that you are actually mentally present during the procedure but you don't know it. If the docs ask you a question you can answer BUT you have no recollection of it after it's done. So basically you forget about it all. It's my best friend. I even have that for dental extractions. Cancer procedures can be traumatic for some patients so if at all possible why go through it if you don't have to? Ask her doctor about conscious sedation. It doesn't have the after effects of regular anaesthesia either and is easier on the body - way easier.

If you are concerned that maybe the current doctors aren't working with you or giving you all the options there is no harm in a second opinion. I had 3 opinions before I moved on many things. Why not?

It's normal for her to be afraid, especially at her age, she is very very fortunate to have a granddaughter like you. Many people find themselves abandoned when they need help the most, your Grandmother is blessed to have you fighting the fight with her. This will help her greatly, my hat is off to you. Remember though, you need to take care of yourself as well, many caregivers forget about themselves and you won't be of any use to her if you crash. Take time to care for yourself too and get in some respite to help with her if she needs constant care.

All the best. Keep us posted. You have come to the right place for support.

Blessings,

Bluerose

hey
the results of the pet scan came back it was a little scary to hear how it has spread but the doctor said its normal for her type of lymphoma to spread to the places it has. she lost one pound which is not bad because before the diagnosis she lost almost 25 pounds in the course of 2 months. she has a lot of appetite which gives me a little peace. she is still to terrified to go through with the BMB so im not pushing it and she doctor said shell let me know when it becomes mandatory. But she says that she is most likely in stage four and that the treatment isnt any different unless the cancer nodes get larger in size

blue rose its so difficult. i feel guilty and I dont know why. I wish there was more I can do but she is having a really difficult time with the aftereffects of the chemo. she says she feels sooooooooo tired and the discomfort in her stomach (doctor says its a good thing because it means that the cancer cells are dying inside her tummy) shes not getting much sleep (nothing past 4 am) and chemo is schedule for next Wednesday. and we r going to go see the cardiologist on friday.

do the aftereffects get progressively worst???

im trying my best. i really am
i work full time and im in my senior year of college im 21 (well ill be 21 on friday) and i feel a little a little guilty that her appointments get scheduled around me because i go with her. i feel guilty that i cant take care of her all day. my mom and my aunts do and my grandpa are always with her shes never alone but i still feel guilty. i feel like this isnt fair.

writing on this site is the first time i vent,
its the first time i write like this...
i feel guilty that im writing about myself right now...
i just want this cancer gone.
is that to much to ask?

lani

allmost60

lani812 said:

hey
the results of the pet scan came back it was a little scary to hear how it has spread but the doctor said its normal for her type of lymphoma to spread to the places it has. she lost one pound which is not bad because before the diagnosis she lost almost 25 pounds in the course of 2 months. she has a lot of appetite which gives me a little peace. she is still to terrified to go through with the BMB so im not pushing it and she doctor said shell let me know when it becomes mandatory. But she says that she is most likely in stage four and that the treatment isnt any different unless the cancer nodes get larger in size

blue rose its so difficult. i feel guilty and I dont know why. I wish there was more I can do but she is having a really difficult time with the aftereffects of the chemo. she says she feels sooooooooo tired and the discomfort in her stomach (doctor says its a good thing because it means that the cancer cells are dying inside her tummy) shes not getting much sleep (nothing past 4 am) and chemo is schedule for next Wednesday. and we r going to go see the cardiologist on friday.

do the aftereffects get progressively worst???

im trying my best. i really am
i work full time and im in my senior year of college im 21 (well ill be 21 on friday) and i feel a little a little guilty that her appointments get scheduled around me because i go with her. i feel guilty that i cant take care of her all day. my mom and my aunts do and my grandpa are always with her shes never alone but i still feel guilty. i feel like this isnt fair.

writing on this site is the first time i vent,
its the first time i write like this...
i feel guilty that im writing about myself right now...
i just want this cancer gone.
is that to much to ask?

lani

Such a great granddaughter!
Hi Lani,
You have nothing to feel guilty about dear one. I have a granddaughter your age...(she will be 21 Sept 1). My dear sweet Chelsie is always calling or stopping by and saying how un-fair this nasty cancer is. I see the fear in her eyes and the worry she has for me, and the best I can do in keeping her calm is to keep telling her "all will be fine,just faithfully say your daily prayers, and leave the rest in God's hands". You need to remember that us gramma's don't want you girls to worry or feel guilty about anything regarding the cancer we have. It's not anyone's fault...it just is, what it is. You are fortunate to have family members taking care of your grandma when you are not able to do so. Thats what family does when a crisis occurs...we band together and deal with the situation as best as can be. You are a sweetie for going to her appointments with her and I can tell you love her so very much. She knows it too, and I'm sure she would be upset if she knew you were feeling guilty about anything. You ask if it's too much to just want this cancer gone...no it's not to much to ask, but it's not realistic. Instead of wishing it gone, just pray each day for a cure, and add a special prayer for your gramma to have a good day. The power of prayer is mighty, not only for the one you are praying for, but also for yourself. You come here and vent anytime you need to dear one, and PLEASE quit feeling guilty. Keep a positive attitude and give gramma a kiss and hug along with a big smile each time you see her. God bless you sweet child and I'll keep your gramma in my daily prayers. Much love...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)

bluerose

lani812 said:

hey
the results of the pet scan came back it was a little scary to hear how it has spread but the doctor said its normal for her type of lymphoma to spread to the places it has. she lost one pound which is not bad because before the diagnosis she lost almost 25 pounds in the course of 2 months. she has a lot of appetite which gives me a little peace. she is still to terrified to go through with the BMB so im not pushing it and she doctor said shell let me know when it becomes mandatory. But she says that she is most likely in stage four and that the treatment isnt any different unless the cancer nodes get larger in size

blue rose its so difficult. i feel guilty and I dont know why. I wish there was more I can do but she is having a really difficult time with the aftereffects of the chemo. she says she feels sooooooooo tired and the discomfort in her stomach (doctor says its a good thing because it means that the cancer cells are dying inside her tummy) shes not getting much sleep (nothing past 4 am) and chemo is schedule for next Wednesday. and we r going to go see the cardiologist on friday.

do the aftereffects get progressively worst???

im trying my best. i really am
i work full time and im in my senior year of college im 21 (well ill be 21 on friday) and i feel a little a little guilty that her appointments get scheduled around me because i go with her. i feel guilty that i cant take care of her all day. my mom and my aunts do and my grandpa are always with her shes never alone but i still feel guilty. i feel like this isnt fair.

writing on this site is the first time i vent,
its the first time i write like this...
i feel guilty that im writing about myself right now...
i just want this cancer gone.
is that to much to ask?

lani

Aftereffects amd support
You can't worry about after effects right now with your Grandmother, right now it's about the right treatments so just listen to the doctors but if you have questions they should be answering them for you.

Tiredness and nausea and soreness are all very common side effects of chemo, it's not an easy treatment for sure but the payoff can be great. She will get through it, just takes time. Think about what the treatment is doing - it's killing bad cells and that is hard on the body, it's being hit with all kinds of harsh drugs so all of that is to be expected - it just all sucks is the bottomline but keep looking to a good outcome and that will get you all through.

As far as the guilt you feel is concerned that is normal too BUT we can all tell you that you are doing more than the very best you can do right now given your age and situation and you NOTHING to be guilty about. We are all telling you that. Just tell your inlaws you want to stay informed and ask them to ask the doctors questions for you and get the answers and if not call the docs yourself. Information is power and information can give you peace of mind in knowing that all that can be done is being done in it's own good time.

Caregivers always feel that there is more that they can do or should be doing but really it sounds like you are doing alot for her. Just being there and being involved is doing more for your Grandmother than you even know. You know there are many survivors who are abandoned by friends and family in situations where cancer comes calling so right off the bat your Grandmother is blessed in spades that she doesn't have to go through this alone. You say she is never alone and someone is always with her, what more could she ask for or need? Stop feeling guilty and put your energies into telling your Grandmother how much you love her and maybe put energy into thinking of things to send her that will be pleasant reminders of your relationship with her, put together photo albums or frame a favourite picture of the two of you or keep her updated on all you are doing too. Oftentimes we survivors stop hearing about our dear ones lives because they feel guilty about talking about themselves and that makes us then feel guilty we are imposing our illness on others, it's a viscious circle this guilt thing.

Continue to love and support your Grandmother as you are and just enjoy her as you always have. That's the greatest support.

Blessings,

Bluerose

lani812

bluerose said:

Aftereffects amd support
You can't worry about after effects right now with your Grandmother, right now it's about the right treatments so just listen to the doctors but if you have questions they should be answering them for you.

Tiredness and nausea and soreness are all very common side effects of chemo, it's not an easy treatment for sure but the payoff can be great. She will get through it, just takes time. Think about what the treatment is doing - it's killing bad cells and that is hard on the body, it's being hit with all kinds of harsh drugs so all of that is to be expected - it just all sucks is the bottomline but keep looking to a good outcome and that will get you all through.

As far as the guilt you feel is concerned that is normal too BUT we can all tell you that you are doing more than the very best you can do right now given your age and situation and you NOTHING to be guilty about. We are all telling you that. Just tell your inlaws you want to stay informed and ask them to ask the doctors questions for you and get the answers and if not call the docs yourself. Information is power and information can give you peace of mind in knowing that all that can be done is being done in it's own good time.

Caregivers always feel that there is more that they can do or should be doing but really it sounds like you are doing alot for her. Just being there and being involved is doing more for your Grandmother than you even know. You know there are many survivors who are abandoned by friends and family in situations where cancer comes calling so right off the bat your Grandmother is blessed in spades that she doesn't have to go through this alone. You say she is never alone and someone is always with her, what more could she ask for or need? Stop feeling guilty and put your energies into telling your Grandmother how much you love her and maybe put energy into thinking of things to send her that will be pleasant reminders of your relationship with her, put together photo albums or frame a favourite picture of the two of you or keep her updated on all you are doing too. Oftentimes we survivors stop hearing about our dear ones lives because they feel guilty about talking about themselves and that makes us then feel guilty we are imposing our illness on others, it's a viscious circle this guilt thing.

Continue to love and support your Grandmother as you are and just enjoy her as you always have. That's the greatest support.

Blessings,

Bluerose

tomorrow 1030am
hey guys all ur support is so appreciated. im a little scared right now. she cant even get out of bed on her own she cant go to the bathroom on her own. She has chemo scheduled for tomorrow at 1030 am. someone had the audacity to tell me that i should just not take her to chemo anymore that shes going to die either way. family can be really cruel at times. i refuse to loose this fight without at least giving it a chance. i refuse to quit without a fight.

i spoke to a cancer survivor who was speaking to me about blood counts. im not to sure what that means. she saw my grandma and told her she thinks her blood counts are low because shes getting delusional. shes forgetting small things and getting lost in the middle of sentences. her feet are also swollen im taking her to the cardiologist for that on friday since she has a history of heart problems.

i have a strong feeling the doctor will ask to leaver her in the hospital tomorrow after our visit shes 74 and very weak. well see what happens wen we get back the results from last weeks blood work.
my grandma has 7 kids and we are 17 grandchildren all together. that means there r a lot of people calling my phone asking me for answers that i do not have.

i expected the possibility of things getting bad. just not this quickly.

bluerose

lani812 said:

tomorrow 1030am
hey guys all ur support is so appreciated. im a little scared right now. she cant even get out of bed on her own she cant go to the bathroom on her own. She has chemo scheduled for tomorrow at 1030 am. someone had the audacity to tell me that i should just not take her to chemo anymore that shes going to die either way. family can be really cruel at times. i refuse to loose this fight without at least giving it a chance. i refuse to quit without a fight.

i spoke to a cancer survivor who was speaking to me about blood counts. im not to sure what that means. she saw my grandma and told her she thinks her blood counts are low because shes getting delusional. shes forgetting small things and getting lost in the middle of sentences. her feet are also swollen im taking her to the cardiologist for that on friday since she has a history of heart problems.

i have a strong feeling the doctor will ask to leaver her in the hospital tomorrow after our visit shes 74 and very weak. well see what happens wen we get back the results from last weeks blood work.
my grandma has 7 kids and we are 17 grandchildren all together. that means there r a lot of people calling my phone asking me for answers that i do not have.

i expected the possibility of things getting bad. just not this quickly.

All the best at the appt today
I am so sorry you are having to go through all of this right now. I do hope you have your faith to help you through, it helped me tremendously when I was going through my cancer journey.

It might be the best thing for your Grandmother if she went into hospital, especially if she is unable to get to the bathroom on her own and that type of dependancy.

Just keep writing down questions that your family has and ask the doctors next time you see them, that's all you can do. Just tell your family that you will ask the doc next time you see him/her and if they want more complete answers they might need to call the docs themselves. You could also suggest that you will update by email everyone at once as soon as you know something new, that way they might just watch their email instead of calling you all the time. Putting alot of pressure on you with calls all the time.

Your Grandmother is on in years and that plus treatments will for sure make her very very tired, it does anyone and at her age too. The doctors are well equipped I would hope to make the right decisions for her as to treatment but the family has the yay/nay final decision for sure. Did you get a second opinion? I forget.

Will be thinking of you today. All the very best.

Blessings,

Bluerose

allmost60

lani812 said:

tomorrow 1030am
hey guys all ur support is so appreciated. im a little scared right now. she cant even get out of bed on her own she cant go to the bathroom on her own. She has chemo scheduled for tomorrow at 1030 am. someone had the audacity to tell me that i should just not take her to chemo anymore that shes going to die either way. family can be really cruel at times. i refuse to loose this fight without at least giving it a chance. i refuse to quit without a fight.

i spoke to a cancer survivor who was speaking to me about blood counts. im not to sure what that means. she saw my grandma and told her she thinks her blood counts are low because shes getting delusional. shes forgetting small things and getting lost in the middle of sentences. her feet are also swollen im taking her to the cardiologist for that on friday since she has a history of heart problems.

i have a strong feeling the doctor will ask to leaver her in the hospital tomorrow after our visit shes 74 and very weak. well see what happens wen we get back the results from last weeks blood work.
my grandma has 7 kids and we are 17 grandchildren all together. that means there r a lot of people calling my phone asking me for answers that i do not have.

i expected the possibility of things getting bad. just not this quickly.

Good luck..
So sorry your grandmother is having such a hard go of it right now. I'll keep her in my prayers for chemo to go smoothly today. Being in the hospital for it sounds like a good idea. This way she will have constant care and someone checking on her. Take care of yourself through all of this...cancer takes a toll on the whole family and can make the days seem so endless. Let us know how she does with the chemo..when you get the time.
Much Love...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)

lani812

allmost60 said:

Good luck..
So sorry your grandmother is having such a hard go of it right now. I'll keep her in my prayers for chemo to go smoothly today. Being in the hospital for it sounds like a good idea. This way she will have constant care and someone checking on her. Take care of yourself through all of this...cancer takes a toll on the whole family and can make the days seem so endless. Let us know how she does with the chemo..when you get the time.
Much Love...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)

update
hey guys chemo went well. surprisingly her blood counts came back fine. the doctor gave her pills for her appetite and to help her sleep. only 4 rounds of chemo to go

she is no longer walking alone
she cant stand for more than 2 or 3 minutes at a time.
she lost 3 more pounds

the day she got the chemo she got the runs like 2 mins after and i had to carry her to the bathroom and she almost collapsed and started crying. i honestly felt like i wanted to sit on the floor in the hospital bathroom and cry with her.

she cant even lift a cup of water anymore. the oncologist send her to get the xray of her chest and back and looks like we really are going to need the bone marrow biopsy after all cuz her bones are completely weak right now.

on the bight side she seems more at peace she has more of a will to fight. i think shes getting used to pushing day by day. i try to keep her house as neat at possible because i know we cant afford a cold or any germs right now.
my grandpa keeps taking things apart and putting them back together haha guess that is his way of coping.
i know that you guys are the only people that understand wat shes going through right now.
she tells me she feels soooo tired that she cant even explain it. u guys are true heroes. my respect to you for pushing and surviving every single day past cancer.

my brother is on his way home from florida with his 2 year old son. we are having a family party for no reason. i know seeing all her kids and grandkids together makes her happy. i see the color flush back to her checks when she sees a lot of us in one room.


im grateful for every minute i have with her. and im grateful for u guys. i tell her about all of the stories that i read her and that shes not alone.

thank you, ill let you know how the next doctors appt goes...

humbly,
lani

KC13167

lani812 said:

update
hey guys chemo went well. surprisingly her blood counts came back fine. the doctor gave her pills for her appetite and to help her sleep. only 4 rounds of chemo to go

she is no longer walking alone
she cant stand for more than 2 or 3 minutes at a time.
she lost 3 more pounds

the day she got the chemo she got the runs like 2 mins after and i had to carry her to the bathroom and she almost collapsed and started crying. i honestly felt like i wanted to sit on the floor in the hospital bathroom and cry with her.

she cant even lift a cup of water anymore. the oncologist send her to get the xray of her chest and back and looks like we really are going to need the bone marrow biopsy after all cuz her bones are completely weak right now.

on the bight side she seems more at peace she has more of a will to fight. i think shes getting used to pushing day by day. i try to keep her house as neat at possible because i know we cant afford a cold or any germs right now.
my grandpa keeps taking things apart and putting them back together haha guess that is his way of coping.
i know that you guys are the only people that understand wat shes going through right now.
she tells me she feels soooo tired that she cant even explain it. u guys are true heroes. my respect to you for pushing and surviving every single day past cancer.

my brother is on his way home from florida with his 2 year old son. we are having a family party for no reason. i know seeing all her kids and grandkids together makes her happy. i see the color flush back to her checks when she sees a lot of us in one room.


im grateful for every minute i have with her. and im grateful for u guys. i tell her about all of the stories that i read her and that shes not alone.

thank you, ill let you know how the next doctors appt goes...

humbly,
lani

So special
Iani,

You are incredible. You are able to appreciate the smallest things, your Granddad's coping mechanisms and the joy in your grandma's face when she's with her family. What a blessing you are to all of them. I will continue to pray for you and your family. Please don't forget to take care of yourself too!

Big hugs!
Kellie

allmost60

lani812 said:

update
hey guys chemo went well. surprisingly her blood counts came back fine. the doctor gave her pills for her appetite and to help her sleep. only 4 rounds of chemo to go

she is no longer walking alone
she cant stand for more than 2 or 3 minutes at a time.
she lost 3 more pounds

the day she got the chemo she got the runs like 2 mins after and i had to carry her to the bathroom and she almost collapsed and started crying. i honestly felt like i wanted to sit on the floor in the hospital bathroom and cry with her.

she cant even lift a cup of water anymore. the oncologist send her to get the xray of her chest and back and looks like we really are going to need the bone marrow biopsy after all cuz her bones are completely weak right now.

on the bight side she seems more at peace she has more of a will to fight. i think shes getting used to pushing day by day. i try to keep her house as neat at possible because i know we cant afford a cold or any germs right now.
my grandpa keeps taking things apart and putting them back together haha guess that is his way of coping.
i know that you guys are the only people that understand wat shes going through right now.
she tells me she feels soooo tired that she cant even explain it. u guys are true heroes. my respect to you for pushing and surviving every single day past cancer.

my brother is on his way home from florida with his 2 year old son. we are having a family party for no reason. i know seeing all her kids and grandkids together makes her happy. i see the color flush back to her checks when she sees a lot of us in one room.


im grateful for every minute i have with her. and im grateful for u guys. i tell her about all of the stories that i read her and that shes not alone.

thank you, ill let you know how the next doctors appt goes...

humbly,
lani

Thanks...
Hi Lani,
Thanks so much for letting us know how chemo went for your grandmother. You are such a sweet caring granddaughter..just warms my heart. You take care, and I'll keep your grandmother in my prayers. Much love...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)

lani812

allmost60 said:

Thanks...
Hi Lani,
Thanks so much for letting us know how chemo went for your grandmother. You are such a sweet caring granddaughter..just warms my heart. You take care, and I'll keep your grandmother in my prayers. Much love...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)

pray for my family plz
my grandmother was rushed to the er on sunday morning with severe chest pains. that turned out to be a swollen heart and water in her lungs. she is now officially at stage 4 and her calcium levels are really high. she is also at high risk of a heart attack. today is the first day i have been home since sunday i came to shower and eat since things have stayed the same for the past 3 days my aunts are spending the night since classes start for me tomorrow morning n grandma will not have me miss the first day of my senior year of college. but i dnt want to go anywhere but next to her. shes asking to see people like my cousins and her sister and my uncle that lives in north carolina and is flying in tomorrow. shes forgetting who i am sometimes her memeory comes and goes and she falls asleep in the middle of sentences. i fear that this might be it...and im not ready.

lani

allmost60

lani812 said:

pray for my family plz
my grandmother was rushed to the er on sunday morning with severe chest pains. that turned out to be a swollen heart and water in her lungs. she is now officially at stage 4 and her calcium levels are really high. she is also at high risk of a heart attack. today is the first day i have been home since sunday i came to shower and eat since things have stayed the same for the past 3 days my aunts are spending the night since classes start for me tomorrow morning n grandma will not have me miss the first day of my senior year of college. but i dnt want to go anywhere but next to her. shes asking to see people like my cousins and her sister and my uncle that lives in north carolina and is flying in tomorrow. shes forgetting who i am sometimes her memeory comes and goes and she falls asleep in the middle of sentences. i fear that this might be it...and im not ready.

lani

So sorry...
Hi Lani,
You have my prayers for your Grandmother. This has been a very hard time for you and your family, and your Grandmother is so fortunate to have all of you. My heart goes out to you. Thanks for keeping us posted. Much love...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)