John Looking better

Ericalynn
Ericalynn Member Posts: 200
in Esophageal Cancer #1
John is looking and feeling better. He has been on continuous feeding through j-tube (he started Tuesday @ noon). Once he started the tube feeding I could see the difference in a few hours. The infection looks ( to me) like it is clearing up. He started antibiotics on Sunday afternoon, the incision site is still draining but it has slow down considerable in the last 24 hours. He went to the gym today and walked (slowly) on treadmill for 20 minutes. I think he felt so much better getting back in gym. Before diagnosis he went to gym every morning, he backed off to 3-4 days per week during chemo/rad. I think getting to the gym even if it was only for a short time did him a world of good. Now about me I am EXHAUSED I am so tired and everyone keeps telling me I have to take care of myself but I do not know how to do that and take care of everything else too. Thoughts anyone? O and one more thing this morning it looked to me like John’s ankles were a little swollen tonight it definitely looked like he had swelling in the ankles (one side more pronounced) is it from tube feeding is it going in to fast? I backed off the rate by 20 ml. Any thoughts? Love you all Erica

Comments

  • fredswilma
    fredswilma Member Posts: 185
    #2
    Hi Erica
    I am so glad that
    Hi Erica
    I am so glad that John is feeling better, I know as a caregiver that you worry about everything, any little change can bring on worry and hope but you do need to care for yourself, what are the things that you enjoyed prior to his diagnosis, you need to take an hour each week (or daily if you can) and do those things, I know with me that Marks cancer is never far away from me it is the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last thing I think of when I go to sleep, it has overtaken my life, Lee put it really well when he said there is a white elephant in our home and its alway there, but I know that to look after Mark and family and friends I need an hours space away from the world, my dogs allow me that space, I walk them and tell them whats on my mind and you know they just listen and wag their tails, they keep me sane!, please take care of yourself find that one thing that will keep you sane, know that others are thinking of you, take care.
    Ann
  • Wpturner05
    Wpturner05 Member Posts: 114
    #3
    Swollen ankles
    Erica,

    I would give a call to your doctor's office. Swollen ankles could be a sifn of congestive heart failure. When you press on his ankles, does it make a dent? If so, please call. Is he short of breath or coughing? Also other signs of congestive heart failure with swollen ankles. I could be wrong, but I would rather be wrong and safe, than sorry.

    Whitney
  • Joel C
    Joel C Member Posts: 174
    #4
    Wpturner05 said:

    Swollen ankles
    Erica,

    I would give a call to your doctor's office. Swollen ankles could be a sifn of congestive heart failure. When you press on his ankles, does it make a dent? If so, please call. Is he short of breath or coughing? Also other signs of congestive heart failure with swollen ankles. I could be wrong, but I would rather be wrong and safe, than sorry.

    Whitney

    Take a little break
    Hi Erica,

    It sounds like John is improving quickly. The fact that he spent 20 minutes at the gym is a fantastic sign. I’m hoping that his swollen ankles are because perhaps he may have slightly overdone it at the gym. 20 minutes on a treadmill so shortly after this surgery is really pushing.

    In regard to you being exhausted as the caregiver I can certainly understand that. I can see that Tammy is being beaten down by this disease as much as I am. I think Ann’s point about a little me time would go a long way. Maybe you could meet a friend for a cup of coffee or something simple like that a few times a week? Tammy is going to a comedy show after work tonight with some friends, it’s only a few hours but caregivers need to take a break too.

    Joel
  • chemosmoker
    chemosmoker Member Posts: 501
    #5
    TIME FOR ERICA! WAY TO GO JOHN!!
    Erica,
    The ankles could be the treadmill, the feedings going too fast, or a serious problem. ALL were addressed. Check into that first...

    THEN...

    TAKE TIME FOR YOU!! I know everyone said it.
    If you have insurance, you might find that a RESPITE nurse can be sent to your home to relieve you. This may NOT be available to you, but we were told this was an option in our original insurance so Michelle could have a break, much like Hospice offers respite care, sometimes in a facility, to give the caregivers a break.
    If the things you are doing are all around John's care, you may be relieved to find you can have services that are PAID for, but you probably have to ASK. Ask your doctor and nurses and anyone else involved in his care. You may be pleasantly surprised.

    I wish you all the best, and I am SO glad to hear how well John has come along!
    YOU are doing great. Pat yourself on the back, big-time!!!

    Lot of love and hugs and prayers,
    -Eric and Michelle
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #6
    You have received excellent advice from all!
    I won't bother repeating them.

    Looks like everyone is watching over the two of you. :) That's a blessing, Erica! Maybe jknowing that we are all here to help will lighten your load just the slightest. I hope so.

    You will find that as John improves, you do as well. But still make sure you take an hour or two for yourself. John can sleep, read a book, or watch TV. He'll be fine while you're out. Nick told me once that it does his heart good to see me come home with a smile. Sometimes it takes that ME hour to find the smile.

    Hugs back atcha!

    Terry
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #7
    Wpturner05 said:

    Swollen ankles
    Erica,

    I would give a call to your doctor's office. Swollen ankles could be a sifn of congestive heart failure. When you press on his ankles, does it make a dent? If so, please call. Is he short of breath or coughing? Also other signs of congestive heart failure with swollen ankles. I could be wrong, but I would rather be wrong and safe, than sorry.

    Whitney

    Swollen Ankles
    Hi Erica and John
    Whitney's post brought back memories of my dad. He had some real bad swollen ankles and calves for a few weeks before he passed. He was dx with EC 11/4/08. Stage IV, not able to have surgery, had 6 weeks of chemo and radiation, hit the one year mark, drs. said in remission. One month later in hospital with severe pain in liver. Cancer spread to liver, stent put in bile duct, stent put in esophagus, came home right before Christmas. Started oral chemo xeloda for liver, it worked for the esophagus....NOT for the liver. He suffered for 3 mos and passed in March 2010. My dad did become short of breath, he did develop a cough. It could have been congestive heart failure along with the cancer. Please get John's swelling checked out. You do want to be safe than sorry. We are always here for you. Lean on us!
    Tina in Va

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