Mom update

Ginny_B
Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I haven't posted about mom in a long while, so here's a quickie. She has 4 more rad sessions to complete her 28. Today is a chemo bag refill and dressing change and I'm hoping it's the last one. The Onc nurse said the doc Rx'd one more month of chemo! I hope not. The Rads doc said he will "evaluate" and determine if more rads are needed. I hope not! I'm ready to get her off chemo and rads. Move to the internal Radiation Books (1/wk for 4 weeks), and then see where we stand.

Mom has good days and bad days,but I finally sat her down and told her to stop fighting me. She needs to eat and take her meds and sleep and not fight it. I told her that if she continues to lose weight (down to 125 with clothes, shoes, jacket, and chemo pump on) that they will insert a feeding tube. She said she'd eat.

This week she has been doing a good job. I give her a pain pill 1 hr before eating and she can swallow fairly well. She doesn't want her blood sugar tested. (supposed to test 3x a day). She doesn't want to drink juices - only water, but doc said she needs the juice cuz the water is zapping her sodium.

All in all, she's much better in the last 2 weeks. I will take her home for a few hours today - she misses her house, I'm sure.

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year and that joy and blessings abound!

Comments

  • Ginny_B
    Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
    #2
    New picture
    I'm trying to update her photo, but not having any luck.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    Ginny_B said:

    New picture
    I'm trying to update her photo, but not having any luck.

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Ginny_B
    Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Boy, don't I sound like the
    Boy, don't I sound like the wicked witch of the west.
  • jgwright
    jgwright Member Posts: 242
    #5
    Ginny_B said:

    Boy, don't I sound like the
    Boy, don't I sound like the wicked witch of the west.

    Stressed
    What you sound like is stressed!!! Wonder why??? Remember to take care of YOU too.
    --Jerry
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #6
    Ginny, Your mom is so lucky
    Ginny, Your mom is so lucky to have a caring daughter. I didn't have a problem eating during chemo--I just couldn't drink my coffee and outside of water, that's all I want.
    My problems with eating was after surgery. If my husband put over a couple tbl. of food on my plate, it made me sick. I would swallow a couple of swallows of ensure with my meds.
    There is nothing worst than having a zero appetite. We know we need to eat, but it's hard to swallow it.
    I understand where you're at. Women are nurturers and we worry about feeding everyone. You are right to try to encourage her. She needs to keep her strength up.
    Good luck, Sandra
  • JReed
    JReed Member Posts: 428
    #7
    Ginny_B said:

    Boy, don't I sound like the
    Boy, don't I sound like the wicked witch of the west.

    No you don't -
    Ginny

    You most certainly do not sound like a wicked witch - you sound like a very caring and loving daughter who wants to take the very best care of mom that you can. You are. I would be doing the same thing you are - you know they need to eat and drink - and William is right - we don't know how the patient feels - you just want to push them to do what you know is needed. Maybe they should put in a feeding tube then you can relax a little and know that at least she's getting the nutrition she so badly needs.

    Your mom sounds pretty spunky to me - I'll bet she can be a real handful at times - of course she is - she has raised a beautiful and very loving/caring daughter - YOU.

    It is so hard to watch one of your parents become ill - I was a caretaker to my dad - and man that was a hard job. Paul is right - be sure to take care of yourself. It is so difficult to switch from being stressed to being relaxed - I never have been able to find a good way to do that but I hope you can.

    You are awesome Ginny - keep us posted on you and mom are doing and give yourself a great big hug from me!

    Love,
    Judy
  • Mazj
    Mazj Member Posts: 42
    #8
    sandy1943 said:

    Ginny, Your mom is so lucky
    Ginny, Your mom is so lucky to have a caring daughter. I didn't have a problem eating during chemo--I just couldn't drink my coffee and outside of water, that's all I want.
    My problems with eating was after surgery. If my husband put over a couple tbl. of food on my plate, it made me sick. I would swallow a couple of swallows of ensure with my meds.
    There is nothing worst than having a zero appetite. We know we need to eat, but it's hard to swallow it.
    I understand where you're at. Women are nurturers and we worry about feeding everyone. You are right to try to encourage her. She needs to keep her strength up.
    Good luck, Sandra

    That's OK
    Because I am called 'Nurse Ratchet'! I think they know we love them and are caring for them as best we can. My husband agrees with William that it is hard for us to see it from the patient point of view. I think you are doing a marvellous job for what it is worth.
    Hugs
    Marilyn
    Wife of Brian T0N0M1
  • Mazj
    Mazj Member Posts: 42
    #9
    sandy1943 said:

    Ginny, Your mom is so lucky
    Ginny, Your mom is so lucky to have a caring daughter. I didn't have a problem eating during chemo--I just couldn't drink my coffee and outside of water, that's all I want.
    My problems with eating was after surgery. If my husband put over a couple tbl. of food on my plate, it made me sick. I would swallow a couple of swallows of ensure with my meds.
    There is nothing worst than having a zero appetite. We know we need to eat, but it's hard to swallow it.
    I understand where you're at. Women are nurturers and we worry about feeding everyone. You are right to try to encourage her. She needs to keep her strength up.
    Good luck, Sandra

    That's OK
    Because I am called 'Nurse Ratchet'! I think they know we love them and are caring for them as best we can. My husband agrees with William that it is hard for us to see it from the patient point of view. I think you are doing a marvellous job for what it is worth.
    Hugs
    Marilyn
    Wife of Brian T0N0M1

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