Ren12

Me too.  Hope she is feeling well.  Hugs and best wishes to you both.

ren12 said:

Thanks ladies!! She seems to

Thanks ladies!! She seems to always be in pain. Her pain patch has been uped to 150 and she also takes a break thru every 6 hours. Shes so skinny.  She goes for an exam on Tuesday and next round of chemo is Thursday. Her hair is really starting to fall out. She isnt taking that very well. She thinks that should be the least of her worries. I reassured her it was normal to feel that way, and I would too! She is still wanting to fight and never give up which is great!!! Thanks for asking

AHHHHHH, the hair.  Yes, it's always more traumatic then you would think.  When I went for my chemo teaching my husband, mom and my moms husband came with me.  I remember the nurse going over all the chemo side effects.  When she got to the one about hair loss she said it was the hardest side effect people deal with.  Me and my moms husband looked at each other like she was crazy. I mean, this is toxic chemicals infused into outer bodies, right?!  The last thing I'm concerned about is hair loss.  I'm far more concerns about killing the cancer and the other potentially fatal and permenant tside effects of treatment.  But when the time came. The hair loss was a major blow.  Not only does it take away years in the making, but an integral representation of yourself and femininity.  And worse...it makes you a cancer patient.  No way of getting around that every time you look in the mirror.  No way the people on the streets don't see that.  And all that reality can be a little much.  

Make sure she knows that it is ok for that to be hard.  It is hard.  And she has every right to mourn that loss.  But, time will pass and the hair will grow back.  For me, it grew back the same as it was ( well, maybe a few more grey hairs, but only I can tell). 

Im im sorry to hear that she is still experiencing pain.  I hope they can get her meds right and make her comfortable.  I have a friend who is stage 4 prostate cancer, with mets to lung and bones.  He has a fracture in his femur from radiation and is constant pain.  He has been on all sorts of narcotics and is under the care of hospice.  I spoke to him recently and he said that he has found marijuna to alleviate his pain far better than the pain meds and allows him to be more functional with bett appetite.    There is also the prescription form marinol that he has tried but says its not as effective.  So....something to consider.  Studies also suggest marijuana can  prevent metastasis and even cause apoptosis in cancer cells.

prayers for a good exam and an easy chemo this coming week.  hugs to you both.  Hang in there.

FightingSpirit said:

Thinking of You

As women, hair seems to be a big part of our identity and femininity.  Three years ago, I cut off all my hair (boy short, not bald) and was shocked at the emotions that came out after voluntarily shedding my locks.  I was vulnerabe, exposed and insecure.  I went into hiding for 2 days .  However, as time went on, my lack of hair seemed to create a new confidence within me.  India Arie's song "I Am Not My Hair" was a great confidence booster.  But even with that experience, when I was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, my first negative thought about chemo was that I was going to lose my hair!!!  

Caring about her appearance is a GREAT sign.  Nurture it by helping her pick out wigs, find sassy earings, learn makeup tips which flatter her new look and bring out her beautiful features, learn how to use scarves.  Try to have fun with it.  Make it a bonding experience and who knows.....you just may get a chance to have some fun together and forget about the cancer for a short time.

I pray that her tests go well today.

Stay strong!

Fighting

I love getting on here and reading everyones replies. Makes me feel so much better, and even more important my mom as well. She went for her checkup and was in horrible pain when she got there so decided to keep her overnight with a morphine drip. She was also had the pump which she could push every 6 minutes. She had to push it everytime!! Took about 4 hours before she felt any relief. They have uped her patch again and she is now on her way home. She had ct scan last night and it did not show anything new. Thank God!! She also had to get blood since her count was so low. She will get her next round of chemo tomorrow. When she got her physical exam yesterday her dr said her tumors have reduced in size by 50%!!! He said that was impressive!! He had told us earlier that this chemo would not do much to help with her tumors, but to prolong her life. So that was wonderful news!! He did mention to her about the medical marijauna but she couldnt decide if she wanted to do that. I have heard wonderful things about it and cancer as well so I really hope she will do that.

Hope everything is going well for you guys.  

ren12 said:

I love getting on here and

I love getting on here and reading everyones replies. Makes me feel so much better, and even more important my mom as well. She went for her checkup and was in horrible pain when she got there so decided to keep her overnight with a morphine drip. She was also had the pump which she could push every 6 minutes. She had to push it everytime!! Took about 4 hours before she felt any relief. They have uped her patch again and she is now on her way home. She had ct scan last night and it did not show anything new. Thank God!! She also had to get blood since her count was so low. She will get her next round of chemo tomorrow. When she got her physical exam yesterday her dr said her tumors have reduced in size by 50%!!! He said that was impressive!! He had told us earlier that this chemo would not do much to help with her tumors, but to prolong her life. So that was wonderful news!! He did mention to her about the medical marijauna but she couldnt decide if she wanted to do that. I have heard wonderful things about it and cancer as well so I really hope she will do that.

Hope everything is going well for you guys.  

So glad to hear she is making such good progress and the original treatment prognosis is proving incorrect.  Doctors can't predict everything .  

Hope they get the pain under control soon.

Hugs,

Fighting

FightingSpirit said:

Thinking of You

Hi Ren,

You and your Mom have been on my mind all day.  How are things going?  Hope the doctors have gotten the pain under control.

Hugs,

Fighting.

Me too.  Hope all is well.  Hugs.

ren12 said:

Thank you for the concern.

Thank you for the concern. Her pain is still awful!! All she does is sit in bed and hurt. She is down to 119 pounds. She was 150 when all this started. They have prescribed a pill to increase appetite and within the next few days she should start a pain drip at home. They have uped her patch as high as they can. Still uncurable is what they say. I can handle that news a lot easier if she wasnt hurting. 

Where is her pain?  Consider a pain pump, a catheter that delivers anisthetics directly to the nerves where her pain is.  Also, speak to a pain specialist.  There are adjustments and numerous meds she can be given to help alleviate her pain.  Fentanyl patches, liquid morphine, ect.  These all have their own side effects though, such as sleepiness, constipation, and such.

Marinol, is a prescription pain/appetite stimulant derided of caniboids.  Consider.  Also, smoking marijuana greatly alleviates pain for many individuals as well as stimulates appetite without the side effects of prescription pain meds.  Also, a glass of wine can stimulate the appetite as well.  Check with your docs on that as pain meds and alcohol are generally not recommended.

I know that I repeat myself on these things from previous posts, but I trulybelieve your mother could find comfort in finding the right dose/medication.  Please be direct with her doctors.  Insist on finding a combination that keeps her comfortable.  I hope that the pain drip at home helps, and keeps her comfortable.  Does she have someone at home with her?  it breaks my heart she suffers.

please know she is in my prayers, and I hope that you both can find love and laughter despite the "incurrable" condition.  Doctors don't know everything, and some people live with cancer a long long time.  I hope your mom is one of them.  Hugs to you both.