Update on my baby sister

tribaltina
tribaltina Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi Folks
Sorry for not responding to my post of 2 months ago. Unfortunately it will be hit and miss for another month for me. I am giving up the sunshine of Florida and moving back to my hometown to help care for my sister and the family. So busy packing and making arrangements.
I posted about my baby sister ( Laura ) back in Febuary. She is holding her own still. We are on round 4 of chemo and start 5 weeks of radiation tomorrow along with the chemo pump. She had to have a stretch about a month ago and that went smoothly.
She is suffering from alot of nausea, bleeding mouth, itchy feet and hands as expected. Our biggest problem is maintaining her weight! One week she does great the next she lost 3 pounds, and on and on. My mother is trying everything but there is just not enough stomach or time in the day to get alot into her. She still has her feeding tubes, but nothing goes in them. It really makes her ill when the tubes are used to feed her. Any suggestions? They were doing ensure through the tubes. She only weighs 103 pounds!
Secondly, what should i tell my mother to expect with her radiation? I know fatigue, but anything else that she can get prepared for?
Thanks so much for everyones support, its hard for me to get online most days but try to do a quick read when I can.
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all that have lost loved ones, I could not imagine what you must be going through. Know that God is your comforter and your strength.
Tina #3

Comments

  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #2
    Best of Luck to you
    Hi Tribal Tina,
    If you are Tina #3....does that make me Tina #2?? I think so! Anyway...I think it is a great idea for you to move back to help with your sister. Your family I am sure needs your help and support. I would ask the dr about Laura's feeding tubes. Sounds to me like this is the only way she should be getting nourishment. Why does this happen to her when the feeding tubes are used? As far as radiation, my dad did well with his. Everyone responds differently. Another question for the dr. My prayers go out to you and your sister and your family. You are doing the best thing for everyone. Keep us posted when you can.
    Tina #2
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • tribaltina
    tribaltina Member Posts: 5
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Thanks
    She did have the asophagectomy Christmas week, they removed over 50% of both stomach and asophages, plus about 50 lymphnodes. The last time I got to see her she was still in a hospital room with a million tubes and 60 staples. That was Christmas Eve!

    I tease her all the time that she cant be normal, she also has prenicous anemia diagnosed in teenage years and discovered a bundle branch block in her heart about 5 years ago. Plus to top it all off her cancer is signet ring cell.

    Thanks for the advice. I know she is taking zofran for nausea but I think thats it, I just sent her a text message to ask Doc about EMEND today when she goes in for treatment.

    Ugh I cant remember which tube they left in, will have to ask. She had both initialy because she had lost 60 pounds in 4 months. She is perfect weight at 120 and is at 103 or so. I have suggested whey protein, will have my mom get some plus carnation. My Aunt sent her a juicer so they have just started with the homemade smoothies.

    Moving home is the right thing to do. Everyone seems to baby her and let's her get away with being "sick". If they have a problem with her stubborness they call me to straighten her out. I'm the mean one that won't let her lay in bed and whine, I make her get up and go to WalMart or sit outside. But I also pray with her and encourage her, she is 35 years old and has 2 children (12&15) that need their Mother. Her husband is amazing with her and does all that he can, but they have a small business and without the income HE makes they are, pardon my french, screwed. They have a great friend support system, but my brothers cry when they see her (she is the baby). she is a very private person so she doesn't want people helping her. My Mom and Dad do all they can by mowing grass and cleaning house, thats my Dad, but even they can only take so much at a time. I feel God is leading me to move my family back home for however long it takes to do what I can. Our permanent residence is in Florida and I will miss the sunshine, but will forever be haunted if I missed time with my sister and best friend!

    Sorry for the rant but few people understand the emotions we go through everyday with this disease and the horrible statistics that we choose to ignore! They don't understand that somedays you just want to go out into the garage and cry and throw stuff because life has dealt such a crappy set of cards to your loved one! While the next minute you are smiling and grateful that it was caught in time to do something, anything about it!

    Thanks to all who have responded, I feel much better now :)

    Tina #3
  • dragonflymom
    dragonflymom Member Posts: 46
    #5
    tribaltina said:

    Thanks
    She did have the asophagectomy Christmas week, they removed over 50% of both stomach and asophages, plus about 50 lymphnodes. The last time I got to see her she was still in a hospital room with a million tubes and 60 staples. That was Christmas Eve!

    I tease her all the time that she cant be normal, she also has prenicous anemia diagnosed in teenage years and discovered a bundle branch block in her heart about 5 years ago. Plus to top it all off her cancer is signet ring cell.

    Thanks for the advice. I know she is taking zofran for nausea but I think thats it, I just sent her a text message to ask Doc about EMEND today when she goes in for treatment.

    Ugh I cant remember which tube they left in, will have to ask. She had both initialy because she had lost 60 pounds in 4 months. She is perfect weight at 120 and is at 103 or so. I have suggested whey protein, will have my mom get some plus carnation. My Aunt sent her a juicer so they have just started with the homemade smoothies.

    Moving home is the right thing to do. Everyone seems to baby her and let's her get away with being "sick". If they have a problem with her stubborness they call me to straighten her out. I'm the mean one that won't let her lay in bed and whine, I make her get up and go to WalMart or sit outside. But I also pray with her and encourage her, she is 35 years old and has 2 children (12&15) that need their Mother. Her husband is amazing with her and does all that he can, but they have a small business and without the income HE makes they are, pardon my french, screwed. They have a great friend support system, but my brothers cry when they see her (she is the baby). she is a very private person so she doesn't want people helping her. My Mom and Dad do all they can by mowing grass and cleaning house, thats my Dad, but even they can only take so much at a time. I feel God is leading me to move my family back home for however long it takes to do what I can. Our permanent residence is in Florida and I will miss the sunshine, but will forever be haunted if I missed time with my sister and best friend!

    Sorry for the rant but few people understand the emotions we go through everyday with this disease and the horrible statistics that we choose to ignore! They don't understand that somedays you just want to go out into the garage and cry and throw stuff because life has dealt such a crappy set of cards to your loved one! While the next minute you are smiling and grateful that it was caught in time to do something, anything about it!

    Thanks to all who have responded, I feel much better now :)

    Tina #3

    Wow Tina, that's a lot to be
    Wow Tina, that's a lot to be going through. Sounds like you are the same way as I am. At lest when it comes to my sister, I always have to be the voice of reason with her also. (She's not the one that's sick though, it's my mom).

    I hope the move back is good for your sister and for you!

    Keep us posted when you can.

    Amy

Discussion Boards