Countryfemme, holding Clay's hand when she needs it and just BEING there is more than you could ever know. Truly an angel you are!

I had a hospital stay once, I was in the most incredible abdominal pain I could imagine, the docs could find nothing to pinpoint the why, so I just suffered. My partner at the time was a nurse, for God sake. She could not bring herself there to visit at all during the 5 days I was there. I should have known by that, yanno?

Ok the nurses are going to be soooo ready to be rid of my ass, I rode them HARD today....but if i don't feel things are as they should be I'm going to speak up! I had them in here three times before they finally admitted the N/G wasn't pulling the fluid that it is mean to do and fixed it.
And can I say that Clay is one stubborn butch! Has taken all my fem wiles to get her to do what she needs to do lol I really hope tonight is better for her...lord I hope so.

Countyfemme,
You keep riding their butts!!!! Clay can't speak for herself (we'll she could but...is loopy from meds). And someone needs to be her advocate. I'm glad you're there!

Clarification
 

I am wondering which tube you mean? The in the nose down the throat or the drainage tube from the bowel area?

Its the N/G (nasogastric) nose to stomach, she had a fairly uneventful night, couple times she vomited when the nurse was flushing her line as she was already backed up and they push 4-6 oz of saline on top of that..her major complaint at the moment.. every time she wakes up she gets the hiccups!
They decided to leave the epi in one more day, I'm glad of that as her bowels are still not responding. Longer they can keep her off the narcotics the better. She rarely hits the pain meds, which is good, but I fear that will change once the epi is gone.
They are going to get her up and back in a chair today,I'm hoping she'll get to moving around more, that's what she needs to be doing to stimulate the bowel activity. Hurts like hell but I keep telling her she has to work thru it and it'll get better.

Glad to see you are wide eyed and busy tailed about what you see. :fastdraq: It is a vicious circle, with the surgery, then the meds which slow down all the internal workings, but she really needs the pain meds as often as she can have em. Which all in all helps it all work out in the end, and they will end the heavy meds. once she is able.

I watched my best buddy go through something similar, and you being at the bedside and observant is a blessing for Clay, and rough on you. (f)Clay prolly won't remmeber much of it later. Spoonful of sugar for the hiccups. :phonegab:

Hi everyone,

The new TPN pump has been figured out, after 4 calls to the nurse and a few panic moments. She's on it 12 hours a day now rather than 24 because they're trying to "stimulate her appetite".

I got her to eat 5 times yesterday but quantities are very, very small. And, I'm in a bit of an internal tussle because the thing she seems to handle the best is greek yogurt....right when I have concerns about dairy products. Joy.

She has napped a few times...slept 12 hours last night...and is much more comfortable in the warmth of south Florida...so that's all good. Her first appointment with the new doctor is this afternoon...so it'll be interesting to see what's said. I am now inserting myself into all doctor visits....enough of this being in the dark.

Boost
 

HANG IN THERE. Great news that you have her in a warm place, is she is eating anything, and you are in the Medical forefront with her.....Greek Yogurt is all good stuff for her.

I know we spend time online looking for Stuff... so, here is a great site--> http://curetoday.com CURE magazine, a free publication for those on the cancer journey, is the indispensable guide for ... Current Issue · Archive · Patient Guides · Subscription ... and you can get a free hardcopy magazine for her to look through.

Protein needs. Tried BOOST PLUS at Walgreens or CVS? Or the CVS brand in small cans too.

I have been caretaking an Ex of long ago, who has lost a lot of weight, has COPD and almost died. We live about 45 minutes apart. I got her to eat 6 to 8 times a day, by trickery. I noticed all she was eating was candy, ice cream, sweets of any kind. So, told her food has to be taken first, then the treats. She is unable to shop for herself, so, she makes me a list now. Coffee Ice cream, candy corn, Dibbs, Snickers. LMAO....
Today, I get an email from Peg wanting Corn Dogs and Mac N Cheese if I come by. :|

I think of her like a hummingbird. Constant small meals. Finding that BOOST PLUS, Strawberry is her favorite thing in life has been a good thing. She went through 18 last week, which I know was better than the 40 pound weight loss.

So, have a great day everyone. It is a great pouring rainy day here in Southern California.

Im thankfull u r there for Clay,stay on the nurses about his care anytime u feel its needed.This isnt an easy road he is on so he will be grumpy but it looks like u are handleing it fine...bless u girl for being who u r.:bunchflowers:

It was a rough afternoon.

Took Mom to see the new doctor...who was more honest and clear than her previous doctors have been. He was very supportive, but also frank that this type of cancer doesn't get better. They can keep her alive on chemo...but as soon as the chemo stops...the cancer will keep coming back. If the chemo stops, she probably has a few months.

Jo, please consider giving her whey protein isolate shakes. Whey isolate protein powder mixed with berries and soy milk for protein and calories. You can throw non dairy ice cream into the blender if she doesn't like it with just berries.

Whey inhibits cancer.

That is so odd, mine was in place prior to waking up from the surgery. Glad you said something!

Palliative Care
 

Jo, Thinking about , let alone Talking about palliative care, and end of life are tough.
There are a lor os sites that describe what it is about, but it sure is different with each patient, caregiver, loved one, and family. Other's to talk it over wiht may help. I copied this brief spot below, as an intro. Don't sit alone with this. Reach out if you can, and get some help. Find out what her coverage is for home health nurse visits, etc.

I went through this recently with a friend, and it was good for her and her family to know what to expect.

Best regards, Tommi

" Palliative Care Goals

The goal of palliative care is simply to relieve suffering and improve quality of life. Further goals are then based on the patient's wishes in consultation with the palliative care team.

Read more about determining the goals of care. **

Palliative care is more than just treating physical symptoms, however. Palliative care also addresses emotional suffering and spiritual care needs.

The Palliative Care Team

Palliative care is often carried out by a team of professionals who can address multiple concerns. The team may include:

Palliative care physicians
Palliative care nurse practitioners
Nurses
Social workers
Chaplains
Therapists (occupational, speech, physical, etc.)
The most important member of the palliative care team is YOU. Palliative care should be directed toward meeting your personal goals. It is your responsibility as a palliative care patient to make your goals and health care wishes known.

Learn more about finding palliative care.

Hello, my thoughts are with you, its great you have put your hat into the ring. I had to do that with my now ex-mom-in-law. The doctors were throwing so much lingo at her that she really only heard/understood maybe a 1/4 of it.
stay strong and remember to take some time for yourself...

Better night last night, Clay is getting some much needed sleep. They are planing on taking her off the epi today, everything else is going well as expected.

Thanks everyone for the feedback, I really appreciate it.

Resting
 

Private room, epi is out switched to morphine as he suspected the first was causing her nausea, she is more alert and I hope things continue to move forward, would hate to back-step.

I had a private room and that made me much happier than I would have been in a double room. I was lucky my insurance allowed it, even though they charge you extra for it. I was able to do it because my mom said that she would pay for it, but for whatever reason, the hospital didn't charge me.

I just wasn't up for dealing with any stress around a roommate's (or her visitor's) homo/transphobia after having my gut cut open and 10 inches of my intestine removed.

So...I just got my hands on the results of my mother's last CT scan....holy cow. :|

She's been keeping way too many secrets.

Great night, almost 6 hours sleep! Walking the halls has commenced, pain is managed. She's starting to feel froggy again!

{{{{Jo}}}}} Oh dear :(

YAY CLAY!!!

Tell that woman I said it is about time she got up out of that bed! ;)

Hey all, everything is well as expected, she got a shower today and is now in her own clothes so not only does she smell better :) she looks more herself.
Doc may put a PIC line in tomorrow as she really needs some calories, she is weak as a newborn colt. Her gut started making more noise today but isn't at the point where she can lose the n/g, therefore cannot intake any substance.
But overall her spirit is good, she is back to cracking jokes just have to be patient a little longer.

FYI she says NEVER to have two major surgery's at once, takes too much outta ya.

Morning everyone, PICC line is going in as I type...I hope once they get some nutrients into her she will feel stronger, had a good night they tried to keep the room visits down to every 4 hours as oppossed to the every two that they had been doing. She has had a real good group of folks looking after her and they don't seem to mind me butting in snicker...

Hope evryone is doing well, Jo my prayers are with you and your mom

Ok, so just need to lay this out, I really don't understand how in the world this can happen today.

My dad called me Thanksgiving weekend, for a family update. I come from a large family, so it usually takes a while, and that's fine, but at the end of the conversation, he says (rather casually)

"and Robin is recovering from her stroke, and is now walking"

uhhmmm Robin is only 42, WHAT stroke??!!?? She has 4 young children...

"and Meagan's Doctors are giving her 6 months, her biopsy came back Stage IV cervical cancer, and it's in the llymph nodes that they took from her groin and underarms"

WTH---Meagan, my niece, is only 23!! And she usually does her PAPs every 2 years, and she had the vaccine....it's not like she's 30, and never been to the gyn...that's fast growing, it's already in her lymph nodes, and it's bilateral.

have been wigged out for almost a month about this, some of the shock has worn off, but still floored.

Will be making the 10 hour drive more frequently...

Well the PICC didn't go, they sent the in-room group to handle it and they couldn't get to the vein . They did start her on a intravenous solution which has perked her up...Monday they will send her to the OR and cut the PICC in...

On a good note she has been declared cancer free! all Bi-ops came back clear from the surrounding tissue...

Thats great news Country! Sometimes they put a PICC in via radiology (Ultrasound guided). The TPN will be great for her nutrition and hopefully she will see a dietician when she is allowed to start eating again. (After the clear fluid then free fluid stages :) )

The last two days my mother has been getting dizzy when she stands up or walks far at all...evidently this is the dehydration problem returning. They cut her TPN back to 12 hours a day right before she came....so one week later, she's fading.

I have a call in to her oncologist and he'll be adjusting her back to 24/7 TPN. She's not happy about this, but clearly she needs it. In the meantime, Rooster and I are both bringing her drinks every hour or two...otherwise she "forgets." She has never been a plain water drinker....part of the problem.

The doctors are also saying she should not have abdominal pain anymore, shouldn't need her pain meds, and should be able to eat and drink virtually normally. She insists that she can't...and truly seems to be able to eat a maximum of 4 or 5 bites of very soft food. Her abdomen clearly hurts...and she's still on liquid morphine (and a host of other meds).

She is convinced there is something else going on that the doctor isn't seeing. They insist that there isn't...and that she should be much better other than fatigue and nausea from the chemo.

Her condition is not improving at all. She weighed 111 on my scale, 114 on her doctor's....fully dressed.

I can get food in her better than when she was at home or in the hospital....Rooster can amuse her....I can take care of all her other needs...but she is visibly failing...even on chemo.

That "cancer free" sounds really great. Tell Clay how I am doing the happy dance and fist pumps to celebrate for her. Thanks Countyfemme for all you are doing. You are an angel !!!!

Fantastic,glad to hear all is going well,it wiont be long till she can go home if it contenues like this.Haveing two surgerys done at once is tough but the flip side its done now the healing can begain.Thanks for the updates,do take care of u while u help Clay.

Jo, may I suggest frozen seedless grapes. Drinking isn't the only way to get hydration into the body. They may help with the dry throat that often
accompanies chemo. Also, grapes are low in acid and full of good things.

Thank you for this....we can't do frozen because of the issues she's having with cold things (even her water has to be room temperature), but seedless grapes in general might work.

We've been doing lots of chicken broth, tea with honey, and anything else we can get in her....I picked up a seedless watermelon at the farmers market yesterday and that seems to be working pretty well.

Took two big steps forward today, got rid of the morphine and bowels are talking! May or may not need the PICC line now ( the in room crew used the ultrasound which didn't work the other day) doc will decide tomorrow.
Clay has kept the nursing staff in stitches today so you know she is feeling better and better.
I have kept her updated with all of your good wishes....:flowers:

WooooHoooo my buddy is doing great,fantastic!Tell clay I been keeping her in my thoughts and prayers.Now she is getting up and around I wonder how long it will be before she starts chasring cute nurses.

YAY Clay!!! This is wonderful news! Does she need to have a proper poop before she can leave the hospital, County?

I got an email yesterday from my sister in NYC. She had her second chemo last Friday and already her blood work is showing a positive response to the drugs. The first chemo she had a mild allergic reaction to the rituxin (sp?) so this time the pushed it in super slow and she did great. Her weight is slowly stabilizing and she is no longer coughing!! I am so excited for her and I think she is starting to believe she might beat this thing!!! I made her a chemo blanket using her favorite colors and am popping it into the mail today. :)

GO CANCER FIGHTERS, GO!!

Jo, I was going to echo YB's frozen fruit recommendation, but since she can't do cold that won't work. I will keep her in my prayers.

thanks for the updated , Cancer free sounds awesome , I was looking on website for Clay status, but could find it . Sending positive energy to your way .

Now that I know where to find it , please tell Clay he is in our minds and I hope he will be back soon . I put many PICC lines in and TPN is good for hys situations .

many hugs

Vlasta

Great news she is well on the way to gettin' home! No PICC needed, things started rolling Sunday night , on oral liquids today tonight she goes to creamy soups..wheww what a ride. Im sooo happy for her.