Magpie0649
04-02-2003, 02:25 PM
When I woke up this morning, it was to find my husband in the bathroom coughing. When I knocked, he didn't answer so after a few minutes, I walked in. He had a tissue to his mouth and was coughing up blood into the tissue.
He was so tired when he was finished he had to just sit on the side of the tub and rest. He also is having persitant back pain and pain in the area of his rib cage. It took him nearly twenty minutes to catch his breath.
I'm still very much in the dark as to what to expect in the early stages. I've read other messages on the board, which are all very moving and sad, but they deal more with the end of the struggle. We're still very much at the bottom of the hill. Are these signs or symptoms of the cancer? And what can we expect from here on out?
Maggie
He was so tired when he was finished he had to just sit on the side of the tub and rest. He also is having persitant back pain and pain in the area of his rib cage. It took him nearly twenty minutes to catch his breath.
I'm still very much in the dark as to what to expect in the early stages. I've read other messages on the board, which are all very moving and sad, but they deal more with the end of the struggle. We're still very much at the bottom of the hill. Are these signs or symptoms of the cancer? And what can we expect from here on out?
Maggie
Sponsor
eva1964
04-02-2003, 04:37 PM
I am new to the lung cancer as well. I am with my father 72 years old and has had lung cancer now for 15 months that we know of. He has opted no more treatments, because it will not cure him only prolong his life. Now I myself dont know how long we have. He has good days and then really bad days. Sleeping more and more and then energetic the next day. He will eat more and less some days. I do know his pain in his rib cage and shoulder and back and left side where the cancer is has started to be more and is now taking loratab. He has the oxycotin pain pills but will not take them he says they are too strong for the pain he has. I know from the nurse telling me he will need them eventually. Now he cant walk around much and just dressing and regular hygiene exhausts him, He has had episodes of coughing with anxiety attacks and not being able to breathe. He is on 2.5%oxygen constantly and his oxygen stats without it is below 90 and his heart rate is 100-125 sometimes 130 never below 100. His fingers have flattened out and the nail beds are turning blue. He will break out in a cold sweat usually while he is resting. Or after a trip to the bathroom. I dont know where he is at either. I feel by reading up on this by his symptoms he has 3-6months. If he goes quickly by a heartattack maybe less then that. Since his cancer is close to the heart and he has had a pulmonary embolism and has had fluid drained from his left lung due to plueral fluid build up. They finally had to insert a chest tube and then fill the lining with some antibiotic wash -something to prevent further fluid. I wish I could help you but it sounds like I am in the dark as well as you . My prayers go out to you and hope things go well for you during this terrible time. keep us posted on his condition and maybe someone can help you through this time check out one of the posts from Cheryl and Dan I apologize if I didnt get the names correct but there is a post one of them about the last stages and what to expect Take Care Eva
mrsdlash
04-02-2003, 09:04 PM
Hello, I understand the terror that you felt when you found your husband in that condition. My husband did the samething. That was about one year ago, now. He started treatments of Radiation and Chemo., which did not help him enough. He took antibiotics then when he was coughing up blood..because he had infection in his lungs. I do hope your husband gets the same help! Mine had to take the antibiotics about 3 more times when he kept getting phenomonia repetedly...that is what you can expect to happen, i am so sorry to say.
You both have my prayers for help as you need. hugs, Donna
You both have my prayers for help as you need. hugs, Donna
Magpie0649
04-04-2003, 02:34 PM
My husband began the new course of chemotherapy today to attempt to shrink the tumors in his lungs and liver. He is miserable. He's vomiting and shaking and is in a great deal of pain. He can't seem to breathe deeply and I'm very worried.
All he wanted to do was take a nap, but every time he tried to lie down he became nauseaous and is sometimes too weakened to make it to the bathroom.
I'm so scared for him and feel so helpless. He was once so strong and he's weakening before my eyes. Can I do anything to make the side effects easier on him?
Maggie
All he wanted to do was take a nap, but every time he tried to lie down he became nauseaous and is sometimes too weakened to make it to the bathroom.
I'm so scared for him and feel so helpless. He was once so strong and he's weakening before my eyes. Can I do anything to make the side effects easier on him?
Maggie
NancyEllen
04-04-2003, 06:59 PM
Maggie,
My father was given the prescription Prochlorperazine 10mg for the nausea. He just had his first chemo treatment at 10 this morning. So he hasn't had to take the above prescription yet. I don't know if it works or not.
Nancy
My father was given the prescription Prochlorperazine 10mg for the nausea. He just had his first chemo treatment at 10 this morning. So he hasn't had to take the above prescription yet. I don't know if it works or not.
Nancy
mrsdlash
04-05-2003, 06:48 PM
Dear Maggie,
I feel your pain. I went through the same with my husband. He took Torecan for nausea evey 4 hrs. It helped alot. It did not make it all go away but my husband thought is was a great help for him. Also, they gave him by I V something for nausea before they gave him the Chemo drugs. You should tell the dr what is happening. Perhaps they need to do the same or change the nausea medication he is getting by I V. Always tell them what is happening. Everyone reacts differenly you know to every medication.
I am watching the same. My husband is slipping away before my eyes he is basicly dissappearing as he loses wieght down to nothing.
I cried onece to him..that ,I took care of my children all of those years..through illinesses and took care of my mom..but it was ...to be that they would 'get well'! Now, I am taking care my my husband knowing he won't get well but is dying! That screamed in my mind to me! This isn't RIGHT!!
I have no more ~Hope~ to cling to for my husband of him getting well. Cling to that ~Hope~ Maggie to the last minute. We have to.
Now, my goal is to 'be' the best help, the best company, and the best friend that I can be for him. He calls me his "Gardian Angel". Sometimes I pray to make me know of what to do to help because, I feel I am drowning in my own feelings and not doing my best. To be honest I get Cabin Fever too. I need to fix that in me, so that I don't take it out on him.
See, I started out talking to help you...and slid right in to 'myself'. I am sorry.
You have my prayers Maggie, for you and your husband...for healing of emotions as well as in body. hugs Donna
I feel your pain. I went through the same with my husband. He took Torecan for nausea evey 4 hrs. It helped alot. It did not make it all go away but my husband thought is was a great help for him. Also, they gave him by I V something for nausea before they gave him the Chemo drugs. You should tell the dr what is happening. Perhaps they need to do the same or change the nausea medication he is getting by I V. Always tell them what is happening. Everyone reacts differenly you know to every medication.
I am watching the same. My husband is slipping away before my eyes he is basicly dissappearing as he loses wieght down to nothing.
I cried onece to him..that ,I took care of my children all of those years..through illinesses and took care of my mom..but it was ...to be that they would 'get well'! Now, I am taking care my my husband knowing he won't get well but is dying! That screamed in my mind to me! This isn't RIGHT!!
I have no more ~Hope~ to cling to for my husband of him getting well. Cling to that ~Hope~ Maggie to the last minute. We have to.
Now, my goal is to 'be' the best help, the best company, and the best friend that I can be for him. He calls me his "Gardian Angel". Sometimes I pray to make me know of what to do to help because, I feel I am drowning in my own feelings and not doing my best. To be honest I get Cabin Fever too. I need to fix that in me, so that I don't take it out on him.
See, I started out talking to help you...and slid right in to 'myself'. I am sorry.
You have my prayers Maggie, for you and your husband...for healing of emotions as well as in body. hugs Donna
Magpie0649
04-10-2003, 11:48 AM
Thanks to everyone for your caring responses. It seems the my husband is getting sicker so quickly. I never expected him to decline so rapidly.
He's in a lot of pain almost all of the time. Is that supposed to happen? He's also coughing more and more and sometimes his lips or fingers turn blue. When I talked to his doctor he said that it's to be expected, but doesn't seem to care that a man who never admitted a sick day in his entire life can barely get out of bed. He spends at least two days after the chemo, vomiting and with violent chills. It seems he's just recovered from the last bout when it's time for another treatment.
I know there is nothing I can do other than be with him, but he rarely seems to want me around. He prefers our niece to take care of him and he tells her things he won't tell me and it hurts. How can I make him see I only care about him? And that I'm not so fragil that I can't handle the truth of the matter?
He's in a lot of pain almost all of the time. Is that supposed to happen? He's also coughing more and more and sometimes his lips or fingers turn blue. When I talked to his doctor he said that it's to be expected, but doesn't seem to care that a man who never admitted a sick day in his entire life can barely get out of bed. He spends at least two days after the chemo, vomiting and with violent chills. It seems he's just recovered from the last bout when it's time for another treatment.
I know there is nothing I can do other than be with him, but he rarely seems to want me around. He prefers our niece to take care of him and he tells her things he won't tell me and it hurts. How can I make him see I only care about him? And that I'm not so fragil that I can't handle the truth of the matter?
Dan&cheryl
04-11-2003, 04:17 AM
Hi maggie, believe me, I do know how you feel. I think your husband may be starting to distance himself from you for your own good. At least in his mind it's for your own good. Danny and I were together since we were 15 and married for two weeks short of 35 years so we could and did tell each other anything. Until near the end. I think it's Gods way of making things easier because I don't know how I would have reacted.
Anyway, we here are pretty much in the same boat, in pain right along with you.
And ask the Dr. for suppositorys for the nausea, it was the only thing that helped after the vomiting took hold.
Luck and prayers. Cheryl
Anyway, we here are pretty much in the same boat, in pain right along with you.
And ask the Dr. for suppositorys for the nausea, it was the only thing that helped after the vomiting took hold.
Luck and prayers. Cheryl
eva1964
04-11-2003, 08:13 PM
My father was on compazine for the nausea from the chemo and it seemed to help but the doctors are just keeping the family in the dark and the patient. I got so angry when my dads oncologist would not look my dad in the eye and tell him okay this is what we are looking at. "Your cancer is metastised and your cancer is very agressive and there is no cure and with out more chemo and the new drug Iressa you are looking at 1-3 months" its been 4 weeks and now we are down to weeks if that. He -the doctor- wrote it down and handed it to my father and still didnt tell him the specifics,. All they want to do is more chemo more this more that and I feel they use these cancer patients as a experiment to see how they can finally find a cure for cancer, but you now the government blows billions of dollars for space and they cant take money out of there own greedy pockets to help find an effective cure. I am sorry I am just so mad that millions of people are dying and suffering and these doctors make millions of dollars of year and all they do is save a few and statistically thats about it. Sorry so much for your pain. My dad will be leaving me soon and I am angry, and hurt please forgive my anger and pray for me to channel my anger some other way. God Bless . My dad is now on oxycotin and loratabs and xanax's , ambien , prednisone, cumiden, hydrocodone elixer, water pills and if it werent for hospice all of his savings in the bank would be gone by now , Hospice is a blessing, they are paying for all of his meds, all of his equipment and the doctor comes to the house and his nurse we will be on 24 hour nursing system before too long when the pain gets passed what he can take by mouth, I know one thing by taking care of my father and I mean litteraly tending to his every need, from bathing him , wiping him if he needs it, changing him, just around the clock care, I will in return go home when this is over and go into CNA and give to others, in my fathers memory.
Magpie0649
04-12-2003, 09:07 PM
Thanks to everyone who responded and let me vent my problems. I've talked to the doctors about the nausea medications mentioned and will keep you posted on his progress. I have a feeling that I'll be posting a lot more messages in the future.
Thank you all again for your support.
Maggie
Thank you all again for your support.
Maggie