My brother took my father to the emergency room this morning. He was lying on the floor in his bathroom in a pool of blood from a nose bleed. I guess he lost a lot of blood because they are doing a blood transfusion. He was supposed to have a third round of chemo today. Did his nose start to bleed because his blood isn't clotting from the chemo?

Nancy

Oh man, Nancy, how long do you think he was on the floor and what a shock for your brother.
Let us know how things are.
Cheryl

Nancy,
I will be praying for you and your family!
Natalie

Cheryl,

He wasn't on the floor long. He was just holding his head back. My mother faints at the sight of blood so she called my brother. He's an EMT. Now here is the update. He has been admitted for two days. The chemo has screwed him all up. His veins shrunk and they couldn't get the plasma in him. His nose is packed. Why didn't they just leave him alone and let him die of cancer??? He is 84 going to be 85 in October. The chemo is being stopped now. Can he recover from those first two rounds of that poison?? Thanks for your concern Cheryl.

Nancy

This is what I know about chemo, the actual drug portion in washed out after 48 hours. But, he must be drinking lots of fluids for the kidneys to work. The cancer killing chemicals have already attacked and thats what is still working. Make sure his urine doesn't splash or spill etc because it will be like acid.
Does your dad have a DNR? Living will? Danny and I took care of those things before he got really sick. When the EMT guys (I love them) saw the DNR they stopped the tests and didn't hook him to anything, they just took him to the hosp. So many things to worry about on top of the stinking Cancer.
Keep me posted. Danny always said I was a worrier...
Cheryl

Natalie thank you for your concern.

I just got back from the hospital. My father's platelets were 10,000 and they are supposed to be 140,000. He was not doing well. They tried to find a donor but couldn't. When I got there, he told me they found a donor. Thank God. He had to eat first. So I took his tray and fixed everything for him and we sat while he ate. They were doing the transfusion after he ate. My aunt and I left so he could get his rest. He is not allowed any roommates because of his condition. Three weeks ago he was fine. The doctor said without the chemo he would have six months, with the chemo a couple of years. I would never want to make that decision. Cheryl I think he does have a DNR. My mother keeps all that stuff secret from her children so I am not sure about what they have set up legally.

Nancy

Danny's platelets were always too high from the Polycythemia he had. As he took Chemo they went down but only to normal. Didn't really matter in the end though.
We told our daughters pretty much everything. If they asked. I didn't like talking finances with them though.
You hang in there. I was going to tell you to have a good Easter but that probably isn't possible.
Keep me posted.
Cheryl

Actually Cheryl you can wish me a Happy Easter. I have been cooking since yesterday. Just finished everything and it is almost midnight. My family will be here (not my mother, you have to go into the personality disorder room to discuss that one) and we will have a great Easter. I have so much food and containers for everyone to take leftovers. My Aunt makes the best chocolate roll--maybe we will take some up to my Dad. He loves it. Happy Easter to all and also Happy Passover. My fiance is Jewish. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Nancy

Happy Easter, Happy Passover. I always cooked all the Holidays, but this year my niece is cooking for me, at my brothers house.
Seems to me, it's your mom's loss. My mother never called to tell me she was sorry about Danny, so I know about mothers.
Later Nancy...Cheryl

Well Dad had another transfusion last night, another today. His blood count is way down. He is bleeding somewhere and they don't know where. He has a hospital infection and pneumonia. My aunt just tried to call his room and the hospital said no calls are being sent through to that room. My brother just called him a half hour ago and talked to him. He was bad but they still sent the call through. He was fine on Thursday. What the heck is going on?

Nancy

I just got off the phone with my father. He had a 2 and a half hour MRI and then X-Rays. He sounded tired so I kept saying I would talk to him tomorrow. He kept talking and talking which is unusual for him. So I feel relieved that he at least sounded good. We had a great talk. This is just a follow up on my above post.

Nancy

Nancyellen,

When we found out just how bad my sister was, it was after she started chemo and was put into ICU. The chemo cause all her blood counts to crash. Now she will no longer have any treatments for cancer. We got her white count up so she can fight infections on her own. She will no longer suffer the pain of chemo and her last months will be less painful. I say if your father is terminal stop all chemo and just do pain management so he can enjoy some of his short time left with you in low pain. Ofcourse always consult your doctor first!!! My sister is much happier now that the chemo is out of her system and we are doing pain mangement only. She is now at the point that more than 5 steps causes her severe respitory problems. We have a bed side toilet for her and we keep her comfortable.

My prayers are with you and your family.

Dear Nancy,
You are in my heart and prayers and all of your family, In Jesus name.
I had a <rare> precious, talk with my daddy...2 weeks before he died of heart attack. I will never forget it. I can still hear his voice in my heart.
I am so-o-o happy for you.~~ BIG hugs, Donna

[This message has been edited by mrsdlash (edited 04-22-2003).]