We met my mom's hospice doctor, Jim today. What a great guy. I wish all doctors were like him. He checked mom over and asked her lots of questions. This was another day of no eating or drinking for her so she looks very weak. Good news is he does feel what I have been saying that alot of this is dehydration and lack of eating so he is starting her on dexamethasone in hopes that it will perk her up and stimulate her appetite. He feels that if that happens she may have a few months left and that it could be a better quality. He seems very hopeful but did say that of course no one knows for sure how much time one has left even doctors but that by his past experiences he feels the steriods will help and she will improve for awhile. He says he does not expect anything drastic to happen but rather that when the time does come she will just slowly fade out. I am hoping he is right as I would love to have her around one more christmas. Right now I am feeling alot more hopeful then I was this morning. Yes she is still dieing but it may not be as sudden as we were thinking.we may get more time with her.:) Now hopefully we can get her to take the steriods and they help.If not the end will be near. Jim was so sweet that before he left he asked her if she needed a hug and and she said yes so he had her stand up and gave her a big hug. He is what a doctor should be. Hope others have had some good news today too. JanMarie

:angel: JanMarie2. Good news is alway appreciated in this HealthBoard. I hope your mom gets to have Christmas with you. I miss my parents all the time but I miss them the most during the Christmas holidays. Prayers and blessings to you and your mom.

linda

JanMarie,
Oh, what a wonderful thing to know your mom will be around for another Chirstmas. We will pray the pills will work and she will feel good enough to enjoy the time with the family and her pets. I am happy you had some "little good news yesterday". Amazing how we look at life differently as someone else would think that would not be a blessing, odd,huh?
I will continue to hold your mom and you close to my heart along with the others on the posting board.
I need to run as Anthony is receiving an award this morning. I wish Stan could make it out, but he should be able to make it to the football game tonight. We get to go to Hungtington Beach tonight!
Have a nice day and thanks for giving us a smile. I am really concerned since we have not heard from Renea and Jan.
Kim

JanMarie-

I am thrilled to hear the god news and will specifically be in prayer you you, your mom and your family to be able to enjoy another Christmas together.

The dexamethasone you spoke of, is that a steroid? My wife has been taking some decadron after her carboplatin -and it has ehlped with nausea, fatigue and incresed her appetitie. But we were told not to use for an extended period of time -due to risk of infection.

I hope things continue in a direction that gives your mom a lengthy quality life.

conan

:) This morning I already see some changes in my mom she just seems perkier, and actually wanted then ate breakfast. She has been paying bills and going through some papers which is a change from sleeping all day the past several days. If she keeps eating her energy should improve and then she will be able to do more and will be happier.

Conan, Yes Dexamethasone is Decadron (a steroid)and she is taking 4 mg twice a day same as she did with her chemo except she will take this everyday. Back when her problems began with that tooth infection that had not showed up on the xray yet and we thought she was getting chemo that day she took her decadron and perked up ate, but chemo got cancelled due to her blood count. Then a few days later a second Xray found the tooth infection so when we talked to the oncologist I asked if she could just take some decadron for a few days so she felt better and would eat, he said no for the same reason they gave your wife for not taking it for extended periods. Long term steroid use can suppress the immune system. Now that my mom is in hospice the focus is no longer long term but shifts to what can we do to make the patient feel better now so they have some quality to what time they have left and decadron is often used as it's benefits now outweigh any long term side effects.

Kim, I hope Stan makes it to tonight's game.How has the team done? will they be going to CIF playoffs? My nephew's team has not done too well as they lost too many seniors this past year but I guess if the win thisweekend they still have a chance but they are playing a very strong team and I think have convinced themselves they can not win, thus they won't. That coach needs to address that with his team as if you believe you will not win you won't. I too am concerned about Jan and Renea and hope things are going well for both of them. I know that if their hospice teams are anything like our's is that they are getting the best care and support and that can make a huge difference on how well they cope during this difficult transition.

Well I had better get some things done, Thanks for all the prayers sent for my mom as they seem to be working;) JanMarie

OOPs seems things are double posting on this thread.

OOPs seems things are double posting on this thread.

Oh Janmarie, that is just terrific news. I am happy to hear all of this. Remember, this is still in Gods hands. We don't know what tomorrow will bring.

My mother was on decadron daily while going through her head radiation. she actually was weined off of it after her 2nd chemo. Yes it helped alot. Her spirits were much better. I hope your mom does well with it.

(((((((((((hugs)))))))))

Angel

Oh Janmarie, that is just terrific news. I am happy to hear all of this. Remember, this is still in Gods hands. We don't know what tomorrow will bring.

My mother was on decadron daily while going through her head radiation. she actually was weined off of it after her 2nd chemo. Yes it helped alot. Her spirits were much better. I hope your mom does well with it.

(((((((((((hugs)))))))))

Angel