Hi everyone,

Just a quick update on my mother with SCLC (dx last September 28th).

Two weeks ago her breathing took a bad turn and she starting complaining daily that she was having more trouble breathing. She is on oxygen 24/7 now - says she can't be without it. She only walks about 5 feet back and forth to the bathroom a few times a day; otherwise, she just stays in bed.

I went to see her last Friday and her hospice nurse was there asking her about her pain. That day, my mother talked about her chest, ribs, back hurting a lot but the painkillers had been doing their job (methadone 2x/day, one 5 mg Vicodin every 6 hours as needed for pain, and morphine every 2 hours as needed). She didn't take all those doses, just asked for it when she was hurting.

Then Saturday afternoon she called me and told me the pain was so bad she was "ready to go" ... as in, ready to die. Said she couldn't live with the pain it was so bad. I called hospice and they upped her dosages and she had a bit better day yesterday b/c she was on the full dosage of prescribed meds all day.

So her breathing is very bad and her pain is severe and just barely being controlled by the meds. It seems to me that we may be getting closer to the end (she's now 7 months since dx and they originally told her 2 months).

Any thoughts? Anyone's loved ones experience similar symptoms to these and how close to the end was it.

I hate seeing her suffer and I know it's time for her to go.

Take care,

Summer

This sounds like my mom a few weeks ago, right when she was discharged from the hospital to home care hospice. The first few nights she had a lot of anxiety about not being able to breath right and was complaining about shortness of breath. It really broke my heart. However after the first few days and nights I think the hospice found a good combo of medicine that seems to be working for her.

Currently she takes anywhere from 5-20mg of morphine per hour/as needed. Also phenobarbitol 30mg. 3x a day and occasionally some Hadadol (5mg)

The pheno seemed to calm her anxiety about not being able to breath. The morphine helps her breath better. The last few nights we started giving her haladol because she is starting to have anxiety about not being able to sleep. We've also taken her morphine to the max at 20mg and than seems to help. She doesn't take it every hour, unless she needs it. Usually the morphine is given about three times a day.

Maybe the hospice can help you tweak your moms meds a bit to make it more comfortable. This has been a learning experience all the way for us, but we seem to be managing. My mom hasn't complained about pain since the first few days. Sometimes she mentions about a lump in her throat or her chest feeling funny, but nothing nearly as bad as when we first brought her home.

I'm sorry I have no idea about the end, as we thought mom was going to go two weeks ago. Had all the signs, was turning blue, feet were like ice, mottled, puffs for breathing...then presto, we were given more time with her. She was doing well, but the last few days has started to decline again. I guess you never know with these things. Hopefully you can get your mom comfortable.

Good luck :angel:

Summer I am very sorry to hear about your mom. I lost both my parents to lung cancer. Dad died in 97 the same day as Princess Diana. He was given 5-6 weeks and that is how long he lived. Mom died Dec 16' 06. I am not sure which one was worse. Dad had been responding well to the chemo and then all of a sudden he had so much pain in his back. An ambulance was called and at the hospital we were told it was pneumonia but after 4 days it was clear it was the cancer. Dad had one real bad night. He just could not breath and he refused to be intubated. They put him on high doses of Morphine and let him sleep through most of it. Dad died the next night.

I knew something was wrong with mom around Jan 06. She was losing weight like crazy but had a great appetite. I suspected some sort of cancer but I also suspected Diabetes. She was visiting from CA. I told her to see her Dr as soon as she got home. I also told my sister to make sure she did. Well, she did not. Then in May 06 mom ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. I told my sister to tell the Drs about my suspicions. She only mentioned the Diabetes. They tested her and she had full blown Type 2. A month later she ended up in the hospital with pneumonia again. This time the Drs wanted to put the scope down her throat and she refused. 6 weeks later back in the hospital with pneumonia. This time the Dr insisted on tests and the news was not good. Mom had Lung Cancer. Not sure what kind. I did not want to know. It was decided that we did not want to know how much time mom had and neither did she. Her breathing became so bad that before she could see the Cancer Specialist we thought the end was near. She did not want to go. She felt it was too late. She spent 72 hrs awake and unable to sleep because she could not breath. We called the Dr and she convinced her to come in. She assured mom she would make her comfortable and she gave her hope. Mom had long hair and the Dr played with her hair and comforted her. Mom started chemo in July 06. her Birthday. We thought she would not make it to see another but she did and we made it so special. We were given 5 special months with mom.

Over the months mom improved so well. She went shopping and out to eat every chance she got. We planned a very special Christmas. Mom put up a tree for the first time since my dad died. She made all the plans and told me what she was going to cook on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. We were all going to be together and on the 23rd would have a great family picture taken. Mom would pass away on the 16th. The day I was to get there and take her to lunch and shopping for a new comforter we buried her instead. Moms death was more of a shock as she had done so well. On Sunday she had gone out to lunch and Christmas shopping with my sister. On Tuesday she called me to see what she could get my husband for Christmas. Wed she went in for tests as she was having a port put in on Thursday. That night I called and my niece said she was sleeping , that she was not feeling well. They thought she was just worn out from being at the hospital all day. The next day my sister called to say she was on her way to moms. That my other sister had to cancel the proceedure as mom just was not feeling well. The Dr called and said she wanted to see mom. I was making arrangements to fly to CA when my sister called to say the Dr was not concerned. Moms lungs were clear and she felt it was just a flu bug and she would be better in a day or two. She rescheduled the proceedure for Monday morning. I canxcelled my trip and planned to come down as originally planned on the 23rd. Friday night I called and mom was trying to eat some dinner. She said she just had no appetite. I told her she had to get better soon. She could not be sick on Christmas. She agreed. My sister said her breathing was so bad she was going to spend the night there.

About 2:30am mom agreed to go to the hospital but not until she took a bath. Reluctently my sister relented. While mom was in the bath tub she asked my sister to get her some soap and face cloth. A few minutes later when she did not hear moms breathing she went to the Door. She found mom unconcious. She called 911. They did CPR even though mom had a DNR my sister did not want the Paramedics to make the call. They put her on the stretcher and mom closed her eyes. My sister knew she was probably gone at that point. The Dr came out and told her my mom only had a slight pulse and if it was his mom he would let her go. My sister still to this day questions her decision. I tell her it is what mom would have wanted. Not to be saved only to go through this again and maybe again and to suffer more.

We all gathered for the Christmas mom had planned 2 days after her funeral but it was the worst Christmas of my life. I am so sorry to ramble but my fingers just took off. I keep it so bottled up that sometimes I just have to let it out. I pray your mom will not suffer long and I feel that reading your story that I am reliving mine all over. There is no telling when you mom will go. It could be when you least expect it as my mom did. Just enjoy your mom every minute you can. My prayers will be with you and your family. God Bless!

I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through, and your mother. It brings back such horrible memories. When my father was dx in 2006 with stage 4 nsclc the docs said 7 months tops. Well I moved him in with me immediately and he lived for 18 months. I thank God for the time we had together. Don't mean to ramble, I just miss him!

Anyway, in the last few weeks when his pain was so severe and he slept most of the time, I was giving him liquid morphine by mouth hourly. He was also on the highest strength fentanyl (sp?) patch.

The hospice nurses were fantastic, and their main concern was that he was not in any pain what-so-ever. If your mother is experiencing pain, just talk to them. Their utmost concern should be her comfort. The one thing that is hard about controlling the pain is that they sleep almost constantly, and they will not eat or drink. Which I am sorry to say, but I believe that causes the body to revolt and shut down even quicker.

Hope this answered your question somewhat. Take care and God bless!

I am sorry to hear of your mom's problem. I lost my wife on Mothers Day to SCLC. When things really get bad my only suggestion would be to have everyone tell her they are going to be ok and it is ok for her to go. The peace of mind those statements can give will greatly help ease the transition.