pjoi4

Hi All,

It’s been awhile, I don’t know where to begin. My husband was just released from the hospital on Thursday, October 18, 2006. I will try to sum things up. His feet had swollen really bad and he could not eat or drink anything. We went to the emergency room and he was admitted with a really bad infection and white blood count of 32,000. He was extremely dehydrated. For one week he did not eat in the hospital. They gave him something called Megestrol to help with his appetite. It actually worked because Marinol did not work. We were told that his white blood count had elevated to 39,000. We were also told that the cancer had spread to his spine, bone, and liver. He has a very difficult time urinating. They found an infection in his colon called Cediff (spelling?) He was treated with some very powerful antibiotics especially Vancomycn. The blood white blood count went down to 25,000. He saw all his doctors we were finally given the opportunity to get a second opinion since our insurance changed effectively September 1, 2006. His Onc. said that the 4th line chemo would not work since we had not been successful with the 2nd, and 3rd lines. They want to try him on Gezmar (spelling) but my husband is too weak and his breathing is extremely labored. They adjusted his pain meds again two days before we left to two 100mcg Fentynl patches. He had one on each side of his chest. He became a complete and total zombie. He could not open his eyes and he did not know his name. I called the Pallative Care people and had the patches removed immediately. He sort of got his senses back. He still has periods where his memory is fuzzy or lost or he will carry on conversation without having his cellphone at his ear. When I remind him of this he thanks me. I went to pick our children up when he was released and he was constantly talking to himself. I pretended to be in the conversation also so the kids would not notice. He was supposed to tell our 7 year old daughter and 9 year old son about his cancer and give them an opportunity to ask questions. All his doctors had concluded that Hospice would be the best thing for us now. My husband was so out of it when the Hospice lady came to the hospital to speak about their services. He fell asleep during the entire presentation. I asked them to return later. The next day he woke up in a shouting rage. He felt he was betrayed and that somehow somebody was trying to trick him into hospice care including me. I have never felt so emabarrased as I did at that moment. I was the main person saying to please discuss these things with my husband when he is coherent. One day he was a basket case and the next day he seemed to have hold of his senses. He was sent home with the ability to return to any and all of his doctors. His breathing was extremely labored the night he came home. He has really bad tremors and jerks and moans all night. Then out of the blue the next morning, he asked if it was too late to call the hospice people and have them deliver the oxygen he so needed and to have the nurse come by to check on him. I said I would call only if he has taken enough time to think about it over the weekened. He wanted it started right away. This is just one story. I could right some additional pages about the family side but I won’t. It’s tough enough to see him suffer but when family wants to start to judge you from out of state it’s hard.

God Bless and Take Care

Renea

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Renea