moms surgery

[sheila]

I do believe there are a few jobs for her yet-an elderly lady mom takes to the store and to her home so she can do laundry and takes her to lunch occasionally is fairly dependent on mom.-my mom brother and sisters rely on her for support as does my one cousin who lost both her parents 2years ago from altzheimer.(which was my moms older sister and husband).
but one never knows what the real plans are.
saw mom tonight and altho she is doing a bit better, she was sitting 3 hour is aloud back on her usual meds and is started on the liquid diet-staying down s far.! she even walked a few steps with my one brother this afternoon. The only problem tonight was the jello. didnt go down to well and created an air pocket and she couldnt release it down or up-I came in just in time and (proceeded to rub her back and sort of burp her like a baby) it worked! she was instantly relieved..glad I decided to come-hmmm when she told the nurses her problem they wanted to give her a pain pill. whats that all about?? even something like gingerale would work more efficiently. altho she told us to stay home and rest-she was really glad we came. brought her a real mug(shes tired of styrofoam) and brought in some of her own decaf tea bags. shes going to rest a bit better tonight. and so am I Going to bed soon will add my prayer for the forum tonight.....goodnite all I am sooo tired.ZZZZZzZzzzzzzz.....

[sheila]

wed was the first time I didnt go --mom called me! she said stay home get some rest. we didnt argue. we got our shopping done. rest? whats that?
she said they are weaning her off of the nutrients and she had a cream soup for dinner last night and a pancake this morning-its all staying down!!
now thAT SHE IS FEELING SOME PROGRESS she said shes not ruling out entirely any more treatents. she doesnt like to quit or give up. I know alot of her survival has been her wanting to live longer and staying as positive as possible. shes just not 100% ready to throw in the towel. she just continues to amaze the doctors and our family. I think sometimes when she thinks back to the beginning of all this-she even amazes herself! I wish I could drop a huge giant pill on the world and cure you all.
my thoughts prayers and postive thinking is extendended to to all-(at least I am capableof doing that!!!) going to see her tonight and made some homemade zuccini bread(if shes aloud) for her and her nurses.if shes aloud pancakes ad sugar in her tea-I would think thats ok too we'll be sure to ask first.

[REB]

Everyone needs to stay strong and pray.

[topazil]

I am very glad to hear of the progression of strength and ability with your mother, you all are in my thoughts and prayers and I agree to REB's post on staying strong and praying (((HUGS)))))))))))

[sheila]

thanks Topazil!
mom called this morning relieved they had no problem removing her picc lines. eating small amouts of regular food, sitting up and starting to walk down the hall-she may possibly be relased the beginning of next week!!!
we are just waiting for blood tests and hydration tests to determine if her body is suppying her with enough nutrients.
I need to seriously dust one room especially should she decide to come here(she has dust allergies)..
But she may want to go home like last time-as long as shes strong enough to get herself things-she will.
thank you thank you our prayers are answered yet one more time.
I hope to hear more positive results from others on this forum-who are always in my thoughts. what a great caring group!

[DulcimerGal]

Sheila - such great news I am so happy for you and your Mom.

all that family support along with the prayers is making this possible!
I am so thrilled to hear she is getting her spirits back too as evidenced by her willingness to keep on fighting.

This is a great forum - I agree
Cheers
DulcimerGal

[sheila]

mom was dissapointed today-had her hopes up for comming home this weekend,(altho I kept telling her it may be a bit too soon) the doctor told her that her bloodwork results came back ad she needs to be more hydrated before they can release her and some kind of med for her sore cracked tongue. other than that she is still doing well.-she didnt drink her juices or her ensure that was on her trays so she may have did that to hersilf, Just hoping the Iv doesnt give her any clotting problems. Im predicying she may providing this plan to hydrate goes well that she may be home by wed. this nasty cancer sure puts alot of rollercoaster rides in ones life....up down not again what? just as long as the last one is prayer for all to get the uphill climb to the top!!

[sheila]

saw mom tonite-frustrated and wants to go home but is still too weak. she walked a bit more with me and my husband and brother. was able to put her steeler shirt on and her lounge pants. first real clothes since shes been there. they are still balancing her electrolytes and she was weened from potassium/saline to .....gatorade IV. (they really need to remove the drain tube from surgery-maybe thats next!
shes not eating alot but drinking a boost and a few bites of whatever.her food doesnt taste normal yet and she has some difficulty swallowing certain foods-breads meats rice.
she always eats breakfast(so she says). I hope so Im not there in the mornings. she was fiesty tonight(drives me nuts but a good sign :P ).
rather see her that way as opposed to totally depressed and withdrawn.
I so hope things keep going in the right direction. she does try so hard not to give up...oh and I admire her for that. so till something changes Ill end this with good thoughts for everyone who reads this. goodniteZZzzz..

[wytyspy]

Little steps are progress! Glad to hear she is a fighter. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Lucinda

[sheila]

thank you Whytyspy.
mom called this morning letting me know she ate lunch-saw her surgeon. She told mom they are still not sure how much she is absorbing, and may have to go for nutrient drips ocassionally with more bloodwork trips. in between eating(a little all day) and fluid drinking, once she gets home. yep gatorade was included. immodium too(she said the liquid form is the best fastest absorprion.
Not quite ready to remove her staples.
so as long as shes progressing Im guestimating a few more days-she has to be feeling somewhat stronger she is writing bills today (go figure)(she insisted on doing them herself) one of us could have done that for her.
Im not complaining..thats my mom p.s.-she had me organize her hospital room and drawers. next shell be asking for her curlers. :P

[sheila]

mom called and was a bit upset-2 days in a row total of 14 iv attempts
finally they decided a new upper arm picc line was in order. It will stay when she goes home so she wont have to get jabbed more to draw blood which she will be doing more often now.
They came to the conclusion she really isnt absorbing enough nutrition yet and will more than likely have to get nutrient treatments through Iv (which also goes in the picc line.). along with her regular eating.mom said if she knew the stool would be that loose ahead of time,she may not have done the surgery.
she keeps saying "I must have really done something rotten in my life to be punished with all of this."(I dont know how to respond to that)
she doesnt deserve this and no-one deserves this. I feel our paths were prechosen and it is what it is. hard or easy-what makes the difference is how we deal with it.. Im confused about this too. she said to me last night before I left-ohh sheila what happened to your mommy? tore-me-up.
I said I dont know its not fair but we are here together now ..and many times this moment may not have been. and I gave her a big hug and kiss. We both felt a bit better.

[DulcimerGal]

Sheila,

Your poor Mom. It is breaking my heart to read your words tonight - but you responded beautifully. I feel for her with that pic line - I had one in for a while and I hated it so bad, it seemed like torture when they put it in (hit a nerve) and it's that whole loss of control thing that those of us with cancer worry about so much.

It's the fear that we will not be able to make our own decisions that makes her say things like 'what happened to your Mommy' - after all - she used to care for you and now the positions are reversed. That is a lot to get used to.

As for the suffering piece of it here is my take on it. She has not done anything at all to deserve it as we all well know. She has been selected to show others how to suffer with grace and fortitude because the Lord knows she will be a wonderful example to others with her spirit in suffering. Just look at how many have viewed this thread if you are in doubt. We are all pulling for her and fighting along with her. We are all hoping we can hold up the same way she is should we have to go down this path with a recurrence as she is.

God Bless your Mom
We will uphold her in prayer Sheila, please tell her we are all proud of her and of your family for hanging in there to support her.

DulcimerGal

[sheila]

Dulcimergal-whoa! that was deep emotion pouring out of your heart. what a wonderful person you are. Im not the one with the cancer and yet your kindness actually helped me with my hurt. Thank you and all for caring Its so comforting knowing there are soo many who only get to know you through words that really do care. This is truly what makes life so beautifull-no material gifts no props nothing is put on its just straight from the heart. a votive is burning right now for mom and this forum at my in home alter

[star]

HI SHIELA,

Life throws us real curve balls, and so hard to dodge them, I met Barb 8 yrs ago I am from England and she from OHIO USA, we had been talking for 6 months when she told me that she been to Drs and had tests and she had colon cance.,

As the time went on we walked the hard road togther and both our lives changed for ever because of this crazy disease... and so will many other lives as statistics say 1 in 3 americans will get cancer , so we went through 4 surgeries, Barbs cancer came back 3 times ... and we had many hospital stays in fact the nurses and Drs new us in a personal way, as we had been so many times over the years, Her veins where also shot and took ages and many attempts to get an iv in her, Barb said a couple of times, what had she done in life to deserve this, but i told her NOTHING, as she was the most sweetest, caring , loving, kind woman I have ever ever met.

As we walked this road along came many many people where touched because of Barb, I do not have any answers why so many have to go through what they have to go through, but they teach us so much thats if we stand back and watch and take it all in.

Praying for you and your Mom, give her as many hugs as you can and tell her you love here lots and lots ,,,, and Pray and Give thanks to God for her and for what he has in the future for you both and family .

God Bless You On This Walk .....

[sheila]

STAR-thank you for your wisdom and words from experience. It is rough and alot of uncertainty-we become afraid to get too happy in fear of a huge letdown.
Tonite we found mom in a bit more up mode-they took her off the iv nutrient gatorade-(but the worry of the wait is whats stressing)- to see IF she will actually be able to absorb enough from her own digestion.
shes really upset about the sudden in the middle of the night or while sitting in a chair-colostomy bag bursts. it just seems to fill fast about every 2 hours. (not good that its going through that fast) but yet her legs are stronger and she walked a bit further with us today!
the doctors keep saying well remove the staples before you go home but the staples are still in.
and so is she.
Her family doctor and all who enter her room..wen they ask her..do you have any questions?she now answers-Yes I do! When can I go home? Are you tired of me asking you that??
one doctor said NO Im not .it means your feeling better if you want to go home. but they cant give her any real answers. They just keep saying not untill we have everything under control.
we just wait hope and pray. thoughts are with all tonight ..Bless you for being there! goodnite and a better morning!