My Mom is to have her fourth treatment tomorrow, 23 July. The third one was very dificult for her to recover from, and already she has to go for another.
Sometimes I wonder if she will recuperate and become cancer free after these sessions are completed. I guess I just want her back.
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Well, good luck Mike. I'm sorry your mother is dealing with this tough road. And I'm sorry you have to stand by watching, where you feel so helpless.
I hope you can take care of yourself better than I took care of myself during Lynn's chemo. I really had a hard time coping, and though nobody knew it, I was angry all the time; I was angry at fate itself. I felt that Lynn was the last person on earth who should have something like this. Day to day, no, it was more like living hour to hour. You'll get through it, but you can only do it an hour at a time, and you need to devote plenty of time and effort to your own well being.
You won't do everything perfectly; but with me, knowing my liabilities and frailties, and even warning people close to us about them, made for easier coping and more humility. Good luck with handling the situation and especially with maintaining your own well-being. You can't take care of anyone without taking care of yourself.
Thank you Joseph. I've just returned from taking Mom for her treatment today. I'm washing her bed linens so she will come home to a fresh made bed. She deserves much better.
I had bypass surgery in March, so I have no choice but to watch myself as I do the daily housework, grocery shopping, and driving Mom to the Oncology Clinic. I was never a sound sleeper, so I do get run down every once in awhile. So, I take a day off once a week to do things for myself.
I do have a sister who works for the Red Cross, so I am trained on CPR and first aid. She has been a great help when she has the time.
My other sister lives 3 hours away, so she comes to visit when she can, and that is also a great help.
My Father has Alzheimer's, so he can be a handful now and then. He requires constant attetion. I do have someone coming in twice a week to have him bathed and clean linens for his bed.
Thank you for your response. I just consider it all in a day's work.
Hi Mike,
I was touched by your devotion to your parents in their time of need. You truly are a wonderful son.
God Bless You and keep you strong.
Thank you for your blessings. I see by your profile that you are in stage 3 ovarian cancer. My Mom is too.
She is doing as well as expected. Most of her complaints come from medications that cause constipation.
She was suppose to have treatment #4, but the clinic called and told me to come back to pick her up because her blood wasn't right to receive the therapy.
We are scheduled for next Wednsday 30 July.
If you have anything to share regarding your enduring this, I would like to hear about them.
Thank you again.
What a coincidence about your Mom missing her 4th treatment. I just missed my 5th treatment because of low blood platelets. Apparently there is nothing you can do for platelets, but I went ahead and ate beef, liver, and spinach all week. I walked and excercised to get the blood flowing as well. Also, make sure she drinks plenty of water especially before and after her chemo. I had my blood tested today and everything was good to go. Apparently, it is quite common around this time in treatments to postpone a treatment for a week in order for the blood counts to stabalize. As far as the constipation goes, I made myself a stewed concoction of prunes, apricots, raisins, and apples to last about three days. I added half water and half applejuice with some lemon and cinnamon. She should also have bran cereal in the morning with plently of fresh berries, as well as a salad every day. I take a multiple vitamin and a calcium pill, fish oil, as well as plenty of cranberry juice (I mix pure juice from health food store with cranberry cocktail to sweeten it a little). My last tip is actually from son #2 who works out and watches what he eats. He suggested that I have a protein shake with berries, milk and water in order to build up tissue and muscle loss during chemotherapy. Best of luck to your Mom, and keep up the great work!
Mike, You are an inspiration! What a wonderful son! I, also, just missed #5 due to low platelets (#4 was postponed 4 days last time...same reason). So I get a "reprieve" for another week. There is nothing you can do for platelets so I just have to wait for my body to recover.
Dimana, that's for the info on the "concoction" and the protein shake!
Better and healther days are coming! Just hang in there!
Thank you so much for the suggestions Dimana. I will pass these on to Mom, and will go grocery shopping later today to pick up some of these items. I will also tell her about your delay in treatment #5. She really did not look good enough to get another Toxol IV yesterday, so was not surprised they called. I should have stayed, but I had to get back and fix Dad's breakfast. He's taken on to jealousy because I helped Mom first. He's lucky she held up for so long to keep him happy. I know it's the senility in action, but he knows when he isn't getting what he wants when he wants. So childish sometimes. I don't understand men sometimes!
Hello Hippeebi!
I read your profile just a few minutes ago. You and I are about the same age. I will be 57 in August. My Mom is 77. She's the bravest person I know!
Thank you for your compliments, I was raised right I guess. We all grew up in the military, so she had to be both Mom and Dad for several times in his career. That, I believe, is what influenced me the most.
I wasn't coddled like some mothers do to their sons. I had work to do, and did it without question. So, now, with Dad's senility, my training is coming in handy!
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