Kel’s last PET wasn’t good, she’s not continuing tx…

Got this from website for you:

“Eligible employees may take a maximum of 12 weeks of protected, unpaid medical or family leave per year. The leave may be continuous or intermittent (i.e. brief leave time taken every so often, if medically necessary). The law stipulates that the employer must return the employee to his or her position, or to a position that is equivalent in pay, benefits, working conditions, and seniority, at the end of the leave.

Restrictions

Several important restrictions limit the coverage of employees under the FMLA. In order to qualify for a protected family or medical leave,

Your employer must have 50 or more employees within a 75 mile radius of your job site (including part-time employees and those on leave);
You must have been employed by your company for at least twelve months; and
In those twelve months, you must have worked at least 1,250 hours for the employer. (For example, if you work at least 25 hours/week for 50 weeks).”

Hospice is awesome. You can take a break when you need to and they are there. And they can medicate more when they need it. My sister had a pump but they always had more if we needed it. She got very disoriented at the end too before she went into her coma. And they were sure it had gone to her brain. But that only lasted a day or two before she “went to sleep” as we said. But she would wake up once or twice a day before she passed. Like I said that lasted 13 days in hospice. Everyone is so different. She never got the signs they told us to look for either. Her urine was still flowing, her heart was strong and steady and her blood pressure was awesome clear up until that morning she passed. Good luck to you. We are here for you.

Hi there Is she ok to get to get in to the doctors rooms or should you have someone come to the house? good luck anyhow
Janet

This is what I was told by our Hospice Dr. In my dads case, the tumors in his liver and pancreas are causing them to shut down and therefore releasing toxins in the body, those toxins will travel to the lungs and the brain. That may be what is causing your sister to be “confused”. The toxins can also cause fatigue and loss of appetite. I am sorry you are going through this and it is appearing to be a rapid deline for your sister. The one area where this cancer is consistent, is that it isn’t consistant and it isn’t always predictable in its progression. If Hospice comes, there are certain signs they look for and can predict somewhat accurately a time span. ie heartrate, blood pressure, breathing, circulation(a blue hue to fingernails) but again, every person with CC is different.
BTW, this is just a thought and just how our family has chosen to handle hospice- we told my dad that we were having a nurse from the hospital examine him at home so he didnt have to travel to the hospital. We have never said “hospice” and neither has the nurses or doctors. We prefer him not knowing everything. We feel it wont change the end result, and if anything, it might make his last days. weeks, months? less sad. Again, this is an approach that is working for us.
Sorry for all your sisters and families heartache.
You are in my prayers
Barbara

My sister went into the hospital in December – a week before Christmas. They sent her home “to die” within a week. Over the next couple of weeks she quit eating and was vomiting a lot. Then she went into the hospice house on January 15th and died on January 23rd. I look back and that is such a short time. Really a month from being in the hospital. But she just quit eating and drinking all together. They say that it takes approx. 10 to 14 days to pass if they are not eating and it took her 13 days. Our family struggled with the same decisions…when to take off work and how long will it take. And it really sucks to have to think that way. But it’s reality. The day she went into hospice house I never left her side again. I figured if my job didn’t want to wait for me, I would go to work at McDonalds. She was so much more important. My job did wait for me…I am lucky. And I don’t have any regrets. I knew at the time that she was so much more important than any job. I love and miss her so much and this will be so hard for you. I’m so sorry.

KelslilSis,

Thanks for the update on your sister. I am glad you have joined us but sorry for what you & your family are going through that has brought you here. As you know, this horrid disease doesn’t play fair. It is sneaky and unpredictable. Nothing is consistant & it treats everyone differently. Keeping your sister comfortable & out of pain is very important now, so you are on the right track. It is all so very hard on everyone.

Your trip to Monterey sounds like it was a nice break for both of you and something you will always remember.

My heart breaks for you. Your sister is too young and it is so unfair. As you said, it real does SUCK!!!!

Just remember that we are all here if you need us. Even just to vent your feelings. You, your sister & your family will be in my thoughts & prayers.

Love & Hugs,
Darla

KelslilSis,
First I want to welcome you to the site, and say Im so sorry about your sister, she is way too young to suffer with this cruel and unfair disease. I am thinking(and this is just based on many posts I have read, and my fathers situation) Since your sister isnt even on the morphine patch, the fatigue is coming from the cancer. I was told in my fathers case the tumor in the liver was causing toxins in the body, which was weakening him, causing him to sleep 20 hours a day. If I were you, I would not hesitate, and call your Onc and see if he would put in an order for Hospice. It was the most difficult phone call I had to make, but I am grateful that I did. They come and make the patient comfortable, and they can make it so there are hopefully no more hospital visits. The exams can all be conducted at home. (ie heart rate, blood preasure)Most importantly, the patient is comfortable and they offer the caretaker badly needed comfort as well. Also, they know what signs to look for as our loved ones begin to slip away from us. This must be so sad for you and your family, and I hope you can find some peace in what a wonderful sister you are, and how important you are to your big sis. I hope your trip to Monterey is something you can hold close to your heart in days, weeks, years to come.
You, your sister, and your family are in my prayers
Barbara