betsy
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I”m with you Cathy – when it comes to veggies, I like them, NOT. I have a Vita-mix blender and I’ll dust it off and look at the veggie drinks. Maybe between you, Kathy and me, we can come up with some drinks we like.
Betsy
Wow! Shame on the Komen Foundation. I posted the article on my facebook page as well. They really are starting to look and feel like bullies.
Betsy
Hi Marion,
Thanks for the article. Very interesting. I would love to learn how to talk to my doctors more effectively.betsy
Hugs and kisses to you Rick. I’m glad to hear from you but of course so sorry you are not feeling well. I think about you often.
Betsy
Oh Lainy, I agree with Charlotte – how could you have ever known that you would be let down like that when you needed help the most.
I had a similar experience like yours when my Mom died. She was in a nursing home at the time and we had just contacted Hospice before she died. Even after I talked to her doctor and we agreed on “comfort measures” only, I had a hard time getting the nursing staff to honor that request. They didn’t want to give her too much morphine because she wouldn’t be as responsive…..who the hell cares – she was in so much pain….I started feeling like I was being judged by the nurses and that maybe I had misunderstood what was happening.
So what’s the solution? Maybe you’ll find some answers as you pursue Hospice for an explanation regarding Teddy’s treatment or I should say, lack of treatment.
xxoo
BetsyAfter reading Gawande’s article, I found myself asking the same question – “how much do people have to suffer before someone says stop?” When both of my parents died, it was very difficult to get the hospital to stop treatment and my Mom had a Living Will that stated DNR. I was shocked! It was awful for us because we kept thinking, is there a chance she will recover? Did we misunderstand something? And my poor old Dad was hours away from dying when we finally stopped treatment. I will never forget how he was barely awake and the nurses kept trying to get him to eat pills crunched up in applesauce. We had to keep telling them, NO!, we don’t want anything else but comfort measures (and lots of it!). In my own case, my doctors never discussed the severity of my diagnosis of cc – or the risks involved in the resection I was about to have – I learned it all from this site. I do feel very strongly that our doctors need to be trained to have end of life discussions with their patients and families and give realistic expectations so they can make difficult decisions early rather than later.
Betsy
Hi Hans,
Here is one of my favorite Kris posts: (one of many!)
“Steroids are such potent drugs. I put on so much weight and had my very own goatee and neck/back hair. I turned into the Yeti…which was funny since I was completely thinning out on my head, but my beard was coming in nicely”.
xxoo,
BetsyHi Kathy,
I had my surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. I did not receive adjuvant chemo because, at the time, my doctors felt there was not enough evidence to support chemo would prevent a recurrence. I believe there is now more evidence supporting adjuvant chemo.
My lifestyle has changed considerably. I’m still dealing with bile duct issues from my surgery 2 years ago. I was a very active person and did dog training/pet sitting as a profession. I don’t have the stamina to do that job anymore. I spend a lot of time on the computer, watch movies, read, hang out with my kids, dog and cats. I’ve decided to go back to school in the Fall and get my masters degree in social work. I try to eat more organic foods but don’t spend too much time worrying about what I eat. On good days I can walk at least a mile.
I’ve had counseling and I take anti-depressants (but I took those before cc). Both of these things help me tremendously. I do worry about a recurrence. I wonder if my kids will outlive me. Having cc boiled life down to its very essence for me. But I’m so incredibly lucky – I have the Cleveland Clinic 30 minutes from me, doctors that have gotten to know me very well, excellent health insurance, an amazing spouse and children, sister, brother, great girlfriends.
How about you? What have you found to “get you through the night?” How has your life changed?
BetsyI only know one person who is 10 years out from being diagnosed. But I do think there are people out there who are “cured”. They just aren’t here talking to us. My oncologist said if I made it 5 years without a recurrence, I should consider myself cured. I am a little over 2 years plus without a recurrence.
Betsy
Hi Marion,
I really liked the Roasted Red Roma Tomato Soup and the Chicken Magic Mineral Broth Soup and the Kale with Carrots. And yes, there are lots of recipes for combating weight loss as well as constipation, diarrhea, neutropenia (what’s that?), dehydration and fatigue. She also goes into great detail explaining how to make food more palatable – if you have a metallic taste in your mouth try adding a little sweetener like maple syrup, a squeeze of lemon…I’m going to try more of the vegetable dishes and then work my way through the smoothies.
Betsy
Dear Hans,
I’m so glad you shared all of the details about your last hours with Kris and after. I appreciate your unflinching honesty. I’ve gotten to know so much about Kris but it was on the internet….in many ways she was a stranger to me and yet a personal friend at the same time. I’m grieving for her and the only place I can express those feelings are on this website. If you had disappeared after letting us know Kris had died, I would totally understand, but feel even more despair. So thank you, thank you so much for sharing and saying what you need to say. It is very helpful to me. I will always be here to read and reply to anything you want to post.
Warmest regards,
BetsyI am so very sad. For Teddy, Kris and Kristen…..
Well now baby, tell me how have you been
We all have missed you
And the way you grin
The day is necessary every now and then
For souls to move on
Givin’ life back again and again
Fly on, fly on
Fly on my friend
Go on live again, love again…Stevie Ray Vaughan
still crying,
BetsyI am so incredibly saddened by this news. I knew Kris wasn’t doing well, but kept hoping against hope that she would rally. I started re-reading all of her posts this weekend. She was always witty, charming, sarcastic, bittersweet, articulate, inspiring, amazing. I loved the post where she described all of the bulbs she had planted for the Spring. I will think of her every day but especially in the Spring when the daffodils come up in my yard. To Kris and her family – please accept my deepest sympathy.
Betsy
