rena

The last few days here visiting with Mom & Dad have been very crazy, emotional and challenging. I arrived on Wednesday not knowing what to expect. Upon first glance I could not believe how frail he had become since the end of October. It was apparent that the cancer is kicking him in the butt. Thursday I drove Dad, mom and my grandmother over to the Cancer Hospital in Columbus. We initially didn’t think that dad could make the trip, but he insisted. We called the Dr. that morning tonged his opinion and we decided to make the trip as he wanted to evaluate his condition if possible in order to plan his next plans for treatment. So off we went…I prayed the whole way! Upon first glance, his Dr knew that he was severely dehydrated again and arranged for dad to be admitted to the hospital for 2 days for IV fluids and blood. We did not go prepared for an overnight stay. I ended up staying at the hospital with dad and arranged for a nearby hotel for mom & grandma. During his stay, Dad decided that he wanted to forego the drain tubes and get the wall stent….so he will be re-admitted tomorrow for a few days to get 2 metal stents put in.

Last night here at home, dad started to bleed again from around his tubes. We called the home healthcare nurse and she came over. It was determined that a clot was blocking his tubes and the blood had no where to go but out from around the tube.

The complications that can come with this cancer are truly horrible!!! On top of everything else, his tailbone is causing him major havoc. We are hoping that his new pain med will help with that. He has only had to take 3 pain pills thus far, but I talked him into taking 2 a bit ago. I hope they work. He was in tears!

We are praying that this weeks procedure brings dad some relief!!!

Rena

Dad is finally home from the hospital, but he is very weak and still not feeling well. I was really hoping that he would get some energy back at least for awhile. It is really hard for mom to see him like this. It makes me so sad when I think about it too hard. Before he left the hospital, the hospice counselor spoke to them. I don’t think that either of them are ready to talk or think about that. But the way that dad’s health is quickly declining, it may very soon be necessary. I plan to talk to them a little more about hospice during my visit with them this week. I am so excited to see them, but I also know that it is going to be really hard for me too see dad so ill. I last saw him early November and he was beginning to really feel the illness, but since has gotten much worse. I pray for strength for my family daily!

Another curve ball….dad bleeding continued through the night and this morning his levels were dangerously low so he was given blood. Tomorrow they will attempt to remove his plastic stent. At the same time they will check for variances. I searched postings on this topic last night and had already began to wonder about that. However, when they said the bleeding was being caused by the stent…we went with that. Perhaps it is both! Regardless, they should figure it out tomorrow. In the meantime, he still has not been able to eat because of the pancreatitis…..is that common with this condition….no food???? It just makes me so sad that he is trying to fight this and has not had a bite to eat since Saturday!!! It seems so cruel….please share if this is the protocol???

Trying to stay sane!
Rena

It was a very long and rough night for my family. They ended up transporting Dad to Columbus in an ambulance and he is in Intensive Care. It’s been a challenge to control his stomach pain and fevers. They have determined that he has pancreatitis for starters. His lab work came back all out of whack including his bile levels. He is very jaundice again. He is having a CT Scan done right now in hopes of determining what is causing the internal bleeding and to check things before they do any additional procedures that are needed. It’s a goal to replace his external drain tubes and replace his plastic stent with a metal one. His drain has lightened up a bit in the last hour and less blood seems to be visible. Hopefully this is a good sign. But the blood that drained into his bags overnight was very alarming!

Thanks for your prayers & support!
Rena

I wanted to give an update….mom called day’s Dr. Today and everything is cleared up…thank goodness. Apparently it was a nurse in radiology that shared the bad information. Dad’s Dr. was not happy at all and basically he shared what Andie shared above (thank you Andie!!!).

Thank you guys so much! Your guidance has been so helpful getting through all of this!

Rena

I did just mom & dad in going to the ER! Thank God! They are on their way now! Mom does have some support of relatives, friends & neighbors. They have been helpful and I am so glad that she is not there alone to deal with it all since I am 7 hours away and my brother is an hour and a half away. Up until ow, mom & dad were the caretakers of both of my grandma’s, so other family members have had to step up and help with them who are both in their 80’s.

I will keep you posted on the ER visit. Dad is supposed to get his plastic drain tubes out and replaced with a metal stent the first week of December.

Thanks for the push!!!
Rena