toniak

Ana-

When I came to this place the first time I thought ” My Gosh, I’ll need a vocab cheat sheet. How will I ever know what anyone is talking about?!”

I started googeling everything. That helped.

I can’t answer all of your questions but I can help you with your second question.

I’m my grandmother’s caregiver ( her name is Ina. She’s 83 and my best friend ) she has had the lower back pain and the sweats. She did not opt to have any chemo treatment. This would tell me that those symptoms in her experieance are Cancer related not chemo. Because she hasn’t had any.

We have her on Oxycoton for a long acting and then oxycodin for as needed. When the sweats start we use a cold pack or a cold wash cloth.

As far as your dr goes. I do understand his basic idea. The patient needs to be involved. That’s great, but there may be decisions that you will be needing to make and you’ll need information. Some stuff, like you’ve run into, your husband may not want to talk about.

Everyone here is amazing.

Much love and blessings,
Tonia

My Grandma was a huge diet soda drinker. She was a huge diet anything eater or drinker.

Tess-

Just read your post. It looks like you were able to get a lot of great information for everyone. The people here are amazing.

My Grandmother was diagnosed Oct.3 2008 and had surgery Oct. 13th. She is 83 and has diabetes and a heart condition. Her choice was to not have chemo and to try to stay as comfortable as possible.

I understand what you mean when you say how hard it is to watch your loved one in pain. I want to “fix” it but I can’t. I want to understand and say the right thing but I know I can’t do that either.

The only thing I’ve been able to do, to make myself feel useful, is to be her advocate. and to be informed. The thing is to be sure to get your info from a good source. The internet is great but anyone can post anything.

On the subject of stool softeners…whenever Grandma’s pain meds have gone up we’ve made sure to check those too.

Let me know if there’s anything I can do!
God bless you and your family.
T

Jeff
You were one of the first people to respond when I came to this site. Thank you so much for your caring.

I hope they get your pain under control and that you can be comfortable.

You’re in my prayers
Tonia

Hi Middlesister

Just went through that with my grandmother a few weeks ago. Its rough.

This is the club nobody wants to be part of BUT this is also that best place I’ve found to get support and info that I’ve found.

Keep us updated as to what’s going on with you and your family.

All the best to your family and your sister.

T

Barb-

My grandmother is 83 and just diagnosed. She’s obviously not my “mother” but she really has been a 2nd mom and a best friend to me.

She has always been a young 83. Really active and nobody ever believes her age when she tells them.

The chemo wasn’t an option for her either because of how hard it would be on her. I know what you mean about watching them go downhill. It is hard. Horrible really.

We’re still new to this too but anything I can do for you let me know.

T