Posts by Roger Hall15

northernfox9 said:My dad passed away on November 8th at 8:30 in the morning. It feels like we've lost the fight, but I truly believe God always knows best and has a plan, so he's likely in a much more beautiful place now...

Ivankovic, please accept my deepest condolences.

I really want to thank everyone who has stood by us over these last ten months.

I am so sorry for your loss. I'm certain your dad is in a better place now and isn't suffering anymore.

Hang in there. 🙂

Angela Wright said:My mom passed away peacefully this morning.
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone here for being such a huge support during this incredibly difficult chapter of my life.
Love you all! May God bless you in everything you're going through. Just keep pushing forward.

🙂

Please accept my deepest, most sincere condolences. Take care of yourself and look after your dad. I hope God keeps you all in His care. You’ve been such a pillar of strength for the rest of us while dealing with your own grief and heartache, and I know God sees everything you've endured.

Hannah Thomas28 said:I really need some help here.
Does anyone have any actual experience dealing with pancreatic tumors?
My mom was diagnosed with cancer in the head of her pancreas just about a month ago. She ended up being admitted to the hospital with what they called "painless" jaundice, and at first, we all just assumed it was a gallbladder issue or stones in the bile ducts. She’s already had surgery, and they went ahead and removed the lymph nodes just to be safe. There aren't any metastases, though from what I can gather, that doesn't necessarily mean much—it's bad enough just having it right there in the pancreas.
The statistics are absolutely devastating. They told us she might only have two to six months, even though she seems to be doing okay right now.
There’s no chemo planned, no radiation...
They even told us to let her eat whatever she wants! And specifically told us not to tell her that! Of course, we told her, but we didn't mention the grim statistics.
And I just can't find a single person out there who actually recovered, or even someone who survived longer than expected.
I feel completely hopeless... The Sickness is overwhelming.

It's the exact same thing they're telling me—just let her eat what she wants and let her smoke if she feels like it. Honestly, sometimes I let her, and sometimes I don't. I probably mess up one way or the other constantly, but maybe none of that actually matters in the grand scheme of things. I'm learning this on the fly, going through this for the first and last time, and nobody is an expert here; I've certainly tripped up more times than I care to admit. What am I supposed to do? No one is a machine.
My mother is heading in for her seventh round of chemotherapy tomorrow; she's 72 years old and weighs barely 90 pounds, so you can imagine how difficult that looks. I just finished helping her get cleaned up, and she'll be heading to bed shortly. The doctor mentioned there's going to be a major checkup—X-rays, swabs, blood work, urine tests, the whole works—and she's terrified, wondering why the doctor needs to talk to her and worrying about what else they might find or what if things aren't looking good. Things aren't good. But I just tell her everything is fine, because she's so incredibly suggestible. If I insist that she's doing well, she actually feels better, even if it's just temporary.

No matter how heavy things get, I've never quite lost my hope. I'm not even sure what I'm hoping for, really. As long as she's somewhat okay, I'm content. It's the constant emotional ups and downs that wear me down, but there isn't much else to be done. I've just lit an incense stick and I'm trying to find some calm.😁

You shouldn't dwell too much on the statistics; those are just numbers on a page. People aren't just numbers.

Hang in there, everyone, and a special shout-out to those here who have shared good news.🙂

vividowl10 said:My dad passed away on October 20th, following a six-month battle that was nothing short of incredible.

The only real comfort I can find in all of this is knowing he went out like an angel in his sleep, and that he stayed on his feet and kept fighting right up until the very end.

I feel completely hollow sometimes, just drifting through these moments where I’m totally disoriented and angry, only to suddenly snap back into being composed again, feeling this quiet sort of satisfaction that he didn't suffer and that he fought until the very end. It’s just an endless loop like that.

I just wanted to take a second to send out a massive thank you to everyone here who stepped up with advice when I needed it most; honestly, I can't thank you all enough.

A little extra love for the old crew.

I honestly feel like I could write an entire book on prostate cancer and bone metastases at this point, so if anyone out there finds themselves needing a bit of advice or just some small help navigating it all, please know I’m always here.

Hey there,
Ines

I am so sorry for your loss, Ines. 🙂

I guess I should just say thanks to you and everyone else who keeps showing up and actually speaking their minds here. Honestly, we really need people like you.

Hang in there, everyone. Sending love.

Ryan Foster6 said:What do you all think about the Budwig method? We really need to take action because there’s a part of the tumor sitting on the pyramids that just can't be surgically removed. Apparently, radiation is the only option left. So, we have to find a way to stop it from spreading further while also trying to eliminate what's already there, but how? If anyone has any suggestions or a method they've actually tried, please reach out—any bit of advice is incredibly precious right now. Maybe someone knows where to find more precise or advanced radiotherapy than what's available at Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins? Thanks, everyone.

All the best. Honestly, I don't know if it actually cures cancer—there are testimonies saying it does—but I firmly believe that some things simply aren't in our hands, though we have to give everything that *is* within our control. We basically just have to do our absolute best and then accept whatever comes our way.
Grass-fed cheese and flaxseed oil are really healthy; the oil won't cause any digestive issues. It’s all very easy to prepare, and if you use a little imagination, it can actually taste good. Instead of using just the oil, you can use ground flaxseeds, which helps with digestion.
Of course, that’s just the foundation.
You have to follow the protocol strictly, though I’ll admit I don't always succeed with my mom. Still, I do what I can; she gets the oils and seeds in her yogurt or stirred into any dish with cheese (like when I make a homemade spread for toast, I always mix in some flax oil). If you mix grass-fed cheese, flax oil, and ground dried fruit and spread it on a biscuit, you’ve got a delicious, quick snack that's healthy for all of us who are still relatively well. It has to be eaten by the end of the day, but that’s hardly an issue.😁

As for the radiation, it's a relief if even one of those machines is actually functional.🙄 🙄

Stay strong and good luck to all the fighters out there.👍

I have to admit, I think I've finally passed my biggest crisis yet; I completely lost my cool and snapped at everyone. I feel like a zombie, walking around like a zombie—it's awful. I'm embarrassed.😁
I lashed out at some poor souls, and I feel bad for the innocent people who got caught in the crossfire, but I simply don't have the strength to dwell on it. If I acted selfishly or like a wild animal, well, what am I supposed to do? Half of what happened, I don't even remember, or rather, I don't want to think about it. Because I just can't.
There is still so much I'm carrying inside that I don't even know what I'm feeling anymore. Or maybe I don't feel anything at all.
If there is a dear lady on this forum reading this who reached out to me via PM: honey, if you remember that sentence you said, just know that I’m only truly understanding it now.

Hang in there, everyone. 🙂

I'm off to go cook some vegetable soup, and since the lady requested meat, I went out and picked up some beef. For a while, she couldn't stand the thought of eating meat, but now she wants to make up for lost time.🙄
So, plenty of vegetables, meat,🙄 and I'll throw a handful of barley in there. She's going to need it; she had to head over to Jordan for her electrolytes and white blood cell counts (they went up a bit, but we don't know what to do about that—it's just terrible).
If she doesn't drive me crazy,😛 She’ll get some green dumplings too. Hopefully, she actually enjoys them.

Elizabeth Collins60 said:There are just so many shared memories, so many wonderful moments, and I honestly feel like he’s still living inside me... it gets harder and harder every single day, but I don't regret anything; I gave everything I had and stayed by his side until the very end, and now I'm right here by my mom's side, day and night... he was special, we had such a unique bond, and I was always there for him, his little snowflake...

Please accept my sincerest condolences. 🙂

Your mom really needs you right now, so please try to find all the strength you can muster while you navigate this together. I know how incredibly difficult this is going to be, but you should know that it isn't just your imagination—your dad really does live on through you. When someone leaves this world, they leave a part of themselves behind in us, and in turn, they take a part of us with them, changing both worlds forever. That realization is a profound comfort when you need it most. Love is the one thing that carries us through these heavy times and connects us to something timeless. One day, we’ll all understand more than we do now, but until then, we just have to endure.

Hang in there. 🙂

mistyranger4 said:Hi everyone!
First off, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for the advice you've shared; it really made things a little easier for both me and my husband. Sadly, he passed away on October 17th. I want to thank you all once again from the bottom of my heart, and I pray that God gives you plenty of strength, and hopefully, less pain for your loved ones who are suffering.

Please accept my deepest condolences. 🙂

northernfox9 said:Unfortunately, we all know this was likely his one shot at getting through this, or maybe it still is, so there isn't much left to do besides pray.
But we’re still holding on to hope, still believing.
Things have been feeling pretty heavy lately...

🙂
I suspect the impact of the diet won't really show itself until he's further along in the recovery process. It's obvious he's desperate, and honestly, seeing him go through this along with all of you is just heartbreaking. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you all find a way to get through this together.

Angela Wright said:My honest advice is just to get it done as soon as possible, because that total loss of independence tends to hit you out of nowhere, and more often than not, it's terminal—and once that happens, your nerves aren't even an issue anymore. I can’t help but think about how my parents spent years grumbling about fixing up the bathroom, always saying things like, "We're getting old," implying they wouldn't be able to hop in and out of a tub comfortably in a few years... and well, they missed the boat, honey. Every time we go to bathe Mom now, Dad just cries over his own procrastination. And now we're short on cash, too, and it's just impossible to deal with the mess, the workers, the chaos, and the dust for two weeks straight while she's this sick, on top of everything else...
See if there's any way you can pull it off right now.

I know you're absolutely right. You know how it is—you realize it, but it doesn't change a thing.😁
It's the same with my parents. I suppose we're all cut from the same cloth. I remember reading this incredible article ages ago—it wasn't even specifically about illness—about how one should prepare for old age (which includes the sickness and the helplessness that inevitably follows) and while we still have the strength, just handle certain things. Like, for instance, modifying the bathroom during the time when we aren't yet at the point where we can't simply step into a tub. None of us really give it a second thought until the moment we actually need it, and by then, the opportunity has passed.

Anonymous said:Thanks so much! Regarding Christmas and New Year's, it might sound a bit odd, but in my 22 years, I’ve never actually celebrated them out on the town; the first people I personally wish a happy holiday to are always my parents, which is a tradition my mom instilled in me and one I fully intend to keep, regardless of what anyone else thinks...

It doesn't sound odd at all. It's just a very specific time of year.🙂

When I found out my mom had cancer, I made two immediate decisions: no big plans—nothing beyond the absolute essentials—and absolutely no pestering her about a prognosis. Essentially, I was handed this incredibly difficult opportunity to actually experience and learn things that, until then, I had only ever read about in books.
Sometimes I catch myself daydreaming about doing this or that, and then I honestly scare myself, letting the emotions just wash over me. But there really isn't any time or energy to waste on shbbkbb. The situation is heavy. Despite everything, and perhaps precisely because of it, I have learned so, so much about myself and the people around me. Among other things, I've realized that if you let uncertainty and instability run wild, they will absolutely consume you. Through her illness, my mother has become one of my greatest teachers in life.
Not to mention she's still the one person who knows exactly how to get on my last nerve. 😁

Anonymous said:She’s got this tumor or maybe just a cyst that's pressing against her esophagus, so she hasn't even been able to eat normally; the doctor mentioned it might be benign, though he admitted the odds aren't exactly in our favor 😢 She's been stuck in the hospital for three days now, and honestly, I don't even know if she'll ever make it back home. I'm just terrified of what comes next; I really want everything to turn out okay so she can at least come home by Christmas and we can all ring in the New Year together like we usually do, but I'm not holding my breath...👎

It feels like everyone around me is just dying this year, and frankly, life just feels like a total mess right now.🙂

That initial period where you're just sitting there, trying to wrap your head around the fact that someone close to you is seriously ill, is incredibly brutal. You have to push through that shock before you can actually start fighting. No surrender!
One girl on here uses that exact handle. 👍
No surrender. 🙂

Angela Wright said:Yeah, and honestly, that’s what really stung... my mom is sick, and people just aren't🙄. It truly feels like this kind of suffering only happens to certain special people, because frankly, they might be the only ones capable of enduring it properly until the very end.

I know exactly what you mean. It’s almost like they’re doing it on purpose. Ever since her chemotherapy, she has to stay away from crowds and contact with others, especially now when everyone seems so recklessly ill. I’ve experienced such a profound, heavy sense of emptiness and sheer stupidity from those who are supposed to be close enough to us that it actually hurts to think about.

By the way, thanks for that tip about the shower. We don't have one of those floor setups in our bathroom. If the opportunity ever arises—and I won't hold my breath regarding having the time—maybe we'll pull out the tub and install a walk-in shower, which is something I've been thinking about doing for a while anyway. Until then, someone can just come over, we'll get everything handled, and then I'll just drive her home and call it a day. The restroom is separate, so that isn't an issue, and most of it ends up in a diaper regardless. 😁
But, we'll see. It’s not the priority right now, and I simply don't have the nerves or the energy left to deal with it.

brightgardener8 said:Melissa Kim45, how’s your mom doing when it comes to mobility?
Honestly, what you wrote is pretty brutal, but it actually gave me a little chuckle. Here’s a classic example from our house just yesterday: I try calling Mom from work on her cell; it’s off. I get annoyed because we constantly drill it into her head that her phone needs to be ON at all times, just in case of heaven forbid some emergency. So, I call the landline. She picks up, we talk for a split second, and I tell her, "Put your phone on the charger and TURN IT ON (because even that seems to be an issue)," assuming she’ll just do it right after we hang up. Instead, she just drops the receiver and walks away. I wait for her to come back, but she doesn't. I try the cell—still off. I try the landline—the line is dead because the receiver is still off the hook. For the next ten minutes, I'm cycling through calls, already picturing myself having to walk over there just to hang up the phone for her. After about a hundred attempts, I finally get through to her cell because she actually managed to turn it on eventually.🙂

She’s mobile enough. 🙄
She can walk, sure, but there is absolutely no way she’s getting anything done around the house. She can’t iron, she’s slow, she’s clumsy, though she can manage to change her own diaper (she wears those ones that look like giant pads). She could spread butter on toast, but she won't. I’ll do that for her; she won't.🙄
She can’t shower, but she can brush her teeth.

The whole thing is basically just constant trips to the hospital. We drive her there, they draw blood, she waits for results, and then she starts pacing around like a maniac—last time, the doctor told her she should probably just keep some Xanax in her purse😁—then the results come back in maybe two hours, she’s already frantic, and suddenly it's "let's get an IV started" because her electrolytes are crashing.
She finished her sixth round of chemo (she’s on some kind of IV protocol now), which was over before we knew it, but we had to wait a bit for transport home since we aren't available to drive her 24/7. Now she has a ten-day window to recover from the chemo before the next check-up, which will likely play out exactly like what I described above.
I know nurses can draw blood at home and you can even get IV fluids at home, but since her electrolyte issues happen so frequently, maybe it’s actually better if she just goes to the hospital every single time for now, even if it’s a massive hassle for both her and us.

brightgardener8, regarding all this, you should really ask the visiting nurse who comes by first; you can learn a ton from them. She might not be able to make any decisions herself, but she can tell you exactly who to contact and what specific things to ask for, and then you can coordinate with the home health aide when they arrive. At least then you'll know what to tell the doctor to write down. I honestly have no clue about half that stuff or I just forget. Last time, my doctor gave me an earful because the home health nurse hadn't sent over the report. And then what am I supposed to do?🙄
Then, out of nowhere, the nurse who visits three times a week tells me that the home health aide is coming tomorrow. What home health aide? They haven't been by in ages.😲 I'm like—uh, no, she can't do tomorrow, Mom has to go where she went to see the specialist in Jordan. I spend the next two days killing myself trying to find a phone number, unable to reach anyone, until I finally call the local clinic, they tell me something useless, and I'm like, "Look, just give me a name and a number." Finally, someone helps.😁
There have been so many times where a nurse visit was scheduled, especially during the summer, only for plans to shift—one nurse didn't even have a cell phone, it was a nightmare—and then Mom's condition worsens, she ends up in the hospital, and I'm stuck waiting for a nurse before work because I couldn't find anyone to tell that they shouldn't bother coming.
Over time, you just get used to it; you start getting on their wavelength, you tweak all the numbers, and eventually, everyone reaches an understanding.
The people on the committee (God knows why they even exist)😠 can be pretty obnoxious, but they demand every single detail. You just take whatever they approve—and don't get worked up if they cut what the home health nurse originally requested in half—and then you just work things out with the person who shows up to help.
You’re also entitled to quite a bit of supplies, like diapers or those bed pads so nothing leaks through... stuff like that.

We’re fighting the same battle over here. My mom goes through these phases where she’ll call my work ten times in a row just because. It’s always something—she needs to go to the bathroom, she can’t go to the bathroom, lunch was delicious, someone is coming over, someone is taking her out for tea, whether I want this or that when I get home, that I shouldn't bother cooking tomorrow, her head hurts, why she's peeing so much or why she isn't peeing, asking me to call my sister so she doesn't show up tomorrow, asking if I already called my sister so she won't come by tomorrow, or telling me that when I go to the market on Saturday, I absolutely have to pick up this specific thing because it’s so tasty or healthy or cheap...
😲

I lose my cool sometimes because she’ll take up my entire Saturday morning, calling, ringing the bell, calling, ringing, ringing, ringing, ringing...😲

I tried to set up an appointment for her with a psychiatrist, but she refused to go even if her life depended on it, insisting she doesn't need any of that. One time she was acting so wild that I actually called the Crisis Center and told her, "Fine, you talk to them for a bit then."😲

Then there are days when she doesn't call me at all, which makes me worry,🙄 so I end up calling her, only to find her in a perfectly wonderful mood, just beaming. But if I don't call her, she calls me to demand why I've suddenly stopped checking in.

I’m going insane. 😲

Naturally, the rest of us are all at each other's throats now. This whole situation is one massive test, and some people have revealed sides of themselves I never even knew existed.
My mom isn't usually a bitter person because that's just not her nature, but she is a world-class troublemaker.😲
Sometimes, I honestly wish she were just bitter instead.😁

Elizabeth Collins60 said:My mom has a nurse come by three times a week, and we pay for daily home care out of our own pockets (it’s an hourly thing). We managed to arrange things—I honestly don't even know how we pulled it off—so that the care effectively cuts her day in half, which means she isn't really left alone for more than about three hours at a time.
It might not be a bad idea to start there, and you'll find the information starts trickling in naturally.

How did you find that lady you're paying yourself, and what does she actually do? We have a nurse through Medicare who comes every single day for care, but what we really need is someone who could just sit with him for a few hours here and there.

It’s all connected. 🙄
We actually had this woman recommended to us. There are plenty of different health centers and home care agencies out there, so your best bet is to ask the doctor she works with; they're usually the ones who can give you a solid referral. Essentially, the doctor knows exactly what can be negotiated with these agencies and what Medicare will cover versus what falls on you. I know there are places over near Preradović and Šenoa, among others. I can't for the life of me remember which specific agency my doctor highly recommends—she always talks about how they're flexible and work around what fits the patient and the family, but I'm drawing a total blank right now. We ended up going a different route because my brother had some connections that made things easier. If you’re looking specifically for a medical professional, it gets pretty expensive. I looked into hiring a nurse privately, and they told me it was $33. We just couldn't make that work.

The lady we have now costs us much less, obviously. She cooks for Mom—well, she finishes up whatever has already been prepared—does a bit of tidying, runs to the grocery store if needed (though she rarely has to), and stuff like that. She handles the laundry and the dishes, things I would absolutely kill myself to have to do across two different apartments. She keeps an eye on Mom and stays busy. Of course, it’s not like she’s providing high-level clinical care.

My doctor mentioned something about geriatric centers—the name is a bit clunky (my mother would probably have a nervous breakdown just hearing it)😁, but apparently, you can coordinate things through them too. There are also nursing homes that offer these kinds of "outreach" services.

Right now, this setup is working well enough because Mom has some level of supervision during the day and follows a steady routine. I wouldn't go so far as to say the lady is great company, but my main priorities—making sure she’s supervised and actually eating—are being met, plus we get a little extra help around the house.

If you just need someone to be present with him and maybe lend a hand with a few chores, this is exactly that kind of solution.

It’s also worth having a chat with the nurse who visits. They all tend to know one another and can often pass along advice or a good recommendation. I’ve been quite open with our nurse who comes by three times a week, asking her straight-up questions about things.

crimsonmason44 said:Hey everyone, I could really use some advice on how to jumpstart an appetite after chemo...🤷 It’s been about a week since his last session, and my dad is barely eating anything at all.😢 I know this topic has probably been covered extensively on here already, but honestly, I just don't have the bandwidth to go digging through old threads right now. He’s finished two cycles, and he’s currently heading into those first round of tests following the initial diagnosis, so I'll let you all know how things progress.
Thanks to everyone, and hang in there,🙂

Pikovit, I’m with you on that one. Definitely go with the syrup. You could whip up a fruit salad or some kind of puree and stir a couple spoonfuls of Pikovit into it. It has this really pleasant orange scent that makes it quite nice. You could even mix it into some cottage cheese and package it up like a little homemade tiramisu. 😁
Just be thoughtful about how you present it to him. 😉

Vitamin B, iron—there’s a specific supplement you can pick up at most pharmacies, I can't recall the exact name, but it's generally easy on the stomach—all of that helps stimulate the appetite.

Since you mentioned he's hardly eating anything, you really want to make sure that whatever small amount he does manage to consume is high-value and nutrient-dense. Everything can get better.
When Mom says she "isn't hungry" or "just wants some yogurt," then you just give her the yogurt, but maybe enrich it with a spoonful of grape sugar. 😁

mistyranger4 said:Hey everyone, even though my husband isn't fighting cancer, I still find myself stumbling upon a lot of advice that actually helps navigate his illness. He’s dealing with ALS, a really brutal neuromuscular disease, and unfortunately, things have just been going downhill lately. To make matters worse, it’s just the two of us, and as much as I want to keep working, leaving him alone is becoming increasingly difficult because he’s lost so much mobility. I was hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction regarding caregiver leave. I was browsing the Medicare website earlier and found this:
When it comes to getting paid while you're out taking care of someone, like a spouse you actually live with, the rules are pretty straightforward—you can claim salary benefits for up to 15 working days for each specific illness that gets verified.
So, I gave Medicare a call to figure out how much more sick leave I can take, and honestly, I didn't get anything remotely helpful out of them. They just wouldn't give me a straight answer regarding whether I’ll be eligible for more leave to care for my husband next month or even further down the road. Instead of actually clarifying things, they just kept repeating that as long as the illness is ongoing, I can use those initial 15 days, but they refuse to explain what happens after that window closes. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of runaround? This is the first time I've ever had to use these days, and I'm trying to plan ahead. For now, I'll try to stretch things out by using some vacation time and maybe a bit of unpaid leave, but I'm worried about what comes after that. If anyone has been stuck in this exact same situation, please help me out and let me know what my actual rights are.

I honestly think you’re going to run into a massive wall trying to manage this using just vacation days, sick leave, or unpaid time off. It's just not sustainable. If I were in your shoes, I’d head straight to your primary care physician and ask them to draft a formal recommendation for home health care services. You can often get some coverage through Medicare, or you could look into private agencies—everything is negotiable depending on what kind of specific help you actually need. My mom has a sister who comes by three times a week, but for the daily assistance, we pay out of pocket on an hourly basis. We managed to coordinate things so that the caregiver's shift covers half the day, which basically means she isn't left alone for more than about three hours at a time.
It might not be a bad idea to just start here, honestly; once you get moving, the information tends to find its way to you on its own.

These kinds of problems are practically impossible to solve. You end up with absolutely nothing if you lose your job, and once those first fifteen days slip by, what are you even supposed to do then? It’s a nightmare because people dealing with serious illnesses need constant care every single day—everything from showering and washing to feeding them, changing diapers, helping with exercises, or whatever else the situation demands.
Personally, having him around during the day was an absolute lifesaver, I mean that quite literally. Whether he was tackling chores around the house or just making sure my mom had a hot lunch waiting for her—with someone actually sitting there watching over her while she ate—it made everything so much easier.😁 She doesn't usually get involved when it comes to my mother, but there have been those awkward, messy situations where she ended up stepping in just to smooth things over.🙄

Your doctor is going to be the one to tell you whether what you need is a registered nurse or just some other kind of home health assistance. I’ll be the first to admit that when I was going through this, I was pretty clueless and had my fair share of prejudices about the whole thing. There really is help available, so honestly, just go talk to your doctor first and ask around. Take whatever services they offer you initially; you can always sit down with the caregiver once they arrive and figure out a routine that actually works for you and your husband. For instance, my mom was offered help with bathing, and we just told them thanks and took it.😁 They basically swapped out her physical therapy sessions because she refuses to let anyone touch her except me, which honestly isn't surprising. When you're dealing with those review boards, you have to realize they're filled with people who—God help us—will make you brace yourself for all sorts of absolute nonsense and insulting approvals. You can't really take it personally, though; that’s just how the system is built, and there’s no way to overhaul it from the outside. It’s going to require a massive amount of patience and nerves of steel, but once you get past the bureaucracy, the support available is actually quite substantial.

I am so sorry for your loss. My dad passed away too, and he was already 64 when he left us.
Hang in there, everyone, regardless of which side you're on. 🙂

The count is at 132. That’s my mom’s white blood cell level, and honestly, it’s looking decent. She has another round of chemo scheduled for Monday, and since they tweaked the protocol last time, she should probably be getting that three-drug cocktail again.

She nearly slipped in the tub yesterday.😲
I barely managed to catch her; I grabbed her so hard I think I might have left a bruise under her arm.🙄

It's just total chaos.🤷

Karen Fox36 said:I haven't noticed anyone here bringing up royal jelly, which is actually incredibly good for you. I heard it’s such a rare find that you can only get about three jars out of three tons of honey, so it’s pretty hard to track down.

I ended up placing an order through www.wholefoodsmarket.com:
http://wholefoodsmarket.com/catalog/natural-propolis/
http://wholefoodsmarket.com/catalog/Microsoft/

Natural propolis is honestly top-tier stuff, and I think I'll give the Microsoft option a shot too. This was my first time ordering straight from them, and it turns out it's way more affordable than picking things up at a local CVS, so it's definitely worth it.

Amy Hayes28 said:Thanks, everyone..

I honestly wonder how much point there actually is in doing ten days of radiation if they're only two minutes at a time.😕

It definitely serves a purpose, even if the sessions feel incredibly brief. My mom had about five-minute sessions, I think, and her last cycle involved six sessions which really messed up the skin on her back quite badly. She never had any issues on the front side before. It’s fine now, just a little blotchy, nothing too major.

Her blood pressure has been staying a bit high lately, and I can't help but hope it's tied to the fact that her sodium levels are dropping. 🙏

Kill me now, but I don't always follow the doctors' orders to the letter. For instance, during the last check-up, her sodium was down to 115; she'd had a bath the day before and was even walking around the hallway. She wasn't feeling great, but it wasn't nearly as dire as it turned out to be when that number dropped so sharply. They ended up hooking her up to IV fluids—three bags in two days—and told us to have her drink more fluids and take her Medication every single day. We’ve already been alternating between every other day and twice a week with that stuff. Well, tomorrow. I haven't given her a single dose yet. She’s sipping on fluids, as per the doctor's instructions, but just enough. Her output is steady. She isn't swollen, or maybe just a tiny bit compared to how she used to be, but she doesn't look bad to me. She’s starting a liquid diet early tomorrow morning before her next appointment on Friday, which certainly isn't helping things, and if she ends up getting diarrhea again on top of that, then we're really in for it.
I'll write back on Friday once we see the results.

These constant ups and downs are just exhausting to deal with. And I'm noticing that I've actually started to feel afraid of her getting better. Strange, right? Or maybe it isn't.🤷