Susan Diaz91 said:She passed away... in her sleep. 🙂 Words can't even touch this level of grief. I honestly feel like my heart is about to shatter. 🙂 God, this pain is unbearable.
Lara, I’m so sorry... please accept my condolences. I know how hard this is, but just try to remember she's in a better place now, watching over you and little Larica from above.
I had something pretty similar break out while I was on vacation by the coast last year. It wasn't perfectly symmetrical—more on the right side than the left—but the ER doctor told me it was likely just from handling raw meat and then touching my skin, especially since my immune system was a bit run down at the time. Anyway, after a few days of Sinopyen shots and a course of Benadryl, it cleared up and hasn't come back since.
quietraven0 said:Last night was brutal, and I have no clue why. Maybe it’s because I didn't expect Mom's symptoms—specifically the pain—to hit this hard right after the first chemo session. I picked up some Zaldiar for her, but it barely made a dent. Who knows what caused it? Some people blame the full moon, which I don't really buy, but whatever it was, it completely killed my optimism. I just felt totally drained. When I'm stressed during the day, I usually deal by cleaning the house. Once everything is sparkling, I feel exhausted but at least satisfied. But the nights... some nights are just rough. I wish I could just have a good cry to let it all out, but that’s just not how I’m wired. How are the rest of you handling this? Any tricks for when things get heavy?
Honey, I don't know what trick to give you. I wish I could just let it all out and cry too, but I'm not built that way either. My weekends are the hardest when she comes to stay with me (since she stays at my place after chemo). I don't know if that helps, but I find comfort in my kids to get through it, even though the weight stays on my soul....
I'm just praying for strength for both of us. Hang in there.
Lisa White54 said:She’s got a point, but a doctor really needs to weigh in on whether that's actually a good idea. My husband went just this year—after four and a half years off. He stuck to light exercises based on what he could handle and some gentle pearl baths, nothing intense. He did 14 days, and honestly, he didn't feel any better afterward. Not sure what anyone else's experience has been.
Thanks for the input. It seems like everyone we ask is just playing dumb. A friend over in Germany mentioned that rehab is standard practice there, but they also suggested doing a 40-day fast after finishing a cycle—basically cutting out all animal products because apparently, that's how cancer "feeds." We're going to try our best to stick to macrobiotics as long as we can. Anyway, my mom has finished five rounds of chemo and starts her sixth this Friday. We're hoping she can power through all ten.
Kevin Bailey2 said:Man. You wouldn't know if you were in my shoes. I should have been in labor already. And my mom calls me every damn day just to ask, "Are you in pain yet?" It drives me crazy because for five days now, it’s been hit or miss—sometimes it hurts, sometimes it doesn't—and I have no idea what to tell her when she calls while I'm feeling fine, even if it starts cramping up later tonight. Stop asking such stupid questions. Just leave me alone. I don't know if it hurts or not! And then she uses that pathetic tone: "Are you hurting, sweetie?..." I'm losing my mind!!!!!!!!!
And every single person sends texts like, "Did you have the baby yet?" Like, seriously, am I going to hide in a shed with my newborn and vanish from the face of the earth? Good grief.
I've stopped answering the phone. I can't deal with it because it's always the same thing—no "hello," no "how are you," just "are you in labor?" What kind of stupid question is "ARE YOU IN LABOR?" Yeah... yeah, I'm literally in labor right now, screaming in pain, and sure, I'll definitely pick up the phone mid-contraction just to update you. Yeah, okay.🙄
I am in a world of hurt.
I guess it's just how it is for everyone near the end. They've driven me completely nuts with the questions too. When my husband dropped me off at the hospital, I told him, "Don't you dare think about calling anyone to tell them I'm here," because they'll be blowing up my phone all night and day, and honestly, a woman needs peace after she gives birth...
I need some help here. My mom’s CT scan and ultrasound look fine, but her CA19/9 markers are sitting at 4720 00. Before the surgery, they were at 106. Her doctor claims this spike is just a normal reaction following the procedure. Is that actually a thing? Help me out here. Thanks...
Hey everyone... Checking in with some better news. Mom saw her oncologist in Chicago yesterday and they've prescribed Gemzar; she starts in about ten days. She had a follow-up CT scan and ultrasound today, and thank God, everything looks clear. Now we're just waiting on the tumor markers and blood work, praying those come back okay too. She’s actually starting to feel a bit better, and her appetite is improving—we're introducing one new food at a time to see how she handles it. The diarrhea has also calmed down significantly, down to maybe 2 or 3 times a day at most. If anyone here has experience with Gemzar, could you let me know what the side effects are like? Does it cause hair loss and all that? Thanks, everyone.... Stay strong...
Look, I'm from Ogallala, so driving to Kansas City isn't an issue, but my brother lives in Seattle, so I'll have him check things out and ask around there. Thanks for getting back to me—it's worth trying everything. We'll talk again if my brother can't find anything in Seattle. If you track down that prescription, let me know. Thanks so much...
shadowmason6 said:I’ve been off the grid for a bit, so sorry if my advice is coming in late. I don't know much about dietary fiber, but my mom dealt with severe diarrhea after her colon surgery and chemo that kept coming back. We felt like we finally got it under control using kuzu powder (you can usually find it at health food stores). I read later that moms even use it to help stop diarrhea in toddlers. You just stir a spoonful into soup or make a specific drink out of it. Ask when you buy it, or I'll let you know once I dig through some books at home. Also, cooking rice for a long time until it’s almost mushy (an Instant Pot works best) might help.
Thanks for the reply. If you could look into that kuzu powder for me, I’d really appreciate it. We don't have many health food stores around here, so if you find anything, let me know where to look in a big city like Chicago or New York. thanks
So my mom is doing a bit better. Her bloodwork looks fine, just slightly low on iron, but otherwise, she’s solid. She’s still dealing with some diarrhea, though it's not as intense as before. She’s heading into the city next week to get her sutures removed, so we'll see what Dr. Kocman has to say about everything... Lara, how are you handling "that" during your pregnancy?
Susan Diaz91 said:A little bit every day... though nothing too crazy. That's how my mom's doing it. Her doctors gave her the green light, so I guess if they say it's fine, it's fine, right? 🤷
Might as well try everything. What's the worst that could happen?
Angela Wright;20507429 said:slyseal28's husband has a really specific and nasty diagnosis. He's already gone through several rounds of chemo, and unfortunately, things aren't looking great right now because the disease is just so complex and heavy. Everyone reacts to chemo differently. One person deals with endless nausea but their blood counts stay perfect, while another feels fine physically but their blood work tanks. Some people handle it like pros, others can't take it and have to stop the treatment entirely. Honestly, the psychological side of this is huge... you need to be informed, prepared, and have a solid support system behind you. At the end of the day, people just power through it, no matter how miserable it gets. Boost his immune system![/QUOTE]
That’s exactly what we're trying to do. He’s getting blood work done this Friday, so we'll see where things stand. So far, he's been holding up okay, though he was in shock recently when his potassium and calcium levels dropped—he had to get injections for that. We were thinking about making that homemade remedy with aloe, honey, chicory, and wine. Has anyone actually tried that? We've heard good things and seen positive stuff online, but we'd love to know if anyone here has experience with it.
So, I guess we’ll just wait and see when she actually starts. It all depends on when the oncologist orders it—you know, the one where your husband goes for his treatments—and how he handles them.
Look, regarding Dr. Kocman, we’ve heard nothing but good things. He really gave it his all during the surgery and assured us everything looked solid on his end—everything was clear. He even caught several things that other doctors had already flagged, so we’re incredibly grateful. We’re staying positive and believing she’ll pull through to enjoy plenty more happy years with us. Quick question: what’s the absolute latest she should start chemo? It’s been two weeks since the surgery and she’s still feeling pretty weak...