Just A Rambling Of Thoughts

Hi Friends! Well, it's time for another MRI. Normally my mom, Betsy, would have to wait 3 months inbetween mri's but her neurosurgeon suggested keeping this upcoming one scheduled even though she had one at the beginning of March. That one was stable, even though at the time my mom was experiencing vision problems and had had a severe headache. Since that last mri my mom has completed her temodar treatments....yahoo! We are all eagerly awaiting for her to notice an increase in energy and hopefully she begin being able to taste food again soon.

 I really don't have much to write about, but I have noticed a difference in my mom that frightens me. It's nothing major or drastic, but I've definitely noticed a decrease in her memory and comprehension. I've also noticed over the past couple of months she nevers says my name. She finally admitted today that she no longer remembers my name. I'm not angry, I'm just sad because I can see how much that hurts her. She asks me how she can forget her daughters name and I don't have an answer for her. She asks me a lot of questions that I don't have answers for. Like "will I ever get better? or why did this happen to me? I'm scared of this mri. I've been scared of all the previous ones, but I feel like one of these times the news is not going to be good and I'm scared of what comes after that.

 I'm just sort of rambling and my thoughts aren't even clear to me at this point. I just sort of wanted to express some of the things going through my mind and ask for good thoughts and prayers in regards to my mom's mri this friday.

 To all of you caretakers, GBM patients and their families...much love to you all. I hope you are each able to celebrate spring in your own way.

 -h-

H -

Reassure your Mom - it may not always be this way.  With rad & chemo, there are good days/weeks and bad ones.  I've seen memory & comprehension up's & down's with my own Mom.  If you google "chemobrain" you'll come up with all kinds of info relating to memory functions.  My Mom has learned to make lists & write things down more often.

The MRI's are one big emotional rollarcoaster - its hard for everyone involved.  One day at a time and treasure each day....

Nikki

(Mom GBM 10/07 resected; post rad/Temodar now 5/23 Temodar 280mg; lives with my family ;0) )

This is a roller coaster for all involved. I just want to mention that my brother is using "AIRICEPT" off label and is receiving very extensive cognitive therapy. Has your mom seen a neuropyschologist? That is where we learned of the trial with Airicept for treating brain tumor patients. I notice a samll improvment already and his speech therapy has been a great help. He has been able to re-train his brain to work on words and numbers. Outside of not being able to drive, he seems to be doing OK - all things considered.

Good luck and  hold on for the ride. I hated roller coasters as a child and I still do.:)

Eileen

My mother was diagnosed w/ GBM in Oct 06, had surgery, radiation, chemo... decided to forgo monthly chemo treatments after  4 months and let nature take its course. By that time, her memory and cognitive processing was quite affected. She needs very little physical care and has been remarkably healthy, but is unable to stay by herself. Just the steps of preparing a frozen dinner or figuring out how to put a sandwich together are mentally exhausting for her. She makes lots of lists, in fact, logs the smallest details of each day in a journal. This helps. 

-H-

Hang in there! The "roller-coaster" will always hand you the ups and downs but it's up to you how to handle them :0)  I'll be praying that the test results turn out well. God bless you and your mother.