My husband Michael

 

On 7/18/2009 BeckyCancerFree wrote:

This just sounds like more than anybody should have to go through. I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this. I'm surprised nobody has used suppositories on Michael. During my treatment, especially right after getting the PEG while my body was adjusting to the new feeding system, I was badly constipated a lot, and the only thing that helped was daily miralax and suppositories, and even then it was tough going. It seems to me that this needs to be addressed big time because it could be affecting everything else that is going on with him, and he needs to stay hydrated and fed if he is to be able to withstand continued treatment. I truly hope this is all resolved by now - I know I'm responding a long time after your initial post - but if not, I want to support you to really be aggressive with your treatment team about how to get this better. Blessings to you.

Thanks so much for your response.  Senna, Citrate of Magnesium, and Senna finally got him going, however because he became so weak he was hospitalized for 4 days.  He was hospitalized after the last rad treatment.  He's been home for over a week now and up until yesterday things had been very difficult.  He's on so many pain meds, that he would stay in bed all day and night.  However at night he'd be up and down which meant that I also was not sleeping.  As much as I love Michael, there have been a few times, that I've wanted to smack him in the head with a BIG frying pan (wouldn't really do that).  Like when he wanted to walk our two BIG German Shepherds or like when he wanted to put the 40 lb bag of salt in the water softener.  I've stayed home from work for the last few weeks to care for him and will continue to do so, however I've told him that for now on he's got to be responsible for his medication, and his feedings.  I got tired of pleading with him to put the Gatorade and the feedings in the peg.  I figured if he could manage the diliutin, the fentanyl and now the Lyrica, (all of which concern me greatly), then he could also start managing and writing down all the other meds he needs.  I've coddled, been supportive, etc., however I've also realized that while he's taking care of himself, while I've taken care of him, that I've sorely neglected myself.  I'm happy to report that he says that he is weaning himself off the drugs, and that for the past two days he's been up for most of the day.

Thank you for listening . . . I needed to vent.  P.S., I'm grew up in a housing projects in New York, and believe me, I can be pretty agressive.  Your note was inspiring and thanks so much for taking the time to reach out.

Georgette

Georgette, I am so glad things are better but it sounds like they're still pretty darn tough. As a caregiver, you DO need to take care of yourself - get breaks, get respite from others, vent when and where you can. This has not been easy on you either, and I think in some ways this is harder on the caregivers, because when we're the patient we just have to knuckle down and endure, whereas the caregiver is always in the position of feeling like they need to do something to make it better. Tell Michael for me that he MUST put gatorade, fluids, electrolytes - whatever he needs to stay hydrated - in the tube or he will make himself sick, and that he needs to STOP trying to be so macho about lifting things and doing stuff that his body is simply not ready for. Resting and taking good care of himself now will pay off at his body rebuilds and gets stronger - then he can do that heavy stuff. Blessings to you both.