Any Tips You Can Give Me

Hello I am very sorry to hear about your husband. I just lost my father on the 20th of January. I moved in with my parents for the last 6 weeks and was dads primary caregiver. My dad had lung cancer that spread to the esophogus and traches. They placed a stent in his esophogus to keep him from choking but he couldnt swallow pills so this may help you.

I had to crush his pills and mix them with a small amount of water I would put them in a little medicine cup (like the ones that come with cough syrup) he would suck them though a straw, When he became to weak to suck them though a straw I would use a syringe and squirt them in his mouth. The drug stores have pill crushers.

 Do you have Hospice? They are wonderful.Let me know if this helps. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

On 1/25/2007 Dollygk wrote:

G'day to all, my husband is in advance cancer stages and just had his first bout with convulsions, three convulsions within four hours and unconscious the entire time. He only became stable after we rushed him to the ER then after two nights in the hospital we found that he's having problems, his right eye peripheral vision is limited, his right hearing has weakened, he leans to the right when trying to walk and can't stand alone. We pray we can keep him comfortable up to the end.... and at home.

I have two questions,

- does anyone have any tips on how to assist a person whose having convulsions especially if the person goes unconscious?

- how can we get him to take his medications, he scrutinizes each pill and doesn't want to take them and it takes an hour sometimes to get a few down.

Thanks to all!!   Dolly

As far as the convulsions go, you can only try to keep him safe and from hurting himself. If he is in a hospital bed, pad the rails and anything he could his his head, arms, legs, etc on. If he is laying down, keep his head safe. Don't try to put anything into his mouth like trying to protect his tongue. His teeth may clinch shut on the item and causes more harm than good. If he is walking when it happens, lower him to the floor immediately and again keep his especially his head safe. Having his head in your lap would be a safe place. As far as the meds go, is he not taking them because he doesn't want to, or is it difficult for him to swallow. If he is not wanting to take the pills, there is not much you can do. He does have his right to refuse to take medications. If it is because of difficulty swallowing, you can crush most meds and put them in applesauce which makes them go down a lot easier. You can get a med crushing device at the drug store. I hope this has been helpful.