Patient: Shelby Diagnosis: Throat Cancer

Condition update transferred from CarePages Posted Nov 2, 2009 8:31pm Dad seems to be failing a little more each day with today being more than usual. We weighed him today and he has lost 5 pounds in the last 10 days - down to 121. He has become so weak that, when called to dinner tonight, he was unable to walk with the walker and had to come in the wheelchair. He is sleeping almost all the time and is mentally confused, off and on. He eats very little for breakfast and lunch but still manages to get a halfway decent dinner down, providing I cooperate and fix "something good" (based on his definition of good!!). He has asked to speak to the Pastor and I have passed that message on and hope to have him visit in the next day or two. Dad had a very nice visit today with friends and we both appreciate the time they took to make the trek over to this side of town. It did cheer him up to see old friends and have someone different to talk with. The Hospice nurse visited today and found his BP to be 80/40 with beginning rales in his lungs, both signs of body shut down. Again today, Dad went from shivering cold to very hot - sign of his body unable to regulate temperature. On the good side, he seems to need less pain medicine and the use of constant oxygen really helps reduce the mucous secretions that drive him nuts. Yesterday, Dad was listening to a Star Trek audio book in which Mr. Spock's mother died and it upset him very much, both the death and the effect of the death on the family. We talked about it for awhile and that's when he decided he needed to talk with the Pastor. I think death is weighing heavily on his mind these days and he said he feels it is closing in. This all breaks my heart to watch. I keep remembering the active talented man and I'm just selfish enough to want him back. I pray constantly for acceptance and peace. I know he's going to that proverbial better place in my head but my heart will miss him so much. I know we're not the only family to ever have faced this but it sure is tough. Will keep you informed on how he's doing. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day. Pat

Last night, we had to take Dad to the Emergency Room as he had become so dehydrated it was reaching the danger point. At the E.R. he received IV fluids over several hours and was much better by the time we brought him home, a little after midnight. In fact, he was singing the drinking song from Student Prince in response to my comment that I needed a drink!!! I had been battling doctors and nurses who were not content to simply give Dad the IV's he needed, and that our family physician had ordered, but wanted to run 4 million tests to find out what was causing his 100.2 degree fever. They simply would not believe that low grade fever was coming from his dehydration and would go away as soon as he had fluids on board. They made me feel like a murderer for not doing a ton of blood work, urine sample, EKG, chest xray, etc, ad nauseum. I did let them draw some blood and, sure enough, it came back nothing wrong except dehyrdation. By the time we left his temp was normal! The nurse, in her best haughty tone, told me she was going to chart that I refused to permit appropriate treatment. I told her she'd better chart that I refused recommended treatment as her word appropriate was not legally correct and then told her about my background in medical malpractice claims, at which time she exited the room somewhat quickly and was never seen again. These people would have cost Dad a fortune had I let them have their way and it would have been totally unnecessary, as he is fine, except for dehydration. Today, the hospice nurse visited and pronounced him fine. This dehydration business is a constant problem, especially as the cancer progresses, as it just plain hurts him too much to drink. Hospice is now going to bring IV fluid infusion to the home on a somewhat regular basis so we don't have to deal with ER visits again. Hopefully, we can prevent the dehydration from getting ahead of us again. Otherwise, Dad is still quite weak as he is not eating very much but his spirits are good and he is enjoying visits with friends when they are able to make the long trek over from the West side. Your prayers have sustained us through the scary times and given us strength to make it through each day as we wait for God to let us know his plans. Thanks very much. Pat