The news around here is nothing but bad right now.

Bill is slowly going down. He spends most of the time in his wheel chair. He still tries to get up and walk, but he is so unsteady I have to hold on to him to keep him from falling. He's having problems with his bowels and despite the senokot and milk of magnisia, he will go days without a BM and even then it is only a small amount. I also throw in prune juice and a suppository every now and then.
His appitite comes and goes. When he eats, he really eats. But, then the next day he may not eat anything. He is sleeping a lot more. Still sleeps through the night. Usually from 7pm until 6-8am. He was up 25 minutes this morning, long enough to eat a bowl of cereal and dring his coffee and prune juice. He's been sleeping for 2 hours in his wheel chair.

More news: Every morning I get up and look for my cat, 19 years old. I expect to find her gone everytime I look. She is so skinny that you can see every bone in her body. She eats but keeps losing weight. She is unable to get on the furniture any more so she spends her time curled up in a corner. If we were back home, I would probably have her put to sleep. That's what I'll more than likely do when we go back down state.

Keep going: My neice called yesterday and told me that my brother was diagnosed with cancer. They did a bone scan and found spots on several of his ribs, in the pelvic area, the clavical and one lung. He will go in Monday for a cat scan to see if they can locate the primary source. If it's spread that much, I don't know what difference it makes where it started.
I spoke to Bill's hospice nurse last night and told her I needed to go to Georgia and she is going to get going with another respite. I told her I would have to wait for the CT results before deciding what to do.
He is my only brother and is a year and a half older than me. He had a stroke about nine years ago and has not been able to care for himself since. He does know me when I call him but I'm not sure he knows our sisters. My youngest sister will drive down with me when I go.

As if that's not enough. When I called one of my sister's to tell her, she said she wouldn't be able to go. She drove herself to the ER last week and found out that she had had a stroke. They told her she had another one before that.

To top off all that. the deer came in last night and ate all my plants that weren't hanging. They also ate my green beans and completly wiped out the neighbor's garden. Guess I won't have to worry about cleaning out all the dead plants this fall.

That's it. I just wanted to let you know the kind of time I'm having right now. I am still hanging in and will continue doing what I can. I can't do anything for my brother, my sister or my cat, but I can still take care of Bill. So that's what I'm going to do.

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY!!

Oh my gosh, Joyce, I don't know what to say other than that I am sorry for all you are going through. You are right though to only worry about the things you can do something about.

I am so sorry, Joyce. Please feel free to
come here and vent any time. I wish we
could give you some real (((hugs))).
Carol

Oh Joyce, I am so sorry about all this. Please know that we care about you and Bill and will keep you close in prayer. ((((hugs))))

Hi Joyce, I'm happy you're on here venting and believe me when I tell you that I am here for you and I know we all are. My only hope is that writing on here doesn't cause you to focus on all the bad things. If you promise me that you're thinking positive I'll be much more at ease with this post. You have some really big challenges in front of you right now, and the more positive you stay the better off you'll be- I know you already know that. I just wanted to say two things. The first is that if the changes in Bill have come in short period of time this may be related to changes in medication. I saw this with my grandmother. Let us know what meds he's on and we'll do some research for you to see what effect, if any, these are having on his appetite and sleep patterns.
The other thing I wanted to mention is that your brother and sister's health is concerning. Not only because they are sick, but because they both have had strokes and this means there may be a genetic component here. I don't want to add to your burden of things to think of, but I really hope you are eating well, and getting screenings for your blood pressure and cholesterol. Those are big predictors in vascular health. I'm wishing you all the strength in the world right now, and if I can do anything to help please let me know.

I typed a long reply to you Aitan and then lost it. This is a short version.
First I'm making sure I take care of myself. If I don't our primary doctor will call and yell at me.

Bill hasn't changed meds for several months. Actually since going into Hospice. He takes .5mcg of synthroid and seroquel. His seroquel is 25mg breakfast, lunch and dinner with another 100mg at bed time. He sleeps from 7pm until around 6 to 9 am.

I always look for something good. Learned a long time ago that you can't dwell on the bad things.

Lori, Carol and Snick, thanks. Not being able to be here as often as I would like is the one drawback of being in the woods.

My niece had my brother call me Friday night and he sounded good. Said the pain had gone away. Think maybe it was the pain pills my niece gave him. He did respond when I told him Bill and I were up north. He was here a few times and really liked it. I'll find out more sometime next week. Depending on when they get the CT results.

Oh Joyce, all of that at one time sounds awful. I'm hoping at least one thing will start getting better and the rest to follow soon after.

Oh my Joyce, it is pouring on you dear friend. But I'm so glad you come here and let us know and vent to us. You need to let it out and tell someone, and that's what were here for. Were here for you.

Joyce, Mom was having quite a problem a while ago with constipation. I tried everything, plus what you mentioned for Bill. Her doctor told me to try Miralax. One capful, once a day. It's been working wonderful. Mom goes like clock work every morning since I've been using it.

The only problem I was having, is that she wouldn't drink it all at once. So I put some in her coffee in the morning (it's completely tasteless) some in juice in the afternoon, and then the rest after dinner in either water or juice. When I first started her on it, I was giving her the full dose in the morning or early afternoon, but then she would poo all day. Then I tried it at night before bedtime, and it was too much liquid before bedtime. So now I just give it to her in bits throughout the day as I said, and it seems to work on her in the morning quite well. If you try it, you may have to experiment a little to see when the best time would be for Bill.


jackie

Thanks for the suggestion Jackie; I'll get some the next time I am able to get out and give it a try.

I knew it was coming but I was still not prepared. My "baby" (cat) died yesterday morning. I was holding her in my arms when she went. She was 18. I don't know if that's old for a cat or not, but I am really going to miss her. She would wake me up every morning standing outside my bedroom door and meow. Anyone who spent the night here and heard her would say it sounded just like she was saying mommy. It did sound like it. It was really quiet this morning; But she couldn't have be feeling too good. Now she is out of pain so I am glad for that.

My youngest daughter is checking into flights to Georgia for me. My sister and I will be going there as soon as we hear about the Cat Scan and I can get Bill back into respite.

I'll keep in touch.

My deepest condolences on the loss of your
beloved kitty, Joyce. I know she was near
and dear to your heart. (((Bear Hug)))
Carol

Joyce,

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. But I'm glad to hear you were holding her in your arms when she died.

I hope everything goes well with your brother. Let us know when you can how everything is going. Have a safe trip to Georgia, and God be with you.

Jackie

Oh dear Joyce,

I am so sorry for all that you have been going through, you have a heavy weight to bear right now. I hope that you can get your flights all arranged so you can go see your brother soon, I 'm glad you get to go.

You take good care of yourself during this stressful time, eat well, drink your water and trust in the Lord for all your needs.

Take care and hugs to you,

~Kelly~

The social worker is coming this afternoon to get started on the respite. I haven't heard anything more, but my sister and I are going to drive. It's an eleven hour drive but we can leave as soon as respite is arranged. It is too much trouble getting plane tickets and respite to match up.
I will pay for an extra couple of days in respite so we will have a little extra time.

Jackie, I got the Miralax today and gave Bill a dose. It says to only give for 6 days but I ask the druggest and she said it is prescribed by doctors to be given for longer than that. I hope it works. Something has to pretty soon or we're going to be in big trouble

I'll get back soon to keep you up to date.

Joyce,
Talked about that with Mom's doctor too. She has to take it the rest of her life. Her rectum is so stretched from all that pushing due to constipation, that its the only way she will feel comfortable. Plus she has internal hemmorroids that I also have been treating due to constipation. I've been giving it to Mom for at least 3 months now, with no ill effects. She really goes like clock work every morning. Plus I also give her two stool softeners every night. It took about 2 days to get the full effect, but once that two days was over, she's never had a problem since.

Again, you will have to judge if you want to give it to Bill at night, or throughout the day. If I forget throughout the day to put some in a drink, i do give her the full dosage at night, and she seems to be okay through the night. Usually try to give it to her at least an hour or two before bed, so she can get the pee part over with. Hope it helps Bill.

Have a safe trip!



Jackie

I got the miralax yesterday, Jackie and started giving it to him as soon as I got back home. I'll probably give it in the morning since he is easier to handle at that time. You still give your mother the stool softeners? I do have colace, think I should maybe give thase also?

The news on my brother isn't good. The cat scan showed that the cancer has spread through out his entire bode. Spots on his ribs, several in the pelvic region, the lung, right next to the heart, the spine, the thyroid, just everywhere.
I have Bill set up for respite for the 18th and I am praying that isn't too late. My niece will call after talking to the doctor at noon today. She will ask about how much time he may have. I don't know what I'll do if the 18th proves too late, I'll just do what I can if I have too. My sister said we could just put Bill in the car and go. Don't think that would work the way he is right now.
I did tell my niece to get hospice involved Right Now. She is worried that her dad will think he's dying. I told her not to even mention the word if she was concered, just tell him the doctor sent these people to help her. I hope she listens to me.

I'll be back when I here more.

Oh, I forgot I got more news yesterday. My neighbor, of 35 years, passed away on Monday. I'm beginning to wonder what is going on. It's one thing after another.

I could sure use a few prayers right now.