THE FUTURE IS ONE BIG CHALLENGE AFTER ANOTHER for 3Dogs and friends ..... PART 4

solventsoon

Hi Susan, just popping in to see how you are today.

Some wise words from MandyLou and Aesop above, hope they help.

Take care, thinking about you both.

spoon xxx

3Dogs

Angie and Spoony, I did read your messages last night as I was up till about 3.30. I did not reply then as, as Aesop says, I was in tears reading them too, and Alan was not able to settle and was groaning in pain in bed. I did give him an extra spoon of Oramorph at 3am and he did settle a little, enough to get some sort of sleep, but when I went to bed, I just couldn't sleep and just lay watching him struggle and make 'funny noises' in his sleep. At one point he said 'hoi, what you doin'?, stop singing' and was confused when I said it was him making the noises

Anyway, I got to sleep about 6am when Alan had settled a little more, and the alarm went off at 8 :eek: Alan's pain had eased and he got up to go the the toilet and, as usual these days, came back in agony after moving around. He said the pain was worse than that he had when they'd had to take him into the hospital. I gave him his meds including the higher strength morphine tablet and oramorph, though he wanted to go back to what he'd been on before i.e. 2 paracetamol & 2 codeine 4 times daily as "the pain wasn't as bad as this when he was taking them'. I explained that he did have the pain as that's why he'd had to go on stronger meds and that we have to find the correct level of slow-release morphine, starting on the lowest and working up, so we will get there

He had a little breakfast and went back to bed, and I went in half an hour later to get dressed and he was much more settled and going to sleep. I have rung the surgery and confirmed that they are not affected by todays doctor's strike and he is on our GP's call list for today

Last night was actually the first time I have really been in tears since we heard the news, so was well overdue and necessary, I know that. I just felt so helpless I used the wrong word last night of useless and I like to be in control It has been building up, with me getting annoyed at silly things when out, and a feeling of 'doom' over me' but I am more positive and in control again - where I like to be

Mandy - as far as I know, we don't have an emergency oncology number to ring for advice but that is probably due to Alan being on palliative care and not receiving treatment like Nick, but I do have to check who I CAN call for advice, especially at night or weekends, as this is when you need it most, so thanks for prompting me on that hun :A

And Spoony you are right, I should ask the GP to ring on my mobile number and then I won't miss any of his calls. Yesterday I missed 2 calls from friends just because it took me so long to get to the phone from the bathroom or bedroom, but I have charged up my new triple phone and can have a phone in the bedroom and hall so no excuse to miss calls

I can't remember if I said on here that a very kind and generous MSE'er sent us a brand new BT Triple Phone to make it easier for us - I accepted it on condition it had been bought on DTD ended up costing them nothing on a misprice which it had So another massive thank you to angel Nine Tails :A :A

I am just going to check on the Tesco 11+ thread and then get some housework done :eek: :eek: Not like me at all but trying still to declutter the house so it is nicer for Alan, and me of course :rotfl:

beanielou

So sorry to read this.
Words are so not enough.
I am so. sorry I am noy physically nearer to you so I could give you both a big hug & help you to declutter.

3Dogs

I can feel your lovely squishy hug from here Beanie oh, that's better :j :j

boultdj

[Hugs] Love, hope that you get the right level of pain med's sorted soon, and I realy wish I could help you.

savingwannabe

Hello sweetie, hugs to you both. We love you very much and are looking forward to seeing you both. I hope the medication dosages are sorted very soon. Everyone is thinking of you. I am only a phone call away dont be worried about ringing at any time. Remember how many times you have been there for me. I love you lots.

ps did i tell you Steve got me some union jack knickers? - a bit big mind even with my bum!!!!

beanielou

Good to see you sw :wave:
What a lovely post.

patman99

Wasn't going to read and run.
Just taking a break from attempting to install Linux distro no. 9 on the Scout Group's 'new' EeePC 701. The damn thing has only 4Gb SSD so is doing my nut in.

Sorry to hear Alan has been having a bit of a time of it of late. Hope things can be improved on the pain front soon so you can both go for a stroll round the bootsale.

MandyLou, looks like my predictions about Pompey came true. Shame the U's home game against them is on a Tuesday night.

solventsoon

Hi hun :A

Popping in to say I hope your GP arrived yesterday and was able to help Alan.

Pleased you were feeling more positive and in control again yesterday, hope you're OK today as well.

Good news about the phone and hope you have given your GP the mobile number now.

Thinking about you and sending you a massive hug.

Take care
spoon xxx

3Dogs

Afternoon guys - I realised that I didn't post last night but it was a bit manic here :eek:

Alan wasn't too bad during the afternoon yesterday, though he still had some pain he was able to rest a little more. But by evening the pain was back with a vengeance. I gave him the extra MST (slow-release morphine) at 25mg at 9pm and some extra oramorph at 9.30 but he was screaming in agony so had to ring the emergency doctor who came about 10.30, by which time the extra meds had kicked in a bit

Doc was very good at explaining things, reading to us from his meds book about the dosage of morphine. He told me to give Alan some Oramorph and I did, so he could see how quickly it acted, and said to give him 5ml every hour during the night if needed and to get on to our GP first thing in the morning for him to come and do review. GP would assess how much MST & Oramorph Alan had over the last 24 hours and set MST dosage from that, with oramorph top-ups, and repeat this until the correct dosage was foudn to keep the pain away. On checking where the pain was, he said that it was the liver area. The liver itself does not hurt but 'capsules' which have formed on it do, and they appear to be trapped under his ribs as they form/increase, and it is this that is causing the pain. He thought that Alan should be referred back to oncology to consider radiotherapy on these 'capsules', and to raise this with the GP

Felt more positive after he left and Alan settled while I stayed up till 12.30am when I went to bed after giving Alan oramorph. I woke at 2am and gave him another dose and he said to leave the alarm as he thought he would be able to sleep through now. Next thing either of us knew, as GP ringing at 9am and I explained what had happened. He said to give Alan 25mg MST again and he would call in to see him today. We both drifter back to sleep until the pain woke Alan about 10.30am and by the time Alan got himelf together and went to the bathroom, it was 11.15 by the time I gave him oramorph, then changed his stoma bag, made breakfast and this meant that morning meds including 25mg MST not taken till nearer noon, so that means 4pm, 8pm and midnight for todays meds Alan went back to bed and I am just going to see if he needs oramorph

So a bad evening, but both more positive this morning after what out-of-hours doctor said