Meet fellow Caregivers - Introduce yourself

Hello, my name is Nancy Bush. I am 83 years old, have been married (next month 66 years) My husband has had various cancers since 1996. All cancers were severe, several surgeries. He has asbestos, on oxygen all night, a permanent catheter, which is changed every three weeks. I have been the caregiver all these years. Last October I went to the doctor for a tremendous sore throat and cough. Primary doc said a cat scan which showed fluid in my left lung. Again in December more fluid. January 22 I had surgery, a four food plastic hose inserted in my left lung. Well, four days later they took the hose out, Doc said I have two kinds of lung cancer. Right lung has plain old lung cancer. Left lung has Mesothelioma. So far I have had two cat scans which showed no increase to speak of. Next month Sept. some time I will have another cat scan and see my oncologist. I have been just so emotional for the last several months. I am tired, physically some, mentally much. I suppose some of it is my age. (Not afraid) but..... I don't know. I can talk to my pastor some. I live in a small town on the Oregon coast. 25 miles either direction for a hospital or consular. I don't drive any more which is a problem to even see a doctor.
I thought perhaps this way I can maybe talk. Nancy

iI have been trying to write my book. It is a book on fishing. In our area we have a beach that flat bottom boats launch right into the surf. I was one of the first of five women to do this with their husbands in 1971. I really can't type, like I use to way back. I want to be able to talk into the mike and then give it to someone to take the words off the tape. I have the most of it out on a table in "my office" as such as it is. Everything is in here. I am just tired and I don't know what to do to get me up and at'em. I enjoy my computer and I play some games and puzzles. I read some but have age related eye degeneration.
I also read slowly some books. I have a little dog "Abbi" which I dearly love. She barks alot which gives my husband the fits...I have three son's and 1 daughter. * grand children, 6 great grandchildren one of who is 22. One of my grand daughters is getting married on October 1. For her wedding shower I found a set of two "camouflage wine glasses. She really liked them. For her wedding gift I am getting a "Amish Heart Basket with leather handels" 12x12 x6 3/4th. I will do nicely as I bought as follows... 2 each smoked oysters, smoked clams, smoked mussels, sardines, shrimp and tuna fish and colored tooth picks. I will wrap each set of two items and then wrap the whole basket. The basket she can use for many things. ..... Rambling on today. Nancy

My heart, love & prayers go out to each and everyone of you. @martyc2016 @19lin @aasthapuri @adri @bbams @besrus5 @bina @burrkay @charlena @chesneydell1965 @clayton48 @coladyrev @dawn0202 @eaglesview @IndianaScott @jeannie2 @jennyjones38 @jhammer @js119 @lindagee @lisa_sj9 @saltyfrog @shellsk24 @soul @sylviapf @tavi @ters1993 @lindabf. Caregiving is the most difficult job you each will ever have. Your kindness and tender care will draw your hearts closer to the ones you love. They may not express it to you in words but know you are making a huge difference in their lives. 🙂

My mother the most kind, gental, amazing woman at 60 came to me with a headache ( which was uncommon). I begged her to see a doctor. Stubbornly she ignored me for 3 days. The 3rd day she was crying, I angerly told her "dang it mom, please go to the er or see a doctor!! You can either go willingly or you will end up in there by 911. 🙁 The next morning @ 2am came the call from my brother. "I think mom had a stroke, she can't get up or respond to me" I rush to the ER. The Doctor says " She has to go!! 3 tumors, she has to go now!!" They life flighted her to a bigger hospital. I drove very quickly to her. The doctor showed me the MRI. Over a hundred fingers rapped her brain and through it. Tumors grew at the end of 3. Diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma. Surgery was certain to leave her unable to communicate or get out of bed. She decided quality over quantity. They did a biopsy but she awoke during the procedure. Was horrible but she finally woke up. Went through tramador chemo, radiation and passed away peacefully 5 months later. 🙁 I miss her every second of every day. But I am greatful I was able to tenderly care for her! I wouldn't want that any other way for her. But that is not for everyone. Towards the end was very difficult and not graceful. That's enough for now. Will discuss more details on a later post.

Much love
Dawn

Hello, my name is Nancy Bush. I am 83 years old, have been married (next month 66 years) My husband has had various cancers since 1996. All cancers were severe, several surgeries. He has asbestos, on oxygen all night, a permanent catheter, which is changed every three weeks. I have been the caregiver all these years. Last October I went to the doctor for a tremendous sore throat and cough. Primary doc said a cat scan which showed fluid in my left lung. Again in December more fluid. January 22 I had surgery, a four food plastic hose inserted in my left lung. Well, four days later they took the hose out, Doc said I have two kinds of lung cancer. Right lung has plain old lung cancer. Left lung has Mesothelioma. So far I have had two cat scans which showed no increase to speak of. Next month Sept. some time I will have another cat scan and see my oncologist. I have been just so emotional for the last several months. I am tired, physically some, mentally much. I suppose some of it is my age. (Not afraid) but..... I don't know. I can talk to my pastor some. I live in a small town on the Oregon coast. 25 miles either direction for a hospital or consular. I don't drive any more which is a problem to even see a doctor.
I thought perhaps this way I can maybe talk. Nancy

My heart, love & prayers go out to each and everyone of you. @martyc2016 @19lin @aasthapuri @adri @bbams @besrus5 @bina @burrkay @charlena @chesneydell1965 @clayton48 @coladyrev @dawn0202 @eaglesview @IndianaScott @jeannie2 @jennyjones38 @jhammer @js119 @lindagee @lisa_sj9 @saltyfrog @shellsk24 @soul @sylviapf @tavi @ters1993 @lindabf. Caregiving is the most difficult job you each will ever have. Your kindness and tender care will draw your hearts closer to the ones you love. They may not express it to you in words but know you are making a huge difference in their lives. 🙂

My mother the most kind, gental, amazing woman at 60 came to me with a headache ( which was uncommon). I begged her to see a doctor. Stubbornly she ignored me for 3 days. The 3rd day she was crying, I angerly told her "dang it mom, please go to the er or see a doctor!! You can either go willingly or you will end up in there by 911. 🙁 The next morning @ 2am came the call from my brother. "I think mom had a stroke, she can't get up or respond to me" I rush to the ER. The Doctor says " She has to go!! 3 tumors, she has to go now!!" They life flighted her to a bigger hospital. I drove very quickly to her. The doctor showed me the MRI. Over a hundred fingers rapped her brain and through it. Tumors grew at the end of 3. Diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma. Surgery was certain to leave her unable to communicate or get out of bed. She decided quality over quantity. They did a biopsy but she awoke during the procedure. Was horrible but she finally woke up. Went through tramador chemo, radiation and passed away peacefully 5 months later. 🙁 I miss her every second of every day. But I am greatful I was able to tenderly care for her! I wouldn't want that any other way for her. But that is not for everyone. Towards the end was very difficult and not graceful. That's enough for now. Will discuss more details on a later post.

Much love
Dawn

I am the caregiver for my husband, who was diagnosed with 'probably' vascular dementia four years ago, then with Alzheimer's, by a neurologist, then with vascular dementia by a memory clinic PA, then, 'maybe' Alzheimers by a different neurologist. I had to stop working two years ago, at the age of 59, because my husband could no longer be safely left at home alone. We have been together 24/7/365 since then. Looking back, I saw the signs at least two to four years before the original diagnosis, but thought it was due to a medication (statin) he was taking. He is not on any dementia-related drugs. With the average extended period of clarity being, on average, rather short-term, and the possible side effects being ravaging, I can't see them as being a good trade-off. Besides, it seems that, as he ages, if there are bad side effects to a drug, he will have one. If he has a stroke or begins to experience seizure activity due to a 'helpful' drug, it will only make matters worse. With no cure for this diagnosis, and very limited treatment options, temporary in nature, I have decided, at this point, to let nature take it's course while I do my best to protect him and help him through this. My greatest concern, at this time, is that he started having frequent, severe headaches several months ago, which have become a daily occurance, usually all day. The first neurologist said to cut out caffeine (he only has one cup of coffee a day, and otherwise drinks water), the headaches have only continued and become worse. The second physician tried verapamil, but his urine turned very dark - almost orange - so that was discontinued. The doctor then attacked it from the allergy/sinus perspective, with Claritin, but that didn't work, either. He was then referred, on my request, to a neurologist in that clinic system, who has had him on prednisone for a couple of weeks, with a return appointment to see the neurologist's PA this week. So far, that has not worked, either, and there are only two pills left. They will do a CT scan at his next appointment. They can't do an MRI, due to his pacemaker. His pacemaker hasn't paced in over a year. His heart has been working on its own. I would like the pacemaker removed so we can see what's going on in his head, but no one seems to think that is a good idea. And, by the way, I agree with those who have posted on this site, that many doctors show neither the experience, the respect, nor the empathy needed to deal with dementia patients or their caregivers.

I am the caregiver for my husband, who was diagnosed with 'probably' vascular dementia four years ago, then with Alzheimer's, by a neurologist, then with vascular dementia by a memory clinic PA, then, 'maybe' Alzheimers by a different neurologist. I had to stop working two years ago, at the age of 59, because my husband could no longer be safely left at home alone. We have been together 24/7/365 since then. Looking back, I saw the signs at least two to four years before the original diagnosis, but thought it was due to a medication (statin) he was taking. He is not on any dementia-related drugs. With the average extended period of clarity being, on average, rather short-term, and the possible side effects being ravaging, I can't see them as being a good trade-off. Besides, it seems that, as he ages, if there are bad side effects to a drug, he will have one. If he has a stroke or begins to experience seizure activity due to a 'helpful' drug, it will only make matters worse. With no cure for this diagnosis, and very limited treatment options, temporary in nature, I have decided, at this point, to let nature take it's course while I do my best to protect him and help him through this. My greatest concern, at this time, is that he started having frequent, severe headaches several months ago, which have become a daily occurance, usually all day. The first neurologist said to cut out caffeine (he only has one cup of coffee a day, and otherwise drinks water), the headaches have only continued and become worse. The second physician tried verapamil, but his urine turned very dark - almost orange - so that was discontinued. The doctor then attacked it from the allergy/sinus perspective, with Claritin, but that didn't work, either. He was then referred, on my request, to a neurologist in that clinic system, who has had him on prednisone for a couple of weeks, with a return appointment to see the neurologist's PA this week. So far, that has not worked, either, and there are only two pills left. They will do a CT scan at his next appointment. They can't do an MRI, due to his pacemaker. His pacemaker hasn't paced in over a year. His heart has been working on its own. I would like the pacemaker removed so we can see what's going on in his head, but no one seems to think that is a good idea. And, by the way, I agree with those who have posted on this site, that many doctors show neither the experience, the respect, nor the empathy needed to deal with dementia patients or their caregivers.

My 78 y/o wife was diagnosed with a glioblastoma stage on June 28, surgery to remove tumor was performed July . We decided to continue treatment at Mayo Clinic, Phoenix. She has completed 15 Radiation treatments concurrent with 21 days of Temodar chemo treatment. We will continue monthly visits to the clinic for MRIs treatment.