Choosing palliative care; what is your experience?

Posted by jobli0 @jobli0, Jul 22 8:36am

I would like to hear from or about other people who have chosen palliative care rather than cancer treatment. I would like to know the age of the patient. I am an 86 year old woman who has rejected treatment for adenocarcinoma sigmoid colon, metastasized to my liver. I have done a fair amount of genealogy and for fifty years I claimed that “everyone in my family dies of heart attacks and strokes.” Mother Nature made a liar out of me! I rejected radiation and chemotherapy because I have had a decent 86 years and choose to end my years without the potential discomfort generally associated with those treatments and surgery was not an option.

I have numerous co-morbidities which I have survived for about five or six years. I will be balancing the elimination of anticoagulants without which I will be in danger of having a stroke against taking anticoagulants and be in greater danger of bleeding again. I had a colonoscopy in June to determine the source of blood loss and then started much heavier bleeding from my colon until my hemoglobin was 6.4. I was unaware of what was happening as my children and the hospital staff determined that I should be released to hospice. Three units of blood and the bleeding stopped so that when I arrived at home I was greatly rejuvenated and declined hospice. I have no pain but I do realize what may be in my future: either colon blockage or future bleeding are possibilities. What else?

I came to Mayo Clinic Connect sections on congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, central sleep apnea, and neuropathy. I didn’t expect to add cancer, but here I am. What was your experience? What am I facing? Thank you. Best wishes for everyone who is traveling this road.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms Support Group.

@babse

I had palliative care for
pain with MS. We have
no support groups here and I liked the support palliative cares provided. There were not enough nurses after munchies moved son my GP took over writing the prescription. I do not have a neurilogist. Only one here I was sad to lose my palliative care.

Jump to this post

I lived with so much pain that I no longer cared about my life Thst was several years ago. Wanting to stop the grief, I woke up and asked what I could do to feel joy again. I decided to find an activity I loved that would play peacefully with pain.instead of expecting it to go away. I bought fabric and a pattern for embroidering a baby quilt. It worked. I was immersed in hand quilting. Since then, I write pain or no pain. There are some bad times, but I keep motivated. every day. Just what worked for me . At first, this was not possible. I had to grieve first Thanks to all of you. You are precious. My best. to you.

REPLY
@babse

I lived with so much pain that I no longer cared about my life Thst was several years ago. Wanting to stop the grief, I woke up and asked what I could do to feel joy again. I decided to find an activity I loved that would play peacefully with pain.instead of expecting it to go away. I bought fabric and a pattern for embroidering a baby quilt. It worked. I was immersed in hand quilting. Since then, I write pain or no pain. There are some bad times, but I keep motivated. every day. Just what worked for me . At first, this was not possible. I had to grieve first Thanks to all of you. You are precious. My best. to you.

Jump to this post

Thank you, that means a lot.

REPLY

I hadn't folowed up here for awhile Perhaps an update would be acceptable.

I still hae no symptoms of my cancer other than some increasing fatigue, which is to be expected.

My biggest problem is so called tennis elbow, but is not from tennis and it is not just my elbow, but my entire eight arm, shoulder to wrist! My office chair kept sinking and I was in an awkward position for typing, causing the tennis elbow symptoms. This is painful for typing, now. I was doing a lot of typing, documenting family and childhood memories, typing through the pain until I realized that was not acceptable. A pain killer. helped a bit but then I typed more and the pain got worse so I tried to stay away from the computer to try to heal, but I hate to run out of time before I write what I want to write!

A hospice nurse has been coming once a week for about four weeks. She asks a lot of questions, takes vitals, and will answer any questions I have. The hospice doctor asked if I wanted to try a steroid for a three day trial which I did and I was able to type more again. The second three days on the steroid have not helped at all. I hope the doc has another suggestiion because I can't do a lot of typing in my current state. Sometimes I revert to one finger typng by the left hand and I am definitely NOT left handed!

I am expecting more fatigue and I understand the progression of the cancer may increase quickly, but for now, the only pain I have is from so called tennis elbow; ouch! I am about eight months into the usual 6 to 12 month life expectancy for someone with my type of cancer according to the G.I oncologist.

I haven't felt the need for any other of the hospice services yet. My daughter now does my grocery shopping. I live in Minnesota but I no longer feel the desire to go out for shopping or visiting the few friends who are still alive, but I am in compute and telephone touch with a few. As I believe I said, I am the last living descendant of my grandparents on both sides. If you have any questions, just ask.

Peace and love to all of you.

REPLY
@jobli0

I hadn't folowed up here for awhile Perhaps an update would be acceptable.

I still hae no symptoms of my cancer other than some increasing fatigue, which is to be expected.

My biggest problem is so called tennis elbow, but is not from tennis and it is not just my elbow, but my entire eight arm, shoulder to wrist! My office chair kept sinking and I was in an awkward position for typing, causing the tennis elbow symptoms. This is painful for typing, now. I was doing a lot of typing, documenting family and childhood memories, typing through the pain until I realized that was not acceptable. A pain killer. helped a bit but then I typed more and the pain got worse so I tried to stay away from the computer to try to heal, but I hate to run out of time before I write what I want to write!

A hospice nurse has been coming once a week for about four weeks. She asks a lot of questions, takes vitals, and will answer any questions I have. The hospice doctor asked if I wanted to try a steroid for a three day trial which I did and I was able to type more again. The second three days on the steroid have not helped at all. I hope the doc has another suggestiion because I can't do a lot of typing in my current state. Sometimes I revert to one finger typng by the left hand and I am definitely NOT left handed!

I am expecting more fatigue and I understand the progression of the cancer may increase quickly, but for now, the only pain I have is from so called tennis elbow; ouch! I am about eight months into the usual 6 to 12 month life expectancy for someone with my type of cancer according to the G.I oncologist.

I haven't felt the need for any other of the hospice services yet. My daughter now does my grocery shopping. I live in Minnesota but I no longer feel the desire to go out for shopping or visiting the few friends who are still alive, but I am in compute and telephone touch with a few. As I believe I said, I am the last living descendant of my grandparents on both sides. If you have any questions, just ask.

Peace and love to all of you.

Jump to this post

Have you tried a voice to text software program? I have not used one except on my phone and they sometimes get the words wrong.
I had severe pain in my left arm and going to Urgent Care then the hospital did nothing to help. I finally went to a chiropractor and I am pain free!!! It did take about a month.
Take care

REPLY

Or maybe a different computer chair, one that doesn't "sink".

REPLY
@dj12

Or maybe a different computer chair, one that doesn't "sink".

Jump to this post

My daughter fixed my chair so that is no longer a problem but the arm doesn’t fix so easily. Thanks.

REPLY
@jobli0

I hadn't folowed up here for awhile Perhaps an update would be acceptable.

I still hae no symptoms of my cancer other than some increasing fatigue, which is to be expected.

My biggest problem is so called tennis elbow, but is not from tennis and it is not just my elbow, but my entire eight arm, shoulder to wrist! My office chair kept sinking and I was in an awkward position for typing, causing the tennis elbow symptoms. This is painful for typing, now. I was doing a lot of typing, documenting family and childhood memories, typing through the pain until I realized that was not acceptable. A pain killer. helped a bit but then I typed more and the pain got worse so I tried to stay away from the computer to try to heal, but I hate to run out of time before I write what I want to write!

A hospice nurse has been coming once a week for about four weeks. She asks a lot of questions, takes vitals, and will answer any questions I have. The hospice doctor asked if I wanted to try a steroid for a three day trial which I did and I was able to type more again. The second three days on the steroid have not helped at all. I hope the doc has another suggestiion because I can't do a lot of typing in my current state. Sometimes I revert to one finger typng by the left hand and I am definitely NOT left handed!

I am expecting more fatigue and I understand the progression of the cancer may increase quickly, but for now, the only pain I have is from so called tennis elbow; ouch! I am about eight months into the usual 6 to 12 month life expectancy for someone with my type of cancer according to the G.I oncologist.

I haven't felt the need for any other of the hospice services yet. My daughter now does my grocery shopping. I live in Minnesota but I no longer feel the desire to go out for shopping or visiting the few friends who are still alive, but I am in compute and telephone touch with a few. As I believe I said, I am the last living descendant of my grandparents on both sides. If you have any questions, just ask.

Peace and love to all of you.

Jump to this post

I admire your courageous spirit. Thanks

REPLY
@dj12

Have you tried a voice to text software program? I have not used one except on my phone and they sometimes get the words wrong.
I had severe pain in my left arm and going to Urgent Care then the hospital did nothing to help. I finally went to a chiropractor and I am pain free!!! It did take about a month.
Take care

Jump to this post

I have learned to dictate!!! Actually that is quite easy. I should have learned that earlier!

REPLY
@jobli0

I have learned to dictate!!! Actually that is quite easy. I should have learned that earlier!

Jump to this post

Good for you, it should be quicker and less stress on your hands!!!!

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.