7/10 joy is in hospital 3rd time
 

Hi everyone. Joy had to go to the hospital yesterday via ambulance. I was trying to get her up to go for her blood transfusion and she collapsed. At the hospital we found out her hgb was 6! She was so weak and pale. They gave her two units along with other stuff. Her oncologist wants to hold off treatment until she gets her strength back. She is so thin under 100 pounds. I'm getting very scared for her. She doesn't eat much and she's not coherent a lot of the time. Any bit of advice or words ofhope would be greatly appreciated. I feel like her oncologist has given up. Thank you all very much. Jennifer

Dear Jennifer...I was sad to read your post this morning and my heart goes out to you and to Joy for what you are enduring.

I wish I had some advice for you but I don't. I do want you to know that my prayers continue for Joy. You and Joy are in my heart so many times throughout a day.

Love and Peace,

Mary Jo

Jennifer, I'm so sorry that Joy is back in the hospital. Call her onc and ask if he has given up. Tell him your fears and ask him to be perfectly clear with you what he his doing and why. It's better to know than to wonder and fear more, I think.
I'm surely praying for you both. You have been so good to Joy and to us by keeping us informed and praying. Luv to U both, ma

Jennifer please let Joy know that she is in my prayers. I'm so sorry that she is back in the hospital. Praying alot for her.

Jennifer,
i am sorry to hear about Joy being back in the hospital. i will keep her in my prayers

Oh Jennifer, you must be so scared and upset. And I bet Joy is too. Has her onc said that this is definitely cancer related? Because it sounds to me as if there could be other causes. Has she had a second opinion? And I agree with Maryanne: ask the onc whether or not he has given up. If so, get another doc to check her out. I think it would be good for Joy to know where she stands. Not knowing can be more scary than knowing it's bad for certain.

I hope she feels better soon or that at least her Hgb goes up. A low Hgb like that makes one feel very weak. I had low Hgb during both pregnancies and I felt awful. Couldn't manage to have a shower without wanting to sit down on the floor and never get up again.

Hugs

Jacqueline

no advice from me. just prayers for both of you!

Jennifer & Joy - you are both in my prayers. I am hoping that once she has a blood transfusion she will be back to her old self.

Asking God to bring comfort & peace to you.

Sending prayers right out Jennifer.
Hugs,
Diane

Sending prayers to you and Joy today. I know you must be frightened by this latest turn of events. It is heartbreaking to see our loved one suffer. Please give her my love and wrap her in our prayers today.
Love,
Vickie

I can see Joy's smiling face as I write this. She has been very important to me since I joined this board. Thank you, Jennifer, for your continued updates. I have no advice but agree that you at least might call the onc. and ask some pointed questions. Peace and love to you all, Suzan

7/10 joy is in hospital 3rd time
 

I am sorry to hear Joy is in the hospital. I hope once she gets some help for her blood counts she will feel better.
Yes. By all means Joy or someone close to her if she is not able should have a serious talk with her doctors, so that they know Joy's intentions and wishes.

Jennifer & Joy you are both in my prayers. Much love, Lisa

Sending my prayers for Joy and you. If she will not eat, will she drink something like ensure plus or this is not possible in her case?

Hugs,
shobha

keep it up!
 

It's so hard to know what to say. I want you to know I'll never give up on her. Amazing things happen to people all the time. We here in this group believe in miracles. There seems to be a lot of struggles going on right now for a lot of us. I think these things come in waves, but we can ride through this one together, and then we'll start to see things coming back up again. Sometimes things get worse before they get better.
I wish I could give you specific medical advise, but all I have in this case is moral support. Please keep in touch.
Celeste

Jennifer,

I will be praying for Joy, you, and your families. I hope she is feeling better this afternoon.

Amelia

Jennifer, I was hoping not to see a post like this in regards to my girl. Forgive me as I speak about Ed as I relay my feelings. Both Joy and Ed are already frail beings and this is a tough drug. It is being used for individuals that have completed rounds of the same drugs that failed or never worked for these two Angels. Ed passed out last night and although he has severe brain issues, I am unsure if this was the brain. We have already cut the dose for the 17th but we will be skipping this 4th treatment. This would be the only time he has missed a scheduled treatment.

This drug is being used seperately for Ed and he told me that it is the worst drug he ever had, again he is frail. The metal taste remains for 7-10 days, the low blood, the appetite problems. Most of the time before he ate well and just did not gain weight, he would lose it. Now Joy is so tiny, I ask if you can ask the doctor a few things. Pardon me for sounding like I know it all, I don't, but for the sake of Joy and because she is so similar to Ed......ask if these are options for her.....Magace for appetite stimulation or Marinol pills (pill form of marijuana). I do not know about Joy but is she having any problems with breathing, coughing with or w/o phlegm? Ed has been on an antibiotic in the very beginning and just recently. Now it appears that he may need another one and is wheezing now. He almost could not make it from the car to the house door today (10 feet), very weak. Just food for thought.

If you feel like the doctor is giving up on her, express that to him....challenge his feelings about Joy's situation. Doctors too can lose hope at times I am sure, it is human nature. There is always hope, Jennifer, and I know you feel sad about what is happening to these two gracious people. Do not allow yourself to lose hope because it is your greatest power as a caregiver. Hope allows us to continue to search for the answers. It helps us to be as strong as we can while we turn over ever stone. Hope brings fear to its knees, especially when miracles result. And they sometimes do. Keep trying to be as positive as you can, this is not any easy task especially when things look dire. Those thoughts of the reality of this disease must be constantly pushed aside onto the back burner. Sometimes feelings of defeat and hopelessness cloud our visions and we are unable to be steadfast and stand firm in our plight. I am not trying to be your personal cheerleader for I too face these same issues with the man I love. Look, we already know what 'could' happen with this disease BUT we 'do not' know what could occur if we get our miracle. Sometimes it is not so much a miracle as something breaking the chain and producing results. Keep searching Jennifer, ask the doctor to express his concerns and stay strong. Let him know straight up how you feel!

I am toasting to you both with a latte, I know that may seem trivial to some in the midst of what this post is about, but it was our thing. A silly but important enjoyment we both shared in life. I drink it while saying prayers and begging for a miracle for her, pleading for the chain to break. As I savor the precision in the fresh ground bean, I relate each sip, each latte as if she was right here. Bottoms up!>>Believe51

Marie has said it well. One other question I have is, what kind of nutritional support is Joy getting? The first priority would seem to be rebuilding her strength. You say she is unable to eat; if she is not getting any nutrition it will be difficult for her to regain enough strength to continue treatment.

I too love Joy's picture with her big smile.
I hope you are getting support as a caregiver. It's a difficult job. I've done it. I know that keeping weight up for treatment is really hard for many patients. In fact, I googled weight loss cancer patient and found articles, some with advice. If you haven't done that, I recommend it. All I can say is try to care for yourself and your health so you can continue to help Joy. She is blessed to have you.

I am sending prayers your way for you and Joy.
I hope that the Drs. do not give up and continue
to treat her when she is strong enough and her
blood is built up. This is so sad to hear that she
is so weak. Take care and know we care.
patb