Can I ask for prayers please?

[banshee]

Or good vibes or whatever you practice.

I dont think I've posted this before and havent posted in a while here, but in late July my dad was dx'd with colon cancer. He was doing ok up until the last few weeks. His bp shoots up through the roof, at times as high as 205/180, he is extremely weak and has been admitted to the hospital again for the 4th time since thansgiving.

His last admission has been his longest stay. He went for chemo last tuesday and they rushed him to er. He's extremely weak, wont eat, sick all the time and in extreme constant pain.

Currently he takes an oral chemo for 14 days, off 7 then the injection every two weeks. I know the oral chemo (x or z something) has a chemical reaction with the palms of his hands and soles of his feet which causes his skin to crack, his fingertips tingle and his hands are extremely sensitive to cold.

They had him on bp meds which kept his bp down to ~170 or so, which isnt good, but better than 205. He's also been taking oxycontin which helps somewhat with the pain, but not much, and a myriad of other meds. The issue is with the extreme amount of pain he's in. The dr obviously doesnt think its the normal chemo pain because they have run test after test after test and he's had his 7th cat scan. They cant seem to find the source of the pain.

The pain concerns us because the man has been rebuilt from head to foot due to a motorcycle accident and car crash (I swear we're gonna melt him down if he passes and sell the metal) and he has a very high tolerance for pain, but this appears to be unbearable. PLUS, my sisters and I found out yesterday the dr wont release him because when he goes to sleep he stops breathing and doesnt wake up. He's hooked to machines and alarms go off but the alarms dont wake him. the nurses have to go in and wake him to get him to breathe.

Now that I've rambled if anyone has any advice or suggestions or experiences to lend a hand, please post it. Dad is the rock of the family and to lose him will leave a huge hole.

Your prayers, vibes and whatever else you can offer are much appreciated.

[sunny]

I am so sorry banshee. My prayers are with you.

[GalvestonDuck]

Prayers, thoughts, and good....good...good...good vibrations being lifted up from Galveston for your dad, you, and the rest of your family.

[alicia-w]

mine too. i'm so sorry to hear of your family's situation.

[Skywatch_NC]

Prayers and thoughts sent your way, banshee.

Eric

[isobar]

You got it, banshee. Your father and your family are covered in prayer right now.

[DaylilyDawn]

Prayers and good thoughts going out for your father and family right now.

[vbhoutex]

Banshee, I lost my dad to Colon Cancer 6 years ago. I feel your pain somewhat(I say that because I wasn't there to witness most of it since my P's lived in N FL and I live in Houston plus my Mom decided to not tell me the whole story of what was going on). I do not understand why the Dr. isn't using morphine with him if he is in as much pain as you describe. Each situation is different and I don't know what the prognosis is for your Dad, but unless the oxycontin is stronger than the morphine I would question them on it. Meantime, you can be assured the prayers are flowing fast and furious from West Houston. Feel free to pm or email me concerning this.

[Lindaloo]

Prayers going out to you banshee.


(((HUGS))) David!

[vbhoutex]

Prayers going out to you banshee.


(((HUGS))) David!

Thanks Lindaloo!

[chadtm80]

You will be in my nightly prayers.. God Bless.. We are here for you

[GulfBreezer]

Banshee.........
Many prayers and good, healthy vibes are coming your way from Florida!! Keep us posted and know that you and your family are in my thoughts!!

[Dee Bee]

Please add my prayers for healing and strength for your father, you, and your family.

The Light of God surrounds you.
The Love of God enfolds you.
The Power of God protects you.
The Presence of God watches over you.
Wherever you are, God is, and all is well.
Amen. (A Unity prayer)

[Rainband]

Banshee my father died of colon cancer. That was in 1981, they have come such a long way. The treatments are really working these days. I will have your dad and your family in my prayers. God Bless you (((HUGS)))

[banshee]

You all have warmed my heart. So generous on this board but absolutely ruthless on the political board. Sorry, random.

The oxycontin issue; I believe the main prob with that is he was taking it and it wouldnt ease the pain, take more, still no relief and take more. He would get up in the middle of the night and take it then forget he took it. Our concern wasnt addiction, but over dosing. With him being in a daze and in pain then forgetting or not knowing how much he took, we became concerned he wouldnt wake up.

Morphine; my dad loves the morphine machine. Between 2 major car accidents and a major motorcycle accidents, me along with my sisters and stepmother can operate a morphine machine with our eyes closed. When he gets grouchy we threaten to unhook it. Mean, but funny all the same. As to why they arent using morphine, I'm not sure. It may have something to do with the type of pain he's having in addition to the breathing issue.

My hypothesis is this, the oral chemo has the chemical reaction with his skin and nerve endings. If its opening up the skin I have to wonder with the chemo killing off good and bad cells if it isnt somehow leaving nerve ending's exposed. There's no documentation of such, but each individual is different. I told the doc my thoughts and he looked at me sideways. Then he looked perplexed and left the room. I bet he steals my idea....

Anyway, thank you for the prayers and vibes. I'll let daddy know prayers are going up everywhere.

[CaptinCrunch]

Prayers for you and your family coming from Texas!!!!

[Stephanie]

I'm so sorry banshee. My prayers go out to your father and the family.

[Miss Mary]

Banshee - I'm so very sorry to hear of your dad's cancer. I lost my dad to colon cancer, in 1988. In 1999 at age 43, I was diagnosed with colorectal (very low in the sigmoid) cancer myself. My dad's was inopertable. Mine was caught very early: Stage 1, no treatment necessary. I wish I could help you with chemo issues but I didn't need it. I can relate to getting hooked on pain meds! I discovered I was allergic to Morphine so they switched me to Demerol. It took care of my pain in the hospital. The next pain med level was Percoset's. I had a rough 24-36 hour period when I went off of them. No reason to still be on them, I could switch to Tylenol but coming down off of Percoset's - oh my, I have an inkling of what drug addicts go thru. All I could do was pace the floor vowing never to take strong pain meds again.

Are you aware of a website called WebMD? It's a very informative site and they have numerous message boards. Their colon cancer board is VERY active. Here is a link if you need help from patients and caregivers struggling with CC:
http://boards.webmd.com/topic.asp?topic_id=89

I will indeed pray for your father. Again I'm so sorry to hear of this.

And I would be very remiss if I didn't mention this and strongly suggest that you and any siblings you may have, ALL get colonoscopies. My two brothers are 9 and 10 years older than I am. They both were clear - not one single polyp between them. But I on the other hand had a malignant tumor. A colonoscopy can save your life (uh hmmmm, David, this pertains to you too!!!).

Mary

[depotoo]

banshee - i lost both my parents to cancer and know watching them is so hard. you might ask if neurontin might help with the nerve pain. that is what they used for my mother and it did help.
you all are in our thoughts and prayers.

[Pburgh]

banshee, you, your father and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. ((Hugs)) to you my friend and may God give you strength during this very difficult time.

David, Mary is right!!! (Hugs)