Stage 4 cancer... ? incurable? Thread #2 is here. In memory of our inspiring, lovely mowly77

[Tilllly]

New thread
All welcome, reluctantly

Hmm can you ring DH and get him to bring something round? He might have to feed the lot of you though. If they don't approve of the smell you could say you don't approve of starving to death either. Or that you fancy something hot and savoury so you are contemplating nibbling on the male nurses. Perhaps DH could bring burgers for all of you. I brought them to my Dad though admittedly on the ward not in emerg. And this is presumably outwith visiting hours so he might have to bribe someone to smuggle it in. I hear nurses are fond of chocolate and cocaine

@TwigTheWonderKid awwww no that is really shit. I'm so sorry.

I don't know if you got your burger but last year I unfortunately spent a lot of time in A&E and people were always ordering takeaway to A&E and nobody seemed to mind.
I hope by now you have at least got a bed.

Still no food and no bed although did manage 3 hours sleep anyway.

If it's visiting hours now, ring someone to show up with food. How bout this - I won't eat till you eat, so you are starving some poor, random Canadian. With cancer! I wouldn't have thought it of you 😁

I didn't go to bed or lie down either but I must admit, it wasn't in solidarity. I just fell asleep in front of the computer.

@TwigTheWonderKid i thought I posted like at 6 am but I don't see it, so I wonder if I sent it private or lord knows, into the ether. I really gotta get this pregabalin dose cut because I fall asleep all over the place these days.

Just wanted to commiserate as a fellow former prisoner of Kingston. I'll do everything to not get sent down there to you know 'just check out this fever. They did a good job with last summers pulmonary embolism but the 5 days on the acute adult ward sucked. Thr week before that my husband was sent down for some bloods and came home with a bloody face and told ge needed a liver transplant in 3 days due to his alcoholism. Um hea not an alcoholic but wut?

@HerbalRefreshmentt Sounds like we are sseeeeeeeees
Try again. Sounds like we are sleep twins just now.
What you say about Kingston is a wew, sorry wee bit worrying.

The clock is doing that thing where it mysteriously advances despite no time having passed. I might actually go and lie down.

Can anyone talk to me about what to expect when having a conversation about ReSPECT? And what you decided?

Fuck. I hope you have had something now dear Twig - and hoping they've found you a bed.

Oh weird I missed all these messages until I posted.

No bed but have had some cornflakes!

@Tilllly or @balkanscot , have you done a ReSPECT form, or similar?

@LuciaPillson have some cornflakes!!

I've had two conversations, one at home with a hospice nurse, and one when I was in hospital with the palliative care team. The advantage of Worcester being like a village rather than a city is that everyone knows one another - so the people at the hospital know the people at the hospice.
When I was feeling so terribly ill in hospital and thought I might not get fixed, I asked about it, so the palliative care nurse filled it on based on her conversation with me.
Later on that week, on discharge day, the palliative care consultant (who is so nice I want to make an alter to her and worship it daily), came and went through it with me to check I was happy. DH was there, that was great so he could be part of, and understand, the conversation. I was happy with what was written.
I'll PM you with what it says , drop me a line once you've had a look at a blank one.

The nurse who did mine had done many, she asked pertinent questions, was sensitive but didn't beat about the bush. Unlike some strange Dr I met once at the first hospital I ended up at who barked something about DNR at me and I had no idea what he was asking and also wondered if that meant they thought I was likely to die in my sleep. Palliative care nurses say it's a box ticky exercise, once you have a Respect form in place you can wave it at them at every hospital admission.

Thanks @WrenNatsworthy I've pmd you.

Pain, damn it.

I am thrilled to announce I am finally, after 34 exciting hours sitting in a chair, now in an actual bed.

Frankly, I would have accepted a flower bed if it meant I could stretch out and also get away from Mr Tickle (I kid you not, that was his actual name and the only amusing thing about him) who has spent every moment since he arrived next to me at 10.30am moaning, complaining, sharing his toilet habits and asking intrusive questions.

Although I suspect my excitement will be short lived. Two of the old ladies on my ward are taking it in turns to cough their lungs up, one is snoring very impressively and the other is on a nebuliser which sounds like a blooming pressure washer. I'm hoping I packed earplugs!

On the upside, the sheets on my bed have got that laundered smell which reminds me of Italian hotels so I'll shut my eyes and pretend I'm on the Island of Capri!

Ask a nurse for earplugs, Kingston were definitely forward about providing them to me before I asked, on both the ward and on resus. They should have some. Hope you get some sleep despite the elderlyfoghorns!

Found 5 pairs iny hospital bag. I clearly learned my lesson last time I was here!

Oh @TwigTheWonderKid how blessed you are. Please regale us with ward stories it's the only way to cope.

My first night at the other hospital in February had woman with a CPAP machine that sounded like farts.
Oramorph was my only solace. They wouldn't give me a sleeping tablet because of the anaemia. I am with you sister.

You alright our Lucia?

@TwigTheWonderKid 34 hours in a chair is an unacceptable level of torture. I'm sorry you had to endure that. Regarding Mr Tickle, I must have more information about 'sharing his toilet habits'. Had I been there I would happily have shared mine with him in retaliation, but that would likely have destroyed his mind altogether.

I'm happy you do, at last, have a bed and with nice-smelling sheets as well. Come si dice a Capri, che meraviglia! I hope the wardmates will be tolerable, with earplugs. And I did follow orders and have cornflakes.

@WrenNatsworthy Well some of my symptoms including pain had diminished so I had foolishly allowed myself to hope it meant the chemo was working, but everything kind of came back, especially pain and I've had a couple of twingey moany days, moving about gingerly. Actually my last dose of meds seemed a bit more effective than the previous two, so I am comfortable-adjacent at the moment. Ok just typed that and got a big twinge trying to move position. Which now I come to think of it was back pain, not the cancer pain (unless the back pain is also cancer pain??? One hopes not) But, haha, I can take another dose soon and stop my drivelling whining.

(Maybe the CPAP machine was actually a CRAP machine?)

For those who need a distraction from the shitness of cancerville - you know how cats always like to sit in bags and boxes? Seems I have a dog who loves suitcases.

I found it surprisingly, easy actually
They guide you through it
Where you want end of life care, if your focus is on sustaining life or comfort, special notes and so on

😂😂😂