My dad's back in hospital - going to see him tomorrow

[roisin]

As many of you know my dad was diagnosed with cancer (multiple myeloma) 3 years ago. He had a very bad year, then a good year.

This year just seems to have been downhill all the way again. We don't get to see him as often as we'd like because of the distances and our work/commitments at weekends here. So we haven't been over for about 8 weeks.

Every time we've seen him this year I've been shocked, but each time my mum has said how much better he's looking/feeling at the time! But this week he's back in hospital and even my mums isn't trying to talk it up. So I'm a bit worried what we'll find.

(Which is why I'm up at 2.30 am, not in bed asleep.)

Thinking of you roisin. Nothing else I can say. It is so hard when parents are ill,we expect themm to be around for ever. To be there when we need them.

I know exactly how you are feeling. My dad was diagnosed with Hodgkins lynphoma April 2004 (day after dd2 was born) and was treated even though it is one of the terminal ones. treatment a success he then had to have his spleen out at it had ruptured through chemo. Now he is slightly better but has checks every 6 weeks because if he gets it back again it they won't necessarily treat it. no fun is it?

roisin - How is you're dad. haven't heard from you for a while I hope everything is ok???

Hi! Thanks for the messages. It was pretty grim. They've massively increased his morphine to try and control the pain, but unfortunately that was causing him to have hallucinations, which is quite distressing for him and us.

But also he had a scan which revealed two more tumours on his spine - it's good that they've been picked up, obviously, and he's having more radiotherapy. But the big one is right near the top (C3), so he's back in a rigid neck collar, and is basically in bed not allowed to move; because if he jolts it the wrong way he could end up not being able to move at all.

Sorry to hear that Roisin.

Roisin
my thoughts are with you. my dad died of lungcancer and a stroke two weeks ago. It was actually a chest infection that killed him but all contributed. he was 73 and I loved him desperately. All I can say is try and be strong when you a re with him and weak when you need to be. My mum had a nice pair of rose coloured glasses too but has coped much better than we could have imagined so far (as we all have) all I can offer is that at least we have had time to say good bye and so many people don't have that. It does help, I promise.

Roisin, what a very hard time this must be for you.
Big hugs
Its deperate to see someone you love going through the pain - I hope he is more comfortable soon
Wishing you love and strength to get through this time
xxxxxxxxxx