Tarceva, a diary

2 minute read time.

FormerMember

30 Nov 2009

Diary of Tarceva

My Tom started taking them on 24^th November. I wrote very big instuctions.

DO NOT EAT FOR TWO HOURS UNTILL TAKEN TABLET, THEN AT LEAST DO NOT EAT FOR ONE HOUR AFTER,

BAD MISTAKE , I so thought he understood, NOT

My Tom started taking them 02.00, took 5 days to get them to 22.00, thinking the fatigue would be better served overnight, my Tom is so confused, dementia like, I have to explain dozens of times, what and when meds he has to take!!!!,

he told his daughter that I was calling him nasty names??????, I got a bit cross with him taking the meds at a silly hour, (I have to get up to make sure he has them, hence moving them to 22.00),

he now says he is scared of me, I really dont know why, I dont know where that came from, I idolize him, even though he is not my Tom anymore, he has always controlled my every move,action, friends, life etc, now he is childlike, I'm at the end of my rope with exhaustion

Saturday 28^th am, Tom had a fall, a bump on the head and grazed nose.

Sunday 29^th am, Tom had another fall, got a bruised arm, I have also noticed the start of a rash on his neck, so will start on the E45 cream. I have noticed that he also so much more tired. Thankfully his daughter came over so I could do a few chores, and a have a bath in peace.

Monday 30th Nov 09, got him a wheelchair a week ago, he gets so tired, even in supermarket, he squats down exhausted, staff flurry round him asking if he's ok, I know he's embarressed, but I cannot carry him, we are virtually housebound, I'm scared to leave him alone, in case he has another fall, he has refused help from Doc's, so I am alone, I dont know what to do.

He announced tonight that he now wants to be cremated, so he will be warm, and not eaten by worms, we had already bought a double plot at local cemetary recently so we would be together forever, so what do I do now, is it the pills??, or do I get him to change his will to state this?, is he compus mentis enough,

please someone, do anyone know or have an answer to this dilema.

Love to all carer's and sufferers of this evil

Jessie

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi Jessie, if your Tom is confused the

best thing to do is have him assessed by

a doctor. I cared for people with dementia, and it sounds if your Tom might have this. But it could also be his

medication. Ether way he needs his gp

to check him out if he is falling over. this

situation cant go on for your sake and

his own. If his falling down constantly and

feels tired all the time he could really hurt himself and you cant seem to manage on

your own, please get help soon. Has Tom

got a macmillan nurse, if so talk to her

she will be of help to you and give you

advice.

With Love Lucylee. xx
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FormerMember over 15 years ago

Thanks Lucylee,

Tom refused help of a nurse, but your right I,m not coping well,

I;ll contact GP today

Love Jess xx
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FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi Jessie,

Hope you managed to get the doctor. My husband is also on Tarceva but doesn't have any of the problems you're describing. It really sounds like some sort of confusion - is he brewing up an infection maybe?

I felt so sad that he's getting paranoid around you, you clearly love him so much. Just remember it's the illness talking, not him.

Hope things got sorted a bit

Love Elizabeth x x
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FormerMember over 15 years ago

well I spoke to the GP, and its a case of see how he gets on!

now updating "diary"

Tuesday 1st December

Very tired, both of us, taking pill at 22.00 has its own problems, got to do tea earlier, to make sure he is empty by 10, I caught him about to have a biscuit an hour before pill due, he forgot!!

Wednesday 2nd

Better day today, more alert. but falls asleep when eating, taken 45 mins to eat his tea. Cut himself shaving, (using wet razor, not normal, took along time to stop bleeding) he kept on about weird dreams, he’s been having or at least I hope they are dreams. Odd conversations, ie Ex wife was so wonderful!, ???.

Went shopping at night, but left Tom in the car, he cant walk far & still wont use wheelchair.

Thursday 3rd

A better day today, a lot more like himself, actually helped by laying in a fire.

Friday 4th

Up early all week because of plasterer doing spare room, 50mg Oxycontin gone, he don’t know what happened to them! fairies?, also 20mg Oxynorm, gone, but don’t know when he took them, I will have to lock the meds away and not put them out at night ready for the morning.

His dreams are merging into reality, conversation this morning very odd, ie I tried to throttle ex employer, but a chocolate biscuit was causing some problem???, its only 10.20, am worn out already
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FormerMember over 15 years ago

Aww Jessie m'dear my heart goes out to you. Being exhausted is enough to cope with, without the upset of the drivel coming out of Tom's mouth. Remember, that is all it is drivel, whatever the cause, he doesn't mean it and if he knew would probably be mortified.

I have been called my Ex's name once, he was half asleep and seemed very angry with her, whatever she had done. Thinking about it, she probably did plenty and deserved all she got! LOL!

You know where I am if you want to P.M. me. I did reply to your one but I'm not sure if you got it or not as there seemed to be a few going astray that day.

Just has to be a day at a time Jessie and just so you know you are not alone my H has taken all his meds after getting up in the middle of the night and then accused me of not getting them ready for him to take in the morning.

Sometimes feel like wonderwoman........ fat pants an'all.
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