Struggling to cope

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My Husband is on his second cycle of chemotherapy for CUP  which has spread to bones and lungs. He is struggling terrible with side effects of chemo and the morphine that's  been prescribed. 

He is not eating  and so low in mood i am managing to get complan shakes into him but not much else.

I feel like crying all the time having to watch my 6ft 2 stong husband who did everything turn into a shell of himself who just lays there all day long.

I am on my own dealing with this  as both of my children are away studying and  also have my  mother who is in 80s and in poor health   and lives 15 miles from me who needs  all her meals  cooking and preparing in advance  which is difficult when the cooking smells upset my husband.

I feel like i canot win which ever way i turn.

We are hoing to contact the palative care team as i think the morphine is not agreeing  with him .

Soryy for ranting 

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    So sorry to hear what you are going through and trying to balance everything. I know it’s soul destroying to watch our loved ones struggle with what was once so easy.  My husband also had a poor reaction to oral morphine, we were initially told he would adjust but after a few days of bad side effects we stopped and asked for something else.   Our palliative nurse was great and prescribed an alternative (oxycodone)and the change in just 24 hours was so welcome. The palliative team have made such a difference.   

    Just try to take one day or one task at a time and don’t beat yourself up for the things you cannot do. Xx

  • Thankyou for your reply.

    1. My husband had to be admutted to hospital for a  couple of days to get on top of his symtoms and they have also just changed the morphine to oxycodone so hope this will help.he got home last night and we have to be back for his chemo at 10a am this  morning so here we go again.I am so tired and worn out but at least hopefully he wont be as bad as last week.
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    I didn't read this as a 'rant'. You've got a lot on your plate. I hope you have found some way forward, even if it's just small moments of time for yourself where you are not having to minister to the needs of either your husband or your mother. Everyone needs such moments, whether it's a regular walk in the fresh air or periods of silence and space just looking out of the window at what nature is getting up to. You are entitled to let off steam a bit, given what you are dealing with. 

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    You are not ranting you are human and struggling, my husband initially had chemo and morphine after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and cancer in the spine, he was so thin and tired and it's agony to watch and still function. He was given 6 months if the treatment failed but luckily they put him on immunotherapy and it is working well now and holding everything at bay for the moment, when you need to talk, scream or cry do it, this is an awful time for you and everyone is here for you, take care of you too, that was the best advice I was given xx