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FormerMember
FormerMember
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Where do o start emotional is an understatement. My dad was taken into hospital just after Xmas diagnosed with heart failure and clot on lung discharged home a week later. 4 days later he went from being independent to not being able to do anything for himself could not even stand up and was taken back into hospital suspected internal bleeding. He was then diagnosed as covid positive which totally stunned us as we all test before we go into him and wear masks etc so was transferred to covid ward it was touch and go as he has copd is asthmatic and has a heart condition while in over Xmas he had a ct scan which showed a mass on his spine and we were told they were checking him for cancer once he was stable enough last week he had an endoscopy and ct colonogram which confirmed he has advanced colon cancer and has spread to his bones and other areas. We were able to visit him at his window which helped with his mental health as at one stage he kept telling the nurses to close his curtains so he could remove his mask they said it was as if he was giving up a week ago today after 19 days on the covid ward he was stepped down and finally off the oxygen so was moved to another ward but this ward had a patient last Monday test positive so is a closed ward and we can not see him now as on the 7th floor the internal bleeding os still happen and we have been told to prepare for the worse as he could have a major bleed at any time but are not allowed to visit. We have now been told he is not a candidate for any treatment or surgery or intensive care and they are now awaiting palliative care to assess him so we can have him home as he wants. The hardest thing is not seeing him and when we call his he is so confused like today told me his is stuck in a caravan I said no dad ur in hospital he said I am not I’m in a caravan stuck please come see me this is heartbreaking I called the ward to ask them if he ok and his nurse said he is fine talking normally the waiting and not knowing is horrendous and dad doesn’t even no he has cancer the doctors have made the decision to not discuss with him as he struggles to remember where he is and doesn’t understand the simple questions they ask him now we are all worried he will think we are not there for him and not understand we not allowed to visit due to covid thank you for listening to my ramble xxx 

  • Oh Adlek, what a lot for you and your family to take on board. I really feel for you here and your dad.

    I can relate to an extent to the emotional pain of not being able to see him at this time. When my husband was first diagnosed (he has a stage 4 brain tumour) I left him alone at the hospital 3 times over a 3 week period not knowing if I would ever see him again. The first time we had travelled to the hospital via a blue light ambulance and due to covid restrictions I was left standing on the pavement outside in tears. The second time was when he went in for his surgery. This time I was allowed as far as the ward door then had to say goodbye. In the first couple of days after surgery he was very confused and kept sending me garbled text messages saying it was time he was dead. That tore me to pieces. Two days after he got home, he developed a serious infection and as a family we had to drive him back to the hospital (he refused to let me call an ambulance and when I did, he refused to get in it) This time I got to stay with him for 3 hrs in a&e purely because he was so ill he couldn't give them his name and date of birth. He was admitted and again I was turned away at the ward door. Those are memories that will live with me forever. 

    All I can suggest is to take each day as it comes. Hard as it is to hear your dad sounding confused, keep calling to talk to him. Inside he may be scared and confused ( we never really know when they're muddled like that). Keep checking with his medical team to ensure you are kept up to date with his situation and the plans.

    Sorry I can't offer more comfort at this time. I really do feel for you all. 

    It’s always good to talk so please remember you can  call the Macmillan Support Services on 0808 808 00 00 - most services are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week Clicking here to see what is available. This service provides lots of cancer information, emotional support, benefit and financial guidance or just a listening ear.

    Stay strong. Stay positive. Sending you a huge virtual hug.

    love n hugs

    Wee me xx

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to Wee Me

    He wee me thank you for listening and your kind words it’s just a struggle still as all so new and came out of the blue. Not spoken to any doctors for 2 days now so unsure what is going on but dads nurse said he is medically fit to be discharged  but now has to wait to be assessed by palliative care they chasing it again today the colorectal team to confirm he is unsuitable for any treatment then the MDT meeting but they don’t no when any of it will be done it has been 4 weeks today since we all saw him and struggling to no what to expect when we do as been told he is now bed bound and lost a lot of weight. How do you prepare mentally we have all be talking as a family about if dad can not be cared for at home as we still unsure to what he will need in place. I think not seeing him in person is not helping any of us at the moment. At least my little brother seems to be more talkative now and not in denial like the last few weeks he just shut down as if mo that’s not happened and talked as if was about someone else not our dad I am trying to help him and dads partner but hard to go home to an empty house with just ur own thoughts and everything going round in your head I am trying to be brave for us all but as soon as I shut the door at home I crumble yes I have shared my tears over last few weeks. I think it is the not knowing and I am scared I won’t hear my phone in the night if anything happens he is 40 minute drive from us all at the nearest hospital. Again thank you for the hug take care too xxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    So finally got told yesterday there was a meeting with dads Coloarctol surgeon his doctor on the ward nhd the MDT team and they are fast tracking dad to get him home as there is nothing else they can do for him and they have seen a detriation  in him over the last few days. Once the palliative team have review him and devised the care he need there will be an MDT meeting. e have no idea what to expect or what help we will get for his care and it is all very scary. What if e can not look after him properly at home which is his wish? Will we fail him?

    He is hardly eating or drinking.  Finally today we was told his ward is clear and open for visitors o my brother nhd his partner have been to see dad. I made the hard decision not to go as I am full of a cold and cough and didn’t want to pass anything onto dad even with mask and sanitiser the fear of him getting pneumonia again terrifies me as he is so weak.heartbreaking seeing him on FaceTime and him asking why I was not there with him ;( Doctor said due to ho advanced and that his cancer has spread he probably has around 3 months. 

  • HI Adlek

    hope your cold gets better soon so that you can finally get to see your dad. 

    Take things a day at a time here and I hope you get a plan in place soon so that you can get your dad home.

    love n hugs

    Wee me xx

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • Hi

    So so sorry to hear this. I am in a similar boat but with my husband. On Dec 3 he was diagnosed with extensive secondary cancer in length of spine, mass at the base, ribs,sternum, liver and lymph nodes in chest and abdomen. He has had liver disease for two years but the cancer is unrelated! Since the diagnosis he has been in hopsital another two times for 3 weeks each time and the second time ended up with covid and on covid ward where the care was diabolical. He is now in a hospice for pain management etc and ahs been there about ten days. He just wants to come home. Each time he was admitted he also had hepatic encephlopathy due to toxins from liver going to the brain and he was so confused etc. I found this the hardest thing to deal with. He now has severe lymphodoema in legs, tummy and groin and the legs and groin are weeping fluid. It's horrendous. He wants to come home and they are working on that but I worry even with help we may not be able to look after him here properly. It is all heart breaking and a horrendous situation to be in. I cna omly empathise with you. I am trying to take strength from my family and friends and getting as informed as I can. I'm trying to be supportive to hi, but also we're realistic too. We were told months but no-one can tell us what that means. Take care of you if you can x