This post is a space for me to express my feelings and frustrations. If it resonates with anyone, it's nice to know I'm not alone. I am also sending you love.
My Mum has S4 Breast cancer. I have written a previous post, it might have more detail there so I will skip over it. May 2025 she had a pleural effusion, likely from her chest was recurrence. However there was no evidence of disease elsewhere, and she had just recovered from Shingles.. as well as within 6 months of having radiotherapy to the area. June 13th, she had her 1st Enhertu. I was feeling sooo hopeful. A new lifeline, the small ?promise of more time together, more memories to share and make.
1-2 weeks post chemo.. I thought wow.. she is really not tolerating this. I was very concerned, encouraged her to attend hospital. Reluctantly she attends, when she is quite literally on deaths door. Bowel obstruction. Has now not eaten for 6 days, IV antibiotics, IV fluids, is NBM, IV steroids, NG tube, catheter... The Drs can't seem to tell me what is the cause of the bowel obstruction?? How do they not know?! How long is she supposed to by NBM for, how long can someone go without nutritional input? I feel like there's news they aren't telling me, but the Nurse assured me there isn't and they are doing all they can. I have never seen my Mum like this, so lethargic and so tired. Not even able to text/phone call. She looks so pale, so tired. My heart breaks for her. They would have to tell me if it was palliative? There would be a lot to organise, and with how tired she is I feel like this will be very hard.
Sorry for the ramble. It helps to write.
Hi AP8
Please feel fee to ramble all you want on here, as they sometimes say a trouble shared is a trouble halved.
An issue with being nil by mouth can be mouth care, I know when Janice was in intensive care this was something they put quite a lot of effort in to though it is amazing how much can be achieved with IV fluids.
I would guess the doctors will be trying to understand what caused the bowel obstruction too, of course these things do happen and working out the cause can be one step towards working out a solution.
<<hugs>>
Steve
