I’ve had enough!!

FormerMember
FormerMember
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Excuse me I need a rant,  this is gonna be long so apologies now but I need to get it off my chest thanks for reading  

My husband got diagnosed with oesophageal cancer back in January 2018 it had spread to lymph-node‘s and because of that they would not perform the surgery to remove the  oesophagus because they could not guarantee that he would be cured consequently he went on to have chemotherapy which upset his heart so had to stop it. 

After a period of time he was offered chemo radiotherapy course which he undertook for 28 days solid. After a long wait a CT scan revealed no sign of cancerwhich bought us much relief. We returned after three months for a checkup following a further CT scan to be told it had returned back in the same places and to a further 2  lymph nodes  

Another course of chemotherapy was prescribed on a different combination of drugs which he persevered with for two rotations at which point he started to suffer from severe symptoms  of neurological damage to the point that his brain was sending a messages  that it was constantly full up feeling that he had  just eaten a three course meal and therefore eating food was becoming an obstacle he was gagging although not for any physical obstruction purely because he felt full. 

Having  previously relied on a feeding tube for nourishment in the early days he was loath to return back to that so started taking  Aymes food supplements which he took for a couple of months which kept him nourished although he was losing weight but after a while he got so fed up with them so just stopped.  Now he survives on just milk down to milk and water and tea milky coffee that’s about it no fruit juice because the acid cause him pain. 

This was approximately f2  months ago when they told him there is no more they can do for him and would be put on palliative care and that was it. Over to the local GP and the Sobel house palliative nurses which was okay I guess but feel that they’ve just given up on him and that was the end of the road  

He was given 3 to 6 months back then and he’s made 12 months so we are sticking two fingers up at the oncologist, but these last nine months have not been any quality just existing, not living, he is deteriorating in front of me, just a blank vessel, he’s there but he’s not there. he has no interest in anything, he don’t read anymore and  don’t know what to do  

I’m very lonely not for family and friends but for my husband to have him hold me, show interest in me, acknowledge my presence, hold my hand that’s all  

At the same time I want this ordeal to be over for both him and for me he’s had enough. He wants to be at peace now, that sounds awful but this is the best thing for both of us.
then I have more thoughts in my head , how I’m gonna cope without him and go on wondering what the hell is the point of all this. If this is life you can keep it.

Anyway thanks for reading, I know you will all be dealing with just as emotional frustration issues if your own. 

such a wretched disease. Stay safe and strong. 

  • I'm so sorry you have to experience this. What can I say. What can anyone say. I know what you mean you no longer want to see them in pain & be at peace. It is such a test of strength.  It amazes me how well they do know the body & to help it & other times they don't.  Remember the good times. We do carry on in sickness & in health. 

    I have joined today as my husband has bowel cancer with also bits in liver & lung. Has had 3 cycles & recently found clots in his arm is now injecting daily. I have come on here to learn from others & hopefully we can support each other.

    Best wishes to you both x

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to Wifey3

    I just don’t know what to say. I do get annoyed when people complain about materialistic and monetary issues in life. They need to know what it’s like to have a real tragedy in life watching your loved one slowly disappearing in front of you. What we would give to swap there problems with ours.

    stay strong.      

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember
    • Oh I’d love to have normal daily problems! My husband is also fading away, 2 different types of chemo have failed to make a difference and the oncologist is now looking for other options, but only palliative. I feel the same as though they’ve written him off, and to be honest I think my husband is slowly giving up too. He lost so much weight (stomach cancer) and is just tired all the time. He doesn’t always want to hold me either, I think it just makes him too emotional and it’s like he’s trying to distance himself. But I cling desperately to the good days and we’ve cuddled today after the bad news yesterday that they’re stopping current chemo.

    Wifey3 my husband has had same issue with clots, lots in his lungs so is also injecting himself daily. Just another thing he has to do and I think he’s getting sick and tired of all the poking and prodding for no benefit. I can’t blame him really but I’m just desperate to keep him with me. It’s awful to think his time he had left however long is likely to be spent feeling ill and exhausted and a shadow of himself.

    usually I always find something positive to say but right now I’m giving into feeling sorry for myself for a few days.

    xx

  • Just feel so helpless xx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    It’s hard. I don’t know where I get the strength to carry on some days. Life is tough. 
    we battle on ad if we have any choice. X


  • Dear Bramblejoo, I can imagine how you’re feeling and wish I had the words to ease your pain,  but know I care...

    Buster, sounds like you’re expressing everything we have all felt or will feel sooner or later, I hope you continue to find the strength you need to fight on.

    Wifey, I think we all feel helpless, but we’re all good actresses, well some of the time. When we hear devastating news it takes time for us to process it all, as we adjust and push all those bad thoughts from our heads, bang...we hear more bad news and so it continues and we all keep going, finding the strength from god knows where because we love and want to hold onto the people we love.

    My husband of 45 years, has colorectal with secondaries on liver and lungs, he’s waiting on a scan on the 31st to see if latest treatment has done anything. I’m just expecting to hear more bad news but hoping for good, because that’s all I can do, stay strong 


    Much love and virtual hugs to you all. It’s weird really,  I feel affection for people I have never met. 

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to budge13

    I feel exactly the same, such emotion and affection for strangers, I guess because we are all going through similar experiences in our lives right now.

    This sounds awful and I feel almost guilty admitting it, but from time to time I sneak into the bereaved spouses group and read comments, almost as some kind of way to prepare myself for a future alone. Then I feel bad as those people have already lost their loved ones and mine is still with me, but I just want to understand how they cope, it gives me a strange comfort.

    Love to you all x

  • Actually, me too, trouble is it just sets me off, I feel so sorry for them and yes, I know it’s just a matter of time and it’ll be me. I don’t know how I’ll cope but I don’t want to go down a rabbit hole. I won’t go down a rabbit hole. I think that will be the time I’ll get counselling or something, I don’t know much about stuff like that but I guess GP is a starting point.
    Whilst talking to my daughter, she said this was always going to happen eventually to one of us, we weren’t both going to go at the same time, which is true, every couple goes through this at some point, somehow I’ve never thought of it like that. Just seems too soon, we met in 1974, married 75 and it’s been a very happy life. Much love budge xxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to Wifey3

    Yep. 

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to budge13

    Your words are comforting.