Waiting for diagnosis for dad - help!

So sorry to hear that your dad is not well. My husband was diagnosed with mesothelioma it started with him being breathless  and I made him go to the doctor they sent him for X-rays on his chest 4 days later went to a lung specialist and had his lung drained but didn’t get enough fluid out so had to go in for a biopsy two weeks later then went for results about a week later and then we found out it was Mesothelioma went for more ct scans MRI and  and pet scan and was told not a candidate for surgery because it was spreading  so only thing left was to try  amino therapy .to slow it down  but he only had three rounds and 48 hours after the Third round he passed. My husband was only 67 it was a total of  about 4 months from first X-rays to passing. It was so hard to watch. My heart goes out to your dad and the family. I pray for you all. And hopefully the outcome will be better for your dad. Sending love and hugs.

Firstly I am sorry to hear this about your dad. I am going through this with my mum so just a few suggestions from our experience you need to contact a GP to do a home visit to prescribe higher pain relief he could be taking stronger slow relief morphine morning and night and oral morphine in between small doses doses will help with the breathing issues. He needs to be made more comfortable and there is a support group called HASAG which is a charity group which really did help us. I do realise how helpless you feel we have been there .. but keep shouting to get heard.

At night try and prop your dad up high with pillows as this will help with the breathing you should discuss with your GP about getting a hospital bed - shout very loud to get this, PALS - patient advise liaison services is a complaints service at the hospital . This is good to push things through and get you listened to.

My thoughts are with you .. its such a difficult time I hope your dad is made more comfortable. Try and take care of yourself.xx

Thanks there's some really helpful suggestions here. My dad is just about to be admitted to hospital for a procedure and is likely to be gone for a week but I will definitely try and get these things in place for when he is back, no-one had mentioned slow release morphine I think that would be helpful. It is such an awful time, sending best wishes to you and your mum too

So sorry to read about your dad.Feel your frustrations. My dad from being sent for investigation to be given diagbosis last year was 5 months!! ! then another months delay starting treatment august 2024 due to catchibg covid. He passed away 4 May this year. He was 16 days off 74. Ask the hospital about slow release morpvine its longer lastibg and if your dad needsbreakthrough doses he can have that inbetween. you really have to push sadly. they like to titrate doses slowly to nail the key dose. tip is if dad requires more than 4 breakthrough doses in a 24  hour period its asign the slow/modified release is not high enough dose . best wishes x