Home         Forums  

Go Back   Marrowforums > Community > Spouses and Caregivers
Register FAQ Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Spouses and Caregivers The people who take care of the patient

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old Mon Jun 29, 2015, 10:16 PM
wynicurn wynicurn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Ny
Posts: 3
A little lost

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum and I have read through some of the previous posts. Reading the other posts makes me feel like I know I am not alone and as a care giver sometimes it's hard not to feel that way.

My dad is 71 and was diagnosed with MDS over two years ago. Recently it's become leukemia. He's was getting AZA shots but his body stopped responding and now the dr has started Dacogen treatments. His first treatment was last week. Shortly days after his treatment he came home but then started to have chest pain and had to be admitted it was like he was having a heart attack. But his hemoglobin level was 5 and the drs think it's because he wasn't having enough blood being pumped to his heart. My dad is starting to lose hope and so am I. I am trying to stay positive for him. Given his age and his other cormorbidities the drs don't think a transplant would be beneficial for him because it may worsen his condition. He's been needing more transfusions basically everyday red blood and platelets.

I don't know else to do. I am just trying to spend as much time with him as possible but I have a mortgage, bills and kids. The drs think worse case scenario he's got 2-3 months left best case 1-2 years. Does anyone have any advice for me? Feeling a little lost right now?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old Sat Jul 4, 2015, 08:56 AM
Patt Patt is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 3
I am so sorry for you, your dad, and family. Your dad is blessed to have you as a daughter; what a legacy-of-love. God Bless.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old Sat Jul 4, 2015, 12:34 PM
rar rar is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: colorado
Posts: 215
I am the care receiver. Sometimes I think MDS is harder on the care giver than the receiver. Do you have someone who could give you a brief time off to recharge?

Age alone should not prevent a transplant. I was a couple years older when I got mine. Other cormorbidities could prevent a transplant. Are any of them bad?

I wish you success in your trying times.

Ray
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old Tue Jul 28, 2015, 03:24 AM
wynicurn wynicurn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Ny
Posts: 3
Thank you

Thanks Patty and Ray.

He is a diabetic, had triple bypass a few years back, high blood pressure. He was Vidaza for 2 years and it stopped working. Earlier this year in January he started needing more frequent transfusions. He started Decogen treatment a month ago and he came home and a few days later his hemoglobin dropped to 5 and platelets to 11,000. and started to have chest pain. i took him to the ER and hes been in the hospital since. I just had him transfered to another hospital where they offer clinical trials and he sees a MDS specialist. He hasnt been able to recover since his first round of the Decogen. He needs blood product trasnfusions almost everyday. Recently the doctors put in for a consult for the Pallitive care team to speak to us. I am really hoping he catches a break even if it's for a little while. so he can go home and spend time with us and his grandkids.

Thanks,
Winnie
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old Sat Oct 10, 2015, 05:50 AM
wynicurn wynicurn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Ny
Posts: 3
Bone marrow shut down

so as an update my father's bone marrow is not responding it has completely shut down. He is going to pallitative care but still wants transfusions. Even with the transfusions they say he has 1-2 months. I'm not even sure if he should continue them any advise anyone?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old Sat Oct 10, 2015, 07:10 PM
Cheryl C Cheryl C is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Lake Macquarie, Australia
Posts: 843
Hello Wynicurn - having recently lost my beloved father in law who was like a father to me, my heart goes out to you. In today's terms, your dad isn't even elderly yet. If he is able to make his own decisions without having to feel any guilt if he eventually decides not to cease transfusions, that's really good. Difficult and traumatic as it is for family, treatment for people who are terminal needs to be what will keep them happy and comfortable in their last days, rather than what keeps us as a family comfortable. God bless as you support him.
__________________
Dx MDS RAEB 10% blasts + hypogammaglobulinemia, Sep 2011. Jan 2012 BMB - blasts down to 2% w/out treatment so BMT cancelled. Re-diagnosis RCMD. Watch and wait from Feb 2012. IVIg 5-weekly. New diagnosis Oct 2019 AML 23% blasts in marrow, 10% blasts in peripheral blood.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Lost figuring out labs shadoseer Tell Your Story 1 Sat Apr 12, 2014 09:40 AM
I feel that I lost the Battle! layla g MDS 9 Sun Nov 13, 2011 02:41 PM
lost my dad 3 weeks ago.. Jadon MDS 7 Mon Nov 7, 2011 06:53 AM
Lost Battle with AA lfhb1 AA 12 Sat Nov 27, 2010 11:36 PM
Feeling lost. need help. destiny09 Pediatrics 2 Fri Oct 2, 2009 09:36 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Forum sites may contain non-authoritative and unverified information.
Medical decisions should be made in consultation with qualified medical professionals.
Site contents exclusive of member posts Copyright © 2006-2020 Marrowforums.org