Hello
Nan (mother/mother in law with AZ) now has pancreatic cancer that has spread to her bile duct. We got the final diagnosis last Friday evening. Today I took my daughter with me to visit Nan and got the shock of my life. How much she had deteriorated in just a few hours. Yesterday she was feeling agitated enough to be trying to plan her escape from hospital. Today when we got into the ward she was being transferred to a private room and she seemed unconcious. I tried to talk to her, stroked her face-no response. We got her into the private room and I called Richard my husband to come straight away from work. The nursing staff were so kind and they had called in the chaplain to give her her last rights. Now and again she would fistle in her bed and make a noise like she was in pain. Then about half an hour later she woke up bright as a button and said she was going home! The nurse couldn't beleive how bright she was and nor could we. The doctor then came in a put a morphine syringe driver in via her stomach. I managed to feed her a little dessert which she enjoyed and she smiled at me in between each tiny spoonful. Then about half an hour later she slipped off again. We sat with her a few hours and she was sleeping and not in pain anymore. We have now come home as the hospital promised to phone us as soon as they had any concerns. It is only a few minutes away. We don't know if we should have stayed with her or not. I have not much experience with pancreatic cancer, this afternoon no-one expected her to come around. She seemed not to be just sleeping, but seemed drugged up even though she wasnt on medication at that time. Her eyes were half open all the time and she just made a moaning sound now and again. Then to be so alert for a little while. Do people dying of cancer have these little 'spurts' of brightness in between unconciousness? Have any of you had any experience like this. It is just such a roller coaster of emotions going through our minds at the moment, not knowing what to expect. Cried most of the afternoon then felt happy just being able to feed her a little food and see a little smile. Then feeling happier that the morphine was in and she would have no more pain. This is so hard. I know if we go to bed we are not going to sleep. I don't want her to go on her own, yet the nursing staff say she is sleeping peacefully. Don't know what tomorrow will bring.
So so sad.
Any advice please?
Diane and Richard.
Nan (mother/mother in law with AZ) now has pancreatic cancer that has spread to her bile duct. We got the final diagnosis last Friday evening. Today I took my daughter with me to visit Nan and got the shock of my life. How much she had deteriorated in just a few hours. Yesterday she was feeling agitated enough to be trying to plan her escape from hospital. Today when we got into the ward she was being transferred to a private room and she seemed unconcious. I tried to talk to her, stroked her face-no response. We got her into the private room and I called Richard my husband to come straight away from work. The nursing staff were so kind and they had called in the chaplain to give her her last rights. Now and again she would fistle in her bed and make a noise like she was in pain. Then about half an hour later she woke up bright as a button and said she was going home! The nurse couldn't beleive how bright she was and nor could we. The doctor then came in a put a morphine syringe driver in via her stomach. I managed to feed her a little dessert which she enjoyed and she smiled at me in between each tiny spoonful. Then about half an hour later she slipped off again. We sat with her a few hours and she was sleeping and not in pain anymore. We have now come home as the hospital promised to phone us as soon as they had any concerns. It is only a few minutes away. We don't know if we should have stayed with her or not. I have not much experience with pancreatic cancer, this afternoon no-one expected her to come around. She seemed not to be just sleeping, but seemed drugged up even though she wasnt on medication at that time. Her eyes were half open all the time and she just made a moaning sound now and again. Then to be so alert for a little while. Do people dying of cancer have these little 'spurts' of brightness in between unconciousness? Have any of you had any experience like this. It is just such a roller coaster of emotions going through our minds at the moment, not knowing what to expect. Cried most of the afternoon then felt happy just being able to feed her a little food and see a little smile. Then feeling happier that the morphine was in and she would have no more pain. This is so hard. I know if we go to bed we are not going to sleep. I don't want her to go on her own, yet the nursing staff say she is sleeping peacefully. Don't know what tomorrow will bring.
So so sad.
Any advice please?
Diane and Richard.