Life challenges

[MJG017]

Hi @Hopeandlove 

Oh, sorry to hear the antibiotics are going so badly!  Hopefully they have you on something far more effective soon.  It's all you need on top of everything else!

Jeez... what a question to ask!  It certainly puts a thought or two in your head.  They can be rather blunt at times can't they!  I hope you're feeling better soon.

[Hopeandlove]

Hi @MJG017 . They have changed it to a different one now so let's hope that it starts to kick in soon. It would be nice to have a bit of energy back.

It threw me when they asked it, I got questioned if I had someone to put down as an emergency contact which I said no I don't have anyone. Just made me feel even more alone than I already did. 

[MJG017]

@Hopeandlove 

I'm sure that question would throw any of us.  I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that this new med does the job and you're at least able to get out of that bed for a while.

I understand why they ask about emergency contacts, but it would be nice if they were a bit more prepared when someone says they don't have one.  I hope they were at least a bit empathetic when you told them. 

I've had to talk to a new member of my support group the past few days.  He's been dealing with it for a little while, but has just been told it looks like it has spread to his liver and is obviously upset.  But he also doesn't have anyone at home for support and is having to deal with all of this alone.  I've been chatting to him tonight and he also find social situations difficult so it just makes it all so much harder.  So i think it's so important to get around people going through this who are alone and do what you can to support them.

When I first joined an adoptees support group last year, someone welcomed me and said I had found 'my tribe'.  That still sticks with me and I feel the same about people going through cancer, especially more advanced.  You support everyone in your tribe. 

[Hopeandlove]

@MJG017 I'm keeping everything crossed, well in my head i am, it hurts too much to move anything. 

They were empathetic when I told them I didn't have anyone. 

Sounds like he has been dealing with alot and we know how hard it is to go through any type of cancer alone. It's amazing that you are so supportive of other people especially knowing what you are going through yourself. Sounds like it is great that he has found your support group and I hope he is doing ok. 

[MJG017]

@Hopeandlove 

Definitely don't cross anything if it hurts.  It still counts if you do it in your head.  Plus we all have fingers crossed for you.

I've been chatting with him online tonight and we just had a good chat about growing up in the same suburb and had a bit of a laugh, so I think he's feeling a bit better about things now.  It's still not easy for me to reach out to people like that, but i'm glad I did.

[Till23]

Sorry to hear the first antibiotics didn’t work @Hopeandlove 

Good that you are on another type which will hopefully be more successful. There’s plenty to try and if they know which bug is involved they can target it in treatment. However, that can take a few days to get results back.

The resuscitation and emergency contact questions are standard questions. However, it can be confronting when you are on the receiving end of them. Also you can change your mind on these in the future, just need to let them know.

I’m hoping that the treatments start to work and you start to feel better. It is tiring for your body when you’re fighting an infection especially with other things going on.

What type of ward or you on? Are you in oncology?

We’re still here for you when you feel up to chatting.

[Hopeandlove]

@MJG017 I'll let others do the finger crossing for me. 

Good on you for reaching out and it sounds old like he needed the cheering up. It's great that you made that connection with him especially finding something in common with each other. 

[Hopeandlove]

@Till23I'm limited a bit when it comes to antibiotics due to allergies which only complicates things more. Feeling like this is starting to take its toll not only physically but mentally. 

I get that they are standard questions but it was confronting and I wasn't exactly in the right frame of mind to answer them but I didn't have a choice there. 

I want to start feeling better but it seems there's another hurdle to try to get over now. I've been put into ICU, the staff have been amazing here and I'm trying hard to rest and trust that I'm in the best hands. 

[Till23]

I’m not surprised that you are physically and mentally exhausted @Hopeandlove, anyone would be.

I hope you can rest, even though I think you said you find it difficult to accept help from others.

ICU can be stressful, depending on the layout of the department, but usually there is low patient to nurse numbers, so nurses have more time with patients.

Are you saying there’s a new hurdle apart from antibiotic type and your allergies?

All the best with new treatments and we’re still here for you.

[Hopeandlove]

@Till23 I've been the focus on attention here, not sure I like all the attention I'd much rather just be left alone. But I have a whole team of medical staff trying to work out how to get on top of everything happening, if that's possible. 

So news this morning after scans is that I have pneumonia and my left lung has collapsed and the right is not able to compensate enough. My heart is weak and rolling over causes my heart rate to drop considerably. 

My fears of ending up in hospital and not making it out is fast becoming a reality. 

Thanks for checking in with me, I only wish I had better news to share with you.