Now in hospice

I try to keep posts short and concise so I’ll try to keep this as brief as possible.

We recently returned from a 2 week trip to SoCal to visit family and friends. I was hoping to post some nice QOL pics but in actuality the trip was fraught with difficulties.

On return we had a visit with my husband’s oncologist and it was decided that his last option of Pluvicto was off the table. Due to a compression fracture of his T7, he’s partially paralyzed and requires constant care and help thus making isolation an impossibility. He also didn’t want to become even weaker from the SE’s than he already is. He is now under home hospice care.

I felt gut punched at first, then came the avalanche of phone calls and appointments meeting the plethora of nurses, caregivers and social workers and I had to hit the floor running.

The trip to SoCal was so much work but now I’m happy we made it, he was able to see people he loved one last time; not that he’s going to die anytime soon but we won’t be traveling like that again. One of the nicest things that happened was a good friend offered to fly up to stay with him if I ever needed some “time off”.

I do have one question for anyone with experience. His hospice nurse wants to change his pain meds from morphine to methadone. My husband is reluctant to make the change though the nurse explained to him the reasons why they prefer methadone. I have a call into his oncologist to ask her opinion but was wondering if anyone has experience with taking methadone for pain management.

Keep on keeping on!

(photo is from The Cheech Museum of Chicano Art in Riverside, CA)

[mrscruffy]

Sorry about your father's condition. My father used Methadone and it was quite effective for him

[Hidden in reply to mrscruffy]

It’s my husband, not my father 😉

Thanks, I’ll pass that on to him. His oncologist also approved making the switch

[StayingSTRNG]

I don’t have advice but just wanted to say I’m sorry you’re going through this, and thank you so much for the insight and advice that you gave me earlier this year

[Hidden]

😆 Thanks for the laughs j-o-h-n and you’re probably right about not seeing Cali again. It was pretty damn smoggy when we were there. Sure don’t miss that!

[K-xo]

Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear this. I sent you a PM, so look for it. Xo

[Carlosbach]

I'm so sorry to hear that you and your intelligent, witty, loving husband are facing even more challenges. I'm so glad that you had the chance to renew your vows, and make a last trip to So. Cal. I will be praying for the two of you .

Dios te bendiga