We awoke to another coughing fit this morning , and associated blood. It was all over the loo seat, the carpet (in places) and anywhere else it could be.
The morning was a bit tricky to organise because H needed a trip out before Ali picked us up at 09.45. All a bit compressed. H’s walk was a short stroll at Moulsford Rec.
At the Churchill Hospital, we saw Dr Panakis again. She pulled no punches. T was very ill and the deterioration had been quite rapid. The two metastases on his neck and skull indicated the cancer has infiltrated his brain. His prognosis is now down to weeks or even days.
Some adjustment has been made to his medication – doubling the TXA dose and multiplying the morphine by 5 up to 6 times a day.
We were not really surprised by what she had to say, but it didn’t stop us feeling winded.
As we left the hospital, the day reflected what was going on in our lives- a dismal damp depressing experience.
Poor old Ali had a banker’s lunch to get to. She was going to be late but managed to get herself into a train. Pen bought some lovely quiche salads from Pierreponts which we ate at our house. Then she departed for Devon. But she will be back with the rest of her family for Sunday.
We have now re-scheduled the Christmas meal I was going to cook for Tina on Tuesday evening. I will gift Ali the 3kg rolled Turkey breast from the freezer and we will use it on Sunday afternoon along with usual accompaniments. The whole family will join us. She arrives tomorrow evening.
Our trip to Blenheim Christmas lights Trail is now in doubt. It will depend on the weather and how T is.
Whenever I take him out anywhere now, we have to take a syringe of special ‘in case of haemorrhage’ medicine which can go be injected onto his gums. Haemorrhage seems to be their main concern ( we were told it was very rare three months ago.) But the nature of his cough, which is now very wet, has changed things.
We had a little time to ourselves during the afternoon, during which I emailed Daycare to explain he would not be able to attend anymore, but that I hoped he would make their Christmas Celebration next week. I can always go too I suppose. The risk of haemorrhage is not something their staff or attendees should be expected to deal with.
So gone are the days of me working to get him up and out and about. It is kinder to let him stay in bed should he wish to, eat what he wants and enjoy the company of family and anyone else who might pass by.
A drowned rat telephoned from Reading and I went out to meet Ali after her bankers’ lunch. She was soaking wet – the rain was epic and the roads were very flooded. It was about 19.00 by now. I transported her home.
Pen arrived safely back in Devon but will return on Sunday with family for our impromptu family gathering. Crackers and all.
I will have lots of jobs on the to do list tomorrow. Shifting stuff around so Tina can get into the spare room. The Christmas tree is 3/4 decorated – a few more baubles require thread or wire hangers. The outside decorations need to be arranged. The birch tree needs to be connected up in the hallway.
The floor requires major attention from the Miele.
Waitrose will deliver a big shop around lunchtime and there is a two hour slot when NRS will deliver a shower stool and put up a hand grabrail in the shower.
I have to ring Sue Ryder today as requested by Dr Panakis to adjust the medication once again. She wanted time for her email to arrive there.
Update Fri am: T had a good night. His cough is rattly, but without the explosive blood loss of the last two days. At the moment anyway. He very grudgingly allowed me to give the morphine and the TXA. Paracetamol and others to follow.
Doggy Thought for the Day
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