wondering

[Sandra]

Hi all, been awhile, my mom has been dealing with renal cell carcinoma since 2005, she has mets to her lungs and other areas, she has done so great not even on meds or chemo or anything. She's a painter and has lots of friends and painting classes and she travels and is just an incredible person. On Tuesday I recieved one of the worst calls of my life it was her and I could hardly tell. I ran to her house where I had to call 911. She has been in hospital fighting the fight of her life since, I've been pretty much living there, things have been so serious, I just could not leave her. But again tonight she bounced back a bit and she is now breathing much better and resting so I allowed myself to coem home for a nap tonight, my sis is with her. But I have a problem, which always frustrates the heck out of me as just when I need to be healthy I'm not! I think it's the dryness of the hospital, I have such a dry throat and mucousy thick wierd cough that never loosens up or comes out. I have been having a time with this AI stuff for a while now so it's not new but i think the dryness and the heat in the hospital makes it ten times worse. I am unsure about this symptom, is this kind of dry cough and gravelly voice the norm with sjs under such circumstances? Any ideas how to get some moisture down there and get that thick mucous out? I really need to be there for her and for me. Thanks Sandra

[peacefulstorm]

Hi Sandra, I have been told, by people here that some candy drops (non fruit) that can help you produce saliva. I also found out from my doctor today that you can buy artificial saliva from the pharmacy, with out a prescription, its hard to come by. DO you have a Drug store that is NOT a chain? That is where I was told to go to, the Allen pharmacy was the best place to find them. The thickness of the mucus, I would try Musinex, not the DM version cause that could dry you out. Those are my suggestions!
Cortnee'

[Pooh]

Sandra,
So sorry about your dear Mother.  I wish her well and pray that her courage will see her through this fight she is in.

In reference to your dryness.  Sensodyne makes a product in a spray called Oasis.  It's a mouth moisturizer.  Easy to carry in your purse.  Don't forget about your eyes also.  Use your drops when you can to keep them from giving you a problem. 

You might also try a saline spray for your nose.  This will help that muscous in your throat also. 

Take care dear and I hope things are better when you return to the hospital.

Hugs and God Bless,
Pooh

[DesignerS]

Sandra,
I am so sorry your Mom is going through such a hard time.  Hospitals are the absolute dryest places there are.  We used to spend so much time in them with our daughter before I had SjS, and I could hardly stand it.  You should have a drink in your hand at all times to hydrate.  Sugarless gum also will help.  But I really think the fluids will be helpful.  Take care of yourself.

Designer

[Scottietottie]

Hi Sandra 

I'm really sorry to hear about your Mum. Apart from the hospital atmosphere it is quite possible that the stress from the whole situation is making you feel worse too. We tend to 'flare' when stressed.
I hope you can get some rest between visits and that your Mom can breathe easy.
It's such a hard time of year too.

Take care - Scottie 

[Katybarstool]

Hi Sandra

I'm sorry that your mum is so ill. Sending you both my prayers and best wishes.

Kathyx

[Chico]

Sandra,

Do hope your Mother is feeling better today. For helping the dry cough and gravelly voice nothing seems to work so well for me as barely swallowing a fish oil capsule with tiny bit of water. Just enough to get it going down.  
So soothing and doesn't cause later thirst as so many other treatments such as my former remedy,  Nyquil capsules.  These actually began to cause swelling under my chin, throat and behind my ears.
So far, one a day usually is all I need.

Chico

[Fairy]

I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I know that these things are hard to deal with, especially when you are feeling bad.
I have 3 humidifiers going all of the time now. That is helping with the dryness. Also, I have terrible sinus drainage, which is weird because I'm so DRY. I take chlorpheniaramine (Chlortabs at walmart). They do not dry you out like other allergy meds, and they do no have speed in them. Also, they are not a downer like benadryl either, so they work well for me. I also eat sugarfree lemon drops from walgreens. They are helping me. I am using GenTeal gel drops for my eyes, Cetaphil lotion and cream, and lypsyl for my lips which I get at walgreens. I am taking Salagen for saliva (although I don't think it is working), and I drink a lot of water.
I hope you feel better, and I am glad you mother is bouncing back. Please try to keep the stress under control, from what all of my Dr.'s say, Stress if very BAD! Have a great weekend.

[salsen]

Your Mom is in my prayers to be up and enjoying life again soon.  I have had lots of congestion lately and find regular Musinex help along with a sterile saline solution for the nose.  I also try to sip on more water if possible.  If you are staying with your Mom maybe you can also go into the restroom every now and then and run hot water and let the steam help you out.  Hope this will help.

[Sandra]

hi, thanks for the replies and the helpful suggestions. Mom is amazing. She is 79 and had been LIVING with cancer since 2005, aside from the removal of her left kidney the week before Mother's day in 2005 she has never looked back. She travels, has painting classes even teaches painting, we are partners in crime any day of the week, be it groceries, lunch or appointments. I am having a terrible time with making peace about her leaving me someday. I am a much, much better care giver than a daughter losing her pal. But since Tuesday as I lay next to her while she struggled and literally fought to get out of that bed I told her several times she owed us children nothing that if it was to hard and she wanted to rest she owed us nothing. Her concern, first she's not there yet, and second she said Oh Shoot Sandy! and then began talking about Christmas and wanting to cook a turkey and make pies, and finally I can't leave, Dad left you kids just befor Christmas and it was just too hard on you kids. What a woman. Today, she is my mother again, she looks like her, moves like her, talks like her and is her. My mom's admitting dr is stun. Dr Prasad is a doctor in every sense of the word. I tell you one good GP is worth all of the egomaniac specialists in the world. Mom and I share the same GP in the next town and he is a tool. Mom was so worried about that as she knows that there will be a time when she will need and I as her care giver will need support I have been terified and seen the frear in mom's eyes too, but Dr Prasad told mom you can come see me any time you want. i canot tell you the relief and peace of mind that has given her and if you can imagine even more for me. Mom was able to rest after that. She slept like a baby last night, and ends up she has had a lung infection/cold that she just ignored as we just don't have any options, we have both given up trying to recieve help from a stone, just causes worry and upset and more fatigue. So as partners in crime we have both come down with this chest infection thing, hers worse because of the mets in her lungs, mine from the same bug and probably fatigue. So here I sit wishing i could be with her and I'm sure I'm not far from her mind. This war is not over but this battle I think has been won. Thanks, so much for the well wishes and hope and being here to talk to. Sandra

[Scottietottie]

Hi Sandra 

Your Mom sounds like one amazing woman!

I hope you both manage to fight those lung infections off and come through this particular battle to fight anothet day!

Take care - Scottie