Karen,

Welcome! I am sorry your mother in law is going through what she is. It is a good thing, though, that she has you by her side. I can certainly understand how tough it must be for her to eat anywhere, much less in public. She sounds like an amazing woman to be where she is right now. It is important to keep her calories up right now and to keep her walking some every day. Her doctor should be addressing all of her concerns but I can see why she is so scared to go to the doctor.

Maybe you could make a list of all the issues with her and try to pick the one that bothers her or discourages her the most. Make an appointment to address at least the top of the list first. Help her to slowly build back her trust in the doctor(s) by helping her see the progress. Take it slow and work down the list.

Keep focused on some of the medical issues right now and her outlook will improve as they get resolved.

I wish there was more I could do for both of you.

Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023