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How can I help my loved one keep calm during breakthrough pain?

My heart breaks for him.

The love of my life has stage 4 non-small cell Lung cancer. Initially stage 2 and on my 57th birthday I was told after VATS attempt was unsuccessful because two 1mm nodules were found on pleural wall. (Removed and biopsied), lung was not resectable. But now Inoperable and at that point stage 4... stage 4??? No lymph nodes. Still contained within the pleural wall. No Mets. Only lower left involvement. I understand quite a bit of the medical side of this from reading and I have also seen him through open heart valve replacement surgery in 2015.. He is 330 lbs. Copd, sleep apnea, diabetes, PAD, deaf, gout. He has more life and love than any man I know.❤ Him, not so much.

I try to explain. I track all his symptoms and do my best but I feel I am failing him. I take control of speaking to doctors. I have found too many times I have not been listened to by doctors. Even to the point his life has been jeopardized. I have no formal medical education. But I am literate. The most recent was what sounded to me like a pleural effusion. I was told no. I accepted that... But he ended up in the er with shortness of breath in late June. CT clearly reported small Pleural Effusion. Since he went in with a bad case of diarhea and he was on a 2nd cycle of tecentric. They diagnosed immunotherapy related colitis. I explained that his metformin dosage had also been doubled within the last few weeks and his bowel issue was suspected at a colonoscopy 8 months prior to either of those situations. He even had a peri-anal abcess treated 6 months earlier Just prior to that He was being set up for cyberknife Again all prior to tecentric treatment which was started in April. and at the planning CT several pulmonary embolism were found in both lungs.

He was prescribed 150 mg injections of lovenox 2's daily. Home injections morning and night. He has started a new chemo in June Taxatere along with 10 straight days of standard radiation. Now the aortic arch has an annyurism.

We will see cardiac surgeon on Wednesday.. during the time of VATS surgery 6th rib was broken now 11th rib is broken. Again I believed his symptoms seemed consistent with what I read on all reports stating pleural effusion. I was actually bluntly told no not a worry. When the radiation was over I could not stand the obvious decline in his health and upon demand went to ER. He had a thorarocrntis where 1200 'll were drained from effusion. He is slow coming back... I am frustrated. Any advice??

  1. Hi ,

    Thank you so much for sharing what you're going through with us here. It's not easy, for both the patient and caregiver. It must be so frustrating to be advocating for him so strongly as well and to feel not listened to by the care team. Have you considered checking in with another doctor who you may feel better about? Some choose to get second opinions until finding one they may feel more comfortable with and more heard by.

    We're thinking of you, and of your husband. It sounds like you are really there for him and helping support a lot.

    In addition to comments the community may have from experience on keeping calm during pain, have you spoken with his doctor about palliative care / speaking with a palliative care specialist? They may have options to help with the pain as well as suggestions for keeping calm

    https://lungcancer.net/living/navigating-palliative-care
    https://lungcancer.net/living/palliative-care-experience
    And in addition to pain medication these options may help: https://lungcancer.net/living/drug-free-pain-relief

    Please keep us updated on how you both are doing. Thinking of you.

    Warmly,
    Margot, (LungCancer.net Team)

    1. Thank you for sharing ,
      You being the caregiver for your loved one is a commendable act. I too recall the visits with my mom and listening to the oncologists. It's a lot to take in while we see our loved ones go through all that they go through. Take a step back and breathe and meditate, as you continue forward.

      Perhaps, this prior post will help you https://lungcancer.net/coping/caring-for-yourself-caregiver
      Though your beloved is going through trying times now, it's important that you stay healthy and calm, in order to continue this fight. I wish you and your love the very best. Please let us know how you're both doing. Best Regards.

      1. Hi . I am so sorry, the hardest thing for me was watching my mom go through this. It was before the Internet and support communities. You have great support here and a the signs site is a wealth of knowledge. You may want to consider another opinion. I did when I was diagnosed after my mom’s diagnosis.

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