Aa
my story
Hi all-
I need to let it out. I just want to let my experience be told. Here goes.
My story involves my mother-in-law. She was diagnosed with Hep c probably 25 years ago. She contracted this, i believe, from a tattoo gone wrong. I was not in her life at this point. I have only known her for the last 11 years. I met her son shortly after her doing the treatment for hep c with the interferon and ribivirin(SP?) she apparently was a 'non-responder" as she told me....After this treatment, though, she did not have any symtoms of hep c. She was not suffering or sick. WE live in a very small small town and we do not have an actual hepatologist available so she sees a primary doc and a gastroenterologist. she had liver biopsies, etc and there were no signs of cirrhosis....
Fast forward to about august september of 2011. She started having low grade fevers and a bit of pain in her side. I am very close to her...VERY CLOSE... so i accompanied her to most if not all dr appointments. They were kind of puzzled as to what was happening. Her primary dr actually diagnosed her with walking pnemonia and put her on antibiotics. So, a couple weeks go by and she still isnt better. still having pain and fevers. a bit weak as well. She is an incredibly outgoing, and "busy" woman. Very involved in my childrens lives, etc. Always doing something. She was able to do some things, but definitely wasnt herself! So finally gastroenterologist suggested another liver biopsy. The results showed she had staged into cirrhosis. We were very shocked because it happened really so quickly. Then....everything changed. Almost immediately after this diagnosis she started with the jaundice. Then the acites ( the fluid in belly) very weak and just not good at all. Its about late novermber december 2011 now...primary dr suggested that we go to a liver center in baltimore md (johns hopkins) because she was only getting worse and the only way to get better was to get a liver. He set us up with them. In the meantime she had the fluid drained from her abdomen many times, had blood tranfusions...was just very very ill! we were to go to baltimore on jan 23rd 2012. A week before she started with the confusion. It was very hard to watch. Almost like an alzheimers patient. So sad. They actually admitted her right away to john hopkins. they said she was very sick. They were preparing her for a liver, but needed to get her strong enough to even be able to undergo this transplant. She was not eating at all, so they put in a feeding tube. still very confused, although with all the care she was getting she did have a few "good" days" where us family members couls talk with her. Then her kidneys started failing. They said the liver disease caused the kidneys to fail as well. They started her on dialysis to help her kidneys. It did not take. Jump to the last few days (feb 2012) they moved her last night to the ICU. She is very sick. very very sick. They just called a few hours ago to let us know that they are starting with life saving tecniques now. Breathing tube. intravenous tube near heart to deliver life support meds, etc. They said they arent sure if these measures will even work. We are all to meet there to be with her tomorrow. we live about 3 hours west of the hospital. so we are getting things in order at home and leaving for baltimore tomorrow.
the purpose of me writing this is to get it all out. I also want to help others by allowing them to read my particular experience with this disease of hep c and cirrhosis. Im not sure what we could have done differntly to have another outcome, but i know that this is one of the hardest expereinces of my life. I have never had to actually watch someone die. I love my mom-in-law with all my heart. As well as all her family. My children will miss their Gram greatly. Im hoping for a miracle. i know anything can happen....my prayers are with all who have to experience anything similar to this. God Bless you all!
I need to let it out. I just want to let my experience be told. Here goes.
My story involves my mother-in-law. She was diagnosed with Hep c probably 25 years ago. She contracted this, i believe, from a tattoo gone wrong. I was not in her life at this point. I have only known her for the last 11 years. I met her son shortly after her doing the treatment for hep c with the interferon and ribivirin(SP?) she apparently was a 'non-responder" as she told me....After this treatment, though, she did not have any symtoms of hep c. She was not suffering or sick. WE live in a very small small town and we do not have an actual hepatologist available so she sees a primary doc and a gastroenterologist. she had liver biopsies, etc and there were no signs of cirrhosis....
Fast forward to about august september of 2011. She started having low grade fevers and a bit of pain in her side. I am very close to her...VERY CLOSE... so i accompanied her to most if not all dr appointments. They were kind of puzzled as to what was happening. Her primary dr actually diagnosed her with walking pnemonia and put her on antibiotics. So, a couple weeks go by and she still isnt better. still having pain and fevers. a bit weak as well. She is an incredibly outgoing, and "busy" woman. Very involved in my childrens lives, etc. Always doing something. She was able to do some things, but definitely wasnt herself! So finally gastroenterologist suggested another liver biopsy. The results showed she had staged into cirrhosis. We were very shocked because it happened really so quickly. Then....everything changed. Almost immediately after this diagnosis she started with the jaundice. Then the acites ( the fluid in belly) very weak and just not good at all. Its about late novermber december 2011 now...primary dr suggested that we go to a liver center in baltimore md (johns hopkins) because she was only getting worse and the only way to get better was to get a liver. He set us up with them. In the meantime she had the fluid drained from her abdomen many times, had blood tranfusions...was just very very ill! we were to go to baltimore on jan 23rd 2012. A week before she started with the confusion. It was very hard to watch. Almost like an alzheimers patient. So sad. They actually admitted her right away to john hopkins. they said she was very sick. They were preparing her for a liver, but needed to get her strong enough to even be able to undergo this transplant. She was not eating at all, so they put in a feeding tube. still very confused, although with all the care she was getting she did have a few "good" days" where us family members couls talk with her. Then her kidneys started failing. They said the liver disease caused the kidneys to fail as well. They started her on dialysis to help her kidneys. It did not take. Jump to the last few days (feb 2012) they moved her last night to the ICU. She is very sick. very very sick. They just called a few hours ago to let us know that they are starting with life saving tecniques now. Breathing tube. intravenous tube near heart to deliver life support meds, etc. They said they arent sure if these measures will even work. We are all to meet there to be with her tomorrow. we live about 3 hours west of the hospital. so we are getting things in order at home and leaving for baltimore tomorrow.
the purpose of me writing this is to get it all out. I also want to help others by allowing them to read my particular experience with this disease of hep c and cirrhosis. Im not sure what we could have done differntly to have another outcome, but i know that this is one of the hardest expereinces of my life. I have never had to actually watch someone die. I love my mom-in-law with all my heart. As well as all her family. My children will miss their Gram greatly. Im hoping for a miracle. i know anything can happen....my prayers are with all who have to experience anything similar to this. God Bless you all!
What ever u said to her, I know she heard u and took the love u felt for her when she went.....I believe the body dies but the soul doesn't, so I know she knew u loved her. Live your life to make her proud and maybe take a piece of her advice or beliefs and pass them down to future generations so her spirit will always remain. God bless you............
I am so sorry. We just lost my mother in law 3/21....
One comment you made in your original post touched my heart.
You said you could not and would not have done things differently for any other outcome.
That was our thoughts as mil passed also. That really brought us peace to know we did everything as she had wished, she had Alzheimer's and fortunately had written advance directives in 1988! Looking back we felt like we made good decisions for her and she was pain free at the end.
One comment you made in your original post touched my heart.
You said you could not and would not have done things differently for any other outcome.
That was our thoughts as mil passed also. That really brought us peace to know we did everything as she had wished, she had Alzheimer's and fortunately had written advance directives in 1988! Looking back we felt like we made good decisions for her and she was pain free at the end.
I am so sorry to hear about your mother in law. I know you say your fine but the after effects of a death doesn't always happen quickly. If you feel really down at any point in time, please take time to heal.
All the best.
Anna
All the best.
Anna
I know she heard all the wonderful things you said to her. We, as nurses, are taught the hearing is the last thing to go. I have many amazing stories of people and I believe they heard every word I said to them. I am glad she is now in a place where there is no more suffering. Continue all those awsome family traditions! She is loved and will forever be in your hearts! I am so sorry for your loss.
Update: my mother in law passed away last night at 5:07 am. Her daughter was there with her and hold her. Her bday is 5/07! And she passed at 5:07! My mother in law loved numbers, especially number 7. She always liked to find te number 7 in things in life. Brthdays, addresses, etc! I'm doing ok. Peaceful. No more suffering. Thanks to all
firstly, I would like to thank anyone who read this. Secondly, I would like to thank those who commented. I have never, so openly, told such a personal experience before. I am full of faith and peace right now. And to those that shared a piece of their story to me, I thank you and pray for you as well.
So- we just returned from visiting my mom in law. She is still hanging on, although it's not her that's hanging on now. She is. Wing fully sustained by machines and medicene. I just want everyone to know that if they ever, god forbid, have to see a loved one in a life support situation, talk to them. I know in my heart of hearts that she could hear me. Even if the doctors said, "medically speaking" she has no brain function... I just know she could hear my words. Whenever I sai anything that would need any kind of response, she raised her eyebrows and wiggled her feet. Especially when I spoke of my girls, her grand kids, she responded. So at this point we are literally waiting for a call. Her daughter, my sis in law is by her side. The drs said despite all the life saving techniques they are doing, her blood pressure is slowly dropping. Like I said, I am peaceful and my experience was pleasant, no matter how sad it was... Thanks again for reading and please continue with the comments as I love this support and Interaction. God bless.
So- we just returned from visiting my mom in law. She is still hanging on, although it's not her that's hanging on now. She is. Wing fully sustained by machines and medicene. I just want everyone to know that if they ever, god forbid, have to see a loved one in a life support situation, talk to them. I know in my heart of hearts that she could hear me. Even if the doctors said, "medically speaking" she has no brain function... I just know she could hear my words. Whenever I sai anything that would need any kind of response, she raised her eyebrows and wiggled her feet. Especially when I spoke of my girls, her grand kids, she responded. So at this point we are literally waiting for a call. Her daughter, my sis in law is by her side. The drs said despite all the life saving techniques they are doing, her blood pressure is slowly dropping. Like I said, I am peaceful and my experience was pleasant, no matter how sad it was... Thanks again for reading and please continue with the comments as I love this support and Interaction. God bless.
I have watched 5 family members suffer tremendously only to die, and one was my son and grandson.....my heart goes out to all of you. Like you, I was extremely close to my mother-in-law as were my children and we all miss her dearly. You're both so very fortunate to have shared many good times while building wonderful memories.....and these memories will get you and your children through this time. I will keep her in my prayers and big hugs to you.
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