[Dominique]

Originally Posted by JustJo

They do blood draws from her arm too...and I guess she's having problems with her veins due to the dehydration. Your guess would be correct. A big indicator of dehydration, is when a blood draw is attempted, and the vein, rolls. Sometimes they have to pull out and start over. Also, each
stick, causes a little bit of scar tissue to form. Sticking, hitting the scar tissue, causes the needle to clog. The process has to start all over again. Hopefully this will explain *why the port* a little better for you too.

When we spoke last night, she was glad to be back in the hospital...and I'm relieved that she's there too so they can get a handle on this weight loss and dehydration.

You've mentioned she is stoic. I'm sure she has issue with asking for help. Feels like somehow, she is burdening people who want to help....who really do care for her. (common) you almost have to force Home Nurse Care. This will help her tremendously and ease some of your worries. Someone trained, will be making the assessment of her health. And conveying that to you. Not a friend with good intentions, wanting to abide by mom's wishes to not burden Jo with this (refer back to won't ask for help) Hang in there, this fork in the road~ try to think of it in terms of an
intervention~

When you don't feel well, and you live alone, the last thing you want to do is eat. Sometimes fatigue is greater than hunger, and walking to the kitchen to get a box of cereal, to eat dry, just isn't worth it. Dehydration can occur from the obvious manners...sweating (fever), diabetes, Diarrhea...and even what a patient under going chemo thinks is *just from the chemo*, lots of fluid gets lost. Vomiting (?) Nausea can come from dehydration and or the chemo. The inability to eat or drink will bring about weakness. Eating, well, foods contain water. It's all pretty cicular, as much as it makes sense Jo, it doesn't make sense. Because it's cancer. And as I've seen it written many times. It sucks.

Dehydration goes hand in hand with the electrolytes and she is in the right place to get everything balanced out. Here, since Mrs. Jo is stoic, and won't admit pain...they will know, pain makes the heart race faster. Usually, when the pulse goes up, the blood pressure goes down. And the opposite, if the BP goes up, the pulse comes down. Mrs. Jo
and her *Oh, I'm ok* has made it a little harder for them to treat her. This way,she will be monitored, and with the help of the fantastic advancements in science and medicine. They'll be able to help her much better. Sux that it took all of this, to get to this point. Patients have rights. Hello Hippa.

Enough from me. Thinking about you Jo.