Hi Kath

i was reading through the forums as a guest and have joined so I can share my story and hopefully ease your guilt. 
 

my father was also on Dex and we were told by the doctors 4mg for 2 weeks then 2mg for another 2 then nothing. When the day came to reduce his dosage my dad had walked into the garden on a sunny day a few weeks ago and sat with a cup of tea. The nurse decided to continue the 4mg of steroids. This was continued up until 2 days before his death (5 weeks in total). His appetite waned fairly quickly after that first additional prescription we saw a jump for 2 days then a steady decline until he stopped eating completely 2 weeks later and died a week after that. The dex while it kept him alive longer prolonged something that his body had given up on. With it without the dex he would not have lived longer just been less able to fight it. Please don't feel guilty, the cancer killed your mum and not the lack of dex, I promise. 
 

I had the same fight as you but my nurse had my interests at heart and not just dads which made a difference but she agreed for me so I could feel I did everything I could for him. Looking back though I don't believe it made a positive difference for him.

hopefully my story helps you through this awful period. I know I'm at a horrible point where the funeral is over and my grief is worse and I feel so truly terrible and guilty for wishing he was still with me in any form. This is natural to feel this way but please know you shouldn't feel bad about this.

c x

Hi Kath

i was reading through the forums as a guest and have joined so I can share my story and hopefully ease your guilt. 
 

my father was also on Dex and we were told by the doctors 4mg for 2 weeks then 2mg for another 2 then nothing. When the day came to reduce his dosage my dad had walked into the garden on a sunny day a few weeks ago and sat with a cup of tea. The nurse decided to continue the 4mg of steroids. This was continued up until 2 days before his death (5 weeks in total). His appetite waned fairly quickly after that first additional prescription we saw a jump for 2 days then a steady decline until he stopped eating completely 2 weeks later and died a week after that. The dex while it kept him alive longer prolonged something that his body had given up on. With it without the dex he would not have lived longer just been less able to fight it. Please don't feel guilty, the cancer killed your mum and not the lack of dex, I promise. 
 

I had the same fight as you but my nurse had my interests at heart and not just dads which made a difference but she agreed for me so I could feel I did everything I could for him. Looking back though I don't believe it made a positive difference for him.

hopefully my story helps you through this awful period. I know I'm at a horrible point where the funeral is over and my grief is worse and I feel so truly terrible and guilty for wishing he was still with me in any form. This is natural to feel this way but please know you shouldn't feel bad about this.

c x

So so sorry to hear about your dad, its such a horrific time and nothing can ever prepare us for this can it?

Thanks for replying to me i really appreciate it.  Your story really does make me feel better.  I also spoke to the nurse today and she explained all of her decisions to me and i now do belive that we did everything we could for mum.  My anger has now turned towards this terrifying disease. 

I know all our feelings of grief are normal but it doesnt make it any better does it?  I'm sending you loads of love on this awful journey and thanks again xxxxx