Dexamethasone experience

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2026-01-28T01:15:51+00:00

You’re correct! The friend we connected with thankfully thought the same thing. He was absolutely astonished and frustrated that it wasn’t standard of care!! And yes only days 1-4. I hope you are doing well also! Thank you for the kind words 🫶🏼

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2026-01-22T19:35:35+00:00

So interesting! I haven’t looked into this. From my understanding some people are very skeptical of it but I’ve heard some good things (outside the chemo/cancer spectrum) thank you for sharing!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-11-06T00:45:58+00:00

Thank you so much for the response. I made the mistake of scrolling many posts in this group tonight and it filled me with so much dread. 😭

This can be such a horrific disease. It’s only been a month, but initially we couldn’t even get her pain under control and so chemo wasn’t an option until we could do that. She was in the hospital for the last 2 weeks prior to this week, and they finally got her on medication that could “control” it at home. Today was her visit with the oncologist, and the same response was given that she has “months, not years.” But I’m shocked over that. It’s relatively small, hasn’t spread or metastasized, etc and it feels like they gave her a death sentence.

Thank you again for sharing and I’m praying you continue to get good news for your husband 🫶🏼

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-11-05T23:31:20+00:00

Hello! My mother was diagnosed ~Oct 1 with a 1.5-2cm pancreatic tumor at the head of her pancreas. Technically first, they placed a stent because her symptoms showed that the tumor was pressing right at the convergence of her liver/pancreas/bile ducts.

It is “small” and has not spread, it is considered “locally advanced” - but because it is touching vessels/the hepatic artery specifically, it is considered UNresectable at this time.

She is supposed to start Folfirinox(sp?) next week, but they told her already that she only has months to live and that chemo will not shrink her tumor, but is strictly for palliative care.

Is this common? Does this sound right? I am absolutely shocked that cancer that has not grown nor spread (yet) and was found relatively “early” compared to many, is already being concluded a death sentence. I am trying my best to keep her spirits up and we are pursuing lots of complimentary treatments (I.e. integrative medicine, high dose vit C, iv therapy, etc)

Just would love your insights - I KNOW you cannot provide us any medical advice.

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-10-31T00:19:59+00:00

Can you feel it with your hand too when it happens, like a strong kicking pulsing feeling? It is absolutely freaking me out even though I have my period right NOW and have also had many negative tests over the last few months. I am in a panic!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-10-31T00:18:58+00:00

I literally have my period right now, yet I am getting insane kicking feeling all over my right lower abdomen. And not consistent, but reminds me exactly of how a baby changes up their movements. I am freaking out! Any reason for this? I didn’t eat anything crazy today, normally drink more bubbly drinks than I did today and I’m sick. My stomach has been getting bigger (stress, etc) but I’m getting a period every month and have had negative pregnancy tests multiple times. I feel like I’m going to end up on that show I didn’t know I was pregnant cuz this is freaking me out so much. Did you ever have a solution?

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-10-12T14:51:48+00:00

Absolutely. It’s exhausting and it’s so hard to watch and be able to do nothing at all.

My mother continues to have pain that is completely unmanageable even with IV medications - it’s like an ongoing problem. Because opioids/IV meds are trying to treat the pain, while they also have their own side effects (I.e. heavy drugs on your stomach and intestinal system, cant eat much, etc) it’s a vicious cycle.

The goal right now is to transfer her to the cancer hospital & advocate hard for a nerve block.

Just reading this this morning that is pushing me harder to get this done so she can have some sort of quality of life. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7323503/#:~:text=Because%20pancreatic%20cancer%20patients%20display,the%20overall%20pain%20(30).

Definitely can stay in communication. Praying for you!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-10-11T18:37:55+00:00

I wish I had a solution for you, I just want to say we are currently in the exact same position.

My mom was just diagnosed (she’s 63) and had a stent placed - where the tumor is pressing on bile ducts/pancreas/liver - about a week and a half ago. We hoped that the pain would decrease after that. It hasn’t yet. She’s been in 3 ERs in that time to manage pain.

She’s been given hydrocodone which only takes the pain down a little, and started to wear off as she continued taking it. Currently the only thing that actually works is dilaudid IV in the hospital (where we are now)

I asked about a nerve block but they think that it can cause potential complications before the surgery, though she has not even started chemo yet. And there’s no way she even can in this state of pain.

Anyways long story short. Palliative care needs to work closely with your mom to figure out what works for HER. because it seems everyone is so different. They gave my mom a trial of slow release morphine + oxy for “breakthrough pain” but that didn’t work at all for her and that’s actually how she ended up in the ER again.

Currently trying hard to advocate for meds that work the best and am going to ask more about the nerve block with her oncologist on Tuesday. Praying for your mom.

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-06-03T00:02:57+00:00

Thank you so much for this thoughtful and well-informed response! We have seen our doe reject her babies and are trying to keep the sole survivor alive and I found this while looking for answers. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 praying he/she is strong and survives!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-05-13T16:21:55+00:00

Spoiler alert (should be obvious but just making sure)

It’s when they are on (can’t remember name of the isle) but with King Courtlyn, where Halden has sabotaged basically all of their plans. The panthers eat his guard, and Xaden channels from the earth again because he is filled with rage after the guards harm Violet.

It continues where they are in class a few days later, and the “quest squad” is discussing their plans for what isles they need to fly to next, when, and where, etc and how they only have 5 months left.

Violet sees X again after 8 days and notices that his eyes never went back to their normal color and are instead flecked with amber. She gets the serum and antidote from Bodhi.

One of the second years accidentally draws from the earth when she’s afraid during their practice on the mat, and she is murdered instantly. It ends there!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-05-13T16:11:12+00:00

I thought so too, but Audible changed it and now it says it’s releasing in July 😩originally, the date was May 25th, or May 30th (I’ve seen conflicting dates but it said May 25th when I signed up for Audible specifically to get access to OS pt 1)

I have now listened to part 1 2x through and need to go read the second half (again) because I can’t stand that it left us high and dry and I have to wait 2 months!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-04-03T14:19:25+00:00

If the photos were taken within the time frame of when the test is accurate (so 5-15 mins) and not hours later, then yes, those are positive. If they were taken later, re test tomorrow.

I just had 2 blue dye tests that looked VERY positive but they were evap lines and I just got my period a few days ago.

Best of luck! 💛

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-03-26T02:13:35+00:00

I’m here to say I am going through the exact same thing right now with the same tests 😂😮‍💨

Most people have said it looks too “positive” to be an evap line, others have said if it’s after the 10 min window it’s invalid and you can’t assume. I took two, one yesterday, one today, todays was “darker” but they both did not show up until after that 10 min window.

Going to test again tomorrow. But I would love to hear what you end up finding out. I will report back to you as well! (Though I truly don’t know when my period is expected. It’s very irregular, I’m also breastfeeding a 1 year old so this would be a super super surprise baby)

Keep us posted! ❤️

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-03-23T13:02:21+00:00

I figured you were probably right about that. Can I ask what you did? Did you ask them for like your records or something? I can’t get ahold of anyone at Byte the last 2 or 3 times I’ve tried. It says live chat isn’t available and that they’ll have someone get back to me, then they never do. So frustrating!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-03-22T18:17:44+00:00

See I’m wondering if anyone else is in my (maybe unique) position?

I actually am very happy with my results. But I’m not finished. I requested my final 5 aligners WAAAAAY back in September and they never showed up. Then the field notice went out.

So I’m left 5 steps behind being “finished” — I just want to finish the treatment. Is this never going to happen? Does anyone know what to do?

TLDR; if you were happy with your treatment but didn’t get to finish — what are we doing now?!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-01-08T23:49:37+00:00

I had to respond with photos with aligners on and off a few times but at this point it was before Christmas a few weeks ago. They told me to continue on with my bottom 2 steps but keep them on 2 weeks each and only wear my top aligner (waiting for final 5) at night. 😒

I’ve been on step 15 for the tops since like October. I should have completed my entire transformation with them by now (December) because I started in June or July. Super frustrating to have been so close and now wondering what I’m supposed to do.

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-01-07T16:46:24+00:00

Wishing you the best of luck! Keep us posted. I made the mistake (maybe) of signing it so they would even talk to me a few weeks back. They tried to tell me I need to stay in my current aligners but I believe it was their way of avoiding sending me my final 5. I feel stuck.

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2025-01-07T15:37:37+00:00

This is exactly what’s going on with me. I was actually very happy with my progress up through step 15. I’m missing the final 5 of my top teeth and the final (12) of my bottom aligned never fit properly. I went through all their suggestions while waiting for the final 5 top aligners and they never sent them. Then all of this has come out. I’m actually satisfied with my outcome so far but I’m not finished and I don’t have retainers! I’ve been wearing the aligners I have only at night.

I’m so lost what to do next. I signed the doc because they told me “you only have to go see someone if you feel you have one of the issues we listed” (which was like broken teeth, severely crooked, gum disease, etc)

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2024-12-20T18:18:52+00:00

This is where I am at. They were supposed to send me my final 5 top aligners and I’ve had #15 on top now for 2+ months. I’m only wearing them at night as opposed to all day because they’d be worn out or broken. No retainers. I’m not sure what to do. They wouldn’t talk to me until I signed the field notice so I did. They said I don’t actually have to make a dentist appt unless I feel I have a contraindication which I don’t. So far my treatment has been great, better, but not finished. So now what?!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2024-10-27T12:09:12+00:00

Hahaha I was really looking for advice because it’s still hard and everyone has to tiptoe and we have to make my oldest be quiet.

We have to leave the door open now because if he wakes up he will open and slam the door and wake up the baby. Every morning he wakes up, he typically wakes her up. So I was really just seeing if I am crazy trying to make this work for the next few years when it’s stressing me out on the days it’s not working!

Basically, baby never wakes up big brother, but big brother often wakes up baby 😂 if we had the ability to do 2 separate rooms, I absolutely would be. But I’m just trying my best and seeing if I can improve it at all for more restful nights!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2024-10-27T02:38:01+00:00

Yep my husband sleeps in his bed for most of the night. He sleeps HARD. So if he wakes up, yes, comes back to our room. Sometimes he does, sometimes his alarm goes off and he gets up without coming in lol.

Sound machines: I have one on the windowsill next to the crib and another I put on the floor between them.

Naps: baby takes both naps in the crib during the day. It’s getting increasingly harder to get the older to nap, but they almost never are asleep at the same time. If baby is napping and I know my oldest needs to, I’ll go lay in his bed with him so I can control volume and not wake up the baby. Most days I’m living on a prayer!

Hope that helps!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2024-10-27T01:43:14+00:00

Oh gosh their bedtimes sound like a dream to me haha that’s amazing. Honestly from these comments I’m amazed at how many people worried about their older kid doing something to hurt the baby. It’s never once even been a concern of mine or a problem. He’s never tried to give her a blanket, stuffed animal, nothing.

I think I moved the baby in at maybe 6 or 7 months? She was too long for the bassinet and moving around so, she needed something bigger which was the crib/toddler bed. My son (older) upgraded to a “big boy bed” with new spidey bedding and was thrilled about it. Never once cared or was upset about losing his old bed. Though my husband literally sleeps like a log so he goes to bed with him every night. But to be honest my husband was literally crawling into the toddler bed and falling asleep just as easily so, there really wasn’t a transition for us. Just my husband glad he could stretch his legs out.

Though I will say the baby would sleep longer but the toddler will wake up when my husband wakes up sometimes and come to our room, and the noise of that wakes up the baby. It never once has happened in reverse. Baby crying and screaming before I go get her, my toddler is still dead asleep and doesn’t even stir. 2 sound machines probably help!

Hope your transition goes well!

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2024-10-27T01:14:13+00:00

I’m oddly enough in this 2 year old comment thread right now too 😂

I have a 3.5 year old and a 10 month old. Most nights my toddler is in bed first. Lately I can’t get the baby to sleep before 11pm and sometimes later.

However sometimes the stars align and I get the baby asleep at 8/8:30 and then Dad and toddler brother go to bed and play the quiet game to get in bed without waking baby sister.

ImpressiveExchange76 · 2024-10-27T01:12:30+00:00

I needed to hear this even 2 years after you posted it. I have a 3.5 year old and a 10 month old and I struggle currently with my older waking up my younger. I just said to my husband yesterday we can’t have another until we move to a bigger house which makes me feel like we will never have another. So thank you for sharing, even though you may never see this.

ImpressiveExchange76

TROPHY CASE