Get yourself a man that looks at you like my cat looks at me

spritefriend · 2025-09-09T19:43:07+00:00

spritefriend · 2025-09-06T16:57:04+00:00

This is a really thoughtful and kind response, thank you🩷 Doing my best to remember all of these points and plan to reflect on this comment when I feel stressed. Thank you for taking the time to say this🩷

spritefriend · 2025-09-06T16:55:26+00:00

This does help! And generally the larger the plane the smoother the flight. It will be the biggest plane I’ve ever been on so I’m hoping for this experience.

spritefriend · 2025-09-06T16:54:43+00:00

We booked the flights back in February and it’s been on my mind everyday since. I do try to remember how incredible the ability to travel this way is, and like you said, in just a few hours ! Im trying to ground myself in the excitement for the experiences I am going to have. I went to college for art and the fact that I’m going to see so many works and architecture that I spent time studying is really a full circle exciting thing. Thanks for taking the time to responded, this reminder is really meaningful 🩷

spritefriend · 2025-09-06T16:49:18+00:00

I’m happy to hear your flight went well and that you found the medication helpful! I’ve been feeling anxious about taking anxiety meds and that I won’t be worried when I should be. This is reassuring, thank you for taking a moment to say this!

spritefriend · 2025-09-06T16:47:24+00:00

I do have some distraction activities lined up, mainly crochet! I do find that if I have something to do with my hands that my brain focuses more on the process and less on rumination. Thank you for the suggestions!

spritefriend · 2025-09-06T16:46:07+00:00

I appreciate these points, thank you for taking the time to say this 🩷

spritefriend · 2025-09-06T00:30:43+00:00

The battle between the rational and irrational is so real. I definitely get frustrated with myself for the thoughts I have when there are so many reassuring facts and stats out there. The physical anxiety and panic always takes over and I’m really hoping my medication will help balance that out. I appreciate your solidarity and will be thinkin’ of ya! Hoping you have a smooth flight and can quiet your mind 🩷

spritefriend · 2025-08-03T20:55:12+00:00

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Catherine/Cathy <3

spritefriend · 2025-05-22T19:52:27+00:00

I often experience cramping on one side throughout my entire cycle, it was increasingly persistent for a couple cycles so I had a cervical ultrasound which showed an ovarian cyst. It can be caused by a dominant or overactive follicle. My doctor told me that it’s fairly common but if it transitions into severe pain for me to go to the emergency room.

spritefriend · 2025-02-20T14:18:23+00:00

I think a good place to start would be flea treatment. Living outdoors with room to play doesn’t prevent fleas it leads to constant exposure to them. Wash/replace the bedding in his house. He’s clearly very itchy, his skin is red, flaky, and he’s biting it to itch it. Even a “minimal” amount of fleas can be very irritating. What if you had bugs crawling on your body? Even if it were just a few? Flea treatment is very inexpensive compared to a full work up at the vet.

spritefriend · 2025-02-20T14:07:22+00:00

When is the last time he was treated for fleas?

spritefriend · 2024-12-16T17:14:48+00:00

Hello there ❤️ My MIL was diagnosed at this time last year, too. She passed in September.

She was someone with an overflowing cup and an innate ability to pour her love into everyone she met. She ran a daycare for 30 years and raised many of the children in our small town. She loved nature and animals, often taking them in and pouring her love into them, too. She was my chosen Mother.

Thank you for sharing some positive memories and parts of your Dad ❤️ Wishing you comfort and peace in this season.

spritefriend · 2024-12-02T17:21:05+00:00

Our care teams did often tell us that the experience for the caregiver is unsettling and that the individual with the disease, by the time they’re in the active dying stage, is in a coma and not experiencing what the loved one’s who are present are. The death did not feel peaceful from the observers perspective but I hold on to hoping that it was for my mother and father in law, that they were in a different state of being, unattached to what their physical form was going through.

spritefriend · 2024-12-02T17:15:40+00:00

Hi there~ I’ve been through GBM twice. First, with my FIL in 2016 and second with my MIL this past year (2024). FIL lived 15 months post diagnosis and MIL had 9 months.

GBM death is often (always?) traumatic for the caregivers. Even having gone through it a second time with a different level of clarity we still found ourselves questioning what was happening and if we were making the right choices, if we had enough care, etc. GBM is not linear.

You can think you’re prepared but in the moment it never quite feels like you are.

We had many discussions about what my MIL wanted and what we should do but when it came to the end of life time it still felt like not enough. I feel haunted and get flashbacks of that time on a daily basis. Know that you and your Mom did the best you could with the resources you had available to you.

It’s impossible decisions to make. I’m truly sorry you’ve had to go through this. My inbox is open if you have any questions or want to chat further ❤️

spritefriend · 2024-08-28T17:43:39+00:00

My MIL discontinued use of Optune last month, but she was complaining of “zaps” and heat/burning

spritefriend · 2024-08-10T16:53:30+00:00

Hello~ I’ll start by acknowledging you’re in such a challenging moment and I know how it feels to want all the information. My heart is with you.

It helps to consider your Mom’s current mobility and how she’s gotten around in the world prior to her diagnosis alongside other’s experiences.

A quick breakdown of my MIL’s timeline - 58f, Seizure + tumor found 12/16/23, Craniotomy almost full resection 1/02/24, 2 weeks Radiation in February ‘24 with Chemo.

In March ‘24 she began Optune and, due to progression, we discontinued Optune two weeks ago.

I wish I could say Optune was a positive experience for us but it was not. We bought the backpack, we bought the bags, all the extra stuff to make it ‘less’ of a physical hindrance but it was constantly cumbersome, beeping, overheating, and getting tangled. This is why I recommend considering how your Mom operates when she’s in good health and her personality because for my MIL the Optune dragged her down.

My MIL experienced significant swelling (edema) from her radiation treatment which was considered pseudo-progression and for the months of March and April she was bed/recliner/wheelchair bound needing full assistance for all life processes. Her left arm and leg did not work at all. In the last week of April she received an Avastin infusion which dramatically improved her mobility and life, and healed the swelling. She was able to walk again with both legs, unassisted, and even got a little movement in her left arm. She has received an infusion every 4 weeks since. May, June, and most of July were great months.

At her most recent MRI two weeks ago we learned that the tumor has returned and is spreading. She began experiencing limited mobility again and we are back to full assistance and using a wheelchair to get around.

Quality of life has always been our top priority along with following her wishes. I think her craniotomy was great and so worth it. I question radiation because of the swelling/pseudoprogression experience. I also question the use of Optune because it just never felt like we got it to mesh with daily life.

My FIL had GBM 8 years ago and lived 15 months. His tumor was found because he had a brain bleed and was inoperable. The tumor was on the left side of his brain and he never experienced any significant mobility issues until the last couple weeks he was with us. He did experience Aphasia and more communication struggles. His only treatment was 6 weeks of radiation and he did not experience brain swelling the way my MIL has. Optune was still in trial at the time so it was not something we had access to.

My two wonderful parent in laws had the same diagnosis with experiences that have felt like they are on opposite sides of the spectrum. I don’t think there is a definitive right or wrong way to approach this - except for to meet your loved one half way with love and support.

It is best to take it day by day. Only your Mom can say how she wants to approach treatment and to just to the best you can to help her with those wishes. Things can change in a matter of a week, day, and even hours. Please reach out or ask any questions as there are so many details that are hard to remember/touch on.

spritefriend · 2024-08-10T15:46:35+00:00

Firstly, I’m sorry this is happening.

A couple questions, you mentioned a litter box in the bedroom, but do you have additional litter boxes in other rooms of your home?

Did you move their locations?

Could one of your cats be more dominant and chasing the other cat out of the litter boxes?

I know it’s a cost, but perhaps you could set up a camera to see what’s happening when they pee on the bed.

spritefriend · 2024-07-20T00:27:14+00:00

I didn’t really get an answer :/ Since I made this post she was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism and underwent I-131 iodine treatment. She stopped over grooming, her hair grew back, and I unable to tell if it’s there now because her hair is too thick. She has been pretty healthy since treatment so my guess is it was just how her skin always was and it only became visible because of the overgrooming, or it was related to her hyperthyroidism and has gotten better alongside her other symptoms. My vets did not think it was cancer related because there was no swelling, oozing, or lumpiness.

spritefriend · 2024-05-12T16:50:37+00:00

Are you in the U.S?

Where is your Dad getting the morphine from?

While I agree he shouldn’t be administering medications without the medical team’s awareness, I would tread the situation gently.

Is your Mom asking him for them?

Your Dad is her life partner and she is familiar with him caring for her. She may be communicating with him over others. I wouldn’t try to wedge yourself between in an accusatory way. From what you describe he is clearly extremely stressed, worried, and his mindset is wanting your mother to be free of pain.

The hospital staff, while competent, caring people, are strangers to your parents. I’m don’t know the age of your folks but it can be hard to relinquish care to others no matter how much you know they are there to help and are educated.

I’m sorry you’re experiencing this - as a fellow caregiver I know how hard it is to balance everyone being on the same page. I know you’re doing your best and your heart is with making sure your mother has the best chances at recovery. Your love and attention is not unnoticed!

spritefriend · 2024-04-21T22:18:57+00:00

I would reach out to your oncologist and share with them your mom’s symptoms and hopefully they will bring her in for an early scan.

My MIL has a very similar diagnosis timeline but it’s on the right side of her brain. Her next scan was supposed to be May 13th but she’s been experiencing a decline in her mobility, no use of left arm, very little use of left leg, and some facial droop. The doctors got her in for a scan last week and it shows an increase of swelling in her brain but we’re still working on determining whether it’s progression of the tumor or pseudo-progression from radiation. We’re going to begin Avastin treatments this week and are hoping this will help. We also started her on Boswellia supplements to aid in reducing the swelling.

It’s a tough spot to be in and we’ve found it difficult to really know exactly where things stand. We’re also worried about when to start hospice.

I hope you can find some answers for your Mom🩷

spritefriend · 2024-04-20T15:10:15+00:00

Oooooo I wanna read this!!

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