My dad has stopped eating. He has transverse myelitis, MS, and lung cancer. He is...

[pugles2010]

...79 years old.? While undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, his esophagus was burned. CT scans show that the tumor cells have diminished, but he developed an atonic mega colon as a result of the chemotherapy. He also has tranverse myelitis and Multiple Sclerosis. He won't eat and is being fed intraveneously in the hospital with nutrients, vitamins and minerals that provide him with 3000 calories per day. He cannot feed himself and when we feed him, he never takes more than 3 - 4 bites of food per day. He barely moves and we are lucky if he chooses to sit in a chair for fifteen minutes. His speech is often slurred. The only alternative that we have is to get him strong enough for surgery for the atonic mega colon but he often refuses the physical therapy as it is too much work for him and he is worn out afterwards. We fear that the MS is really kicking in from his lack of movement. He has been in the hospital for 3 weeks and nearly bedridden for 60 days. Is there any hope that he will recover?

[Just my opinion]

I will pray for your father.

He is an older man and may not want to go through the rigors of all that will be required to (hopefully) get him better. Has anyone asked him this?

It's possible that he feels he has had a wonderful journey in life and is ready to complete it elsewhere. While this is not something his family would like to hear, it may be his wish.

mb

[Tarkarri]

Maybe the question you should realy be asking is
"does he have the will to recover?"

Personally, if it were me, I would be considering refusing the intravenous feeding.

I believe in quality of life over quantity of life and if I was facing what he is facing, I would seriously be considering refusing all treatment except pallitative care.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but feel someone should be helping your father to decide what HE wants.

[bundy2175]

my dad had cancer and one day when i'd seen he'd had enough i asked him if he had, had enough and if he was ready to go and he said yes,3 days later he passed,give your dad the right to go and support him as he is not getting better,be with him at the end.goodluck and godbless

[tigger34]

Every person heals differently but you are right non movement tends to make some things worse. Have any of your family members talked to him and asked HIM what he wants? Due to the pain and the lack of desire to maintain I would say that your father has a failure to thrieve. Meaning that instead of berdening his loved ones and making things harder for him, he has given up. Someone while he is able should talk to him. Let him decide how much more he can take. That would mean the world to him I am sure. My best to you and your family