A "Hospital Meeting" about my Dad's next discharge...

16 years 4 months ago #10454 by Julie
I take it the diabetes and insulin is a new thing for your husband. If so he needs diabetes education to know how to manage. Actually you both need the education as for some people it means a big change in meal planning. If your husband is still fuzzy than he probably did not retain anything he was told in the hospital about insulin either. I sure do know about fuzzy right now anytime my husband temperature goes over 99 he slows down to a slow crawl mentally. I now have to monitor all his steps in taking his medications and insulin.

I am appalled that your husband acquired a bed sore that is very bad patient care. I hope they are doing what is necessary know to make sure it gets better.

I agree with Ginger, if you can do it make sure one of you is with your husband at all times to hear what the medical professionals are saying and to make sure he is getting the best care. When he gets discharged make sure you are there to here the discharge instructions and ask questions about anything you don't understand. This is all a learning process for us as it is a new experience to have our loved ones have such major surgery.


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16 years 4 months ago #10442 by Gene Beane
Lorrie,
Boy, things need to improve quickly now, I guess I would if it were me, take up residence in his room until I see a drastic improvement, no matter what anybody says,,he deserves better care, if he needs to go to a better facility , do it. I would miss the Doctors because they came at 5:30 AM,,,,so I just planted myself in his room so I wouldn't miss any info, plus he would only remember half of it,,they can't make you leave. Take turns, shifts sort of until you can get a handle on everything.. THE MEDICAL FIELD IS DROPPING THE BALL HERE, and poor Bob is wasting away. Time to start over with one primary surgeon who did the surgery, and get him the help he needs. Ginger

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16 years 4 months ago #10441 by Renee
Hi Andrea & Lorrie,
The saga continues, it seems. I have had similar experiences in hospital and I also had the feeling that they were covering each other. In addtion, there are also other issues that play a role, overstressed , a certain heirachy, politics etc. that play role. I am not sure if your family doctor has the power to do something. Would it be wise to contact the Patient Care person again? May be even the Patient Care director? Or is there a Patient Ombudsman? I know you are in Canada, and healthcare is different from province to province, but I would try to see if you can talk to someone with some authority. Otherwise, call your MLA, may be they can help you find the right person, you may be surprised how helpful they can be.

Regarding his weight, I found that the hospital food is not really great, you could consult the dietician and change the menu to a high protein diet. I was also told by hospital staff that I could bring food to give to my husband, after we had difficulties changing his diet. Furthermore, nursing staff in my case did have access to Ensure(with extra protein), which I asked for on a regular basis.

I don't know if this advise is helpfull, you may be more interested in support.
It is tough and you both sound desperate. Try to hang in there. My thoughts are with you both.
Renee

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16 years 4 months ago #10439 by Patricia
Tapestry of My Life............the full text


I wonder what the other side will be,
when I have finished weaving all my thread.
I do not know the pattern, nor the end
of the great piece of work which is for me.

I only know that I must weave with care
the colors that are given me day by day,
and make of them a fabric firm and true
which will be of service for my fellow man.

Sometimes the colors are so dull and gray.
I doubt if there will be one trace of beauty there,
but all at once there comes a thread of gold or
rose so deep that there will always be
that one bright spot to cherish or to keep,
and maybe against its ground of darker hue
it will be beautiful.


The warp is held in place by the Master’s Hand.
The Master’s mind the design for me.
If I but weave the shuttle to and fro and blend the colors just the best I know, perhaps when it is finished He will say,
"Tis good,”and
Lay it on the footstool of His Feet.
--Author Unknown










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--Annonymous









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( The Poems of “The Weaver” were Taken from the book “The Best Loved Poems of the American People)









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16 years 4 months ago #10435 by momof4
Andrea,

A family contact doesn't give you authorization for care, etc...it is basically an emergency contact...so they will only call you after something happens. You or your mother need to be assigned as Heatlh Care Surrogates until he is able to make these important decisions himself, and to be sure that EVERYTHING is discussed with you and not just with your Dad, who at the moment cannot comprehend, hear, or even have the strength to care about what they are suggesting or telling him. Make sure you and your mother have a copy on your person at all times, and make sure whenever he is admitted that a copy is put in the chart on the left, so everyone can see it.

Here is a link to the health care surrogate form:

www.nova.edu/healthcare/forms/health_care_surrogate.pdf

and to the Heathcare Power of Attorney Form:

www.michbar.org/elderlaw/pdfs/dpoa_hc.pdf

I don't know if this is something that is used in Canada, so I would check, but they are standard forms in the US.

I would also suggest getting it notarized.

Karen


Caregiver for my Wonderful Husband Angelo, who has Metastatic Bladder Cancer.

Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.

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16 years 4 months ago #10434 by dadhasbc
Supposedly, I have been added as the Primary Family contact, due to my medical background. Not sure that that has been diseminated to his entire team however, since the Urologist called Mom yesterday, not me. I'll ask if there is something more official that can be put in place, thanks for the suggestion. I think they are trying to cover themselves by saying they had a conversation with dad, however I don't think they are covering themselves very well since we have told them on numerous occasions he is not retaining the information. Thanks! andrea

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