List of My Husbands WRONG Discharge Medications...

15 years 10 months ago #17012 by Clara
Karen,
I am thankful that Angelo has you to look after him and I know you really stay behind the doctors.
Hopefully, you brought him home today and he will most definitely rest better with his family by his side.

Some of the posts I have been reading is exactly why I have tried to keep Bob out of the hospital and just pray that he can continue to be at home.

The medicine that he had to change to was making him a zombie last week but we have cut back this week and he is doing some better. I took him to the beach last week and we spent a lot of time with his/our son and his family. It was good for all of us to be together.

Please keep us posted and your family is certianly in my prayers.
Clara

Caretaker of husband, Bob.
Stage IV
Diagnosed Jan, 2007

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15 years 10 months ago #16986 by Julie
The pain Dr. he is seeing is a specialist. We have another appointment Friday. Since we learned the pain is caused by the cancer going into the bone we are canceling the nerve block and Dick will have radiation. We are meeting with the Radiation Oncologist Thursday.

What I am wondering is whether we should request that the Palliative Care Team at the Cancer Center become involved and transfer the pain management. It is easier to have everyone have access to the same computer records. The Palliative Care does not require anyone to give up treatment.
If at all possible I want to avoid any more hospitalization because of the same concerns you have raised. Plus the pain meds are given on a more timely basis at home. The oral med delivery depended on how on time the RN was and most often they could take up to an hour to respond to a request even when the dose is scheduled not PRN.

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15 years 10 months ago #16965 by momof4
Julie,

I gave them a list I printed on the computer the day of admission...He was only there for pain management issues...Now, they aren't sure if they can give the Dilaudid every 2 hrs. @ the 8 mg dose! We went there BECAUSE we didn't want him to have to take a drug every 2 hours!!!Why isn't the patch being increased? He needed a LONG ACTING Drug....Pain Management is really an art...If you can get a Dr. who really knows the Dosing Conversion Charts....and at what increments to increase the drugs without sedation...and that knows to TRY the drugs at those dosages by MOUTH not IV while still IN the Hospital you (since they aren't available at home) Stick with him....I am having trouble finding one here!!!

I have to make some calls...Hopefully I will have a more positive post later! I am trying hard to see through to the positive...struggling though, This negativity is bringing me down...

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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15 years 10 months ago #16961 by Julie
Karen, I think the person writing the discharge orders doesn't even read the current chart. Every time Dick is admitted I present them with a list of his current medications, dosages and when he takes them and they manage to screw it all up every time. They discontinued two meds that should never have been stopped as it caused problems later. We questioned all the discharge orders and still managed to overlook something. If/when he goes in I know I will have to monitor all of the meds and make sure to bug the staff until they get it right.
With the list you wrote I would expect you to take something out of the Dr. hide as well as give them a piece of your mind. I think we need to change the name of caregiver to Fierce Protector.
Julie


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15 years 10 months ago #16960 by momof4
I mentioned in a previous post that the hospital was going to discharge my husband tonight...The list of Medications that the nurse brought in the room for my husband to sign (even though they have a Medical Power of Attorney (I am the POA) stating that he was not to sign anything, as per his wishes in better times). Here is the list:

1. (Anamantle HC) apply to hemmorroids bid (he doesn't have hemmoroids)
2. (Oxycodone 5 mg) 1 or 2 q 4 hr prn (this means 1 or 2 by mouth every for hrs. as needed) NARCOTIC He was not even on this medication in the hospital
3. (Sliding scale insulin regimen (regular insulin) <70 4 oz juice 70-199 nothing 200-250 2 units 251-300 4 units 301-350 6 units 351-400 8 units> 400 10 units. Hasn't used insulin since Chemo finished early Dec.
4. (Tussinex suspension) 5mL every 12 hrs prn. (NARCOTIC hasn't used this in months)
5. ALPRAZOLAM (Xanax 1 mg tabs) one by mouth twice daily as needed OK
6. BISACODYL (Dulcolax 10 mg supp) Insert 1 suppository per rectum as needed daily for constipation LAXATIVE Never used this ever
7. FENTANYL (Fentanyl 75 mcg/ pt 72) change patch q 48 hours OK
8.HYDROMORPHONE HCL (Dilaudid 8 mg tabs) take 1 tab by mouth every 4 hours as needed for breakthrough pain He was in the hospital for pain management and they were giving him 2 mg dilaudid IV every 2 hrs as needed for breakthrough 2 mg is equal to the 8 mg, but they were discharging him on less than he was on
9. INSULIN ISOPHANE & REG (HUMAN)(Humulin 70/30 70-30% susp) inject 10 units under the skin every morning AGAIN he has not required insulin since Dec.
10. LIDOCAINE (Lidoderm 5% patch) apply 1 patch to skin every 24 hrs. as needed NARCOTIC he has not been on in months
11. LORAZEPAM (Ativan 1 mg tabs) one by mouth every 6 hrs as needed.ANOTHER Anti Anxiety drug?
12.METH-HYO-M-BL-NA PHOS-PH SAL (Urelle 81 mg tabs) one by mouth 3 times a day Hasn't used this drug in almost a year
13.METOPROLOL TARTRATE (Lopressor 50 mg tabs) one by mouth twice a day OK
14.POLYETHEYLENE GLYCOL 3350 (Miralax powd) Take one heaping tablespoon in 8 ounces of water, juice, soda, tea, or coffee daily (LAXATIVE)
15. PROMETHAZINE HCL (Promethazine hcl 25 mg tabs) one by mouth every 6 hours as needed nausea Isn't Nauseous
16 RANITIDINE HCL (Zantac 150 mg tabs)one by mouth twice a day OK


OUT OF "16" DIFFERENT DRUGS ONLY 4 ARE CORRECT!!!!!!!





He has also been on Lisinopril, and Ambien.....They aren't even on the list.

One is to help him sleep, the other is for blood pressure which has been a serious issue.

They also have 2 different LAXATIVES listed...The Radiation Oncologist wanted him off all LAXATIVES because Radiation can cause diarrhea...

They also didn't even try the Dilaudid by mouth to see if the pain was still managed off the IV....I just got a call that he was still in pain after receiving his first dose of 8 mg Dilaudid by mouth at 11:20 AM (Its now 1:20AM). He would have been home dealing with the same issues he went in with...

This is getting ridiculous!!!

This Dr. is getting a piece of my mind tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!UUUGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

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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