Whew!

Sunday i had to call ems to come get granny. I walked into her room to feed her and she was grey and she would stop beathign while she slept, and i could not wake her.

the er told that she had a very bad uti but weould kep her over night due to her dementia and dto do some tests...the next mornign we were told that she had had a stroke.

tuesday a dr came in and said that they were going to release her on wed. and would set her up with physical therapy and home health. not five minutes after that conversation the dr walked back in. said her heart was only functioning at 30% and that a cardiologist would come to see s soon.

end result is they reccommentded hospice, but we could take her back home and make her comfortable.

before we left they hospital they gave her a unit of blood. it perked her up and put color back in her face, and she actually ate a bit. the dr siad her blood counts were low indicating tha she was bleeding but they did not know where....and woulndt do antests becase of her heart conditiona nd recent stroke.

granny is back home now...chattering away...and ever confused...and now i noticed that she uses words wrong. i suppose due to the stroke.

she also keeps thinking she is falling out of bed. like constantly. and she holds onto the bed. she is too cute i tell her she is lying down in the bed and she is so sassy! LOL she rolls here eyes and says "OOOOOOOOOhhhh Kaaaaay." lol

HBO treatments are to start again today....but i think i will ask that they be reduced cause i think transporting her does in fact stress her out.

this is where we are now.

Thanks all!

my mom cannot come to agree with everyone about hospice.

granny has been sleeping much of the past two days, and not really eating too much. the wound care center is closed monday but i think we will go on tuesday so i can take my mom and talk with the dr.s this time...decide a treatment plan that does not include traveling the the hospital everyday for HBO treatments. i tried to speak with the drs thrusday and had no luck speaking with them by the time the ambulance came to get her. not sure why? i'll assume they wre busy....but i have my suspisions.

regarding the medicare? medicaid? i'm so confused abou that...all i know is that when she first reached the age to get this care she did not elect part b i believe? she didnt want to pay. so she only has a? and her personal insurance doesnt cover skilled nursing. she tried about 2 years ago to get the additional medicare? coverage but they told her should would have to back pay for all the years that she did not pay to get the coverage. she retired in the 80's and was a federal employee and retired with bc/bs insurance.

so. this is where we are. she isnt in much pain nothing 1 tylonol wont help...she has very coherent moments...and very noncoherent moments. she keeps thanking me and my sister for helping her so much. and i just keep telling her how much i love her.

also keep trying to educate myself on everything...help her, and make the best judgements... ty again for all the advice...I really do appreciate it.

HI, texmexie, BG is correct to the best of my knowledge that if in the USA, any medicare recipient will not have to pay much toward hospice. Medicare covered it 100% for my dad 7 years ago, (including hospital bed rental but not much nursing assistance) but I read an article in the spring about them cutting back a bit. Hopefully it didn't follow through.

Here's the thing, though. As BG mentioned...Hospice comes into the picture when the patient (and family and medical professionals) decides or recognizes that further treatment of a disease will not be of benefit and is likely to cause discomfort. Some patients and family don't agree and believe in fighting the disease to the end regardless of suffering. You do not have to accept hospice, but you have already mentioned that treatments are hard on her.

We only stopped Dad's treatments for his cancer when he stopped insisting on continuing. I would load him in the car to go, he would grit his teeth the whole way, screaming out when we hit a pothole or had to cross the railroad tracks (6 sets of tracks between his home and the treatment center) no matter how slowly and carefully I drove.

Often when you stop treating the disease and concentrate on the comfort of the LO, (you will minimize all meds), it is amazing. For a time, if all are resolved to letting go, your LO might really be free of side effects and feel good for a change (even though the disease is still there).

It is not an easy decision and I wish you the best and that your family can all agree which ever way you go. If it is hospice, your gran will not go through the treatments requiring her transport..

Yes a stroke can be the cause of "word salad" and the feeling of falling. Be sure to mention that to the doctor. It is usually an inner ear disturbance and often can be relieved. Bless you sweetheart. Stay in touch.

If this is here (US) then Hospice is Medicare approved all end stage drugs and necessities are covered under her Medicare ins hun

We are going to HBO today..but i will be speaking with the drs. about the frequency if we do keep going.

home health was just here and hospice is scheduling a meeting with the family either this eveining or tomorrow.

I'm worried about the cost. so we have lots of questions.

its like a whirlwind of things to have to do...but well get through

Hun if she is on Hospice then treatments should be suspended.
You just call them up and tell them her status has changed they will cancel all future appts.
With heart function at 30% she really shouldnt be exerting any energy for non essentials at this time.
Take it easy hun this is going to be tough enough without adding to it.
Has the Hospice team come in yet or is that going to be today?