Back to the hospital

[CarolineG]

My Dad is back in hospital. He went back by ambulance. This time we didn’t make it to Guelph. He was delirious, hemmoraging, fevering badly and pleading with us to ONLY take him to Guelph. Guelph wouldn’t send an ambulance to pick him up and our hospital wouldn’t take him to Guelph by ambulance so we were told that we had to take him the 40 minute drive by car through the snow. Peter and I had him dressed and had carried him halfway down his stairs when he passed out and we couldn’t carry him any further. He was barely breathing and I was afraid that he would die during the car ride or worse, I was afraid that he would wake up and go hysterical on us…which he had already done several times. We had to call an ambulance which would only take him to our local Emerg. I have now learned that patients who enter by ambulance get 100% treatment. The doctor saw him within 10 minutes. Dad has been admitted for IV antibiotic and rehydration therapy for now. We don’t know anymore than that. He now has CMML, Renal Failure, E-coli Sepsis and C-Diff Colitis. They are starting to X-Ray his ‘belly’ too. I have no idea what the new addition is to his diagnosis. Once a doctor reviews the X-Rays, we will find out. Considering the fact that he has been hemmoraging blood from his bowels for over 24 hours now, I think that we have something new to hurdle as well. It just doesn’t end……Dad isn’t living anymore…he is existing. I’m praying for a Christmas Miracle of healing. There is no talk of how long he has to stay in hospital. I don’t expect that he will be home any time too early.

Caroline

[karenkay]

Hang in there Caroline. I am so sorry to hear all of this. Your poor father must be exhausted. I am sure you have said before, but what is his age??
I hope everything works out for the very best and that the hosp. staff there takes wonderful care of him. This is the hosp. that was so unhelpful before, right? I have faith your (dad’s) new experience will be better!! It already sounds like it is.
My prayers and heart go out for you and yours.
God bless us all,
karenk

[CarolineG]

Thanks Karenk,

Dad is 79 years old. He is very tired, worn out and frustrated.

Yes, this is the hospital that sent him home when he was infected from one end to the other and we had to take him to a hospital out of town 2 days later where they nearly lost him. Thank goodness they believe in helping people instead of making money and they saved Dad’s life. That was 2 whole weeks ago. Now things are drastically different. The care he received last night was great…primarily because Dad was brought in by 3 Paramedics. Ambulated patients get first priority…..until they leave Emergency and go upstairs into a room. Dad is incontinent from both ends. He is in Isolation because of the C-Diff Colitis which is highly infectious. He is on intravenous drips and is allowed to walk to his washroom if he is able. 4 times today he had to make a dash and there is a path of diarreah leading from his bed to the bathroom. His toilet is absolutely full and the part he has to sit on is totally soiled. I have never seen him so ashamed of himself. Mom asked the nurses to please clean it up. Dad has asked at least half a dozen times. I finally went and raised Cain with his personal nurse late thisafternoon. She promised that Housekeeping would be along in a few more minutes. Dad is now using the diaper which they put on him….NOT because he is bed-ridden….it is because he will slip and fall down on the wet, messy floor and there is no place to sit on the toilet where he will not be sitting in his own mess. I could cry that we didn’t make it to Guelph but he gave out on us and I thought we would lose him during the car ride. If the nurses don’t want him up and using the facilities, they should NOT have told him to get up and use them. If they want him up and around, they SHOULD clean up the mess that he leaves behind. He is in the Long Term Care/Medical Ward where most of the people are there waiting to die. Thank God he is in Isolation and cannot see where they stuck him. It is NOT condusive to helping a person heal. Dad’s Family Doctor…The IDIOT who was ready to set him afloat and die for the past 17 years is now his Hospital Doctor. He phoned Mom thismorning and said, “I see no reason to call in any of the Specialists who normally take care of Erich. I think I should take care of this one. He is “One Sick Cookie”. We’ll see if we can save him.” He also said that he does not intend to forward Dad’s hospital notes to Dad’s Oncologist or to the Nephrologist who are both Dad’s prime caregivers. Brilliant guy that he is !!! I do not know what to do. His Oncologist works in that same hospital so you can bet he will get a phone call from ME on Monday morning and a FAX with a very nasty report on it and maybe he can do a bit of reprimanding. If he doesn’t, I will raise Hell. As for the Kidney Specialists….they are in Guelph. Even if I phone, they are in another city and cannot cross the city line. ACH…the politics !!!!! My Mom is all for this practice since Dad is in town and only 10 minutes from her and she absolutely loves her Family Doctor. She has now decided that God is bad and people who follow him are stupid. Dr. L. has replaced God. My Father is doomed with those 2 caring for him and there isn’t a thing that I can do to help him.

So Karenk…YES he is in a BAD place !!! IF ever that guy needed prayer…it is NOW !!!!

Caroline

[Kathy G]

Caroline – My prayers go out to you – I can not believe the conditions exist in a hospital today – unreal. Please stay strong and know that others are praying for you. This is so hard – I had my own difficult experiences over Thanksgiving at the hospital but I won’t even begin to go into – I can not believe some of the people (doctors) that I have come across in my Dad’s 2 year experience with this disease – it just breaks my heart. I pray your Dad will find some comfort and your some peace. You are in my prayers.

Kathy G

[CarolineG]

Thank you Kathy.

I rarely get mad. Frustrated maybe but not mad. Tonight I have had it.

I guess that people are people no matter where you live. You’re going to find compassionate ones and you will find ones who like all the money and prestige but lost their hearts somewhere along the way.

Caroline

[karenkay]

Caroline,
Zonks! I don’t blame you one bit for being mad. If only it changed things for the better, sometimes it does, sometimes not.
I remember when my dad was in the hosp. with sepsis and had diarreah so bad that he also didn’t make it to the toilet. It stained the floor and wouldn’t go away after they cleaned it. A constant reminder there for him. Poor guy!!
Oh the frustrations of doctors and health care sometimes. My heart goes out to you. I am sure you will do everything you can do for your dad.
I wish your mom peace, as well as you. I think of you often.
As I know you often read my posts, I hope you know that I share your frustrations, although I know everyone of us has a unique experience.
I spent today at home and my husband went to spend the day with my dad and watch football and do guy stuff. Gave me a great break and I actually cooked dinner for my kids. I have been trying all day to comes to terms with my dad’s condition, and I am starting to lean more towards comfort than healing for him in my prayers as of late.
I don’t know what is going to happen, but at this point, I know there are too many things not in my hands, but God’s.
I wish all of our loved ones were healthy happy and strong. If wishes were fishes…
Best of all hope and strength to you!!
karenk

[Sandy L]

Caroline,

So sorry you are going thru this. It is all so frustrating . I will be praying for you.

[sugarwhale]

Dear Caroline,
I’m so sorry to hear of your most recent troubles. However, always remember what my mom says: “Things never turn out the way you expect them to, and sometimes they turn out…better.” You are a very courageous lady, and I want you to know that we are with you in spirit.
~~~ Janet

[patti]

Caroline,

That is the most awful experience I’ve ever heard of. In a hospital? I can’t believe that exists today on this modern continent. I’m sorry your family is having to go through all of this. Hang in there.

Patti

[sugarwhale]

Dear Caroline,
I’m mad. I just read your letter for the umpteenth time, and I’m even madder. Unfortunately, we have had similar experiences in hospitals here (not the one we go to now!). Something is really wrong, but I don’t know where to direct the anger. As I said above, you are a courageous woman. So, hang in there! Things might turn out OK after all.
~~~ Janet

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