Time for hospice?

Discussion Board Forums General Discussion Time for hospice?

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
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  • #49740
    slittle1127
    Member

    Dear Stacey –

    So glad to hear that you are finally experiencing some relief with hospice. They were a godsend to us as well. What a blessing that your dad is resting comfortably and not fighting with the pain.

    Blessings,
    Susan

    #49739
    highsmith
    Member

    Pam-We have a shower chair, cane and walker from rehab last year. You are right, it is huge and will help in the days to come.

    #49738
    cherbourg
    Spectator

    Stacey,

    You might want to ask Hospice for a shower chair. They provided one for my Mom and it was wonderful. No more worries about falling in the shower.

    I’m sending prayers for strength and lots of hugs!

    Pam

    #49731
    highsmith
    Member

    The last eight hours have been a miracle! I have taken half the weight of my world off my shoulders and I think I have exhaled more today than in the last year. I almost am pained I did not call last week, but am trying to be glad that my dad is relieved of the pain and anxiety and is resting comfortably.

    Hospice had a nurse here for three hours, delivered the hospital bed and wheelchair and had the social worker call by 4pm! I was absolutely amazed at the speed and grace of all involved.

    Thank you for all the support.

    #49730
    lainy
    Spectator

    Sorry about Dad’s fall but boy are you both goning to be relieved! Excellent and now you can enjoy your time with Dad and still make some lasting memories and both be able to enjoy it a little more. Good move!

    #49732
    highsmith
    Member

    Thank you to all! Hospice starts tomorrow. My dad fell, for the first time, this AM and I knew that I cannot do it alone anymore. He is hallucinating more and more and in pain and is on the verge of not being able to bathe himself. He barely made it out of the shower today. Luckily, he just gashed his elbow and back in the fall, nothing broken.

    I already feel better for making the decision to go forth.

    #49737
    cherbourg
    Spectator

    Stacey,

    Here is a link to Hospice of Greensboro. This is the one we used for my Mom. I know it’s not your city but the site has some excellent information on it that may answer your questions.

    http://www.hospicegso.org/

    You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
    Hugs,
    Pam

    #49736
    slittle1127
    Member

    Dear Stacey – You are so right when you say it will be a relief to get some help. Just having hospice come regularly, share their thoughts with you, you share your feelings with them, and they help your dad so much. You will experience relief. I am sorry that this is your journey and your dads. Make the best memories possible and say all the things that are in your heart. Blessings to you and your family, Susan

    #49735
    lainy
    Spectator

    Hi Stacey, my thoughts exactly, were posted by Andie and Nancy. You and your Dad will feel a good mental relief when Hospice comes. They will give Dad an extensive evaluation and you can chime in at any time with questions. Hopefully they will be getting his pain under total control! Sending best wishes and please keep us in the loop.

    #49734
    nur1954
    Spectator

    Stacey – Hospice will know exactly how to deal with all the issues. The hallucinations are not uncommon with pain meds. Good luck – Nancy

    #49733
    andie
    Spectator

    Hi Stacey,

    I can’t help with the pain as luckily my Dad never experienced any. He did have a external drain and 3 internal stents. I know after these it did take a few weeks for the bilirubin to settle, they described it as static. Sometimes it was due to the smaller bile ducts being inflammed.

    The hallucinations could be the medication and the increased pain could be due to the stent procedure.

    Is it home hospice that are coming to your Dad? My Dad had District Nurses come to help with his external drain. He was also on antibiotics to prevent infections. I’ve no experience with hospice but I’m sure someone will be along soon to answer your questions

    Best wishes x

    #5035
    highsmith
    Member

    Hi all…sorry I have been missing for a while. My dad had a good period from Mid-Feb to Mid-March and things have really gone downhill since then. He just got out of the hospital last night, after have an external and internal drain put in because his bilirubin is so high. They have gotten it down to the mid to high 4’s, but it does not look to be moving from there. He is also very weak and having some hallucianations throughout the day and night.

    We are meeting with hospice next week, as he is taking 15mg of Oxy every four hours and it is covering 90% of the pain, but a month ago we were at 10mg, every 4-6 hours and not all the time.

    Is there a list of questions to ask? What do I expect?

    As sad as it makes me, it is almost a relief that I am going to get some help.
    The nights are so hard with Phil up and down all night.

    TIA!

    Stacey

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