External Drain, raising biliruben levels….

Dad didn’t have his procedure. Not only did he not get it, but they didn’t bother telling him he wasn’t having it until my sister went to the nurses station about it at 5:00 tonight. We are beyond furious and Mom will be talking to HIS oncologist first thing in the morning (not whoever has been coming to see him once a day) and MAKING SURE he starts to get care the needs and deserves.

This is absolutely terrible – he has had amazing care every time he’s been in until now – this time, he is lost in the shuffle as he is on a unit with people that really are sicker then him. They are practically starving him to death. You don’t make a man that weighed MAYBE 130 pounds when he was admitted not eat a thing for 3 days waiting for a procedure. He has VERY obviously lost a consider amount of weight (is nothing but skin and bones), and they’ve even given him so little fluids through IV that it’s another thing that had to be mentioned to have increased. A child couldn’t survive on what they were giving him before something was said. His drain has completely stopped since he’s not eating, and when he finally IS allowed, whatever he eats goes right through the thing. I am so sad, so sick, and so discusted with the lack of care he has received. He was much better off at home as an out-patient. At least at home he was eating. This WILL NOT go on for another day. Will update tomorrow.

Hi Everyone,
Glad to know I’m not the only one that wasn’t impressed with him losing his room! The problem is, the only bed they had at the time he was admitted was on a unit full of people that are in dire need of kidney transplants and really are very very sick. They have a room for him now, so he will be much more comfortable. Insurance doesn’t handle anything at all for patients in the hospital here. Alberta Health Care covers any care required for anyone requiring it, including hospital stays and any medications required when in the hospital. I guess since it’s free for us, they assume they can do as they wish? I guess there are problems with all Health Care Systems, and lack of beds is certainly a huge problem here.
Mom just called and told me that he still hasn’t gone in for the procedure, but are still saying that it will be done today. He’s “on the schedule” so hopefully this is true. If it doesn’t, I’m sure Dad will finally be angry enough to voice his concerns, and if not, I know Mom will. I’m not sure if they have spoken with the oncologist today, but I’m sure once they see his levels are how he is feeling and looking, they will be pushing for quicker action.
Thank you all for your comments and feed back – believe me, should anything else happen we will be pushing back… will keep you all updated!!

Jen

Still no news – they were supposed to do the procedure yesterday, so he had to stop eating and drinking Sunday evening… well, they come back at 4:00pm yesterday and tell us it won’t be done. Dad was STARVING! Then they ask him if they can give his bed to a patient who was really sick (since Dad is considered stable), which Dad of course didn’t mind, but now he’s basically in the hallway on a stretcher. He may not mind, but I do!
They made him stop eating very early this morning and say that the procedure will most certainly be done today… it better. He looks just awful – I have NEVER seen anyone so yellow in my life… I’m pretty sure his eyes glow in the dark when the lights are out! He’s also nothing but skin and bones. He bili level was pretty rapidly rising last week and it was at 153 or so on Thursday or Friday… I can’t even imagine what it’s at now. I can’t believe all the side effects of the bili – the new drain will hopefully make him feel a lot better. I guess it’s just a waiting game again today…
Will keep everyone posted.