daughterw
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Hi Catherine,
You’re right. The message from your Dad’s ONC about driving was awesome. Glad that he has radiation and chemo behind him. Hope his treatment gives him relief.
My father’s dr said they would talk about driving when his blood pressure was more consistent and he regained some strength. We go back again this Wednesday, and once again, my father is threatening to change doctors because he wants to drive. Although he has multiple people who will take him anywhere, he simply wants to know that he can drive if he so chooses.
Thank you for sharing. It’s a comfort to get input from others in the same situation.
Thanks to each of you for taking time to respond. We do have Hospice coming weekly, and my father is getting better at accepting a few things they offer. It’s not nearly enough, but every baby step helps.
His paracentesis was Thursday, and 7.5 liters of fluid were removed. He still have more than that remaining in his extremities. I noticed that much of the excess fluid has moved to his stomach to replace what was removed.
Today, I purchased a power lift recliner as an early Father’s Day present. I wasn’t sure if he would accept it, but he did. After playing with the controls, he seemed to really like it. It is so helpful to feel like he has a comfortable chair from which he can rise. It’s especially important that he not strain to stand because he has little control of his bowels now.
His confusion continues to come and go within the same conversation. After removing the fluid, his pain has decreased for the last few days. Removing the fluid is one of the best things we’ve done. I’m hoping to talk him into pain meds when the pain returns, but I don’t know if I can. His girlfriend is against pain medication — I’m not sure why. So it’s a struggle to get him to take anything.
We go back to his doctor this week. He insists that he will change doctors if he isn’t allowed to drive (says the man who can’t rise by himself). His doctor has stood firm. Hospice and I have stood firm on the not driving edict. He wouldn’t allow me to attend his last appointment because he thought I may be the reason that he can’t drive. He’s simply too weak and confused to drive, but he doesn’t recognize it.
Hospice says he’s one of their most difficult patients. So, I make sure I’m there to ensure that they aren’t kicked out. They feel that it is sure willpower keeping him alive. Maybe so. Right now, I take each day as it comes.
