16th April 2005
My father was not put on oxygen (except when admitted to the hospital) until last July --when his lung capacity was 21%. Whenever they put my dad into the hospital...they ALWAYS gave him steroids....(decadron, then after a few days of that, they would switch to prednisone)....as well as strong antibiotics, and of course oxygen. I dont know what kinds of regular meds your dad is on...but my dad was on nebulizer treatments 4 times a day...or as needed, as well as a pill called Theophylline for breathing, among many others, but for other health problems.
Are you on the "list" (due to patient privacy act)to be allowed to be given info about your dads medical information?? If, not, if your dad is alert, ask him to tell the doctor to give you the paper to sign, stating that you have permission to inquire about his health. If so,....speak to the dr and DEMAND information. I would DEMAND that they try the steroids. I learned with my dad, just how pathetic the doctors and nurses are...and you REALLY have to step in and "TAKE OVER"...do not allow them to run over you or ignore you.
My dad never went unconscious....but, after having to witness my fathers suffering the day that he died....I wish he would have done the way your father has been doing. Let me advise you, if they come to you and tell you that your dad will not make it through the day, night, etc....ask immediately for the morphine, especially if he is alert. I hesitated, as I didnt feel it was my place to make that decision (I was waiting for my mother to get there, and felt it was her place to make that decision) But my sister called, and heard how he was suffering and helped me to make that decision...I am sooooooo glad that we did do it...because I thought that morphine would take effect within 15-20 minutes.......NOT.....it takes 3-4 doses to kick in...and they give each dose once per hour. Had I done that when they first asked...that would have been an hour less that he would have suffered.
As far as getting info....this happened to us last year..NO ONE wanted to tell us anything...not even dad....they all gave us the run around.....after a week, my dad came to the conclusion that he was dying because they refused to tell anyone....when I found out thats how he felt.......I RAISED THE ROOF!!!!...then went down to patient relations (at the hospital) and made a formal complaint. Quite a few nurses grew to not like me over the last year, but you know what....it makes me proud to look back on it, and to know that I FOUGHT for my dad. If you cant catch the doctor, and you are on the list to be allowed info....MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEM....and tell them that you arent leaving until you are satisfied with their answers and with their ideas on how to treat your father. Nebulizer treatments do help with the breathing...(albuterol solution...or it can be a combo of atrovent and albuterol solution). I would inquire about this as well. I would insist on steriods...i.v.s' if he's in the hospital, pills if he is at home.
I dont know if this helps or not...but let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. It will be a month tomorrow that I lost my dad....it is still painful....but I do not mind trying to help anyone going through this. I was with my dad from the day he was diagnosed...all the way up until the minute he died....so I have quite a bit of knowledge about this illness.
One other thing that NO ONE informed of us.....about 4-5 months ago...my dad started choking VERY EASILY on his food....scared the crap out of me.....I finally found out that this goes along with emphysema....and it makes sense. If you have a hard time breathing...you cant stop breathing while taking a bite of food...as you normally would.....the patient has to continue breathing to get air, while eating...therefore the food gets sucked down their throat. So, if you notice this starting to happen.....make sure his food is cut VERY small...or even pureed.
Are you on the "list" (due to patient privacy act)to be allowed to be given info about your dads medical information?? If, not, if your dad is alert, ask him to tell the doctor to give you the paper to sign, stating that you have permission to inquire about his health. If so,....speak to the dr and DEMAND information. I would DEMAND that they try the steroids. I learned with my dad, just how pathetic the doctors and nurses are...and you REALLY have to step in and "TAKE OVER"...do not allow them to run over you or ignore you.
My dad never went unconscious....but, after having to witness my fathers suffering the day that he died....I wish he would have done the way your father has been doing. Let me advise you, if they come to you and tell you that your dad will not make it through the day, night, etc....ask immediately for the morphine, especially if he is alert. I hesitated, as I didnt feel it was my place to make that decision (I was waiting for my mother to get there, and felt it was her place to make that decision) But my sister called, and heard how he was suffering and helped me to make that decision...I am sooooooo glad that we did do it...because I thought that morphine would take effect within 15-20 minutes.......NOT.....it takes 3-4 doses to kick in...and they give each dose once per hour. Had I done that when they first asked...that would have been an hour less that he would have suffered.
As far as getting info....this happened to us last year..NO ONE wanted to tell us anything...not even dad....they all gave us the run around.....after a week, my dad came to the conclusion that he was dying because they refused to tell anyone....when I found out thats how he felt.......I RAISED THE ROOF!!!!...then went down to patient relations (at the hospital) and made a formal complaint. Quite a few nurses grew to not like me over the last year, but you know what....it makes me proud to look back on it, and to know that I FOUGHT for my dad. If you cant catch the doctor, and you are on the list to be allowed info....MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEM....and tell them that you arent leaving until you are satisfied with their answers and with their ideas on how to treat your father. Nebulizer treatments do help with the breathing...(albuterol solution...or it can be a combo of atrovent and albuterol solution). I would inquire about this as well. I would insist on steriods...i.v.s' if he's in the hospital, pills if he is at home.
I dont know if this helps or not...but let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. It will be a month tomorrow that I lost my dad....it is still painful....but I do not mind trying to help anyone going through this. I was with my dad from the day he was diagnosed...all the way up until the minute he died....so I have quite a bit of knowledge about this illness.
One other thing that NO ONE informed of us.....about 4-5 months ago...my dad started choking VERY EASILY on his food....scared the crap out of me.....I finally found out that this goes along with emphysema....and it makes sense. If you have a hard time breathing...you cant stop breathing while taking a bite of food...as you normally would.....the patient has to continue breathing to get air, while eating...therefore the food gets sucked down their throat. So, if you notice this starting to happen.....make sure his food is cut VERY small...or even pureed.