Gotta vent a little steam here...

Avatar for bootywhompus
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Gotta vent a little steam here...
7
Mon, 12-01-2003 - 8:29am
So, my Grandma, bless her heart, has been accepted into the Hospice program. That right there is blessing enough for one day. However....

The nurses that have been caring for her are apparently not properly trained to care for a Hospice client. She's been prescribed a certain amount of pain medication at appropriate intervals for someone in her condition. Yes, it's quite a lot of morphine but she's in a lot of pain and she's TERMINAL. Ok. So the good nurses at the Progressive Care Center decide that the doctor doesn't know what he's doing and refuse to give her the pain meds because, get this....

She could get addicted. @&$&^$^#^%&*^*(^#@#$@$#^$%!!!!!

So, my Grandma, bless her heart, went for a day and a half without proper pain meds and was climbing the walls with pain. They didn't give it to her because she never asked for it. @%^$@#$%!@%#^%$&^!!! She isn't asking for ANYTHING. She doesn't even really know what's going on most of the time. Stupid....the meds are scheduled every 3 hours with extra if she needs it. They are so getting a phone call from me today. And that Hospice nurse as well.

This makes me so darn mad I could cry.

Thanks for listening.

Sheesh.

Lori

Lori

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 12-01-2003 - 8:33am

Poor grandma...go gettem Lori.

Live With Passion!

Phyllis

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2001
Mon, 12-01-2003 - 8:38am
I have no proper words to express what's going on in my head right now. Sounds like some of the exasperating situation we had going on with my FIL just a different scenario. A phone call is certainly in order and I hope Grandma gets the relief that she needs.

Susan

Avatar for imthebigsister
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 12-01-2003 - 9:25am
((((Lori)))) - Common sense should come into play here, but it's such a rare gift among some people. I'm so sorry your poor grandmother isn't getting the proper care and comfort. If the amount of painkiller that the doctor has prescribed seems excessive, shouldn't they be in contact with the doctor directly? Has your mother or aunt spoken to the doctors about this situation, or are they so upset about the bigger picture that they're not really thinking straight, either? I can't imagine feeling as helpless as you must feel in this situation.

Vent away - you deserve to.

((((Many hugs,))))

Donna

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 12-01-2003 - 11:44am

That is absolutely outrageous and uncalled for!! Yes, go straight to the director of the hospice and her dr. and report them. That is just cruel, and they don't have the authority to do that anyway. I know when my dad was just at an assisted living place briefly, and they didn't give him his meds. as soon as they were supposed to, we went straight to the top and raised Caine, and it didn't happen again.


During the last couple of days when the pain became so bad for my BIL, he had a button that he could push to administer extra morphine on demand. It had been timed to release it intravenously every so often. When he became unable to, we sat there and did it for him. It was a very weird feeling to do that the first time, but I knew it was necessary. I think what it actually does is gradually "put them to sleep." If I were in a terribly painful terminal situation that's the way I'd want to go.


I'm really sorry to hear that your grandmother and your family have had to go through this. As if you need anything else on top of her condition...



Rhonda


Time invested in improving ourselves cuts down on time disapproving of others.




Edited 12/1/2003 11:47:35 AM ET by rsmurray

       ~~Rhonda~~


<

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2003
Mon, 12-01-2003 - 11:55am
This is so scary!
“You can only grow if you’re willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” -Brian Tracy
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Mon, 12-01-2003 - 11:59am
I don't blame you for being mad!!!!The situation is incredible!!Does the DR know the nurses didn't follow thru on his orders?Let us know how the phone call goes.Keeping you all in my thoughts.

Miss P




 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 12-01-2003 - 12:58pm

Oh, Hugs, Lori! This happens all the time! They wouldn't give my Dad more pain meds when they already told us he had less than 24 hours to live. He never got it...he passed on within the hour.


Fight with all your might and get her g'ma whatever she needs. There is no reason for her to be any more uncomfortable than necessary.


Good luck and more prayers coming.


Grace