Replies

Mary Ann,

I don't know if Shands is any better than the other hospital. Days ago they requested my permission to insert a picc line and drain that fluid. Neither has happened yet. They said they were backed up, they'll do it Monday ....

They have taken Marilyn off all the other stuff she was on and now she's on Cipro only ... it seems to be clearing up the skin rash. But that's about the only good thing.

She now in a special air bed ... there's no mattress ... the air blowing from beneath keeps the body aloft. Claudia says it's called "the coffin".

Once the cows belonging to someone near me were mooing in what Marilyn thought was distress. It distressed her so that she wanted to call the animal cruelety people in ... to rescue the bovine. Well, the sounds coming from her remind me of those cows. Constant --- continual gutteral groaning for hours on end.

Claudia finally got them to give her some morphine ... and them some more ... and finally we got a doctor's order for 4 cc's(?) of morphine hourly and an anxiety drug also. It's pitiful seeing her suffering so. The one thing she requested in her health care directive was to be kept pain-free and that's not happening.

Hi Alice, I'm going to respond to you and update TexasCowboy and the others all in one post. Asking him and the others to PLEASE PING THE PRAYER WARRIORS with your update in italics posted below my response to you.

Alice, my FIRST SUGGESTION.. take a picture of Marilyn on duty as an RN, like the one posted here,...put it in a FRAME, and sit it by her bedside. It will be a POIGNANT REMINDER.. that she IS ONE OF THEM!!! (Desperate times call for desperate measures). Put a note on it.. Saying "THIS IS MARILYN IN HAPPIER TIMES"!

You shouldn't have to do this,.. they SHOULD TREAT every patient the same. But sadly, there is a shortage of nurses,..and it is what it is. Shands, DOES have an EXCELLENT reputation. But this is the state of health care in the United States today. Sad, huh? (I remember when we used to give EVERY patient a 10 minute backrub at night!! I was a candy striper and did them too!) If you don't get results,... Call the desk and get a nursing SUPERVISOR to come to Marilyns bed. If they got permission to put in a picc line a couple days ago.... but have yet to put it in .. and they are saying they are JUST TOO BUSY.. then you need to ask the NURSING SUPERVISOR if this is right. If you are right to be concerned about your sisters care.. and explain to her that after what happened at Oncalla, you are VERY nervous. When she see's your sister,.. I don't think she will think you are overacting Alice!

The airbed is excellent! However, I wonder why they can't put her on an abdominal morphine pump. It is a constant drip.. that would afford her constant pain control. We used to use it on our hospice patients who were out of it too much to push a button to control their pain. It was awesome.

Please see if Shands has a patient advocate.

Gosh hon.. I'm so sorry,. she sounds like she is in constant pain. No one should suffer like she is. PRAYERS CONTINUE!!!! Please Dear God, help Marilyn, and if it is your will that she is to live, help the doctors soon. But if she is to die, let it be peaceful and merciful.

Alice, what the HECK is her diagnosis????? Haven't the SHANDS Doctors come up with ANYTHING? Even a suggestion?

God Bless you all!!

You are in my prayers constantly.

Mary Ann

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To: Vets_Husband_and_Wife

Mary Ann,

I don't know if Shands is any better than the other hospital. Days ago they requested my permission to insert a picc line and drain that fluid. Neither has happened yet. They said they were backed up, they'll do it Monday ....

They have taken Marilyn off all the other stuff she was on and now she's on Cipro only ... it seems to be clearing up the skin rash. But that's about the only good thing.

She now in a special air bed ... there's no mattress ... the air blowing from beneath keeps the body aloft. Claudia says it's called "the coffin".

Once the cows belonging to someone near me were mooing in what Marilyn thought was distress. It distressed her so that she wanted to call the animal cruelety people in ... to rescue the bovine. Well, the sounds coming from her remind me of those cows. Constant --- continual gutteral groaning for hours on end.

Claudia finally got them to give her some morphine ... and them some more ... and finally we got a doctor's order for 4 cc's(?) of morphine hourly and an anxiety drug also. It's pitiful seeing her suffering so. The one thing she requested in her health care directive was to be kept pain-free and that's not happening.

282 posted on 12/21/2003 9:42:45 PM PST by Beach_Babe

I know how mind numbingly exhausted you are. Having cared for my mom for a couple of years at home, and then living and sleeping at the hospital with her for three weeks made me forget what day it was, my husband and son were almost strangers.

But you have to go through it. There were so many times that she needed someone to be there who knew what was going on to keep the nurses from making a mistake. The same with my husband and his cancer surgery. Once a nurse came in, very professional, very caring, and was going to shove his stomach tube farther down because it seemed too short, her not realizing and it not marked on his chart that his stomach had been moved up into his chest.

In both cases at one time, or two, I had to pitch a little fit. It does not hurt to get a little determined and demanding. I had promised my husband I would make sure he was not in any pain. They had him in ICU an hour and a half after his surgery before they would let me visit. I walk in and no morphine drip. They said they were waiting for the Doctor to get out of a conference to order the drip. Gerrrrrr. I had that morphine drip going in less than ten minutes.

There is a little trick you can use that gets them moving real fast. Tell them you have thoroughly read and understand the patients rights pamplet that was given you. And that you don't think things are being done in accordance with that pamplet. Let me tell you, they fly around in a big hurry making you happy.

Marilyn is in my prayers, and so are you for strength and endurance. Please email me if there is anything you think I can do to help you.

I am so distressed to read this but I'm still praying.

Well, the sounds coming from her remind me of those cows. Constant --- continual gutteral groaning for hours on end.

My heart is just aching for Marilyn and what you must feel. Please, please Dear God I beg you to help Marilyn.