At 1218 this afternoon I received a phone call from my father that my mother was collapsed on the floor and he couldn't wake her, what should he do? (My father his mid Alzheimer's.)
I told him to call 911 and I'd be there in 15 minutes. On my way I called 911 to make certain they were called and he had. The dispatcher got my make and model of vehicle and would let them expect me. Just as I pulled up my mother was on the gurney being wheeled to the ambulance. The paramedics made no bones about it looks like a stroke and a bad one. They took her to the Parkview Regional Medical Center up north and we'd meet them there.
I had my father get cleaned up and off we went. The ER doctors were great, along with the staff, and they allowed both of us back there due to my fathers memory issues. Yep, all the symptoms of a bad stroke. They discussed with me giving some "super" blood thinner, clot buster medicine. However, due to my fathers memory issues we couldn't be certain about the time she collapsed. Apparently, this nuclear weapon of stroke medicine will do more damage than good the longer you wait. The decision was made not to give it.
So then it became the massive waiting game. Tests were run. Results were taking an eternity, at least for me. One problem is my mothers veins. They are extremely small and blow very easily. So the idea of "just" drawing some blood in itself was thrown out. It should have gone faster but I don't blame them.
After about three (3) hours some test results weren't back but the initial CAT scans were. They looked, to the ER docs, like there might(?) not have been a stroke. She got put on antibiotics and saline. She was also intubated due to low oxygen. So she is now on a respirator. She was seriously doped up for the intubation process so is completely unresponsive. More waiting.
I love the neuro doctor! She came in and said she was just assigned my mother and had no clue what was going on, could we please fill her in? I am always impressed when someone is willing to admit a lack of understanding. I fill her in and we go from there.
Around 1800 hours my mother is transferred upstairs, room #2120. Ironically, these are the days of both mine & my sisters birthdays.
Now the REAL fun begins! My father has memory issues. He cannot understand what the medical staff are telling him. I need to be there. HOWEVER, according to the plague rules, only ONE (1) of is is allowed back - EVER!!!
I want to speak with someone in charge. About 45 minutes later I get tag teamed by two (2) well educated, well meaning, people hiding behind being cogs in the machine. (I had tried calling patient advocacy but they had left for the day). They lay the blame on the Indiana Governors plague rules. So now I'll call the governor tomorrow. I at least got the bossy one to admit there was no "law" or statutory limit to our going back - that Parkview could change the rule but they wouldn't. Right.
According to the plague rule at Parkview I will NEVER be allowed to visit my mother, unless she is dying. It could have been me to go back and visit, but then my father would never be able to. One (1) visitor only, ever.
I get them to at least have the neuro doctor call me. I love this woman! The doc called me about 90 minutes later. Both CAT scans are clean. The one from the top of the head shows NO bleeding. The one from the side shows NO blockage. She did explain that it could have been a very minor stroke in the center of the brain, and if so the MRI she has ordered will give us a definitive answer, within about 24 hours. My mother now does have mild pneumonia in one (1) lung, probably from aspirating while unconscious. She is being treated for that. The doctor will call me when she thinks my mother is good enough to be taken off of the respirator.
All this time, from the beginning, I am calling my sister and other loved ones keeping them in the loop. This gave me something to do.
What really vexes (I can't use the word I want to) me is that I could not be there to comfort my father while he was in the room, all alone, with my mother! I am so livid it is beyond imagination. I cannot put into words my rage at this absolute acquiescence to arbitrary, BS rules. And I call them BS because if they were TRULY worried, then no one would be allowed in. There would be NO exceptions for terminal patients. Their answer would be that they don't want to be cruel to family members. Well, fine. But this means they ARE willing to be cruel to me and many others like me. So now we come to the fact that they are willing to be depraved, just not that depraved.
I will end on a good thought, at least for me. My mother is in a good place. She has a good doctor and staff. My father can visit. The doctor will keep me informed so I can help make some good decisions for my mother. It doesn't appear to be life threatening any more. I have a good deal to hope for her safe and quick return home.
Regards,
Doug
I told him to call 911 and I'd be there in 15 minutes. On my way I called 911 to make certain they were called and he had. The dispatcher got my make and model of vehicle and would let them expect me. Just as I pulled up my mother was on the gurney being wheeled to the ambulance. The paramedics made no bones about it looks like a stroke and a bad one. They took her to the Parkview Regional Medical Center up north and we'd meet them there.
I had my father get cleaned up and off we went. The ER doctors were great, along with the staff, and they allowed both of us back there due to my fathers memory issues. Yep, all the symptoms of a bad stroke. They discussed with me giving some "super" blood thinner, clot buster medicine. However, due to my fathers memory issues we couldn't be certain about the time she collapsed. Apparently, this nuclear weapon of stroke medicine will do more damage than good the longer you wait. The decision was made not to give it.
So then it became the massive waiting game. Tests were run. Results were taking an eternity, at least for me. One problem is my mothers veins. They are extremely small and blow very easily. So the idea of "just" drawing some blood in itself was thrown out. It should have gone faster but I don't blame them.
After about three (3) hours some test results weren't back but the initial CAT scans were. They looked, to the ER docs, like there might(?) not have been a stroke. She got put on antibiotics and saline. She was also intubated due to low oxygen. So she is now on a respirator. She was seriously doped up for the intubation process so is completely unresponsive. More waiting.
I love the neuro doctor! She came in and said she was just assigned my mother and had no clue what was going on, could we please fill her in? I am always impressed when someone is willing to admit a lack of understanding. I fill her in and we go from there.
Around 1800 hours my mother is transferred upstairs, room #2120. Ironically, these are the days of both mine & my sisters birthdays.
Now the REAL fun begins! My father has memory issues. He cannot understand what the medical staff are telling him. I need to be there. HOWEVER, according to the plague rules, only ONE (1) of is is allowed back - EVER!!!
I want to speak with someone in charge. About 45 minutes later I get tag teamed by two (2) well educated, well meaning, people hiding behind being cogs in the machine. (I had tried calling patient advocacy but they had left for the day). They lay the blame on the Indiana Governors plague rules. So now I'll call the governor tomorrow. I at least got the bossy one to admit there was no "law" or statutory limit to our going back - that Parkview could change the rule but they wouldn't. Right.
According to the plague rule at Parkview I will NEVER be allowed to visit my mother, unless she is dying. It could have been me to go back and visit, but then my father would never be able to. One (1) visitor only, ever.
I get them to at least have the neuro doctor call me. I love this woman! The doc called me about 90 minutes later. Both CAT scans are clean. The one from the top of the head shows NO bleeding. The one from the side shows NO blockage. She did explain that it could have been a very minor stroke in the center of the brain, and if so the MRI she has ordered will give us a definitive answer, within about 24 hours. My mother now does have mild pneumonia in one (1) lung, probably from aspirating while unconscious. She is being treated for that. The doctor will call me when she thinks my mother is good enough to be taken off of the respirator.
All this time, from the beginning, I am calling my sister and other loved ones keeping them in the loop. This gave me something to do.
What really vexes (I can't use the word I want to) me is that I could not be there to comfort my father while he was in the room, all alone, with my mother! I am so livid it is beyond imagination. I cannot put into words my rage at this absolute acquiescence to arbitrary, BS rules. And I call them BS because if they were TRULY worried, then no one would be allowed in. There would be NO exceptions for terminal patients. Their answer would be that they don't want to be cruel to family members. Well, fine. But this means they ARE willing to be cruel to me and many others like me. So now we come to the fact that they are willing to be depraved, just not that depraved.
I will end on a good thought, at least for me. My mother is in a good place. She has a good doctor and staff. My father can visit. The doctor will keep me informed so I can help make some good decisions for my mother. It doesn't appear to be life threatening any more. I have a good deal to hope for her safe and quick return home.
Regards,
Doug