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Yep! Cats have incredible instincts!
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Edit to script: cats don’t need the T-shirt. They live it.
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venting,

Cats don’t need one. They are way too smart and independent to behave like humans! LOL 😆

I could have used that t-shirt, for sure!
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Guys, I saw this T-shirt today:
“Self-Care Club”

We seriously all need that T-shirt. Everyone on the forum. We need to wear it in the movie. The cats can also get one.
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Cats are so cool. I love their independent spirit! Some people don’t like that they are aloof. I like it!

You know what people say, “We live with a cat. They don’t live with us!” 😊. My cat was very affectionate though. I like when they purr. So sweet. Very playful at times but also very chill animals.
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Way, haha :)
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Way and venting,

My kitty would sit at my feet when I was cooking shrimp. I always gave her a couple of them to eat.
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venting,

Daisy and Ana’s cat and the strays that they have rounded up now want caviar along with lobster . They also believe they need security detail due to paparazzi .
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Way, awesome you went to the beach!! That would be funny if we both ate chipwiches today!! I agree, the beach, water, is magical.

Mountains are magical, too. I’m up here.

By the way, there’s a Chinese saying. What do you like better (1) mountains or (2) rivers/lakes/oceans? You must choose. Don’t say both.

Go ahead and choose, before you read the answer below.

The Chinese saying is, if you prefer mountains you’re wise. If you prefer rivers/lakes/oceans, you’re kind.

Update on movie:
As we know, Need’s therapist will be the bartender.

Additional drinks we need:
Coffee for coffee addicts.

Also, Daisy (Way’s cat) has asked for an upgrade in her 5* tuna cans. I’ve already taken care of it.

Ana’s cat wants a nicer logo for the supercat cape. Will be done.
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Venting,

I really don’t drink very much. When I do, I have my favorite drinks that I enjoy. One is my limit. I’m hardly what a person would refer to as a ‘drinker.’

I am addicted to my coffee! That I love!!!
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Enjoy the beach, Way! It’s always nice to have a break from things.
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venting ,

Thanks.
Escaped to the beach with 27 yo daughter . First mother daughter( 27th birthday ) trip !! Should have done it years ago .

The beach is the one place on earth that can relax me . Sadly I no longer live on an island . I used to go to the beach on a whim to listen to the waves in all seasons. It’s very peaceful . In the winter, an empty beach at dusk , with a calm light snow is magical . It’s my church .
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Way, I hope you’re OK! I hope soon things get easier for everyone involved.

I’m still up in the mountains for a few days. Guess what? They sell chipwiches here! Thanks to you, I’m eating one right now.

Need, I hope you’re having gin and tonic. Way, I hope it’s a strawberry lemonade day (as opposed to a Sangria day).

Ana, your heroic cat will do many good deeds in the movie.

(Enter: heroic music, to be followed unfortunately by JAWS MUSIC)
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“FIL says he does not want a pacemaker . He says no surgeries .”

Very wise decision. Surgery is too risky.

(((Hug))) Way. I know it’s a stressful situation.
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notgoodenough,

I seemed to think DH was on the phone once during a doctor visit instead of there in person , can’t swear to it .

Anyway , I didn’t even think about possibly needing rehab again after a pacemaker procedure . Also FIL has been saying no surgeries anyway. I’m just hyper focused on not having FIL be talked into something by a doctor that doesn’t realize that he’s refusing aggressive treatments for other life threatening issues anyway , so it’s futile .

And yes , have been hearing from many the situation that you have come across where the doctors pass the hot potato question on meds before procedures or surgeries. My DH also had that issue last year . I don’t understand why that’s happening .

DH just got back from seeing FIL . He told him about the appt . coming up . FIL says he does not want a pacemaker . He says no surgeries .
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Way, I'm not sure this is logistically possible, or if it's even a "thing", but is there any chance you or DH can do the appointment virtually while FIL is in person?

I agree with you about fragmented health care - that's the perfect word to use. Most specialists see you as a pair of lungs, a heart, a liver, etc. And it seems that basic communication between doctors is a thing of the past.

Not that this even comes close to what you're going through, but I have my colonoscopy on Monday...when I asked my gastro about my meds - what to take and when - he told me to ask my internist. My internist asked me what the gastro said. Ugh. It's like when you're a kid and ask mom for something and you get "ask dad" and dad says "what did mom say?".

Very frustrating, to say the least.
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notgoodenough,

Thank you for that information . Very helpful. I believe care is so fragmented . The doctors do not look at the whole picture anymore . I’ve noticed a change since going through my Dads care years ago , when the dozen or so different doctors at least seemed to look at all his many problems ( cancer , CHF etc) when they considered his options.

Right now trying to convince DH he should be at this appointment instead of having AL take FIL and drop him off to talk to doc alone, ( then AL pick him up ) . I would go instead but will be away with my daughter. Uggh.
FIL should not be dropped off and left alone anyway anymore.
DH is really shutting down. If I can get him to go , the appt has to be changed to a different day anyway , DH can’t make it next Tuesday due to work things . So that in itself has him annoyed that he has to change that appt .
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Way, depending on what stage of CHF FIL is in, a pacemaker might not do him any good.

If they do the procedure, and he gets a pacemaker/defibrillator, it's a simple visit to his cardiologist's office to have the defibrillator "turned off" once he goes into hospice. We did this for my mom. It was a non-invasive procedure, they just used a computer to send a signal to shut it off. Mom didn't even have to remove her shirt. It wasn't a requirement of hospice, it just saves the patient from being "shocked" at EOL; which, from my understanding, is more traumatic for family members witnessing it rather than the patient. If the patient/family wasn't able to get the defibrillator turned off, I believe hospice can provide a magnet that does the same thing (I'm not sure how that works, but this is what my mom's hospice provider told us).

My mom had a pacemaker put in about 18 months before she passed. I really don't think it did anything to prolong her life, honestly, and it didn't seem to make much of a difference in her quality of life, either way. She did have a bit of difficulty in the recovery with discomfort, but she had a rather low threshold for pain. She did have to go into rehab after as well, so if your FIL doesn't want to go back into rehab, that might be a way to discourage him from the procedure.

The pacemaker did nothing to prolong her active dying phase. I did ask the hospice nurses about it, and they said it wouldn't. Once the heart can't function and dies, no pacemaker can change that.

I found my mom's cardiologist was extremely reluctant to discuss hospice with my mom; he didn't want to be seen as "giving up on her" - those were the sentiments he expressed to me. But my mom was ready to be done with all of the poking and prodding and was quite at peace with hospice. She even rallied briefly when she first went into it; I think the relief of not doing the "treatment revolving door" was huge to her.

I'll be hoping for the best for you and your family when FIL sees his doctor on Tuesday. (((hugs)))
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So with FIL saying no surgery (to fix the problem ) and his chronic respiratory failure , CHF , FIL qualifies for hospice . We were told that in the hospital . Probably no more than 6 months to live. But FIL is not ready to sign up yet. Although he says no more trips to the hospital. However AL says they won’t honor the POLST form he signed in the hospital before going to rehab . They said they will send him to the hospital for respiratory distress. Then FIL can refuse treatment and possibly go back to AL on hospice or go to SNF on palliative care or hospice .

FIL has a cardiologist appt on Tuesday . I truly hope they don’t talk him into a pacemaker that will only prolong his active dying phase when that comes .
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Sangria is another good summer drink!

But wait, if I am having sangria. I’m changing my appetizer to guacamole and chips!

I don’t have a cat anymore 😞. Nor a dog. I do have a beautiful grand dog!

I love seeing all of the photos of the kitties and dogs.
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Edit to script:
Everyone’s getting two chipwiches.
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venting ,

a chipwich , Is two larger chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream in the middle like a sandwich .

Yum .
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(((Hug)))
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I know. The reason they are offering surgery, is it actually has something to do with his respiratory failure .

His large bowel sits in the hernia enough to cause a backup at times . His stomach and intestines then get push up on his diaphragm causing the respiratory distress . He only has one and a 1/2 lungs working to begin with and they never expand well on a good day anyway because his torso is so compacted , he’s so stooped over from osteoporosis , his organs are all squashed . He has like hardly any torso and really long arms and legs . He looks like a praying mantis .

This bowel blockage has happened three times now in the past 6 months . The most recent time the respiratory distress made his heart overwork to compensate and caused congestive heart failure .

But here’s the thing . They give him mega laxatives to clean him out in the hospital . And he gets Bipap machine to give oxygen and help get rid of all the CO2 built up in his lungs . This last time was the worst because of the CHF and they couldn’t get the CO2 levels down , but finally did .

But when he goes back to AL they haven’t done enough to prevent the blockage again . They only give him senekot that I know of . They wait until he complains and then try to give him a laxative , by then it’s too late . He needs something stronger on a regular basis.

Even FIL thinks surgery is too dangerous and doesn’t want to go through it . He told them that , but his discharge insteuctions say to follow up with surgeon for potential surgery, so AL called DH .

These doctors try to keep fixing things . Everyone dies of something . My FIL probably die from this hernia at some point . He’s had the hernia a long time he says . I guess it’s gotten worse . FIL asked some questions about palliative care while he was in the hospital which is how hospice conversation came into play because most likely this will happen again . So he’s going to most likely die from not getting surgery , or he could die from getting surgery . FIL says he doesn’t want to risk having a long tough recovery that could kill him anyway . He just wanted to go back to AL and be comfortable . However , he hasn’t said ok to hospice yet either .
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I would like Sangria
and a chip which .
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Make mine gin and tonic. A great summer drink!
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Way,

I can’t remember the exact age but I distinctly remember my mom’s doctor telling her that she was no longer a candidate for any surgery after she hit a certain age.

Geeeeez, your FIL’s situation is one thing behind another!

I know that you and DH are ready to throw your hands up in the air and scream!
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(((HUG)))

Don’t do the surgery. One can live with hernia for many years. Danger is: strangulated hernia, more and more pain: but if it gets to that point, you’ll die anyway within days: you go to ER, they try to save you: 99% chance of dying. If he feels no pain (no-pain-hernia), then you can totally live for years like that.

Update movie:
Way’s drink has been changed from lemonade to a real drink (Sangria).
And I need two milk chocolates. Make that four.
Need gets gin and tonic.

Daisy (Way’s cat) will also get extra treats.

Also in the script, Way wins at Bingo.

Way also gets a chip which. I don’t know what that is, but she’s getting it.

(Enter: mysterious music)
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venting ,

Going to need that “ real drink” with my wings .

AL just called about setting up a consult for SURGERY for FIL for a hernia that the hospital found , and possible placement of a pacemaker .

The man says he doesn’t want to go to the hospital or have procedures done anymore .( Nor is he even a good candidate for abdominal surgery) . FIL told them that when he was in the hospital , which is why FIL went to rehab. Sheez. 😬🤦‍♀️

So now DH says not only do they not listen to POA for someone without capacity. They don’t listen to the patient either. The health care system ( business ) is just looking for cash .
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venting,

My husband is very quiet. It’s always fun to see him use his ‘one liners’ on people! I adore his dry sense of humor!
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