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I found good information regarding this subject. What is alarming to me is how the Insurance Companies work.
My father has a pubic cathader and prostrate issues that will never be corrected. We go to the hospital monthly for infection by ambulance but he will not be admitted unless he has fever. My father doesn't show fever until he is critical.
I am on the second trip in a week for infection. It's so confusing to me because of the damage of the Dementia it caused to find the proper base line.
My dad last week was released Wednesday after Septis and that same night his tempt was bordering fever for two days then fine then next day pressure up and down drowning and not speaking like stroke.
Back in hospital with fluid in chest and threw three antibodics at him. I'm pretty sure they don't know what they are treating and it's scary it takes so long to get a positive result. Does that mean his treatment for Septis wasn't complete? Now they say they are treating Ecoli. What does that mean?
His heart took a hit this time. Problems swallowing yesterday.
After this does organs die or fail ? So confused.

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Stevensmom,
Thank you for your kindness! I am with you if it was me I pray to take me and I will go gracefully.
My Dad on the other hand is a protector and has a hard time letting go.
My two sisters took off three years ago and left him because they couldn't handle it.
I am a good Daughter and finally I am able to take that pat on the back so thank you!
I will get him the support and when he's ready he will go. I will be at peace for him and myself.
Thanks again for your kind words.
Linda
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Demma, you've been very strong for your father. I don't know about your personal beliefs, but I do know if I ever get to this point, I would want to go quickly and in peace. Is your father able to articulate what he wants? Please know it is OK to just let hospice make him comfortable for the time he has left and also believe that you have been a wonderful daughter to him. Take care!
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You might try him on colloidal silver; silver is antiseptic and used to be the one of the main treatments for infection before antibiotics. I've just been fighting an ulcerated bug bite on my ankle and they've been using silver--containing dressings on it.
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While you are evaluating the responses, not all catheters such as my father's is life-saving. My response as is all of ours, is from experience to help you and share. I was sharing my experience. Your doctor will order a hospice evaluation and give the order for 90 days which can be extended. I wish you peace.
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Thank you so much for the last two responses. Almost left the group. To make matters worse I found out yesterday my father has been on a medication for Dementia for the last month which I didn't authorize and was given by by Polish caregiver that can't apparently read the directions on the bottle. Six hundred dollars a week I pay her and love her but now I feel ready to seek the proper help and take the financial burden off me. My Dad can't take any of these types of medications because his body can't take it. I saw my Dad asleep unable to speak like he had a stroke due to this. I have a Dr. That came to the house that ordered this medication and it slipped past me. Medication given in morning instead of bedtime for one month. I can't not do something this is my sign.
Now I get a call today from Nurse that Physician on Call service is gone. Scary world or loved ones live in.
Scrabbled by numbers for new Dr. Without any research but now I will ask for Hospise and clear the accounts to have my Dad rest in peace.
Thanks again, for the good info.
Dad has been Septis twice and is still kicking. I am aware his body can't take much more and I'm ok with just peace.
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Hospice has been great for my mthr... she's doing so much better with the constant attention to her health. Lots of people graduate from Hospice because they get their issues under control. The big thing for me is that my mthr is never allowed to get scared silly. If they have to do something that would make her scared normally, they give her an anti anxiety med first and talk her through it. Recently she had a fall, and they sent out a mobile xray so she would not have to deal with her social anxiety by going to a hospital for xrays. Hospice focuses on easing pain and anxiety!
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Demma, I don't think there is any one size fits all answer to your question, but from what I am reading about your father, I would get hospice involved, if they are not already. I know one person who had sepsis who was on a ventilator and dialysis who survived, but a nurse I know says sepsis is often fatal. There will come a time when his body can no longer fight the infections. I'm sorry...it sounds like your father is very seriously ill; it sounds like you love him so much and do not want him to suffer. We know you are doing your very best to take care of your dad. Please know we are thinking of you.
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I am having s hard time finding my way back to this discussion.
The last comment about pulling the catheter would take my dad out in a matter of an hour.
He has an enlarged prostrate and is unable to urinate on his own. That is why I have it in the first place.
I can't get support until my fathers accounts are under 17,000. He has IRA's.
I will research my options.
That advise was not appropriate. Clearly not the best advise.
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What about medicaid? My FIL was put on aid even though his pensions were $65,000 per year because his salary didn't cut his expenses. Dragging to the hospital is awful. Please check into hospice. They can graduate out of hospice. My dad sleeps for days when he has infections and never temps. Why not just pull the catheter? My new care team said if my dad gets one more infection, they are pulling the catheter. Have you been told this? This may relieve the cause of the infections.
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Thank you so much for the two responses.
My Fathers cathader gets changed every three weeks to prevent infection. This is the second time in the blood and had two hospital stays in a matter of two weeks.
I'm not convinced we will come out of this 100% this time. He's just not right. Temperature up and down. Yesterday he was out of it the entire day and today awake but being difficult.
What bothers me so much is because my father has a pension he doesn't get any support for his care and I pay out of pocket $900 a week and have to wait till we are at 17,000 total to get any help.
My father is tired and I cannot continue to stress him out constantly dragging him to the hospital and him being alone with the staff not communicating to me his condition as power of attorney.
It's frustrating to me to have to always be in fight mode to protect him.
My heart goes out to the people that are alone in this system with no support.
I'm holding back now with stressing him out and want him here and at peace. My concern is having him suffer a painful death but I am trusting in God.
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I feel your pain. My dad is 83 with a supra catheter and all of the same issures. Two weeks ago, when dad was in the throes of another infection, he qualified for hospice care. Boy, these nurses really took charge and cleaned up dad's care. I wasnt even aware of many of their suggestions. Two weeks later and he is a new man. Still crazy as a bedbug at times, but physically doing much better. The lack of swallowing and gurgling sounds were corrected by patches placed behind dad's ear. He had become afraid to even eat or drink which has caused him to lose weight. They have even sent a chaplain which dad loves her attention. All I can say is try to get better help. I have been doing circles for almost three years and all of his infections have taken their toll.
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Do you mean a supra pubic catheter? If so, this puts your dad at risk for infection. Catheter care is very important in preventing infection. Sepsis is a bacterial infection.

Do you change out his bags daily? Keep the site of the tubing coming out of his skin clean and dry. Wipe the plastic connector down with an alcohol wipe. Wash the tubing gently with warm soapy water. All of these things can cut down on the chance of infection. Catheter care isn't a sterile procedure but you should be wearing gloves while you care for the catheter.

Your dad may just be prone to infection. And while they may not admit him without a fever they should still treat the infection in the ER.

E. Coli is a bacteria we normally carry in our GI tract but it infects people when they come into contact with feces of humans or animals. It can also cause UTI's. The symptoms are like a bad stomach flu.

If your dad is getting infections the Dr. needs to figure out what the problem is because there is a problem. While your dad's at risk because he has a supra pubic catheter he still shouldn't be getting so many infections.
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