Hello everyone. I shamefully havent posted for ages but have tried to look in when I can. I very much admire you Connie for your stoicism and attitude throughout your pre transplant evaluation.
Phil went into hospital on Monday for an elective paracentesis. Bad news, although the drain was inserted no fluid came out. She has a lot of scar tissue from repeated paracentesis , but the doctors are not sure why it persistently blocks. Anyway she is now booked in for Tuesday for a ultrasound guided drain. Fingers crossed it will work although for the last 4 or 5 drains they have only managed to remove 4 to 5 litres because the drain gets blocked despite leaving in situ for 24 hours.
I have had a week from hell with the doctors this week. I have tried everyday allday to get the consultant to speak to me. To no avail. He told Phil that he didnt want to speak to me at all. Then he said he would speak to me only if Phil was on the ward. She refused to stay in hospital after vThursday and my other sister picked her up. So After my conversation with his registrar who said it was impossible to get the consultant to speak to me without Phil present or on the ward at the time of our conversation he changed his mind and wanted me to go on Friday. I have 3 kids and have to work in between all this and having rearranged my working hours several times could not do so again!!
I had asked Phil to stay one more night in hospital to facilitate the meeting but she refused and within two minutes of leaving the hospital asked Steph to stop and get her her treats!!!!!!! Alcohol of course. So I have now had to stop fighting the inevitable and have told Phil that Iwill Contact the hospice nurse and ask the consultant to come and speak to her.
So now Phil can hardly move she is grey with blue lips and eyes. Her O2 sats are 70 percent resting. she is still drinking quite a quantity of alcohol.
What happens with refractory ascites? They have doubled her diuretics but obviously that will pose major problems with her heart, which is failing rapidly. Should I bite the bullet and tell her that we are coming to the point of total palliative care?
Also this week I have had a very upsetting incident with my older sister who has suffered some king of breakdown and had an emotional and uncontrollable outburst at my home, frightening my boys and resulting in her being arrested.
I am feeling very weary and dont know what to do for the best. Any advice would be very much appprieciated.
thank you.
mandy (sister3)
Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 7/3/2011 2:16:19 PM (GMT-6)