M0onkist
Well-Known Member
Looks like my previous post disappeared when I had to reset.
Anyway, it really is difficult caring for our elders, Joanne, though I would never, ever give up the honor of doing so.
We had a bad nurse a couple of nights ago - she came to change what seemed like a full antibiotics IV bag, and when we asked her if she could double-check her papers to make sure there wasn't something mislabelled or whatever, she said "Well, I'm a nurse so I know what I'm doing." What a shutdown, and I was in shock that someone would say that *at all*. Then of course I was livid. The doctor explained it the next day though - turns out after the antibiotic went in, the line wasn't locked, so the regular saline bag wound up backing into the antibiotic bag, making it look full, just not with antibiotic.
She started retaining water rather badly, and wasn't looking very good - the fluid was even backing into her lungs a bit. But the weekend doctor was a very good out-of-the-box thinker, and he decided her pituitary wasn't functioning normally, and was giving out too much retain-fluid hormone. The condition is called SIADH: Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti-Diuretic Hormone. Basically he just gives the counter-hormone, and she seems to be less fluid-filled. There's still some fluid on the lungs, but hopefully it will go down in time - they actually maneuvered a whole x-ray machine into her room so they could take a proper x-ray! No going down to the x-ray room for my Nana.
We're still doing a super-Ensure liquid (called Resource 2) - each 8 tablespoons has 500 kilocalories and 20g protein. They've also added protein powder to add to any food she thinks she's most likely to eat, to keep her gaining strength.
I'm off for my shift now. I would say her state right now is altogether neutral or slightly positive.
Anyway, it really is difficult caring for our elders, Joanne, though I would never, ever give up the honor of doing so.
We had a bad nurse a couple of nights ago - she came to change what seemed like a full antibiotics IV bag, and when we asked her if she could double-check her papers to make sure there wasn't something mislabelled or whatever, she said "Well, I'm a nurse so I know what I'm doing." What a shutdown, and I was in shock that someone would say that *at all*. Then of course I was livid. The doctor explained it the next day though - turns out after the antibiotic went in, the line wasn't locked, so the regular saline bag wound up backing into the antibiotic bag, making it look full, just not with antibiotic.
She started retaining water rather badly, and wasn't looking very good - the fluid was even backing into her lungs a bit. But the weekend doctor was a very good out-of-the-box thinker, and he decided her pituitary wasn't functioning normally, and was giving out too much retain-fluid hormone. The condition is called SIADH: Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti-Diuretic Hormone. Basically he just gives the counter-hormone, and she seems to be less fluid-filled. There's still some fluid on the lungs, but hopefully it will go down in time - they actually maneuvered a whole x-ray machine into her room so they could take a proper x-ray! No going down to the x-ray room for my Nana.
We're still doing a super-Ensure liquid (called Resource 2) - each 8 tablespoons has 500 kilocalories and 20g protein. They've also added protein powder to add to any food she thinks she's most likely to eat, to keep her gaining strength.
I'm off for my shift now. I would say her state right now is altogether neutral or slightly positive.