bbbdirector
Well-known member
It's been a while since I last sent an update about my mom (bbbdirector).
My mother was released from the Cleveland Clinic on Saturday, Feb. 5th and transported by ambulance to a Washington DC Specialty Hosp/Rehab. My mom was totally out of it the next day (assuming she was exhausted from the 7 1/2 hr trip). The next day my mom continuously told us (the family) that she wants to go to the hospital for a few days but could not give us a specific reason. Later that day while my brother was sitting with her she started complaining of chest pains. The nurse and dr came to see about her and called the hospital where my mom wanted to go (Wash Hosp Ctr) but they said they were full and could not accept her, so another hospital was called (George Wash Univ Hosp) and they said they had room and to bring her. (This is the hospital where the heart disease originated, where she received the chemo and radiation treatment for hodgkins disease). My mom was immediately put on oxygen and eventually a breathing tube (the drs said because her carbon dioxide levels were dangerously high). The breathing tube was taken out 2 days later but my mom's breathing continued to be a struggle. She was weak but talking and eating a little and got up and walked a few steps to the chair a few times. On this past Tuesday morning, I arrived @ the hosp around 9 am and was told that a nurse or dr will come out and get me. After waiting for about 5-10 mins two drs came out to tell me that my mom was complaining of having a hard time breathing and her blood pressure dropped to 40/30 and they immediately put the breathing tube back in her which is where she is now. It was such a shock to me because she had a really good day the day before. Now she's on blood pressure medication (norepinephrine), heparin, fluid pills, occasional lasix and I'm not quite sure what other meds (I need to write all of it down tomorrow).
After spending 74 days in the Cleveland Clinic and now 11 days at George Wash Univ Hosp, we see a difference in her care and we aren't comfortable with it at all. The drs do not communicate with us regularly as Cleveland Clinic did, we have to chase down a "resident" to get an update and plan of action. It's very frustrating because we see that this hospital is a 'teaching' hospital and we have to deal with a number of different 'residents' speaking with us which we have yet to get a clear understanding of what they're doing and plan to do with my mom. This is my mother's life and having students try to figure out how to make my mom well is really weighing on me and the family. Today we were told that they will consult with the Intervention Radiology dept for a possible x-ray to search for these 'pockets' of fluid that are in both of her lungs and that this may not get done until Monday (2/21).
We're trying to find her a dr who will take her on as their patient so that they can follow her, we also would like her to be transferred to another hosp who has experience with radiated heart patients who has had OHS.
Has anyone experienced ANY of this? We truly need guidance.
My mother was released from the Cleveland Clinic on Saturday, Feb. 5th and transported by ambulance to a Washington DC Specialty Hosp/Rehab. My mom was totally out of it the next day (assuming she was exhausted from the 7 1/2 hr trip). The next day my mom continuously told us (the family) that she wants to go to the hospital for a few days but could not give us a specific reason. Later that day while my brother was sitting with her she started complaining of chest pains. The nurse and dr came to see about her and called the hospital where my mom wanted to go (Wash Hosp Ctr) but they said they were full and could not accept her, so another hospital was called (George Wash Univ Hosp) and they said they had room and to bring her. (This is the hospital where the heart disease originated, where she received the chemo and radiation treatment for hodgkins disease). My mom was immediately put on oxygen and eventually a breathing tube (the drs said because her carbon dioxide levels were dangerously high). The breathing tube was taken out 2 days later but my mom's breathing continued to be a struggle. She was weak but talking and eating a little and got up and walked a few steps to the chair a few times. On this past Tuesday morning, I arrived @ the hosp around 9 am and was told that a nurse or dr will come out and get me. After waiting for about 5-10 mins two drs came out to tell me that my mom was complaining of having a hard time breathing and her blood pressure dropped to 40/30 and they immediately put the breathing tube back in her which is where she is now. It was such a shock to me because she had a really good day the day before. Now she's on blood pressure medication (norepinephrine), heparin, fluid pills, occasional lasix and I'm not quite sure what other meds (I need to write all of it down tomorrow).
After spending 74 days in the Cleveland Clinic and now 11 days at George Wash Univ Hosp, we see a difference in her care and we aren't comfortable with it at all. The drs do not communicate with us regularly as Cleveland Clinic did, we have to chase down a "resident" to get an update and plan of action. It's very frustrating because we see that this hospital is a 'teaching' hospital and we have to deal with a number of different 'residents' speaking with us which we have yet to get a clear understanding of what they're doing and plan to do with my mom. This is my mother's life and having students try to figure out how to make my mom well is really weighing on me and the family. Today we were told that they will consult with the Intervention Radiology dept for a possible x-ray to search for these 'pockets' of fluid that are in both of her lungs and that this may not get done until Monday (2/21).
We're trying to find her a dr who will take her on as their patient so that they can follow her, we also would like her to be transferred to another hosp who has experience with radiated heart patients who has had OHS.
Has anyone experienced ANY of this? We truly need guidance.
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