Re: Jim in hospital

[Guest guest]

Jan,

Three years ago my father fainted when we were sitting in the ER waiting for

my mother to be admitted. Mom had been deteriorating and I just had not

noticed Dad was not drinking enough. I was giving him drinks but not noting

how

much he actually took in. Just one more learning experience for this

caregiver. Dad was also admitted overnight for observation. For a time I was

running back and forth between to curtain areas in the ER. They tested Dad for

everything (all negative) and also re hydrated him. He was released the next

day in much better shape and I, the self-appointed Hydration Harpie, now

enforce a daily minimum fluid consumption level. No fainting since then.

Hopefully dehydration is the immediate cause of Jim's current problems. Could

the

attending at the NH write orders that his fluids be more closely monitored

and that they follow swallowing protocols? If he has not yet had one they

might be able to do a swallowing evaluation while he is in the hospital.

Assuming he demonstrates swallowing issues as documented by the test, I would

think the NH would be compelled to follow the preventative guidelines for

swallowing.

I hope he is safely back in the NH soon,

KB

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[Guest guest]

Jan

Jim is in my prayers. I hope they find out what is wrong and correct it

quickly.

Cyber Hugs from Fl

Jacqui

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[Guest guest]

Jan - Jim will be in my thoughts & prayers today and the days that

follow that he has a speedy recovery - with you behind him, he can't

get better care than that. Hugs.

[Guest guest]

Jan , Sending up prayers for Jim and you and may it just be he needed hydrating

and nothing more.Hope you get him home and well very soon.Be well Ron

Janet Colello wrote: Hi,

Jim is in the hospstial. While he was home for the weekend, he seemed very

confused, way more than usual, and talking very nonsensical. This has started

happening within the last week. I had him tested for a UTI at the nh, but it

came back so low on the results that no antibiotics have been issued to him. At

2AM Monday morning, Jim woke up and seemed very weak, his breathing was shallow

and he could hardly respond to me, so I had the paramedics come and get him and

bring him to emergency. They have run blood tests, UTI test, ,CT scan and all

kinds of tests, but so far can't find anything. He became aggressive with the

nurses. I sat with him from 2:30AM to 6PM on Monday, I wanted to make sure none

of the medications on the bad LBD side were issued to him. I spoke with almost

every shift to make sure they know not to give him certain medications. Jim has

a medic alert bracelet on, but they don't pay attention to that I don't think. I

have never seen anyone really stop to

read it. Jim does have arthritis in his knees and I think that is what made him

aggitated, because after being in bed for so long they started to hurt. He is

allergic to the medications they have tried for his arthritis before, so they

gave him nothing. I don't think they realized that his knees were in pain and

that caused him to be aggitated. It took me some time to figure it out when he

was very fidgity and aggitated. I finally went up and asked for a Tylenol for

him and it relieved the pain and he fell sound asleep. I use Tylenol at home and

also some of the overcounter arthritis helpers with deep heating action like

patches and ActivOn and they really seem to help him. Of course, the hospital

had nothing like that to put on his knees, they only think in terms of oral

drugs.

They have transfered Jim to another hospital about half an hour away from me,

they wanted to keep an eye on him, I pray all my requests have transfered with

him. I will go visit Jim today. The one thing they did do was hydrate Jim, as

usual he was dehydrated and they gave him two bags of hydration. He seemed to

perk up after that, so maybe it all comes down to he was dehydrated. I keep the

liquids pouring into him at home, but I don't think they have a good watch on

that at the nh. He needs to have thickener in his liquids and I just don't think

they take the time to put thickener in his liquids, the head nurse does at

certain times, but when he is thirsty none of the CNAs take the time inbetween

meals to thicken liquids for him and give him liquids.

I'll keep you informed when I see him today............Jan

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Jan, Being dehydrated could certainly be the answer. Confusion from that

happens to non-LBDers, so you can imagine it would do at least the same

thing or more to an LBDer. The CNAs should be told to have him drink

something at least every two hours (on the clock).

Hope he's feeling much better this morning.

Re: Jim in hospital

Jan - Jim will be in my thoughts & prayers today and the days that

follow that he has a speedy recovery - with you behind him, he can't

get better care than that. Hugs.

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[Guest guest]

HI Jan,

Sorry to hear about Jim. Hope he bounces back quickly.

Courage

[Guest guest]

Jan, thank goodness you had Jim at home so you could assess his situation. I

hope you

will find him back on track today after hydration and no bad meds. Thinking

about you.

, Oakville Ont.

Mother, age 92, died Aug. 12/06 after 13 year decline from PDD

>

> Hi,

> Jim is in the hospstial. While he was home for the weekend, he seemed very

confused,

way more than usual, and talking very nonsensical. This has started happening

within the

last week. I had him tested for a UTI at the nh, but it came back so low on the

results that

no antibiotics have been issued to him. At 2AM Monday morning, Jim woke up and

seemed

very weak, his breathing was shallow and he could hardly respond to me, so I had

the

paramedics come and get him and bring him to emergency. They have run blood

tests, UTI

test, ,CT scan and all kinds of tests, but so far can't find anything. He became

aggressive

with the nurses. I sat with him from 2:30AM to 6PM on Monday, I wanted to make

sure

none of the medications on the bad LBD side were issued to him. I spoke with

almost

every shift to make sure they know not to give him certain medications. Jim has

a medic

alert bracelet on, but they don't pay attention to that I don't think. I have

never seen

anyone really stop to

> read it. Jim does have arthritis in his knees and I think that is what made

him aggitated,

because after being in bed for so long they started to hurt. He is allergic to

the

medications they have tried for his arthritis before, so they gave him nothing.

I don't think

they realized that his knees were in pain and that caused him to be aggitated.

It took me

some time to figure it out when he was very fidgity and aggitated. I finally

went up and

asked for a Tylenol for him and it relieved the pain and he fell sound asleep. I

use Tylenol

at home and also some of the overcounter arthritis helpers with deep heating

action like

patches and ActivOn and they really seem to help him. Of course, the hospital

had nothing

like that to put on his knees, they only think in terms of oral drugs.

> They have transfered Jim to another hospital about half an hour away from

me, they

wanted to keep an eye on him, I pray all my requests have transfered with him. I

will go

visit Jim today. The one thing they did do was hydrate Jim, as usual he was

dehydrated and

they gave him two bags of hydration. He seemed to perk up after that, so maybe

it all

comes down to he was dehydrated. I keep the liquids pouring into him at home,

but I don't

think they have a good watch on that at the nh. He needs to have thickener in

his liquids

and I just don't think they take the time to put thickener in his liquids, the

head nurse

does at certain times, but when he is thirsty none of the CNAs take the time

inbetween

meals to thicken liquids for him and give him liquids.

> I'll keep you informed when I see him today............Jan

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Got a little couch potato?

> Check out fun summer activities for kids.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Jan,

I am thinking of you, and keeping you and Jim in my prayers. Let us know

how he is doing whenever you have time.

Love and hugs,

Piper

************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at

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[Guest guest]

Hi dear Jan, I just opened our site today, and saw that Jim has been

in the hospital. I am so very sorry things are so hard.

And, aren't they? When we saw you we were doing so chipper, and now,

Well, let's just say that we have seen much better days. It breaks my

heart to see my precious man loosing his mental abilities.

We went to the doctor today, and Don didn't mean to, but the doctor

saw how bad it is getting. Don had chest pain again last night, and

our primary care doctor told us to get him to his Cardiologist right

away. Don didn't call me by using the nice portable doorbell that he

use to use. So obviously that service is no longer going to work.

I told him we have got to be together, so that we can care for each

other. Being across the hall doesn't cut it, not if he can't use the

bell anymore. I bought a king bed so that he would sleep with me, but

he is afraid he will thrash around and hurt me, and too, when he is

ready for bed, it's like right now! If I am a few minutes later

getting into bed it upsets him. I can work around that, but Ican't

even hear the alarm clock by my bed, so I need to feel his movements.

So many things have happened that I can't relate them all. It's Lewy

at it's best, and that ain't good.

Again, Jan, you are very special to me, and I hope you will remain

alright while under all the stress of caring for your beloved Jim.

Love a big bunch,

Imogene

Caretaker for my True Texas Gentleman of almost 37 years. He has LBD

along with Parkinsonism.

>

> Hi,

> Jim is in the hospstial. While he was home for the weekend, he

seemed very confused, way more than usual, and talking very

nonsensical. This has started happening within the last week. I had

him tested for a UTI at the nh, but it came back so low on the

results that no antibiotics have been issued to him. At 2AM Monday

morning, Jim woke up and seemed very weak, his breathing was shallow

and he could hardly respond to me, so I had the paramedics come and

get him and bring him to emergency. They have run blood tests, UTI

test, ,CT scan and all kinds of tests, but so far can't find

anything. He became aggressive with the nurses. I sat with him from

2:30AM to 6PM on Monday, I wanted to make sure none of the

medications on the bad LBD side were issued to him. I spoke with

almost every shift to make sure they know not to give him certain

medications. Jim has a medic alert bracelet on, but they don't pay

attention to that I don't think. I have never seen anyone really stop

to

> read it. Jim does have arthritis in his knees and I think that is

what made him aggitated, because after being in bed for so long they

started to hurt. He is allergic to the medications they have tried

for his arthritis before, so they gave him nothing. I don't think

they realized that his knees were in pain and that caused him to be

aggitated. It took me some time to figure it out when he was very

fidgity and aggitated. I finally went up and asked for a Tylenol for

him and it relieved the pain and he fell sound asleep. I use Tylenol

at home and also some of the overcounter arthritis helpers with deep

heating action like patches and ActivOn and they really seem to help

him. Of course, the hospital had nothing like that to put on his

knees, they only think in terms of oral drugs.

> They have transfered Jim to another hospital about half an hour

away from me, they wanted to keep an eye on him, I pray all my

requests have transfered with him. I will go visit Jim today. The one

thing they did do was hydrate Jim, as usual he was dehydrated and

they gave him two bags of hydration. He seemed to perk up after that,

so maybe it all comes down to he was dehydrated. I keep the liquids

pouring into him at home, but I don't think they have a good watch on

that at the nh. He needs to have thickener in his liquids and I just

don't think they take the time to put thickener in his liquids, the

head nurse does at certain times, but when he is thirsty none of the

CNAs take the time inbetween meals to thicken liquids for him and

give him liquids.

> I'll keep you informed when I see him today............Jan

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Got a little couch potato?

> Check out fun summer activities for kids.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jan: Hope you have found him improving on your visit

this afternoon. Darrell was terribly dehydrated both

times he had to go to ER. One of the times, he

appeared to be drinking well when I fed him dinner; he

always drank juice, milk, water, and sometimes coffee,

but perhaps the disease causes them not to absorb it

well. Who knows. Anyway, I hope that does the trick.

Let us know.

June

--- Janet Colello wrote:

> Hi,

> Jim is in the hospstial. While he was home for the

> weekend, he seemed very confused, way more than

> usual, and talking very nonsensical. This has

> started happening within the last week. I had him

> tested for a UTI at the nh, but it came back so low

> on the results that no antibiotics have been issued

> to him. At 2AM Monday morning, Jim woke up and

> seemed very weak, his breathing was shallow and he

> could hardly respond to me, so I had the paramedics

> come and get him and bring him to emergency. They

> have run blood tests, UTI test, ,CT scan and all

> kinds of tests, but so far can't find anything. He

> became aggressive with the nurses. I sat with him

> from 2:30AM to 6PM on Monday, I wanted to make sure

> none of the medications on the bad LBD side were

> issued to him. I spoke with almost every shift to

> make sure they know not to give him certain

> medications. Jim has a medic alert bracelet on, but

> they don't pay attention to that I don't think. I

> have never seen anyone really stop to

> read it. Jim does have arthritis in his knees and I

> think that is what made him aggitated, because after

> being in bed for so long they started to hurt. He is

> allergic to the medications they have tried for his

> arthritis before, so they gave him nothing. I don't

> think they realized that his knees were in pain and

> that caused him to be aggitated. It took me some

> time to figure it out when he was very fidgity and

> aggitated. I finally went up and asked for a Tylenol

> for him and it relieved the pain and he fell sound

> asleep. I use Tylenol at home and also some of the

> overcounter arthritis helpers with deep heating

> action like patches and ActivOn and they really seem

> to help him. Of course, the hospital had nothing

> like that to put on his knees, they only think in

> terms of oral drugs.

> They have transfered Jim to another hospital about

> half an hour away from me, they wanted to keep an

> eye on him, I pray all my requests have transfered

> with him. I will go visit Jim today. The one thing

> they did do was hydrate Jim, as usual he was

> dehydrated and they gave him two bags of hydration.

> He seemed to perk up after that, so maybe it all

> comes down to he was dehydrated. I keep the liquids

> pouring into him at home, but I don't think they

> have a good watch on that at the nh. He needs to

> have thickener in his liquids and I just don't think

> they take the time to put thickener in his liquids,

> the head nurse does at certain times, but when he is

> thirsty none of the CNAs take the time inbetween

> meals to thicken liquids for him and give him

> liquids.

> I'll keep you informed when I see him

> today............Jan

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Got a little couch potato?

> Check out fun summer activities for kids.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

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[Guest guest]

Jan,

Hope Jim is doing better! Wish there was a way for staff to understand the

simple hydration is so important and saves them work!

Jacquie, Hope you are on the mend and feeling better after surgery.

Hugs to you both.

Donna R

Caregave for Mom (after I brought her from WI to MI) for 3 years and 4th year in

a nh.

She was almost 89 when she died in '02. No dx other than mine.

Re: Jim in hospital

Jan

Jim is in my prayers. I hope they find out what is wrong and correct it

quickly.

Cyber Hugs from Fl

Jacqui

************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at

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