Sunday, December 03, 2006

I called 911--Updated

Jim refused to go to the hospital. I'm in contact with the home health nurse and the DR. I'll get back with details later.



Update: Jim was lethargic and confused, would not eat, and even though he wanted to pee, couldn't. His temp was 95.2 and I could not get a blood pressure reading.

I called his DR, who said to call 911 and take him to the hospital. Called a couple friends, called 911, and 4 burly guys and one petite woman showed up. Don't know his temp, they got a faily normal BP reading, and took an EKG and said it had some weird showings. They also could not get a pulse at first.

Against their advice, he refused to go to the hospital. I can't continue to put him through weeks of that. Even though I have power of attorney, I agreed to let him stay here.

I called his DR back, and he was kinder,gentler this time, saying I should respect Jim's wishes and we would try to work this through. I told him a home health nurse was on the way, and he said to have her call him. They spoke, and she was to take a urine sample, and blood for 2 tests.

But she didn't have the stuff and had to go to the hospital for it. An hour later, she returned and when we went downstairs, Jim was gone. In the bathroom without his walker peeing, so no urine sample. I have a sterile jar for later.

The blood was hard to draw because his veins are so collapsed. But she finally got it. I should hear about that in maybe 2 hours.

This can't get much worse.

As Liza, who came over today said, I have to give him the choice of the hospital or hospice. This is, I'm sorry, just getting impossible.

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