My Partner takes Ropinerol twice a day. We saw the doctor today and he increased the dose to TWO twice a day. What a day! We had two doctor appts scheduled same clinic. The first doctor was 45 minutes late calling us in. Then we are in the office where my partner is in a special chair and it is hurting his tailbone. They were going to do a EMG test. FINALLY the doctor came in and I could tell he was rushing. He had been told that we have the Parkinson appt at 3:30 and he is already 1 hour late to see us. DAMMIT I was mad. He had to quit the test early and said he would set another time for the second half. We then waited to be called to see the Parkinson doctor who now has taken another patient since we were LATE. We wait 30 minutes to get into him. He is GREAT and got us out within about 20 minutes. I was so upset as my Partner was in such pain and there seemed to be no caring about his pain. The first doctor had a starbuck coffee in his hand when he came in. The Starbucks is about 4 blocks from the clinic. This told me he could care less and took a long lunch and coffee.
He is planning on a hip shot and two back shots at the surgery center in about 1 1/2 weeks. BUT, the scheduling is being held up by the Radiologists as they are having a hard time getting together. UGH! Does anyone care that my Partner 89 years old is in pain????
Thanks for listening and my complaining. SORRY
He just cannot do this any longer. It take everything out of him to get into the car and out and then back again. He barely can walk down the hall to the Dr. office. I told the doctor that he cannot do this any longer. He acts like he had a small stoke. I am just feeling SO sorry for him. I don't want him to suffer anymore. I want to keep him at home so I am praying that he goes before he gets much worse. It looks like I will have to start helping him eat soon. His appetite is going downhill also. I can't stand to see him like this. Coming out of the doctor's office getting into the car he started to go down. I was holding him with all I had in me to keep him from falling on the concrete. Suddenly Three beautiful male angels came flying out of the waiting room and helped me with my partner. Thank you God.
I finally put an ad in the paper for a housekeeper. I am interviewing someone on Tuesday and hopefully they can start on Friday. I have to start crossing off some chores on my list. He needs me more every day. If I can possibly afford it, I would like her to come every other week.
I talked to our Primary doctor yesterday about Hospice. I also had the conversation with our Visiting Nurse. She same they discuss my Partner yesterday and he is declining fast. She agreed that our Primary doctor who is the head of Hospice here in our County would be making the final decision. She was going to Email him today. She was SO pleased that we are both open to Hospice. She said a lot of people have the wrong idea about hospice. It is not a last minute fix. Some people are on hospice for a long time and actually come off. I have the greatest respect for hospice. I don't want him to suffer and Hospice is the answer.
I know from talking to our doctor that he is going to treat with pain medication and with antibiotics. He believes my partner is trying to get pneumonia. She agreed with me on the neurologist. She was shocked he was treating my partner as he is normally just called in as a consultant. But, as I have said many times, we live so far from GREAT treatment. I could drive my Partner 2.5 hours to the nearest new neurologist. I believe the neurologist is waiting for our Primary Care Dr (head of hospice) to make the decision on the next treatment road to take.
Our primary dr is a close friend and we would never leave him ever! We both trust him with our lives. We are going to leave the time for Hospice up to him.
Drs here in our area are SO stressed and over booked. They come in from the Big city for about 5 days a month and every time they come, there are new patients added to them. We are considered a Rural medical area. I was told they rented a house and they all use it when they come here.
My partner is scheduled for a shot in his hip and two shots in his lower back at the Surgery Center next week. If they can control his pain, his life will be so much better quality. He is so ready to go and I am so not ready for him to go. It is a mental conflict. Thanks for your advice. We both have great kids. My daughter is a teacher, underpaid and exceptional.
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