Update on Papa

Today will be a quick entry as I am again off to the hospital.  I want to be there as early as I can, because today is the day that they are inserting Papa's feeding tube in his stomach.  His gastro doc calls it a "procedure" rather than surgery, but she's having his surgeon stand by in case she gets into trouble among all his scar tissue and displaced organs. 

The feeding tube will have a "port" (my word) to allow feeding directly to the lower intestine, and one to remove the irritating contents of his stomach, which isn't working anyway.  Either way you look at it, she's cutting two holes in his belly.

A very kind, young woman doctor;  Dr. Black, met with us yesterday to get an overall view of Papa's case from us, and then she was to meet with all his other "providers" (HMO speak for involved docs) and try to get a diagnosis and prognosis.  Unfortunately, she called later that day and said that she was unable to make contact with the gastro doctor, so hopefully today, she'll have more info and get together with us then.  She did speak with Papa's primary care physician, and obtained his medical history.  She said that they have a few "ideas" to share with me as well. 

She gave me a booklet and pamphlet on hospice care and one that was all about the tough choices involved in end of life care........forced nutrition and hydration, antibiotics, CPR and life support machinery, etc.

I'll have to say that I really learned alot about the way that the dying body reacts to forced hydration from that booklet, since I'd already had my mind made up on some of these issues, without all the facts.  All my information came from the media's reports on cases in the news, like Karen Ann Quinlan's situation.  It was good to get another viewpoint.  I passed the book on to my youngest brother so that he could be informed and involved, if it comes to that.

Dr. Black said she'd be glad to meet with my brother at a later time, if he wasn't able to be there today when she finally has all the information together. 

This squeaky wheel is finally getting some grease.