Hospice Just Delivered Everything

M

Marie Mallory

Well-known member
Hospice came today, all 6 of them very nice people who, one at a time spent hours here.

They brought mechanical nebulizer, wheelchair-walker, Ordered boost for diabetics, oxygen tank, personal mobile oxygen, pain medication,Colace, Metamucil,' to be mailed.
A shower chair.
Said if I need anything at all call them or if I just need company or phone talk to call.
 
I am glad that you are getting help and some people who will be helping you and Jake as you go through the testing and treatment . Some advantage plans include transportation to a doctors appointment, so you might check and see what your plan offers in that way. If it includes the ride, Jake should be able to go along with you as a caretaker.
My friend that used to live here had that benefit in her UHC advantage plan, and they took her to doctor appointments and her daughter went along with her.
 
Sorry that you have reached the hospice stage @Marie Mallory. I don't know how they gave you this prognosis with so little information. I guess I don't know the entire story. If it is a not-for-profit hospice organization, they are great. One of my patients was even allowed to have a shot of whiskey and a cigarette. Those probably played a role in her demise, but she so looked forward to that point in her every day that it might have extended her life a bit. A few people survive the hospice regimen, but not many except in California where 85% of the patients are eventually discharged. I hope you are one of the survivors.(y)
 
Yvonne Smith said:
I am glad that you are getting help and some people who will be helping you and Jake as you go through the testing and treatment . Some advantage plans include transportation to a doctors appointment, so you might check and see what your plan offers in that way. If it includes the ride, Jake should be able to go along with you as a caretaker.
My friend that used to live here had that benefit in her UHC advantage plan, and they took her to doctor appointments and her daughter went along with her.
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Marie says she is in hospice and that means no more testing or any treatment of any kind for cancer or anything related to her terminal disease. It also means that two qualified doctors have certified that she has 6 months or less to live. Those are the Medicare rules. Generally, with hospice, you can't even go to any doctors, hospice nurses come to your home and address any issues. Here is what Medicare says about going to the hospital.

Hospice patients can go to the hospital if necessary, especially for emergencies or issues that cannot be managed at home. However, if the hospitalization is for complications related to the terminal illness, it may affect their hospice benefits.
 
Faye Fox said:
Marie says she is in hospice and that means no more testing or any treatment of any kind for cancer or anything related to her terminal disease. It also means that two qualified doctors have certified that she has 6 months or less to live. Those are the Medicare rules. Generally, with hospice, you can't even go to any doctors, hospice nurses come to your home and address any issues. Here is what Medicare says about going to the hospital.

Hospice patients can go to the hospital if necessary, especially for emergencies or issues that cannot be managed at home. However, if the hospitalization is for complications related to the terminal illness, it may affect their hospice benefits.
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I think she said that the hospice people came to their house. She said they were there for a while and brought her things she will need while she is getting treatment. I may have misunderstood, but that is what it looked to me like she just wrote.
 
Don Alaska said:
Sorry that you have reached the hospice stage @Marie Mallory. I don't know how they gave you this prognosis with so little information. I guess I don't know the entire story. If it is a not-for-profit hospice organization, they are great. One of my patients was even allowed to have a shot of whiskey and a cigarette. Those probably played a role in her demise, but she so looked forward to that point in her every day that it might have extended her life a bit. A few people survive the hospice regimen, but not many except in California where 85% of the patients are eventually discharged. I hope you are one of the survivors.(y)
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Thank you Don. The doctors saw enough on the bottom Xray to know the origin of the cancer has to be incurable because of my age and the fact it has spread and basically since it already did so much to the spine. I have a couple knots on my head that is not normal one on my forehead.
I'm not sure if I'm excepting it or just in a phrase right now.
Jake is having a hard time with it, although we both got some sleep last couple nights.
 
Yvonne Smith said:
I think she said that the hospice people came to their house. She said they were there for a while and brought her things she will need while she is getting treatment. I may have misunderstood, but that is what it looked to me like she just wrote.
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Hospice doesn't come to your house unless you sign up for it and agree to the terms. Hospice is end of life care at home and only for those with doctors giving them less than 6 months to live. There are strict Medicare rules about it.
 
Yvonne Smith said:
I think she said that the hospice people came to their house. She said they were there for a while and brought her things she will need while she is getting treatment. I may have misunderstood, but that is what it looked to me like she just wrote.
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Yvonne this is terminal at my age and I don't want any more pain although I'm not in a hurry to go but if staying is prolonging side effects of meds or treatment, I sure don't want that.
I still have panic attacks and have to take a ride now and then, and not looking forward to whats next.
This happens to everyone sooner or later although no fun I hope I can be good enough to go to a better place aka and Jake and family are ok. Heaven.
 
Marie Mallory said:
Thank you Don. The doctors saw enough on the bottom Xray to know the origin of the cancer has to be incurable because of my age and the fact it has spread and basically since it already did so much to the spine. I have a couple knots on my head that is not normal one on my forehead.
I'm not sure if I'm excepting it or just in a phrase right now.
Jake is having a hard time with it, although we both got some sleep last couple nights.
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Thanks for clarifying. I am sad that was the doctors final diagnosis and fully understand your decision to die on your own terms at home. I have had 3 friends that went into hospice in the last few years. I fully support anyone's decision to go into hospice, as it is what I will do rather than die uncomfortable in a hospital. I certainly understand Jakes feeling and pain. If he wasn't upset, I would be concerned. He seems to be supportive and want what is best for you that aligns with your wishes, despite how hard it is for him to deal with it.
 
Faye Fox said:
Hospice doesn't come to your house unless you sign up for it and agree to the terms. Hospice is end of life care at home and only for those with doctors giving them less than 6 months to live. There are strict Medicare rules about it.
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So far I think the treatment plan is over, I told them all no Pet Scan, or treatment other than maybe readiation to shrink tumor that is causing severe pain. Not survival treatment but pain managment.
Thanks fro heads up on things to watch out for Faye.
 
Marie Mallory said:
So far I think the treatment plan is over, I told them all no Pet Scan, or treatment other than maybe readiation to shrink tumor that is causing severe pain. Not survival treatment but pain managment.
Thanks fro heads up on things to watch out for Faye.
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When you signed up for hospice, you gave up any radiation treatment to shrink tumors, even for pain control, because that is related to the cancer. They should have explained to you and Jake that surgery, radiation, or any chemo to shrink tumors, for pain control, must be done before signing up for hospice.
 
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Faye Fox said:
When you signed up for hospice, you gave up any radiation treatment to shrink tumors, even for pain control, because that is related to the cancer. They should have explained to you and Jake that surgery, radiation, or any chemo to shrink tumors, for pain control, must be done before signing up for hospice. I
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I'll check this out and see. Either way whatever it is it is.(y)
 
Marie,

I'm in shock, I'm numb, and heartbroken. I understand, only you have the right to make this choice.
Hospice was there for my mom's final days they helped her and us get through this difficult time. They are kind, and understand the needs of you and your family.

I wrote a poem yesterday and I just want to write here the first two lines.
"For those of you who believe
Heaven you can achieve"

I truly believe we will be chatting in Heaven someday.

For now we'll continue to chat on SOC
Tony
 
Tony Page said:
Marie,

I'm in shock, I'm numb, and heartbroken. I understand, only you have the right to make this choice.
Hospice was there for my mom's final days they helped her and us get through this difficult time. They are kind, and understand the needs of you and your family.

I wrote a poem yesterday and I just want to write here the first two lines.
"For those of you who believe
Heaven you can achieve"

I truly believe we will be chatting in Heaven someday.

For now we'll continue to chat on SOC
Tony
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Tony I'm trying to keep close to my faith, it helps me to pray.
I appreciate your help.
🙏
 
Marie Mallory said:
Yvonne this is terminal at my age and I don't want any more pain although I'm not in a hurry to go but if staying is prolonging side effects of meds or treatment, I sure don't want that.
I still have panic attacks and have to take a ride now and then, and not looking forward to whats next.
This happens to everyone sooner or later although no fun I hope I can be good enough to go to a better place aka and Jake and family are ok. Heaven.
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Here Hospice provides enough pain medication to keep you out of pain. They don't deny you because they think you are just a drug addict. They know your situation. Still praying for you guys.
 
We had hospice for my mother and I cannot say enough good things about them. They were kind and attentive and gave us everything we needed to make her last weeks and days as comfortable as possible. Mom was in bad pain the last couple of weeks and was tremendously nauseated and they actually got her signed up for medical marijuana, which helped her immensely with her nausea, as nothing else helped. They were also able to give her very, very heavy pain meds which we probably would have had trouble getting a regular doctor to sign off on.

A couple of times we did have to take her to the emergency room for her nausea and the hospice nurse or coordinator met us there to make sure all went according to plan and to liaise with the hospital. As long as she wasn't admitted to the hospital, hospice stayed in force.

The night she died, all I had to do was call hospice and the nurse came to sign off and arrange for the funeral home to pick Mom up. She stayed with us as long as we needed and it was a smooth transition. Then they picked up the bed and all the equipment in an efficient and no-stress manner at our convenience.

I have read accounts of people who felt they had a bad experience with hospice, but ours was only an excellent experience in every way.
 
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