Chincoteaguer
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2017
- Messages
- 246
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Diagnosis
- 12/2017
- Country
- Us
- State
- Virginia
- City
- Carrollton
I apologize for the length of this post but I hope it might help others who have to take their PALS to the ER.
We were in the hospital from Thursday morning until noon on Saturday. As I have posted previously the trip to the ER was recommended by our health care nurse based on a false oxygen level readings of 87/88. We had fewer problems during this hospital stay mainly due to our past experience (5 stays within the last year) and preparation.
The following tips may have been posted numerous times on this forum but I think they are worth repeating:
Take your breathing apparatus. Most important!
Keep a container with all the necessary paperwork. I use an older PC carrier. It contains all my wife's ID stuff: driver's license, insurance cards. living will, my power of attorney, a daily schedule of medications, a list of allergies, and some history of her recent problems.
Keep a go bag already packed with stuff you might need. I used a regular travel bag with smaller bags inside (see through bags - the ones with zippers that new linens come in). I put a note in each bag with a list of contents - diapers, wipes, underpads, ointment, toothettes, medication, syringe, plunger, etc. I also put in some Boost and other goodies for myself including shaving kit, etc. extra undies and shirt.
If your PALS is using the feeding tube you should take every thing you need to do the feeding yourself. This was most important to us since they did not have feeding tube stuff readily available.
Don't assume that the doctor's and nurses are ALS aware and make sure they know of any special considerations about your PALS care. "Don't pull on her shoulders or hip, etc."
Ask what medications are being given before letting them be administered. Don't be shy to say no. Most nurses appreciate this. Just remember that you are the caregiver and know more about your PALS than others. Their medication list may contain old medications that are no longer applicable. This happened with us.
Be aware that some hospital staff are on automatic pilot and do the same things whether good for the patient or not. One nurse told us that the bed must always remain at its lowest profile unless diaper changing etc. At 6' 3" this is not good for me. And she always engaged the warning feature which turned on the flashing lights at the foot of the bed. This makes sleeping very difficult.
If appropriate, ask them to skip taking midnight vitals. We did this and we're very glad we did.
One last comment. For some reason my wife started sleeping almost a full night while at the hospital. She has done so again last night at home. This is a God send. I actually slep 5 hrs. without interruption.
We were in the hospital from Thursday morning until noon on Saturday. As I have posted previously the trip to the ER was recommended by our health care nurse based on a false oxygen level readings of 87/88. We had fewer problems during this hospital stay mainly due to our past experience (5 stays within the last year) and preparation.
The following tips may have been posted numerous times on this forum but I think they are worth repeating:
Take your breathing apparatus. Most important!
Keep a container with all the necessary paperwork. I use an older PC carrier. It contains all my wife's ID stuff: driver's license, insurance cards. living will, my power of attorney, a daily schedule of medications, a list of allergies, and some history of her recent problems.
Keep a go bag already packed with stuff you might need. I used a regular travel bag with smaller bags inside (see through bags - the ones with zippers that new linens come in). I put a note in each bag with a list of contents - diapers, wipes, underpads, ointment, toothettes, medication, syringe, plunger, etc. I also put in some Boost and other goodies for myself including shaving kit, etc. extra undies and shirt.
If your PALS is using the feeding tube you should take every thing you need to do the feeding yourself. This was most important to us since they did not have feeding tube stuff readily available.
Don't assume that the doctor's and nurses are ALS aware and make sure they know of any special considerations about your PALS care. "Don't pull on her shoulders or hip, etc."
Ask what medications are being given before letting them be administered. Don't be shy to say no. Most nurses appreciate this. Just remember that you are the caregiver and know more about your PALS than others. Their medication list may contain old medications that are no longer applicable. This happened with us.
Be aware that some hospital staff are on automatic pilot and do the same things whether good for the patient or not. One nurse told us that the bed must always remain at its lowest profile unless diaper changing etc. At 6' 3" this is not good for me. And she always engaged the warning feature which turned on the flashing lights at the foot of the bed. This makes sleeping very difficult.
If appropriate, ask them to skip taking midnight vitals. We did this and we're very glad we did.
One last comment. For some reason my wife started sleeping almost a full night while at the hospital. She has done so again last night at home. This is a God send. I actually slep 5 hrs. without interruption.