Question???

Bill woke up this morning with no diaper on. After he removed it he had a watery BM. Lucky it all stayed on the blue pad.

His gown was wet as was his tee shirt but he wasn't soaked like he usually is. it's now 4:30 and he has not urinated all day. He is drinking so it isn't because nothing is going in.

How long can a person go on when the kidneys stop working? Maybe this is just a side effect of the increased seroquel but I don't know. I've checked his BP and it was 172/91 P 79. The next time I took it BP 158/98 P 81.

His BP has been running low 100s/60 P 72

I guess I'm trying to prepare myself but I don't know if or when or what I should tell the girls. Two of them are close by but the oldest one is six hours away.

Any suggestions from my friends here on what I should do?

Joyce. I don't have personal experience, but surely any of your Hospice contacts, would have an answer for you. I think they would catheder him, before giving up, just because it would be so uncomfortable to have to pee, but to not be able to? Unless, you don't want them to do that to him. It is a very personal decision. I would not get your girls on high-tilt alert, until I talked with Hospice. I know, that near the end stages, they start to actually measure urine output, by the ounce.

Hang-In!

Thanks Sky,

I don't want to tell the girls anything unless I know what is going on.
I'm waiting for the nurse to call me. If she doesn't call soon, I will call the office again.

I'm probably just looking at the worse senerio but that is the way I am. I look for the worse and if anything less than that happens, I'm happy.

I just have the feeling that the end is getting closer and I don't want to accept it.
It's the not knowing that is the worse.

Joyce, I can only share my experience. When Helen stopped urinating they put a cath in and she immediately filled the bag and then the urine stopped again.

I was told by hospice that once the kidneys shut completely down that she would have about a week. The cath was put in on September 4th and some days there was nothing and some days she did well. She passed on September 17th.

I hate even having to tell you this but I know you want the truth. I'm so sorry.

He finally peed. The first time since some I didn't think the diaper would hold it. He is still very agitated and I'm waiting for the hospice nurse to get here. It's been an hour and a half since they said one was on the way. I don't know where they're coming from.

Maybe he is going to settle down, I hope so.

The nurse was just here. She didn't do much since he went just before she got here. Did give him a tylenol but that was it. He is still moving around but not like he was earlier.

I'll be back tomorrow. This could be a long night

Auh Joyce.....Have I told you lately, that I think you are a Saint? Yea, I think I have. "Saint Joyce" has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Thanks Sky,
I'm just a very worried one if that's what I am. I certainly don't feel like one right now.

I think you have to be dead before you can become a saint, don't you? Must just be half a saint because I do feel half dead this morning.

Thanks for being here.

Just popping in to check on you Joyce. You are never far from my thoughts these days.

We're doing ok Lori. Bill isn't as responsive this morning, but I was able to get him up and he ate a little before falling back to sleep in his chair.

The aide just left and Bill was still dry from 6:30 this morning. I never dreamed I'd be excited to see someone poop and pee. He hollered out at one point when she was fastening his diaper. Then she touched him at the same place again and he did the same thing. So there must be a spot that is tender to the touch. She told me to call hospice if he didn't go (sorry Sky) if he didn't pee by 3:00. That way the day time shift will still be on and it will be easier to get a nurse out.

Last Sunday the weekend nurse (male) said that it would take three men to cath Bill because he would be so uncooperative. So what did they do last night? They sent one woman to do the job. Sorry guys, but that just goes to show you, it takes three men to do the same job one woman can do.
I'm glad she didn't have to do it because there is no way she could have done it by herself. Which means I would have had to help and I really didn't want to.

Today may be a sleep day, he slept right through his sponge bath and is sleeping now.

hey Joyce, I am just checking in too this morning. Thinking about you and keeping you close in my heart. I hope you are able to get some rest while Bill is sleeping. Take care and I will check back later.

Thanks Joyce! It was the word 'went' that got to me, but you get the piture! I can't help but to get this visual, of three burley UPS driver type dudes, all staning around Bill, trying to decide what to do, and then one little ol' gal comes up, and get's the job done. There must be a "How many Nurses does it take to joke.....but I can't think of a good one, right now!

Try to get a nap in, when he does, if someone else is there.

Hay There Joyce,
Checking in on you and Bill.
You guys are in my thoughts and prayers.
Eileen

Joyce,

I have been following the posts on Bills update and now the kidney shut down. I haven't had much time to post, but I just wanted to pop in to tell you to stay strong. Know you and Bill are in my thoughts and prayers.

Anita

Thanks everyone. It helps knowing there is someone out there who knows what it's like.

I'm not sure what is going on with the kidneys. The nurse will be out again tonight to check on him. Just a wait and see game for right now.

Dear Joyce,

I'm here to encourage you to remain strong. What you have done and what you will be doing takes a lot of determination and love. Although Old Navy died in the hospital from broken hip complications, we had many a day when he either couldn't pee or poop. The poop was mainly because of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but the pee really had me worried, too.

IF he takes another turn for the worse, please call me. I can be at your side in 1 to 1-1/2 hours.