O k. We got the pee problem taken care of now what's going on.

I gave Bill his lunch about 1 today and then gave him his afternoon seroquel. He was doing good all morning. After lunch I put him to bed so I could change him. He was good and wet, so that's working. When I finished changing him, he seemed to be tired so I covered him and he fell asleep. Within an hour he started sneezing one after another. This went on so many times that I went in to check on him. I laid down next to him and he stopped sneezing. Then he started to sound like there was a lot of drainage and he was almost chocking so I raised the head of the bed. Helped a little bit but then he got the hic ups. He didn't wake up through out all this. It's now 6:30 and he is still asleep but restless and still sounds like a lot of drainage in his throat. I just woke him to see if he would eat some apple sauce but after just one bite he choked a little and seemed to have trouble swallowing it. I backed off and didn't give him any more. He went right back to sleep.

How can he go from doing and acting good to sleeping, sneezing, choking, congested, and restless forgot the hic ups in such a short time.
Any suggestions on what I should do.

Joyce, I don't post much but this sounds like a call to the Hospice Nurse is in order. She/he would have more information and this just doesn't sound like something that we are capable to answer. Something could be going on and it may be nothing more than a cold. Hope this helps.

I have no suggestions for you. All I know with this disease is that what is true one moment is all different the next.

I remember Helen being bed bound for a couple weeks and unable to walk at all. I put her in the hospice in patient unit over night and they had to put her back in bed several times as she was raoming the hall. She came home and couldn't walk again.

I am wondering though if Bill has some type of virus. That may explain the mess this morning also. Maybe hospice can give him an antibiotic. It can't hurt anyway.

I raised the head of Bill's bed earlier this evening, checked on him around 10:30. At 11:15 I went in to check on him and he had thrown up while sleeping. Nothing solid came up but what did come was like black water. The right shoulder of his gown was soaked along with the bed around the shoulder. Some went on the floor. He never woke up and even now that I've washed his face, removed his gown and place a clean blue pad under the shoulder he still went right back to sleep. The hospice nurse is on his way but it could take awhile since the weather here is not the best.
He still has the hic ups.Have to get back to him, he's fussing because I rolled him on his side and raised the bed in case he throws up again.

Be back tomorrow.

It seems the inability to swallow, Joyce, is classic. Although my Mom has chocked on food, on spit, whatever, for years. My Dad used to get mad at her? I think because it scared him? This last visi,t, she started ot choke so much at a Chinese Food Rest, I was really worried, and followed her into the bathroom. She was more upset, that she pee'd herself, down to her knees. (I should have told Eva, but forgot, as she did?) I cleaned her up, and told her that it happens to me too, which is true!

I am no Doctor, but the swallow reflex seems to be tough to retain. I am sure a Doctor, or a Nurse, or Hospice, will know more. I am so sorry.

Oh Joyce. This does not sound good. I tried to call, but your line is, busy, busy, busy! I'll keep trying.

Let us know what the nurse said. I don't like the idea of the black liquid. Did he have anymore coffee today?

The hospice nurse got here about 1:30. he said it was old blood that came up. The blood came from somewhere between the throat and the stomach. If it was past the stomach it would have come out the other end as black tarry stool. His hic ups were still present and with every breath he would sort of groan. He didn't react to pressure on the abdomen. The blood must have gotten in the stomach within the last two days. Ulcer or a tear from coughing (which he hasn't been doing) or he might have bitten his tongue (not likely since he doesn't have his teeth). He called the doctor and started him on 2.5mg -5mg of morphine every 3-4 hours.
He said I may notice some confusion when Bill wakes up. I ask him how I was supposed to no the difference from how he always wakes up.

Bill slept from 1:15 until 3:30 and then started getting more restless. I went in to check on him and at 4, up came more old blood. You could tell that Bill didn't want to get anything on the bed because he tried to hold it and to get to the side of the bed. After I gave him another dose of morphine because he was making so much groaning noise. I also changed his diaper and it was wet and full. No black stool so no blood there.

The nurse said this could happen again (it did) and that it could be a bright red and a lot of blood, meaning a fresh bleed. Then I would have to decide if I want to take him to the hospital to see if it could be treated. if I did that, he would be dropped from hospice but could put him back in after.
He told me it would be a good idea to have a lot of dark colored towels close by in case it does start the fresh blood to absorb it. With the dark color I'm not supposed to notice it as much.

He is still sleeping but it's not a restful sleep. I'm glad our daughter is coming over today because I can use some help in changing his bed with him still in it. I don't know if he will be getting up or not. Guess I will have to wait and see.
That's the story of my life the last few weeks. WAIT AND SEE.

Sky,
I did get a few hours of sleep but don't feel too bad this morning. Must be the worry that is keeping me going. Next time we can't talk as long or maybe just not as late/early as last night. Thanks for the support though. Catherine hasn't called yet, but I'm sure she will. I think I'll just send her shopping, I really don't feel up to it.

Joyce, I am very sorry to hear all you have been going through. It's good your daughter will be there. This is a very frightening thing to have happen and it just helps to have someone else there just for support.

Keeping you and Bill in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs to you both.

I just called Bill's doctor and he said he would be out before this afternoon to check on Bill. He'll call me when he leaves home.

I told him that when the hospice nurse called the office last night to get permission to give Bill morphine that the doctor on call reluctantly agreed on the 2.5-5mg but didn't want to do that. Bill's doctor said he had no problem giving him more and ask if I needed more right now.

I'll get back after the doctor leaves.

Bill's still sleeping

Oh Joyce, I'm so sorry all this is happening, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Thanks for keeping us posted.

Many hugs to you,

~Kelly~

Joyce:
please know my thoughts and prayers are with you......have they tried perhaps something to coat the tummy? that might help a little but then again...
take care....
xxoo
karen

The doctor just left. He had trouble getting Bill to respond, but he finally did.. Then went right back to sleep. I thought he was going to bring more up but didn't.

Blood pressure was good and stomach was soft. Doctor said it could be old blood from maybe a small ulcer that healed. Said he wanted to just check Bill and make sure he was no on his way out (his words).

He told me I could double the morphine if needed and I could give it every two hours to keep him comfortable. He said I couldn't over dose him and right now all we want to do is to just keep him comfortable. He told me that when I heard from hospice to have them call him on his cell phone.

Now I think I will try to get a little sleep; never know what tonight may bring.

Sky,
I'll call you after I rest up. Thanks for being there last night.

I need a nap too! I am glad you have so much real-time-human-being support.

I've got both you and Bill on my mind and yes, let your daughter do the shopping. Get some rest.