GRrr, nurse....

[greenrosemom4]

So my Mom has been in a nursing home for several months. She started acting wacky a couple of weeks ago, so the nursing home decided she needed to go to a psyciatric hospital to see whats causing the problem. I'm pretty sure it's all the drugs they have her on, but that's a topic for a different baord.

Anyway, my sister has medical POA. So she the one who gives constent for all medical stuff. So the nursing home calls last week and want to give Mom a flu shot. I tried to talk my sister out of it, but she is so mainstream its scary, so of course she said "yes".

Anyway, the hospital calls DSIS today and wanted to give Mom a flu shot. DSIS tells them that she is pretty sure Mom had one last week, but she'll call the nursing home to make sure and call them right back. She calls the nursing home and find out that they did indeed give Mom a flu shot on Friday, before sending her to the hospital.

So DSIS calls back and the nurse says, "Oh, well I just gave her another one." WTF, this nurse couldn't wait 20 minutes for a call back. So now Mom has had 2 flu shots within days of each other.

So now I'm worried she's gonna get real sick. My sister of course doesn't see the big deal, so she won't complain, but I'm just furious. This nurse couldn't wait until my sis called back. My Mom is not a well woman. Her immune system just doesn't need this kind of assult. Am I overreacting? My sister seems to think I am.

Terri

[Jazmommie]

wow --that almost happened to a patient I know last week-she had moved to the other side of the nursing home and they had the not signed consent form -they asked --thank goodness --the daughter who came to visit if she had had the shot --she had it -the daughter had even signed a consent form which they lost---

watch for side effects like sore arm,swelling ,fever--make surre the nurses are checking on her --maybe give her some extra vit C.

[ErinsJuneBug]

Could she have a UTI? I know this would be a pretty easy test but I wonder if it was over looked. Often seniors can suffer dementia when they get UTI's.

I'm sorry with what happened with the flu shot - thats really annoying.

[T&D2005]

This isn't meant to argue: The nurse had to get consent from someone and usually it is a signed consent~ any idea who would have said so? Nurses don't just have random vaccines in their pockets ready to prick anyone they see. I agree with the UTI possibility as well. Sending someone to a psych hospital isn't a normal protocol either. The POA really does need to go in there and see what is going on. Look at the list of meds and you have the RIGHT to say no I don't want her on that or that or that.

Back to the issue at hand... That really sucks. They will be monitoring her temp for the next 72 hrs and I'd be calling up to know what it is each shift and go from there.

[Gitti]

Does your sis know there is mercury in those shots? Does she know what mercury is?

[greenrosemom4]

I'm pretty sure it's the pain meds they put her on in the nursing home. We had to have her detoxed off of them about 15 years ago. I think she was able to talk the nursing home DR into giving her pain meds.

My sister is trying to talk to the actual Dr who is treating her now, but she hasn't been able too.

Both my Mom and sister are very pro medical establishment. I, on the other hand, not so much. That's why mom gave POA to my sister instead of me.

So in a nutshell, DSIS will not complain about the flu shot because they are "safe" and it's "no big deal".

They've already tried to tell us that it can't possibly be the pain meds causing her wackiness, but from what I saw today, that's exactly what it is. We've been told that it's not that big a dose so it couldn't be the problem. Hello, she's an addict. You can't give an addict even a small amount. Especially when they have hardly any kidney function left and your restricting their liquids. How is her body supposed to flush that out?

15 years ago when I fought this battle I had a horrible time getting someone to listen to me. They just decided it was dementia and wouldn't listen. Hopefully, my sister can get them to listen better than I could back then. But I'm not holding my breath. I fear history is repeating itself.

[Marnica]

Just wanted to say that sux! What a terrible position to be in. Im sorry your sister will not listen to reason. You are NOT overreacting. I would feel the exact same way!!

[Scattershoot]

So DSIS calls back and the nurse says, "Oh, well I just gave her another one." WTF, this stupid nurse couldn't wait 20 minutes for a call back. So now Mom has had 2 flu shots within days of each other.

And then everyone acts surprised the Alzheimers numbers keep growing, and people younger and younger are showing the symptoms.

[greenrosemom4]

My sister is a CNA for the health department.

So vaccines are great and I'm a nutjob. My kids are going to spread diptheria to the entire population of the US. This is of course after DS's penis falls off from that deadly infection he's going to get from his foreskin.

Of course that's only if DH doesn't snap first, from not having his "personal needs" met because our bed is too full of kids, so we don't ever DTD, and murders all of us in our sleep.

Sometimes I think I was either adopted and switched at birth.

Oh well.

Terri

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by greenrosemom4

Of course that's only if DH doesn't snap first, from not having his "personal needs" met because our bed is too full of kids, so we don't ever DTD, and murders all of us in our sleep.

How is your bed full of kids if you never DTD ?

Ah, well your mother chose her and she is getting what she wanted. Sad though.

[JJ'sMom]

Originally Posted by greenrosemom4

My sister is a CNA for the health department.

So vaccines are great and I'm a nutjob. My kids are going to spread diptheria to the entire population of the US. This is of course after DS's penis falls off from that deadly infection he's going to get from his foreskin.

Of course that's only if DH doesn't snap first, from not having his "personal needs" met because our bed is too full of kids, so we don't ever DTD, and murders all of us in our sleep.

Sometimes I think I was either adopted and switched at birth.

Oh well.

Terri

ROTFLMAO!!! This is so our house.

Man, I am so sorry about your mom. Especially watching all your hard work weaning her go down the drain like that too.

[greenrosemom4]

Update

Well the good news is that, after talking with my half sister(different mom and a drug counselor) my sister was ready to pull the lawyer card to get them to take her off the pain killers.

So lo and behold, she calls the psych unit today only to find out the Dr already took her off after our visit the other day. And guess what, she's starting to return to normal. Surprise, surprise.

So they plan on sending her back to the nursing home on Monday, but now we have to start the evaluation process all over again to try and get her moved to assisted living. Which ticks me off because we had just finally found a place that was willing to take her. But at least she won't be in the psych unit anymore.

Now I just gotta worry what having 2 flu shots could do to her.

[not now]

Originally Posted by T&D2005

This isn't meant to argue: The nurse had to get consent from someone and usually it is a signed consent~ any idea who would have said so? Nurses don't just have random vaccines in their pockets ready to prick anyone they see.

The flu vax (and the pneumo vax) will almost always be ordered for a geriatric patient automatically on admission to an acute care hospital (if the patient has allergies or already had the vax is the exception). The CDC recommends all geriatrics be immunized so that's the recommendation that MD's follow. No signed consent necessary. In fact I have never needed a signed consent, in acute care, for anything other than surgery, endoscopy, and/or blood.

Someone made a comment about being transferred to a psyc facility. We don't have a psyc facility near us but when a patient began to act more confused, aggressive, difficult to redirect, ect the MD would order a psyc consult (this is back when I worked in a nursing home). He came in once a month and would evaluate all the patients that needed a psyc consult, review their meds, review history, interview the resident and make a recommendation. Maybe the facility that the OP's mother is in doesn't have that luxury?

[loveyourohana]

not now... I have a question for you then... if you dont mind... I don't expect you to know the answer, but since you have worked in a rest home... I thought I would ask your view.

As we get older, and hit that point where we need help in a rest home... what rights do our children have, what rights do we have, as far as the drugs administered and vaccinations given. Do I have the right to have legal protection ahead of time? I hope I never get to this point, I hope my son is able to take care of me, but I know that sometimes assistance is the best he will be able to do at some point.

My son already knows at a young age... I don't use presc. meds, or vaccinate. Do I lose all rights and have no say in my belief system when I hit a ripe old age? They are against my religion!

I am just curious, because this is disrespectful of our elders if this is the case. Shame on us as a society!

[loveyourohana]

Originally Posted by greenrosemom4

Well the good news is that, after talking with my half sister(different mom and a drug counselor) my sister was ready to pull the lawyer card to get them to take her off the pain killers.

So lo and behold, she calls the psych unit today only to find out the Dr already took her off after our visit the other day. And guess what, she's starting to return to normal. Surprise, surprise.

So they plan on sending her back to the nursing home on Monday, but now we have to start the evaluation process all over again to try and get her moved to assisted living. Which ticks me off because we had just finally found a place that was willing to take her. But at least she won't be in the psych unit anymore.

Now I just gotta worry what having 2 flu shots could do to her.

I have seen this happen with two of my grandparents... they had to fight hard to have them remove the drugs they were presc. and guess what.. in both cases they recovered mentally! Makes you think twice doesn't it! Good for you and your sis. for freeing your mothers mind, and allowing her to live the end of her days not drugged up, and able to think and process the time she has left!!!

[not now]

Originally Posted by loveyourohana

not now... I have a question for you then... if you dont mind... I don't expect you to know the answer, but since you have worked in a rest home... I thought I would ask your view.

As we get older, and hit that point where we need help in a rest home... what rights do our children have, what rights do we have, as far as the drugs administered and vaccinations given. Do I have the right to have legal protection ahead of time? I hope I never get to this point, I hope my son is able to take care of me, but I know that sometimes assistance is the best he will be able to do at some point.

My son already knows at a young age... I don't use presc. meds, or vaccinate. Do I lose all rights and have no say in my belief system when I hit a ripe old age? They are against my religion!

I am just curious, because this is disrespectful of our elders if this is the case. Shame on us as a society!

Power of attorney needs to be established well before you lose cognitive function. Ideally, you sit down with your doc and explain what you want and don't want and that your son will be your POA. If he is your only son and there is no other family contesting his decision he will naturally be in charge of your treatment. I wouldn't take chances and would fill out a legal advanced directive and detailed POA. I've had residents who have huge, typed living wills that were written with the help of a lawyer and we always honored them. This should be done even when your young and healthy in case of an emergency. If your in an accident, end up sedated on a ventilator you need someone to speak for you. I'm 28 and have an advanced directive.

You can refuse anything you want to. I had one man who suffered a massive stroke, could no longer communicate and could barely move. His wife requested that he only receive a daily multivitamin and non-narcotic pain medication. That request was honored by the doc and the facility. I loved it. I'm big on letting nature take it's course and not loading up geriatrics with useless meds (Alzheimer meds are worthless). Guilt is a huge factor in why family request/agree to multiple meds and treatments.

ETA: Emergency situations (car accident for example ) are the only time a doc can act without consent. After the patient is stabilized the POA can request any changes or treatments canceled.