ChatterBank80 mins ago
Treating Patients Over 80!
22 Answers
Right or wrong?
I feel we are in this trap right now. Husband had some Urine problems almost a year ago. PSA was borderline. At the time he was told "even if it was Cancer they wouldn't treat it" as he is over 80..a very active one at that.
Problem got a lot worse, til now in hospital with excessive bleeding for over 2 weeks. Second emergency admission last weekend.
Having had a Cystoscope that wasn't successful as blood clots stopped the instrument entering...[I think thats what he said] he is now on a "waiting list" for it to be repeated but with GA so a larger camera instrument can be used. Emergency patients are seen to first.
That being so, as more "emergency" patients add to the list husband may never get to the top of the list....
I asked what constituted an emergency...answer...patients that are dying!!
Should I be thankful he isn't considered an emergency? My opinion is now fully in the DON'T TREAT ANYONE OVER 80. Except this is my husband of 57 and a bit years..
I want him treated like any other patient. Is that too much to ask?
I feel we are in this trap right now. Husband had some Urine problems almost a year ago. PSA was borderline. At the time he was told "even if it was Cancer they wouldn't treat it" as he is over 80..a very active one at that.
Problem got a lot worse, til now in hospital with excessive bleeding for over 2 weeks. Second emergency admission last weekend.
Having had a Cystoscope that wasn't successful as blood clots stopped the instrument entering...[I think thats what he said] he is now on a "waiting list" for it to be repeated but with GA so a larger camera instrument can be used. Emergency patients are seen to first.
That being so, as more "emergency" patients add to the list husband may never get to the top of the list....
I asked what constituted an emergency...answer...patients that are dying!!
Should I be thankful he isn't considered an emergency? My opinion is now fully in the DON'T TREAT ANYONE OVER 80. Except this is my husband of 57 and a bit years..
I want him treated like any other patient. Is that too much to ask?
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the best thing I can suggest is that you contact PALS in the hospital where he is ( you are gonna go in and see him anway ) and discuss it with them - they are helpful
Dont get onto a discussion about what is an emergency or not
if they say he is an emerg then he gets treated quicker
which is what you want
you should bear in mind and tell the doctors that symptomatic relief which is what he needs is irrelevant to whether he has cancer and would need treatment for that
the best thing I can suggest is that you contact PALS in the hospital where he is ( you are gonna go in and see him anway ) and discuss it with them - they are helpful
Dont get onto a discussion about what is an emergency or not
if they say he is an emerg then he gets treated quicker
which is what you want
you should bear in mind and tell the doctors that symptomatic relief which is what he needs is irrelevant to whether he has cancer and would need treatment for that
\\\\ Husband had some Urine problems almost a year ago. PSA was borderline. At the time he was told "even if it was Cancer they wouldn't treat it" as he is over 80..a very active one at that. \\
That was a perfectly reasonable decision as long as follow up P.S.A's were performed.
There is a difference between, "urgent cases" and "emergency cases."
"Emergency" is life threatening........"Urgent" means not life threatening at the moment, but may become so.
Clearly emergency cases must be dealt with before urgent cases.
Complain as much as you like, but one would hope that patients are treated on a clinical basis rather than of age.
That was a perfectly reasonable decision as long as follow up P.S.A's were performed.
There is a difference between, "urgent cases" and "emergency cases."
"Emergency" is life threatening........"Urgent" means not life threatening at the moment, but may become so.
Clearly emergency cases must be dealt with before urgent cases.
Complain as much as you like, but one would hope that patients are treated on a clinical basis rather than of age.
I think that your husband HAS been treated like "any other patient" and there are no grounds for complaint......really?
So Squad, if a patient is admitted to the hospital twice in one week bleeding profusely from his penis... would you not consider this an emergency....
I saw the pan each time that looked more akin to a lady having a very heavy period. Clots have been coming away and still are from him, some painful to pass....as yet they haven't discovered where this is coming from.
Performing the awaited procedure is in my opinion paramount to get the answer sooner rather than later.
So Squad, if a patient is admitted to the hospital twice in one week bleeding profusely from his penis... would you not consider this an emergency....
I saw the pan each time that looked more akin to a lady having a very heavy period. Clots have been coming away and still are from him, some painful to pass....as yet they haven't discovered where this is coming from.
Performing the awaited procedure is in my opinion paramount to get the answer sooner rather than later.
\\\So Squad, if a patient is admitted to the hospital twice in one week bleeding profusely from his penis... would you not consider this an emergency.... \\\
"Profusely" to a layman is quite a different meaning to "profusely" for a medic. I understand your concern, but my opinion remains that it is almost certainly not an emergency, but is urgent.
If he was in danger of his life from "profuse bleeding" then he would have been transfused and i assume that he wasn't given a blood transfusion.
"Profusely" to a layman is quite a different meaning to "profusely" for a medic. I understand your concern, but my opinion remains that it is almost certainly not an emergency, but is urgent.
If he was in danger of his life from "profuse bleeding" then he would have been transfused and i assume that he wasn't given a blood transfusion.
No, he wasn't transfused.
Urgent it most certainly is then, but sending him home without having an answer, plus being told less than a year ago no treatment would be offered doesn't instill confidence.
His latest PSA reading is up from last year too, so borderline last year and raised PSA now with the present problem is worrying.
Thanks for the replies.
Urgent it most certainly is then, but sending him home without having an answer, plus being told less than a year ago no treatment would be offered doesn't instill confidence.
His latest PSA reading is up from last year too, so borderline last year and raised PSA now with the present problem is worrying.
Thanks for the replies.
tinkerbelle no infection in the urine and no idea what he bleeding is caused by.
They tried to do a Cystoscope yesterday but there was too much blood in the bladder and clots blocking the way
He had a bladder wash last week with a 3 way catheter. The bleeding hasn't stopped in 2 weeks. Hence my concern at having to go on a waiting list for the surgery they need to do.
They tried to do a Cystoscope yesterday but there was too much blood in the bladder and clots blocking the way
He had a bladder wash last week with a 3 way catheter. The bleeding hasn't stopped in 2 weeks. Hence my concern at having to go on a waiting list for the surgery they need to do.
Oh the 3 way cathater... I know it well. Poor mr cupotee!!!
Most of the time, being honest, the patient is admitted with this issue.... And when it clears up they are discharged home with a follow up in place such as a scope or an operation. Thats just generally though.
I understand your worry... It isnt an unusual one... I have saw people go to theatre for a bladder washout before if it just will not clear up. Its a shame you dont know yet whats causing it. Thats one of the worst feelings isnt it. X
Most of the time, being honest, the patient is admitted with this issue.... And when it clears up they are discharged home with a follow up in place such as a scope or an operation. Thats just generally though.
I understand your worry... It isnt an unusual one... I have saw people go to theatre for a bladder washout before if it just will not clear up. Its a shame you dont know yet whats causing it. Thats one of the worst feelings isnt it. X