Thursday, May 23, 2013

Day 10

It's early (relatively) in the morning, but I wanted to get a few thoughts down.  I got a call from a lady with "Paliative Care".  Well, as far as I'm concerned, this is just another program someone made up to suck more $$ out of us.  It's "covered" by Medicare - meaning more 20% co-pays from us.  

I let her set an appointment for Tuesday morning for an assesment.  I wonder how much that will cost to be told he doesn't qualify???  I did find out something "interesting".  She said the reason he doesn't qualify for hospice is the dialysis.  It seems that even though he has the chronic rejection, they still look at the ESRD becaue it was a by-product of the lung issue (because it was caused by the drugs).  So, he will NEVER be qualified for hospice unless he stops dialysis.  And I plainly told her, IF thaat were to happen - unlikely (unless he had a massive heart attack or something and was in a complete vegetative state), we wouldn't bother calling hospice becaue he'd be gone before they could even respond; and there wouldn't be enough time to bother with them.  And frankly, I still feel a bit kicked in the gut.  If anything were bad enough to stop the dialysis, the last people I would want hovering around are a bunch of strangers!

We have to get to town for Jimmy's weekly appointment with the dialysis nurse.  I had hoped to get out in time to go by the dump; but that isn't going to happen.  I don't even know if he'll get to his appointment in time.  At least I can cut out a few of the errands today.  Brent, Cindy, and the kids are coming this weekend, and I'll have a chance to get out and do errands without worrying about him sitting in the car.  

Perhaps I'll write more later tonight, depending on how the day goes.






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