Happy 89th Birthday to my husband Bob. This is our first birthday for him that we did not go out to eat and celebrate.
Today in extreme detail, not for the faint at heart.
Wed. Oct 1, 2025, the story you are about to read is true. The names have not been changed to protect the innocent, in this house there are no innocents.This is the house, I work in the house. I am Slave. (apologies to the old Dragnet Series on TV, one of my favorites)
Bob, born on 10/10/1936, turned 89 today.It was a day like any other day, if it can happen it did happen. The plan was no visiting home health visits, a day OFF with just the three of us.
Did not happen...
Home Health RN came yesterday for wound care, I told her Bob has not had his blood thinner INR check in 4 weeks, that his Dr sent orders yesterday. She checks, no orders. No problem, she calls the doctor and gets verbal orders. OK to check but the hand7dandycheckerthingy is out with someone else, and will not be available until 8 am of The Birthday. She states she will pick it up at 8 on The Birthday and 15 minutes to check it and be done and gone.ha hahahahahaha the machine gave 3 times incorrect levels 8, 7, 6/5 really high which means way too thin. She goes back to her office and comes with a needle to draw blood, machine doesn't like that either and I keep saying IT'S THE MACHINE, it has happened at the doctor's office. Battery? you moved it?
She calls Dr, reports it is at 6.7 (brain bleed levels) and states they will call me some time today. Orders me to stop all blood thinner.I state the obvious. You just pricked 3 fingers, and drew blood from a vein and it stopped bleeding instantly. If the reading is true, he would be pouring gallons on the bed..she leaves at 10. Bob is livid.
I remember I did not pick the lab orders up from his primary, rush out the door at 10:15 drive 6 blocks and see a FED-EX truck, I made a U-turn rush to the house because I now remember the infusion meds would be delivered by 10:30 today by FED-X
I checked the email and it says the time changed will be there by 12 noon and must be signed for.
The word noon reminds me, I promised Birthday Bob a noon delivery of his favorite REALLY expensive Italian Steak with white sauce Pizza.. I order pizza delivery for noon. Yes, it came on time and was devoured.
the Infusion Nurse called and said she could come today and do it in the evening. I tell her we don't do evenings or afternoons, due to Alzheimer and sundowners etc. and not only that we have no meds. they are MIA.
The ONLY appt she has open is Friday morning at 9 am the exact same time as Beau's Vet Appt for his annual. I advise her, and we decide she will come at 8:15, I can show her the supplies and meds and where things are and leave for the vet while she gets set up.
I make calls and receive calls.... FED-X AI, FED-X CHAT, FED-X Contact me, which was a chat to fill out a case..
I get the case #. Call Infusion RX advise via message on voice mail
Call RN to advise MIA Meds
Receive call from RN supervisor of nurse who is scheduled for Friday to do infusion. She wants to drop Jamie, do it herself, and bring her newly hired Assistant Supervisor, a male, with her to see what they do.. Bob doesn't do well with males.
She is shocked the meds are MIA. She leaves to call HER supervisor.
I Receive aCall from Fed-x Supervisor, she assures me she sent a message to the driver, I say did you know the meds are REALLY EXPENSIVE and MUST be in the fridge? NO, she says, I will send him another message. I wanted to scream, just Call The Idiot.
It is now 3:51, mid afternoon and still NO MEDS
The call comes in now from Bob's Cardiologist nurse. Stop the blood thinner, don't give him any until you hear from me. Tell the nurse that comes next to do the INR.
But will that nurse have the handydandy thingy?
I say, Megan, he is fine. its the machine. you know yours does that sometime. 3 pricks and a vein accessed and NO BLEEDING. HE IS FINE..
now he sits waiting for the punch line.
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| Sept 2025 |
