Infection - not being treated effectively

Hi Lyn,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

It is now two months since chemo ended. It ended because of concerns for his heart. His PSA was about 40 and his bone alkalyne levels were also relatively low.

"As it is two years since he started hormones, it doesn’t sound like they had put him on the ‘early chemo’ regime so is it the case that his HT has failed and chemo was offered as a palliative treatment?"

Yes, this is the case. We were waiting for him to go onto radium treatement before the infection. They also reassured us there were many more treatment options for him.

"How ill (or well) was he before the infections?"

He was very well before the infections going for half mile walks three times a week.

"Could he be moving into the end stages, which are often denoted by confusion and loss of communication?"

This is what we are worried about but a doctor recently said it was not the case with him.

"Has the cancer spread since he started HT in 2016? If so, where to?"

This weeks scan indicates that the tumour has not changed size since November 2017.

The bone mets on his hip have required further radiotherapy.

Hi Lyn,

I visited hospital today to find my father curled under a blanket confused and with a high temperature.

When I went outside and asked the nurses they were dismissive and wanted to continue gossiping - claiming they'd taken obs 30 mins earlier and he was fine.

I calmly noted he wasn't.

When they went inside they were shocked and then tried to reassure me it was just his temperature causing the shivering and sweating.

My father was not very responsive.

I checked the charts and the indicated he had blood oxygen at 88% and he was not on any oxygen. They then made their excuses after putting him on oxygen and left.

He slowly came around.

I then checked what antibiotics he was on.

It was then I discovered he was not on ANY antibiotics just mild pain relief and antioagulants.

I waited until the next obs one hour later - his blood oxygen was up to 94% so they removed his oxygen pipe.

There was no doctor to talk to on the ward. My mother is visiting tomorrow to discuss the matter.

Why no treatment for the infection? His temp fluctuates form 36 to 38.2 C

Chris

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Devonmaid - my mother just came back from the hospital and she is very concerned.

My father now has tremors and is resistant to drinking fluids.

He has NOT seen a doctor in three days. Again, the nursing staff were unhelpful and dismissive. There is notable lack of empathy and compassion from them. They give me the creeps. There's a bad vibe with them.

My dad is in an isolated room by himself. His temperature continues to fluctuate.

This all seems to be down to the infection.

My mother is going to ring the hospital to demand answers and comment on what we have seen.

I would be demanding to see a Doctor now, is he drinking at all?  I find it hard to believe that he has not seen a doctor in 3 days!  How often are they monitoring him?

Any advice would be very appreciated.

Many thanks.

a) whether he is on a specialist oncology ward or a general medical ward

b) if on a general ward, can he be transferred to oncology

c) has anyone informed his oncologist that he is in hospital

d) who on the ward is liaising with oncology and how often are they in contact with each other

e) is he moving into the end stages of his life

f) if so, has anyone considered whether a move to a hospice would provide better care for him

As a family, have you discussed how he would want the end to be? Would he prefer to die at home, in a hospice or in a hospital? Does your mum have the capacity to be able to care for him at home? I kidnapped my mum from a hospice because I wasn't happy with the care she was receiving but I had to fund a private ambulance to move her. Once I had her home, the local authority social work team and home care dept both helped with things like proper medical equipment, a rise & fall bed, etc and the GP took over responsibility for pain relief with the palliative nursing team.

Hi Cam .  If you are not happy after seeing the doctor tomorrow find the PALS office and tell them of your experience. We have always found things improve once they get involved. Also ask that you speak to a consultant and are not fobbed off with a junior doctor.

Wishing you the best as we know from personal experience how hard it is to fight family members corners for them. The last thing you want to do is  take the staff to task but sometimes it is needed. Regarding the nursing staff there is good, bad and indifferent as there is in any profession. I have sometimes in the past thought my dog is better treated at the vets.

Best Wishes

Ann

Many thanks, Devonmaid.

Cam

I recently got in touch with the PALs team regarding a catalogue of errors leading up to some bowel investigations, the PALs staff were superb and helpful and did some ass kicking. The investigation report that was carried out by the colonoscopy department was a joke. Amongst the eight apologies their report said you can only catch a hospital super if you stop in a ward overnight.

Hope you get a more satisfying result than I did.

Thanks Chris

Edited by member 03 Jan 2019 at 18:27  | Reason: Spelling