No rant today... I just don't have it in me. We did go to Ryde Hospital PALMS pathology on Saturday morning and at about lunch time I got a call from RNS telling me I had to bring mum in to be admitted to Emergency, as her sodium was dangerously low. Packed a bag and off we went. Got to RNS emergency about 1.30pm and I'm sad to say, we then sat until they had a bed... 7.50pm. It was a very hard slog.... just sitting.... I left at about 9pm when one of the nurses told me she didn't know when she'd be moved..... I felt bad about leaving her but I couldn't do any more. I am ashamed to admit that when I got home I did feel a bit of relief that I had a night to sleep without keeping one ear open. Sunday morning I started ringing early and by 9am they told me that they were going to do blood tests and that she may not be admitted. 10am ... and they tell me she is ok and the sodium is back up and that they are releasing her. I went down and got her and she is now back at home. She does seem better. I talked to one of the Dr about what I should be giving her as far as fluids go....(i had been trying to keep her hydrated with water with a bit of cordial or ginger beer) and he filled me in. Gaterade etc, hydralite... that sort of stuff. So now we are a little more knowledgeable. Off to chemo this arvo.... so I will have to try and get her to drink a bit so they can find a vein.... Later... ... View more

Here's the thing.... the RNS gave us pathology forms PALMS. They also told us it is better not to do the blood tests on the same day as the chemo. There is no PALMS in the Blacktown area, so I rang my GP and arrange an appointment after much stuffing around. They didn't want to do it for legal reasons I don't begin to understand. He isn't my mums GP. So today I take my very frail mum to the local GP. He doesn't do the tests but sets up home collection. All good except she has chemo on Monday and I said "oh so they'll come today" and he said "or tomorrow" which is Saturday. So it gets to 4pm today, and I think... hmmm might just ring up the new pathology place and check (head office where the DR sent the faxes). "No sorry we don't do home visits on Saturday and I can't see you on the list for Monday." AAArrrrggghhhhhh!!!!! I tell the girl why this is a problem, re the chemo on monday,and the fact the GP wouldn't do it, and she says that the legal issue that the GP brought up doesn't exist any more due to legislation passed last year. I could scream, again. So I ring the local MEDILAB to double check they are open tomorrow and yes they are, but no close parking. I am now worried that we'll get there and they won't do it, and I'll have dragged my poor mum around for nothing. I decide that perhaps we should just drive to the closest PALMs which is RYDE HOSPITAL. So I ring and make sure they are open and can do it. All ok... no problem. Except that I have to drive to Eastwood. I'm so cranky with my GP, I rang to give them the "news" and a piece of my mind, but luckily the receptionist I'd been dealing with was gone for the day so I just said ok and hung up. Probably better in the long run. I don't need this &*%t... Why is it so hard........ ... View more

So where was I... Oww yes, I moved my mum to my place 9/01/11, so I could look after her. I am single and live alone... or did live alone, so it was the easier thing to do. I couldn't move in with them due to space and my mum WAS a smoker and her partner still is, so the house isn't my idea of sweet smelling. I gave up about 4 years ago. Also I didn't want to have to also care for her partner. He is not my dad and we aren't real close, so I thought that would just be too much. To be honest I think mum is beter off out of his house. The hospital had told me that the GP would be able to supply the scripts for the pain medication. The problem with moving her is that she now doesn't have a local GP. So I rang my local GP and he doesn't make home visits (which I didn't know). Now I'm in a bind...so all I could think of doing was to call her old GP... you know... the one who didn't notice or do anything about how ill she was. I spoke to the receptionist and explained the situation. She put me on hold and then through to the GP. He was very accomodating (funny about that - guilt perhaps?) and faxed through scripts to my local chemist. He had a copy of the discharge papers and so knew what it was that needed scripts. Phew! another small problem solved. Next problem is that my shower is over my bath, so I bought a "transit bench" and that seems to be working well. Also bought over the toilet frame, to help her as she is so frail. I'm trying to decide if I should hire a Transporter wheel chair. Last Monday was the 1st chemo. It is at RNS and was an 8am appointment. Due to the early appointment and what I know the M2 I like in the morning, we decided to splurge and stay at a motel close to the hospital. That all worked fine, but getting her to and from the car is a slow process. When we get to the hospital I have to drop her at the entrance, sit her down and then speed off to park in the car park, come back and get her. It worries me to leave her alone with the way she is. Then of course we have to make our way to level 12. If I hire the Transporter she won't walk but it will make things faster...should I keep her walking for her own good? That is the question!!! Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated. ... View more

My mum is 75yo. I was rung at work by a neighbour of my mums, to tell me that she wasn't well and I should check in on her. This was 22 or 23/12/10. On the 27/12/10 she rang me advise she was in a lot of pain, couldn't eat and was throwing up. I drove to her place in Eastwood area from Blacktown and we went to emergency 27/12/10, after many tests she was told there was a "mass" in the pacreas and was sent home with a referral to a Doctor who was away on holidays until the 10/01/11!!! wt.... On the 29th due to the amount of pain she called the ambulance and was taken back to the same hospital. This time different doctors, who seemed more concerned and admitted her. On the 3rd Jan 2011 she was moved to RNS for an endoscopic biopsy. This confirmed our worse fears and she has been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. From reading the release letter 7/1/2011 from RNS, 7th, I believe is is metastatic, and she has spots else where. I took her to her home (this is where she said she wanted to go) where her partner is older and he was being taken care of by her previously. I went home and didn't sleep much. The following day I drove down and went to Woolies for them, called the GP to arrange home visits to start the ball rolling for some home care help. The neighbour rang me again that night to say that "the partner" couldn't care for her and so I arrange with my brother to meet me there the next day, help me pack some things and bring her to my house. I didn't really give her much of a choice. I just told her I was taking her to my place. Her partner just said 'ok'. I think it was what she wanted but wouldn't ask, even though I had told her many times that she could always come to my place. There is more but I should go to bed and try to get some sleep... finish this tomorrow. Just typing this out is helping a bit... ... View more