My mother passed away from septic shock, too. She was 68. The shock set in after she’d been running a fever for several days, and despite me constantly warning them, they just... didn't react. It’s like they just let a simple urinary tract infection spiral into urosepsis and then full-blown septic shock. I honestly don't understand why they didn't take any action. From what I could see, even after they got the urine culture results back, they didn't even administer the right antibiotics. It seems like Mercy Hospital clearly doesn't have an Infectiologist on staff, so maybe they don't even know how to treat something like this. If that was the case, they should have told us, and we would have just transferred her to the Infectious Disease Clinic using our private insurance. You can't just let someone die like that—letting her CRP levels climb higher and higher for days without doing anything at all. They were even diluting the antibiotic in saline solution before giving it to her intravenously. It either didn't work, or maybe it wasn't even the right antibiotic, because her CRP shot up from 300 to 400 the very next day. At that point, she was only responding to heavy stimulation, and only then did they give her Medazol via IV. Her CRP dropped to 200 after that, but by then it was already too late because dropping from a 400 CRP straight into septic shock is just... it was over. They wouldn't even move her to intensive care.
But what about those appointments where you don't actually need to book ahead? I mean, at those clinics where you just show up with your referral and get seen right away. My referral is dated January 7th. Does that mean... I guess it might mean she’d have to go back to the community dentist to get it extended if we don't make it in for the exam until next week?
James King61 I can't really offer you any concrete advice since I haven't dealt with that exact situation myself. What I do know is that at those facilities—especially where my mom was treated—they seem to write patients off way too easily. I still can't wrap my head around how they just gave up on my mother like that when she was 68. She was dealing with significant disabilities; she had even lost her other leg. But she didn't have cancer. I was fully capable of continuing to care for her. My mom never lost her will to live, either. I kept hoping she’d pull through, so I made sure to feed her in the hospital and bring her all her favorite foods. But in the end, they just... they just wrote her off and withheld the therapy she actually needed. I really hope you find someone who can give you some guidance on where to take your loved one for proper treatment.
The Institute of Immunology keeps some frozen plasma on hand. They used to collect it more regularly back in the day. As far as I know, at the facility on Rockefeller, they only offer free blood donations.
Motorcycles are just so dangerous, honestly. There's always that constant risk of an accident happening when you least expect it. Have you at least given up on riding by now?
Is that lump kind of like a bump on the back of the neck? I think I saw something similar by accident while I was waiting with my mom for her check-up at the hematology clinic back in the middle of last year.
What kind of symptoms did you all experience with those lymphomas? It seems like people of all different ages are dealing with this. I always sort of assumed that lymphoma might show up more frequently within a specific age group, maybe younger or perhaps older.
I really hope things start looking up for you soon. Maybe try posting your question over in the Support for Families Dealing with Cancer and Other Serious Illnesses thread instead? I have a feeling you'll get much more helpful responses there.
It looks like there might be some flu going around your area. They mentioned on the news that flu season has officially kicked off. I actually went ahead and got my shot because of that. I have a tooth extraction coming up soon, too, so I figured it’s probably best if I don't have to worry about catching the flu on top of everything else. I'd say getting vaccinated is worth it—it really makes sense.
Please, just stay strong while dealing with your mom's illness. I treasure every single moment I had with my own mother. Especially those walks we took this past summer. Even though we didn't really leave New York City, it was just wonderful. Mom had recovered so beautifully. Even her home health nurse, who hadn't seen her in a little while, was actually surprised by how much she'd bounced back. Honestly, if it hadn't been for that strike, I'm certain she would still be here with us. No matter how much they claim that nobody suffered because of the strike... they're wrong. It’s the most vulnerable patients who suffer the most. And there's one thing I just can't wrap my head around. When Mom passed away so suddenly at the hospital—back in October 2013—I remember searching the Department of Health website for the hotline number, and right there, it stated that increased mortality rates were expected during the strike. Yet, in their latest Medical Journal, they conclude the strike went perfectly and that no one was harmed, which is just flat-out untrue. I guess... who are we to complain? If only we had been born in Germany so we could have access to world-class healthcare.
Honestly, staying at home is definitely the better way to go. In my experience, everyone in my family—my grandma, grandpa, and my mom—received all their care right at home. No one ever had to step foot in a nursing facility. Even my mom’s physical therapist told me that. He mentioned that in state-run facilities, they just don't have enough staff. He actually said when he visited one of those government centers, some patients weren't even dressed properly. It made it impossible for him to even start their exercises. Some were even thirsty, so he ended up having to pass them water bottles himself. The only places he spoke highly of were private options; he mentioned Corluka, though he did say the space there is really cramped, even if the staff is wonderful. Villa Brezovica is also a good option, but man, it is expensive. The nurses there are young and very kind, though. People usually go there for short-term rehab after surgery and then head back home. They even have a full-time physiatrist on staff.
I was actually hoping to connect with some younger people who had to deal with losing a parent at an early age. From what I saw in a TV documentary, that kind of support is pretty common out there and, of course, it’s free. But here in the States, it just doesn't seem to exist like that. We basically only have this one group support session once a week over on Hirceva Street in New York City, which is great, but they charge $67 per meeting for anyone who has lost a loved one. So, I guess I just gave up on it because it's just too expensive for me.
I’ve definitely had those moments where I just blacked out like that too, even before my mom got sick and before I was dealing with all this heavy life pressure. I guess it might have been mostly because of stuffy, cramped spaces. It's strange, though, because people work in those kinds of spots all the time without having these issues. For instance, it happened to me once during the summer while I was over at Pike Place Market. I did get a blood test done at a private clinic for a different reason, and everything came back normal. I didn't go in for any other tests, though.
I, I have to say, I’m on the same page as everyone above. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that those responsible actually face consequences. I mean, when you're talking about a human life... there just can't be any excuses.
I guess I don't quite understand why you're so obsessed with him, unless your main goal is just to label him as some kind of severe mental patient. Honestly, what would any of this actually achieve for him? If he’s working, he could literally lose his job over this whole situation. Look, if you can't stand who he hangs out with, maybe it's better if you just distance yourself instead of hovering—just let him live his life. You can't really know if he's about to have a breakdown or not. And even if he did, how exactly would you help? Just hand him three different prescriptions right this second and expect everything to magically fix itself? Maybe the reason he's acting out is because someone in his social circle is provoking him. I mean, I don't think you've even considered that possibility.
I’m standing by everything I said. To be honest, I can’t recall the exact name of the illness anymore since I finished elementary school way back in the early '90s. But I do know this girl from my school days was sick for a long time—running fevers, feeling terrible... I think it might have been cat scratch fever, actually. She even had to miss school for a while. And keep in mind, that was a long-time family pet, not some stray off the street. Now, I never said every pregnant woman is going to catch something from a cat, but the risk is definitely there. As for that point you made about people eating cat meat—I haven't heard of anyone doing that here in the States; it's just not part of our culture. Regardless, toxoplasmosis is still a thing in America, even without any weird dietary habits. It hasn't been wiped out. That’s exactly why doctors test pregnant women for it, because it can be really dangerous during pregnancy.