Gretchen's Medical Updates

I would like to thank all our great friends who have provided support from afar and near.  This is an incredibly difficult time for us.  To make matters worse, I was served papers to terminate my tenancy and have to find a new place to live.  My landlord has no heart (she is a lawyer).  The timing couldn’t possibly be worse for us.  Lawyers have no capacity for empathy.  I have infinite capacity for cynicism.

Gretchen Long Chapler, 79, BSN, CRNP died on January 19, 2012 from metastatic lung cancer at her home in The Sea Ranch, California with complete end of life hospice care provided by my Dad and me.

Susan (Suzi) Chapler, M.D.

Mom’s condition is worsening.  She is awake and mildly lucid for about 5-10 minutes at a time a few times today.  She is on O2, hospital bed, suction at the ready.  I picked up her ‘hospice kit’ of medications (morphine, ativan for anxiety and atropine to dry secretions)…  Mom is very weak, cannot hold a popsicle in her hand.  She mostly sleeps.

Her respiratory rate has been increasing over the last 24 hrs, it now hovers around 20-24 breaths per minute and very labored, using accessory muscles of respiration which is very, very tiring.  She really appears to be struggling with her breathing right now.

It is a very sad scene.  Dad and I are sitting with her, holding her hands, doing whatever we can think of to help her feel surrounded by love and Peace.  I hung up a photo of Mom’s cat, Mini, and a photo of Dad’s cat, Max so she can see them from her hospital bed.

Dad and I are trying to eat and stay healthy.  It’s not easy.  We are up a few times a night to tend to Mom and it’s just us 2 with Mom all day and all night.  Tired are we.

And we shall continue soldiering on for Mom, no matter what it takes.  We want her to be comfortable, without pain and anxiety, and surrounded by her family.  She says she’s not anxious or worried about anything.  I hope that’s true.

I’ll try and post another tomorrow but we’ve been pretty busy.  And hospice here is NOT covered by Medicare (boo, hiss) as it is not accredited or whatever.   I am a little disappointed that it’s all about money but that’s medicine now and that’s why I got out.  Even the hospice kit was >$100.  In my opinion that is pure bullshit.  Morphine, ativan and atropine are all generic.  $$$$$, medicine is money.  Medicine is not taking care of people anymore.  Just taking people’s money who can’t afford it but when there’s no other choice, what are you going to do?  My advice?  Don’t move to Sea Ranch if you need quality health care.

Peace.

Suz.

Mom got a hospital bed Friday and she is now upstairs in the living room with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. Dad and I are getting more skilled at our duties. Mom likes it a lot better in the hospital bed. She’s watching some television, dictating emails to me.
Today we are sort of reassessing things, scheduling, etc….

The pathology report was Bronchioalveolar Cell Carcinoma. The same type her sister had a few years ago. Mom seems comfortable, happier on O2 and with Dad and I there all in the same big room.

Thanks to everyone for everything. We appreciate it more than you know. Dad hates to ask for help so I took charge and called out the Hospice Heroes, that’s what I like to call them.

Anyway, just back at my place for a bit to feed the cats and sit in the Sun and get you all a little more up to date…. More later.

Suz.

Mom and Dad came home today.  Mom was very, very fatigued.  With wonderful help from friends and neighbors we got Mom into a wheelchair, up the outside steps, down the inside steps and into the bedroom.  Phew…  It was no easy task.  Much thanks to everyone involved.

Mom and Dad and I are all BEAT.

I have set up camp at the folks’ house to be able to help Dad out more as Mom is less and less able to assist due to muscle wasting…  she just has no strength at all.  She is now on 2L/min nasal cannula O2 (a very good thing).

Dad and Mom are asleep.  I’m setting up camp upstairs w/ my Marmot bag, Cliff Bars, Medjool dates and H2O.  I hope to sleep but somehow I’m pretty sure that won’t happen.

More tomorrow, as we all need to rest well tonight.

Peace,

Suz.

Thanks to some wonderful neighbors we have Mom in bed.  We await the Almighty O2….  that’s what she asked for….  “I want Oxygen.”

She’s a tad confused, telling me to tell Suzi (me) that she was okay…  hopefully that was some O2 desaturation speaking….  She’s getting some rest now.

Dad is driving Mom today.  He just called and said, “I wish we had hospice waiting at the door when we get there.”…  We need help.  We need help getting Mom from car to wheelchair to up the front steps to down the steps to bed.  We need help.

Dad expects to arrive around noon.  I will be there earlier to receive the almighty O2.

We need help.  Anyone who knows Dad, knows he never asks for help.  We need help now.

Peace.

-Suz.

The biopsy went well.  The interventional radiologist decided to biopsy the Right Adrenal mass instead of the lung.  Dr. Brett told Dad the pathology results should be back by Friday.

Mom told Dad she felt a lot better with the O2 given during the biopsy, so Dr. Brett (Onc) prescribed O2.  Mom also canceled the brain MRI scheduled for next week.  Mom and Dad will go down to see Dr. Brett next Tuesday (I think), another torture-drive 😦

Much thanks for the great healing chair left on the deck.  I don’t recall right now who left it, but THANKS !!!

Mom and Dad will be driving back home Thursday.

Dad and I are WARRIORS.  Mom is tough.  There ya have it…

Thanks so much for your friendship and support.  Money can’t buy that.

Peace,

-suz.

You can get email alerts of new blog posts by scrolling allllll the way down to the bottom and click on ‘Follow Gretchen’s Lung’…  that should get you email updates.  Scroll alllll the waaay down……

Peace

-Suz.

Mom (Gretchen) and Dad (Ted) will be driving to Santa Rosa Tuesday to spend the night before her lung biopsy Wednesday  at 10:30 a.m.  She will likely be in recovery 4 hours and will spend Wednesday night in Santa Rosa, driving back up the coast on Thursday.

Mom is very fatigued, in pain and having labored breathing.  For you medical types, she is using her accessory muscles of respiration with any activity, even going from supine in bed to semi-recumbent in bed is very strenuous.

Prayers, positive vibes are welcome.  Mom really appreciates everyone’s care and support.

Mom and Dad still do not want visitors at this time.  Mom can’t speak on the phone, so phone calls to her are verboten.  Dad is working hard to keep Mom comfy as can be and he is very tired.  We are all very tired.

Wednesday’s the biopsy day….

Peace

-Suz.