I've been stressing over this subject for awhile and seems to don't know what to do. My dad is 81 with chronic heart failure and chronic kidney disease and also diabetic. Upon discharging from hospital his EF is 10-15%. He got sent home on hospice. He doesn't look deathly ill besides occasional tiredness and little twitching and minor muscles pain, he seems normal. I want to take him to see other doctor or cardiologist for second opinion or evaluation but in order to do that I have to stop hospice (I know I can get back in later). But with daddy's conditions and age, are they gonna be doing anything besides medications? Will they do any invasive surgery in his heart? Will it damage his kidney causing more complication? Will he suffer more than benefit? If it's not really helping him then I don't want to drag him around for nothing.
I don’t know any physician that would even attempt a stent with an ejection fraction of 10-15%. I would stay away from that one.
Most Doctors don’t write orders for hospice lightly and with the clinical info you provided he made the correct choice. He did talk with you, correct? You stated you weren’t there at discharge.
There is also a chaplain on the team. Would a discussion with them help you?
Even though he doesn't understand the hospice program, what is Dad's attitude? Does he want to look for other opinions? How does he feel about seeing other doctors?
Of course you want your father to improve, to get well. It is what we all want. But we all also want what is best for our parents and loved ones, and when it is not possible for them to get well we are very conflicted about what to do.
It sounds like you've already had a second opinion -- one doctor said no to the stent and another doctor said let's try it. If you go out for other opinions, you'll still have to decide which one to go with.
My heart goes out to you.
This is very tough stuff but if his doc has recommended Hospice and this has been agreed to you should stay the course and not remove him and drag him around for more appointments.
None of his ailments are going to be cured. The objective at this point is for care and treatment to keep him as healthy and comfortable as possible. This is what Hospice is for.
Sit down with the Hospice nurse and have a talk.
If you "drag him around" to a doctor who suggests an invasive procedure, would your father want to go head with it? Does he understand that he is on hospice care? Does he want to continue looking for curative measures, or is he accepting of his current status?
I hope someone with experience close to yours will answer the medical side of this. But I think your fathers attitude and wishes should be taken into account.