I live 800 miles from my best friend and her husband is very sick. He was given 6 months to a year to live its been 2 THANK YOU JESUS. His ammonia levels are extremely high. He has never had a headache in his life he has had a headache now for 5 days it hurts on the top of his head. He no longer laughs he sleeps all the time. It hurts on the very top of his head he says his nails are gray. He says it hurts too bad to speak throwing up about every 30 minutes now and he's very very shaky and now it hurts him very bad to walk in his head. What should we be watching for? He refuses to go to the hospital going to try to get him into the doctor tomorrow she says I'm sure she will call the doctor first thing in the morning he's just been very resistant to go to the hospital. After his last trip there they told him that nothing severe was wrong later to learn in 2 days that his ammonia levels was 100 and the hospital did not even give them the results they sent them home they found out when they went to the doctor two days later he told my best friend this is it I'm not going to make it this time my body is changing it's time. I'm just preparing you so I'm trying to help my friend should she not wait for the doctor should she take him to the emergency room? I'm in fear that you might have a seizure or he might be having some severe brain swelling. Please help. I need some advice. thanks in advance and God bless
Ok, so he was right... Liver is the dumping ground.. Liver cancer usually metastases somewhere else in the body. It did not originate from there.
Does your friend have a living trust? DNR ;; DO NOT RESUSITATE? POLST Order?
Cancer affects the body..Where ever it starts... It gets into the blood and it can go anywhere it wants.
Is he ON HOSPICE? IF HE IS ON HOSPICE, YOUR FRIEND NEEDS TO CALL THEM NOW.
Her husband's refusal of treatment is his right and not difficult to understand, but that shouldn't stop him accepting relief from the symptoms he is experiencing. He may be dying, I'm sorry to say, but he doesn't have to go out vomiting and in terrible pain.
If in doubt all 911... If he has a DNR in order.. and hospice is in effect... then she needs to call hospice... If not... 911..
WHEN IN DOUBT CALL 911 they will help.
LIVING TRUST? DNR? POLST ?
If your friends have DNR/POLST, it should be taped above his bed, or somewhere close to get to...
a pill of morphien crused and slide into cheek with help... Ativan will relieve the mind of it's pain.... ativan... is a small white pill, easily disolves...so if he is fighting fatigue, pain, etc... give him an ativan to help the anxiety... crush it, and disovle it in the cheeks.
the last time i was ER with a relative...
If he is not on hospice... tell your friend to talk with social worker at hospital... If social worker offers 30 days in a nursing facility... take it... They won't ask again. She can regain strength and thoughts and think about the next plan going forward.
IN HOME HOSPICE NEEDS TO ADDRESSED.
GN