Urgent prayer request

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Mom said my brother was doing better last night. Today is his birthday. He wants a Bible.

I hope that he gets completely better, but it would be awesome if he still is interested in Christianity afterwards. Maybe this is God's way of answering the prayers I've had about my brother for a long time.

 

[AllForJesus]

His Birthday! nice! Prayers for him

 

[Stravinsk]

And apparently my family can't do anything about what medication he is on if the doctors don't want to listen. There's some laws involved that I don't know anything about because I never took that psych law class I wanted to take, and some jerk nurse told my mother he was "surprised your daughter doesn't know about those laws". I feel better, though, because said jerk nurse has been cleaning up my brother's vomit after he told us he thought the drug we didn't like was fine. I hate that my brother is sick but it gives me pleasure that cocky little nurse gets to clean it up off the floor after not listening to us about how it would make my brother sick.

Of course, when I was in the hospital (a different hospital) the doctors actually listened to my parents' preferences.

ETA: Whatever law or laws he was referring to was not the Baker Act -- I know what that is. This was something else.

In Australia people can nominate an "enduring medial power of attorney" status to another in the event they are unable physically or cognitively to make deceisions for themselves - thus leaving it in their trusted loved one's hands instead of strangers(doctors, nurses etc) hands.

I'm relatively certain there is something similiar in the USA. This is for future reference - it would be worth looking into should yourself or Kirk ever be in a situation where you would trust your spouse with your health decisions(who knows your will and mind in such matters) over strangers (who don't, or who don't care).

 

[Edwards1984]

Glad there is some recovery. If he wants a Bible, I have plenty to give

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

In Australia people can nominate an "enduring medial power of attorney" status to another in the event they are unable physically or cognitively to make deceisions for themselves - thus leaving it in their trusted loved one's hands instead of strangers(doctors, nurses etc) hands.

I'm relatively certain there is something similiar in the USA. This is for future reference - it would be worth looking into should yourself or Kirk ever be in a situation where you would trust your spouse with your health decisions(who knows your will and mind in such matters) over strangers (who don't, or who don't care).

I was wondering if there was something like that. Does anybody know anything else about this?

 

[Keri]

Yes, it's called a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. Or a Medical Power or Attorney.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care - A document established by an individual (the principal) granting another person (the agent) the right and authority to handle matters related to the health care of the principal.

We recently did one for a client for $500. But you can always download the forms yourself and pay the filing fee. Praying for your brother.

 

[FaithPrevails]

I was wondering if there was something like that. Does anybody know anything else about this?

Yes, it's called a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. Or a Medical Power or Attorney.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care - A document established by an individual (the principal) granting another person (the agent) the right and authority to handle matters related to the health care of the principal.

We recently did one for a client for $500. But you can always download the forms yourself and pay the filing fee. Praying for your brother.

I'm pretty sure your brother has to be in a stable enough state of mind to realize what he is signing.

Also - is he still covered under your parents' insurance? If he is, your parents may not need the PoA b/c he would still be considered a dependent. I'm not 100% sure about that, though.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Yes, he is still under their insurance.

 

[Luther073082]

I was wondering if there was something like that. Does anybody know anything else about this?

I had not thought about getting one filed but I do know they exist. I'm pretty sure my parents have one.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

I emailed Jennifer to ask her about it.

 

[Luther073082]

I emailed Jennifer to ask her about it.

Good idea, Jenny should be able to help us with that. At least to point us in the right direction.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

I talked to Mom and Dad tonight and they thought he was doing better this afternoon. Dad said he could hold a more normal conversation and had some of his humor back. Unfortunately, he had not slept last night in spite of being drugged and my mom said his HR is still not back to normal -- it is down but still higher than they would like. When Mom and Dad went back to visit him again tonight, he had gone to sleep (which is good). He is still throwing up and feeling bad from that medicine he was put on.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Update: my brother called me yesterday and sounded a LOT better. He still made an occasional weird comment so I know he's not out of the woods yet, but he was able to hold a normal conversation and he seems to understand everything that's going on.

He had a visit with my parents and his girlfriend yesterday and they said he was mostly normal in the morning visit and completely normal in the afternoon visit.

Also, this morning I talked to my Dad and he said Matt called and was bored today. Bored is good. That means mundane things like a bottle of water aren't fascinating to him anymore and don't have "secret meanings".

 

[penNpaper]

I hope your Brother will be better soon

God Bless,
Drew

 

[Revived]

Continued prayers!

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Well, this morning my brother called very early and woke us up. I had a long conversation with him and he sounded sane and was making a lot of sense for a while. He wanted to talk about his meds, the Baker Act, and legal stuff. But then he also started talking about a lot of the crazy stuff again. It is really weird, he's lucid and understanding stuff and expressing himself well, but he's not completely sane. I think he has learned to censor his craziness around certain people (like the nurses). It is GOOD that he's able to figure that out (even that is an improvement) but it is bad that he is still having the nutty thoughts.

The doctors still haven't talked to my parents and my parents are in the dark about what is going on. My brother had me write down a list of medications he was on and we talked extensively about them. He was given anti-nausea medication because of him throwing up from the antipsychotic medication -- WELL, anti-nausea meds are what we think put him in this state to begin with! This wasn't the SAME drug but still. Matt said he did hallucinate after being given the medicine and I looked online and sure enough, it says a side effect can be hallucinating and that it can happen after a single dose. He also said they gave him Ambien and that made him hallucinate. Why are they giving someone with psychotic symptoms medications that can cause psychotic symptoms?

 

[Keri]

Well, this morning my brother called very early and woke us up. I had a long conversation with him and he sounded sane and was making a lot of sense for a while. He wanted to talk about his meds, the Baker Act, and legal stuff. But then he also started talking about a lot of the crazy stuff again. It is really weird, he's lucid and understanding stuff and expressing himself well, but he's not completely sane. I think he has learned to censor his craziness around certain people (like the nurses). It is GOOD that he's able to figure that out (even that is an improvement) but it is bad that he is still having the nutty thoughts.

The doctors still haven't talked to my parents and my parents are in the dark about what is going on. My brother had me write down a list of medications he was on and we talked extensively about them. He was given anti-nausea medication because of him throwing up from the antipsychotic medication -- WELL, anti-nausea meds are what we think put him in this state to begin with! This wasn't the SAME drug but still. Matt said he did hallucinate after being given the medicine and I looked online and sure enough, it says a side effect can be hallucinating and that it can happen after a single dose. He also said they gave him Ambien and that made him hallucinate. Why are they giving someone with psychotic symptoms medications that can cause psychotic symptoms?

It's clear to me that your brother is hypersensitive to medications. Most people don't get those side effects so they are giving them to him, as they would any other patient. I used to work in a mental hospital, in the med room. It was my job to distribute the medication to all the patients. I never encountered a sensitivity to an antiemetic or to Ambien. I think it's pretty rare. I don't think the nurses are aware of his reaction to the medications. It's sad that a lot of nurses nowdays just hand out the pills and don't look for side effects.

I'm sorry your brother is having so many problems and isn't getting the proper help. Is he in a psych unit? Maybe he needs a little more specialized care if he's only in a regular hospital unit. Perhaps he can switch hospitals? That's the only advice I have. Your brother doesn't seem to be getting very good treatment with his current doctors and hospital. Praying Melissa.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Yes, he is in a psych unit. I wish he could switch to a psych unit at a different hospital in Jacksonville that I know of because they are much better.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Nothing new to tell today.

 

[white dove]

Continued prayers for the family.