[GoLytely]

One of my patient's is dying and though she and her family refuse to participate in hospice services her condition is getting worse. Her chemotherapy was discontinued because the doctor said it wasn't doing her any good and there was no sense putting her through chemotherapy anymore because it was so painful for her.

A couple of weeks ago it got to where she couldn't sit up for even a few minutes because she now has a tumor in her abdomen that cuts off the circulation in her legs when she sits up and it causes her legs to turn purple.

Amazingly, this lady has remained very upbeat. But I am a little worried. On one hand she talks freely about the disease and how it is progressing throughout her body, but then she will say things like, "when I get rid of this catheter, I'm going to do such and such." Or, "In December, I will qualify for Medicare..." or "when I get where I can sit up.." It makes my heart drop but I don't dare contradict her, I just agree with her. Is this part of a coping mechanism with her? I have to believe she doesn't really believe she will get rid of the catheter or make it to December, or get where she can sit up again...she was telling me today how much she wants a little dog. I've got a Chihuahua and I thought about bringing him to her and I could tell her she can have him but if she ever doesn't want him anymore I would like to have him back...or should I leave it alone?
I want her to be happy.

Also, the private duty nurse pointed out to me, that her feet are very cold and the bottoms of them have started mottling a little. I did see some mottled places on the bottoms of her feet, the LPN tells me it has been going on off and on lately. Can anyone explain what we should expect once this starts to happen?

[emllpn2006]

If your dog is well behaved and you spend much time with this patient I dont see anything wrong with taking your puppy over to visit this patient while you are working with her. I dont know about giving her the dog though due to if her condition is grim who would take care of the dog when you are not there?

[GoLytely]

Originally Posted by emllpn2006

If your dog is well behaved and you spend much time with this patient I dont see anything wrong with taking your puppy over to visit this patient while you are working with her. I dont know about giving her the dog though due to if her condition is grim who would take care of the dog when you are not there?

She would have to depend on her private duty nurse (she has one 24 hr.s a day) or son to help her. I know one of the nurses and she wouldn't mind at all. I don't know about the others...but then, that should be a part of their job, really.
I have no interest in giving my dog away, but since she wants one I thought I could "give" him to her with the agreement I would get him back if she decided she didn't want him anymore (if you know what I mean). You kind of have to read between the lines here with this one.

[doodlemom]

you mean you would get him back after she died? If the patient likes having the dog around, I have no problem with this as long as she realizes that the dog is on loaner AND only if the nurses are taking care of the dog. As far as the mottling goes, if she is still talkin gna eating, I would not make too much of this right now.