That is so fucked up! (TISFU)

[always2late]

Originally Posted by RNguy

So, the other day I make the dreaded phone call to my patients surrogate which is his brother , not his own wife ( I understood why he was after I spoke with his wife ) at 2am.

Me : Mr xxxxx this is Blake from xxxx and I'm taking care of your brother . I'm so sorry to wake you up at this hour with this news, but as you know your brother is extremely critical and is declining to the point where its coming to the end . I've spoke with the critical care doc and the renal doc , he is maxed out on 4 pressor meds, and his pressure is not maintaining at all, his potassium is still critically high despite being on emergent dialysis and the cocktail lowering drip and neurologically he isn't doing anything. Is there anyway you can come in and bring his wife and the rest of the family in ???

Patients brother : I have only been sleeping for 4 hours so no I can't come in but ill come in tomorrow afternoon to see him.

Me: Mr xxxx im unsure if he will make it another hour at this point at 2 am , that's why I'm calling you to come now if all possible , he is this unstable .

Patients brother : well call me if he doesn't make it and we will go from there

Me : since you are the decision maker , do you care to call his wife and update her since he is doing so bad ?

Patients brother : I'd rather not but Blake you can call her and update her

Me : ok, thank you , ill do that and I'm sorry again

Me : Mrs xxxxx this is Blake and we spoke two days ago on the phone briefly when he first came down to our unit from the first floor . Im so sorry to call you at this hour with this update but I spoke to your brother in law and this is what is going on . Is there any way you and your family can come into be with your husband tonight as he isn't doing well and is not going to hold on much longer I'm afraid.

Patients wife : Blake , thank you for calling me this is horrible news I was afraid of this call but Blake I have IBS and I can't come there bc I have to be near a toilet at all times .
Do you know how aweful IBS is ? Its aweful to have , I've had this for years and am so sickly with IBS . I've been to the doctor and its the worse thing in the world .

Me : thank you mam I have to get back to work but ill tell him you love him and ill update you again .

WHAT THE #$%& is wrong with people !!!!!! Now this is messed up.
Ill gladly put a potty chair at his bedside so you can crap while holding your dying husbands hand so he doesn't die alone with no family geez .
Shakes head . It would be nice to say what you feel.

I can so completely relate to this that it's sad. I have no idea what is wrong with people. I once had a declining patient's son and daughter-in-law come to visit and ask me "How long is she going to last? Is she going to die tonight? We don't really live too close so if she's going to die tonight let us know so we don't have to make the trip back again." After this same patient passed, I called them to advise them and asked which funeral home they wanted me to contact. The daughter-in-law asked "Why?" I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying "Because she DIED!! Would you rather just bring a shovel??"