I am close to where my Dad and Mom are staying in a senior living facility. My Dad is in hospice, due to a fall when he left the facility without his walker and staff did not see him exit.
He has congestive heart failure, but I am not the primary POA for health care, my sister is and she is in Idaho 6 months and out of the country in winter. She won't give me the information from the hospice nurse, and the coordination between hospice and this facility stinks.
At my last visit his last reported by was 107/53 with a pulse of 71. He has AFIB and that makes his heart beat high. He is cyanotic, mostly in the legs. I don't know how bad this is. My sister won't respond to my questions. Can anyone give me a general idea? My Mom is there but has dementia and can't remember anything and I can't read her notes. I need to be better informed. Thanks for any help!
Sorry to hear that your Dad has Congestive Heart Failure. My Dad suffered from that for 5 years before he died of a Heart Attack. Here are some websites that explain Congestive Heart Failure. I hope that you find them helpful. You can send me a Message on my Profile Page if you have any personal questions.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373142
https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide-heart-failure#1
https://www.medicinenet.com/congestive_heart_failure_chf_overview/article.htm#what_is_congestive_heart_failure_chf
Doctors usually classify patients' heart failure according to the severity of their symptoms. The table below describes the most commonly used classification system, the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification1. It places patients in one of four categories based on how much they are limited during physical activity.
https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartFailure/AboutHeartFailure/Classes-of-Heart-Failure_UCM_306328_Article.jsp?appName=MobileApp
Some of the questions asked on AgingCare.com are:
https://www.agingcare.com/questions/heart-failure-and-chf-171989.htm
https://www.agingcare.com/questions/my-mom-has-chf-causing-her-to-be-weak-but-i-feel-as-if-she-can-do-more-for-herself-i-feel-guilty-435774.htm
https://www.agingcare.com/questions/weigh-father-with-congestive-heart-failure-144429.htm
I am so sorry life has been so rough for you. I hope that you can find some relief and comfort during the next few difficult months.
The hospice nurse is the person that you need to talk to about your Father. If you want to do an internet search, here are some websites that I have found:
https://dying.lovetoknow.com/Hospice_Signs_of_Dying
https://www.crossroadshospice.com/family-caregivers-blog/2017/february/16/end-stages-of-heart-failure-what-to-expect/
"What Do Symptoms of End Stage Congestive Heart Failure Look Like?"
"Imminent death is a very active process that lasts from hours to days. The dying phase is influenced by the type of terminal illness causing death. For example, a person with congestive heart failure may experience significant chest congestion related to the accumulation of fluid because of their heart disease or someone with dementia may slip quietly into a coma. Common signs of...that the person will die soon are listed below:..."
{See website: https://www.sharecare.com/health/health-care-basics/what-are-the-signs-of-imminent-death}
God Bless. {{{Hugs}}} to YOU!
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For my Uncle, I am his POA. Although he is really secretive about everything I haven't seen his health directives. All I was told is "I have to do what the doctors tell me to do." But, my Father was this way, so it is not any different with my Uncle. It was they way they were brought up. They just don't talk about these things. But, he knows I am here for him.
Thanks for your help!
When the hospice nurse got there she saw completely different behavior due to constipation. They prescribed a glass of prune juice a day and since then he hasn't had another shock incident.
I am concerned about his low blood pressure. I have to call the hospice staff and get more information. I am under pressure at work and have deadlines to meet .
Your responses are really helpful. Thank you so much!
An arrhythmia is any disorder of your heart rate or rhythm. It means that your heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or with an irregular pattern. Most arrhythmias result from problems in the electrical system of the heart.
A PACEMAKER helps control abnormal heart rhythms. It uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. It can speed up a slow heart rhythm, control a fast heart rhythm, and coordinate the chambers of the heart. A pacemaker does NOT SHOCK the heart at any time. It only uses a tiny electrical impulse to "remind" the heart to beat.
This article "Do pacemakers work even after death?" gives a good explanation of how the pacemaker works when someone is dying or when they die. ~
scienceillustrated.com.au/blog/medicine/ask-us-will-pacemakers-still-work-after-death/ (Copy & Paste to your browser.)
In regards to your Dad's low blood pressure, that is common in people who are dying. Their heart is not pumping as hard as it used to so the pressure of the blood pumping through their blood vessels is not as high. Eventually your Dad's blood pressure will be too low to hear or maybe even to feel. The lower the blood pressure the sooner death might occur.
I am so sorry that you are having to experience this. If you have any more questions, please feel free to send me a message on my Profile Page. Dee Anna
{{{Hugs}}} and Prayers ^^ & ^^
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Your answer was really helpful on the defibrillator episode. I am going to keep tabs on his blood pressure. While my Mom is sometimes in the room when the hospice nurse is there she can't remember to takes notes or she can't read them later (nor can I). My Dad does have a DNR so that is where we are. It's just horrible to watch.
My Mother is so loud and only wants to talk about politics and my job, which I really don't want to talk about at any point. I just want to focus on Dad. She only is interested in what she wants and doesn't understand what you say to her and you have to repeat everything and she doesn't get it. I usually have to get her out of the room so my Uncle can have a conversation with my Dad and I get very little time with him. I find myself being resentful that she is taking this time away from me. I know she can't help it, but my patience is wearing thin. My siblings dial it in once a week, if that. I resent the fact that they don't come and take a turn for a while. Anyway, I am whining. Back to work.
Thank you for your explanation, it is really helpful
How is your Dad doing? Have you been able to visit him by yourself while your Mom is out of the room? Please let us know what is going on. {{{Hugs}}}