My husband hates to take his diuretic because of the excessive urination. If he doesn't take it, he gurgles when be breathes, and the lymphedema in his legs gets worse, causing leaking wounds.
His cardiologist is okay with him not taking it everyday, but wants him to take it at least 3 times a week. I'm lucky if I can get him to take it once a week. His wonderful caregiver can usually get him to take it, but if I try, he gets ugly. Do I just let it slide, or do I make an issue of it? Is dying from CHF worse than dying from dementia?
Have you tried a fancy calendar with his obligation days marked clearly, so that he can CLEARLY identify the days when he has to suck it up and “SUCK IT UP”??
Sadly, this one is SUPER close to my heart- I lost a VERY DEAR LO who was not encouraged to do the meds, and the wounds ultimately hastened her death. Hope you can find some GREAT BRIBE that will do the trick!
Only you can make this decision. If your husband is not taking his medications, it is time to level with the doc and tell him you now want hospice, and you accept he is at end of life, but you cannot accept the daily torment he is in, and you are witnessing as a helpless bystander 24/7. I have said this now twice today. I am a retired RN. I have witnessed many deaths and I have ZERO fear of death. What I do fear is our torment and torture BEFORE death.
I wish you the very best. You have reached the land of there being no decision that brings joy. Of no "fix it" solutions.
Dying of CHF without hospice? Yes. It isn't good. It is basically "drowning". And dementia? It can be a daily torment to the one living who faces loss upon loss, including even the loss of "self". And a torment to the loved one who stands helpless witness to it all. My heart goes out to you. These are hard decisions. Ask to interview and consider hospice now, would be my advice.
My mom has CHF and has been taking Lasix 3x/day since 2014. It pretty much brought any outings to an end. Only taking it a few times a week would have been a dream.
In spite of the diuretic, he'll still get the edema, so if he doesn't take it at all, he'll essentially drown in his own fluids.
I agree that it's time for hospice to make him comfortable. They won't cut off the meds, but neither will they force them on him. You just don't want him to suffer.