Hospice - Hospice Message Board

gnik · 04-06-2006, 07:27 AM

My husband has nsclc stage 111B. I have seen comments on Hospice and my quesiton is who determines when Hospice is called? What is cost? Would appreciate any of you to share your experience regarding hospice.

God Bless us all.

gnik

tuckygal · 04-06-2006, 07:35 AM

Both my parents were under Hospice care. Their doctor assigned Hospice to them. Ask about it please because they were a Godsend to us. There was no cost in our area. Medicare paid for their treatment, drugs, etc. They are there for the family as much as the patient and enough cannot be said about all the help they give. God bless.

Robin M · 04-06-2006, 10:22 AM

gnik, Hospice is usually for those who doctors determine have six months or less to live, the doctor writes the order, although many have been on Hospice care longer than six months. Hospice functions as a non-profit organization and accepts donations, but, as tuckygal says, there is no cost to the family. I know that where I live, we have a Hospice 'home' where individuals can live out the end, but in Oklahoma where we took care of my dad, all was at home with Hospice visits twice/week and daily phone calls. I highly recommend Hospice, as well, for all involved in the care of your husband - they provide moral, emotional, spiritual help in addition to physical care - be advised, however, that you and your husband should be at a point you determine that traditional medicine is either not working or you don't want to go that route - I don't believe your husband can continue chemo/radiation, etc. if you choose to involve Hospice - it's sort of a personal decision one makes when they accept they are terminal - it's tough, my dad fought it tooth and nail, but once they started coming, he couldn't live without them. Hospice provides you with all the pain meds you may need, they tell you what you can expect to experience, they provide you with things like oxygen tanks, walkers, porta-potties, wheelchairs - their goal is to be there for you and your husband in every way. Good luck to both of you....I'm thinking of you guys.

gnik · 04-06-2006, 03:41 PM

Thank you so much for information. I now have one less thing to be concerned about.

My husband's cancer is uncurable at least by conventional means and he has many other issuse such as emphysema and he lost a third of his right lung to Necrotizing Pseuomonas Pneumonia in 1995. He also developed an abscess in that lung. He now has a fungus ball, in the old abscess space, that is growing. No one would beleive me if they were to see him. He is thin 6ft and 138lbs but he looks very good and actually gained 2lbs. We ran errands today and he takes two or three naps most days. It is hard not knowing when the bad stuff is coming or what kind or bad stuff. We try to stay in today and we are on a lot of prayer list. Would appreciate anyone adding us (John and Linda) on your prayer list.

Thanks again for information.

May God Smile On All Of Us Today.

rockie · 04-07-2006, 06:57 AM

Hi Linda, I thought that was you...I remember talking to you when your hubby was first dx with the nsclc 3B. My hubby was too, and has emphysema. I have been working out of the house all week because of the chemo that they put him on last. It knocks him flat to the ground for a week afterwards. He has to go back today for IV fluids and nausea rx. Once he pulls out of that slump, he doesn't do too bad. Like your John, he takes frequent naps, but hates it because he feels like he's giving in. I'll keep you both in my prayers and thughts.

Take care of yourself too.

Jan