They wanted to tell me all about hospice and I didn't want to rain on their parade. I had some questions and they, there were two of them, both nurses, were alot more personable than the nurse from High Desert Hospice. Still, it was exhausting and I had to sleep awhile before doing anything more....even reading.
Fully-funded by Medicare, the sole criterion is a diagnosis/prognosis of six months or less to live. So far, it seems only oncologistsare endowed with the prescience to predict. I've yet to uncover the repercussions of misdiagnosis, but based on physicians' reluctance to commit, they must be horrible.
On a good day I "present" as fully-functional with mild angina and breathlessness. Other times it varies from debilitating fatigue to almost total incapacitation. So far, the worst instances have resolved after a few days to a week with a steady decrease in stamina, an increasingly pervasive cough (side-effect of heart meds), stomach upset and general malaise.
In truth they don't seem to have much to offer. I hear rumors of anxiety-reducing drugs and, of course, morphine for pain. The two outfits I've interviewed gave me to feel their main offering was bypassing calling 911 to certify the death and bereavement support; nice for Michelle but they showed minimal interest in alleviating my anxiety.
They needed two hours to conclude you didn’t qualify?
ReplyDeleteThey wanted to tell me all about hospice and I didn't want to rain on their parade. I had some questions and they, there were two of them, both nurses, were alot more personable than the nurse from High Desert Hospice. Still, it was exhausting and I had to sleep awhile before doing anything more....even reading.
DeleteYou didn't qualify ... does this mean you're doing better? Hope so.
ReplyDeleteHollis!
DeleteHow'd I miss ypur comment?
No one'll give me a prognosis of "terminal.
From my readings, many, like myself, wax & wane up to the end.
What are the criteria for qualification?
ReplyDeleteWhat is/are the criteria for qualification?
ReplyDeleteArt,
DeleteFully-funded by Medicare, the sole criterion is a diagnosis/prognosis of six months or less to live. So far, it seems only oncologistsare endowed with the prescience to predict. I've yet to uncover the repercussions of misdiagnosis, but based on physicians' reluctance to commit, they must be horrible.
On a good day I "present" as fully-functional with mild angina and breathlessness. Other times it varies from debilitating fatigue to almost total incapacitation. So far, the worst instances have resolved after a few days to a week with a steady decrease in stamina, an increasingly pervasive cough (side-effect of heart meds), stomach upset and general malaise.
In truth they don't seem to have much to offer. I hear rumors of anxiety-reducing drugs and, of course, morphine for pain. The two outfits I've interviewed gave me to feel their main offering was bypassing calling 911 to certify the death and bereavement support; nice for Michelle but they showed minimal interest in alleviating my anxiety.