This section said Health Care, so I'm posting in here. A Friend has found herself in a MAJOR bind.Her Doctor dropped her as a Patient,and she will more than likely have difficulty finding a new Doctor who will take her on.She really isn't sure why, but thinks it is because she took 8 of her Husbands Prescription Potassium Tablets in 1 Day.They are 3 x's more potent than OTC,which she was unaware. She has multiple Medical problems..one being Ascites from Liver Disease, Cirrhosis and Hepatitis B.When she swells, she is given a Heparin flush, 80 MG IV Lasix, then a second Heparin flush via Life Port in Chest. She takes 2 Oral Diuretics on top of the IV. She stays severely dehydrated and took the Potassium because of cramping (even in her Eyes).

Doctor wanted to admit her to Hospital so she could start IV Fluids, but 1 week early told her no, because of Flu. Her Immune System can't tolerate sickness.Since this has taken place,she has lost Home Health Nurses and Hospital will not administer Diuretics through Port. I'm not sure what she will do, but must find a Doctor. I'm upset,because he wasn't doing anything to help her anyway, and the A$$ needs to think back to when his Child, then himself had Cancer! What would they of done if they're Doctors just upped and dropped them?

I don't blame this doctor. If she does stupid stuff like she did he could get blamed for it. Makes me wonder if he has been putting up with her for quite a while. Doctors are very hesitant to just drop patients. They think long and hard before doing so.

If she was having such cramping pain why did she not call him or just go into the hospital before loading up on potassium? If she couldn't find help perhaps she should have up and gone to a larger hospital that will administer meds through her port. Frankly, hearing that a hospital will not administer diuretics though a port sounds pretty weird to me and most likely not true. She could have killed herself with all that potassium.

How can a doctor really help someone with this diagnosis anyway? There is no curative treatment, only palliative and they know that and so should she.

Sounds like she could be a candidate for Hospice care to me.

__________________

Arrowind,
After a bit of thought, I don't blame the Doctor. I told her perhaps he felt it risky she being a Patient and feared a Lawsuit. I worry and worry myself about the things she does until I'm almost sick! Yes, she is Ill, however, I think at least some of the pain she says she has is Psychosomatic.

Her sole surviving Son told me ever since he and his late Brother were Children,she relied on them for everything. He then pointed at his Head and said, "It's all up here." Arrowind,it's nothing for my friend to take 3 Hydrocodones, 3 1 MG Xanax, 1 Omeprazole, 1 Flexaril and 3 quarters of Phenergan at the SAME TIME!

I have got up on my soapbox numerous times telling her I am afraid she will accidentally OD,but she just brushes/blows it off. She refused to go to Hospital because she said the Doctor told her there was an outbreak of Flu, but it was at the local Hospital! Also, they're Car is not dependable, and truth be known, they didn't have enough Gas or Money for Gas.

I OFFERED to take her to a larger Hospital in the next State! She says the Hospital can't administer Diuretics/Medication through the Life Port. RN's do in her Home!She already had Hospice,but was dropped. After having Hospice for 7 + Month's, she went on the Road from State to State with her Husband!

Well, she's a nut job. I would just bless her and send her on her way. You cannot help her. Just pray for her and don't stress yourself out further over it. There are lots of folks out there like this and I've met quite a few in my work. You just gotta let it go

I love her more than anything in this World, she is always in my Heart, and there is NOTHING I wouldn't do for her (has been proved), but she is being selfish by grieving a Friend who dearly loves and cares about her. I have Prayed to the dear Lord above to protect and keep a close watchful Eye over her.

8 high dose prescription potassium tablets (20 meq (highest dose) would only be 6400 mg of potassium. A one time dose that high would not have any negative effects (unless her potassium levels were already dangerously high). You need like 5-6000 mg a day for optimum health anyway.

Saved1986,
Before the high dosage,I'm certain her Potassium was on the verge of Hypokalemia.She takes 80 MG of IV Lasix twice Weekly (maybe PRN) + 2 Oral Diuretics I *think* BID.Talked with her earlier,and she told me the Doctor refused to talk and tell her why he dropped her.He left it up to a Home Health Nurse to tell her.My Friend called Clinic and talked with the Doctors Nurse who contradicted herself.First,she told my Friend he decided he had done everything he could for her,then said she didn't know why.

Love is like a fist full of sand. The tighter you squeeze the more you loose.

Let it go and let her create her own reality.

Counsel her wisely only when she asks.

Chatterbox, you are a good and caring friend. You have really done everything you can to help....

Are you familar with the Serenity Prayer?

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and Wisdom to know the difference.

Thy will, not mine be done.

.

__________________

The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease
~Voltaire~

Chatterbox, I just caught this post, and see that it's a few months old, so don't know if you're still around or not, You must understand that your friend is not normal, mainly due to the extreme RNA viral loads that she is infected with her disease. She is also very near or close to her "end-stage" progression with the Ascides secondary complication that she also has as a result of her advanced stage. She should be on no less than 40mg of Furosemide with no less than 100mg of Spironolact for her ascides, [whick is the min. suggested dosage to start with for this condition] The fact that she's having to go to be drained of fluids, tells me that she is not properly treated by her doctor, and you'd be surprised at the amount of doctors who really don't know anything about how to care for a patient with her serious complications.
The reason that she took her husbands prescription Potassium is self explanatory to any doctor, or rather it should be! Another fact that I strongly believe that her former doctor dropped her because of his own lack of medical knowledge.
When she had to endure the gruesome procedure of draining her abdomen fluids, due to portal tension and blockage, it throws the body into shock for a couple of days thereafter, and cramping pain in her feet-legs, hands and arms can become more painful than child birth, which often puts a patient in a state of not being about to stand, walk or do anything for so long as the pain draws and contorts the limbs up uncontrollably, If you had to endure such horror over the course of a couple days, you'd be grabbing anything you could to try to stop the severity of the pain too.
In case I didn't clarify the "pain" of such a condition that she had to be experiencing, it most often makes tough men cry like a baby after awhile of enduring it.
"Postassium" is what helps to easy such conditions. She is the "victim" of very poor care period, as sickness and pain of her ascites condition is easily controls with the proper dosing of diuretics. [Though it is not very profitable for the doctor to have her come back for more draining procedure etc.]
Now..moving on to her advanced hepatitis condition, the infestation of this virus attacking liver cells, and the bodies immune system over working itself, causes huge amounts of toxins to be dumped into her blood, along with very high amounts of ammonia hitting her brain, often called "brain-fog" The side effects from this is virago, and become quiet noticeable when she can not focus or talk normally, her mind wanders and she'll forget what it is she is even saying in the middle of a sentence, she may even bump into walls, or walk sideways like a drunken person, and often resulting in diarrhea, vomiting, extreme fatigue and extreme flu like symptoms.
If she is still alive by now..? Please do go all out to help her!! She is not able to help herself, as her "will-power" gets drained along with her body energies and she will simply waste away quickly unless she get "proper care".
She is most likely untreatable by current medical professionals, but there are alternatives, even with a certain protocol of herbs, that will bring her upstanding and functional again. Buzz me if I might be of further help. God bless!

Hobo,
My Friend isn't drained of Fluids for the Ascites.She has Polycythemia,so has an occasional Phlebotomy.Just had Blood removed for the second time on Wednesday.When she does have Ascites,the only means used to remove excess Fluid is Diuretics,which assists in Urinating the Fluid off.Sometimes this approach takes several Day's.It is difficult for the Doctor who dropped her to make direct Eye contact with Patients,but I must say,he is for the most part a thorough Doctor.He was a Pharmacist before attending Medical School.This Woman has multiple and major Medical issues.This Week alone,she saw 2 Doctor's.A Cardiologist,the Phlebotomy and Podiatrist.She has a Heart Cath scheduled for next Week,and in couple Weeks will have Surgery to remove a Bone (Heel) Spur.Most of her Health problems starts minor,then turns major.Her late Mother was forever ill,and my Friend says her Health is same as her Mothers.In my honest opinion,I think she wants it to be.It is my belief her current Health status began as a Child.Her Brother is 6 Years older and has detested her since Birth (I want to be the only Child Syndrome).She witnessed her Mother's illnesses,partied (Drank and used illicit Drugs),then stayed in a Physically Abusive Marriage,which turned into her ex-Husband being obsessive,possessive and jealous.Doctors told her Hepatitis B rendered her with CFS.The CFS creates extreme fatigue,Flu like Symptoms and a host of other Symptoms.She sounds like she will drop in any minute.The Cymbalta isn't helping relieve CFS.She has 4-5 different Digestive Disorders and is chronically Nauseated.Hobo,I've Researched and given her many Alternatives,but she rather relies on Western approach,because Herbs work slower (as she told me).

Thanks for clarifing that Chatterbox, It's too bad that she won't even consider MMS, it works pretty fast. There's a MMS forum on here that she might find interesting to just take a few minutes to look at, I've been taking it for a month now and blood test confirming great results... I've also post blood work etc. on the forum in case you're interested to give it to her...she just might reconsider... but maybe not, as I know how it goes when a person gets an opinion locked into their head.. their road is pretty much set in grail.. Guess all we can do is pray, right?

I dont think I would blame the doctor either in a situation like this.

No offense, but I believe that all the drugs she is on are only making her condition worse. Yes, they are meant to help her, but they are actually hurting her. It seems strange to me that people, especially cancer patients, tend to go into their worst stage after being on 10 different pain meds, radiation and 3 years of chemo. I thought these drugs were supposed to "help"... Plus, all these drugs are going to harm the immune system, which is a vital importance in controlling infections and cancer. The drugs take such a toll on the body alone. Add the disease to it and how are you ever going to get better? Please do not take offense to what I am saying. I know her doctors had the best interest and I am not trying to knock anyone's decisions. I just believe in not only natural medicine, but all natural medicine. I'm just giving my opinion, no hard feelings.

I guess I can't really blame her doctor for dropping her either...at least I can't blame her doctor personally. But I can blame all the people who make idiotic lawsuits over things that should not even be an issue! There are so many crooked people out there just looking for money! I was on the jury of a case that dealt with a lawsuit against a doctor and trust me, I went into the case sympathizing mostly with the patient and came out of it totally backing the doctor! A doctor should not have to worry about being sued unless he knows he did something wrong!!!!!

It is so awesome that you love your friend so much! I've already said a prayer for her and I will continue.

Kelly Thundercloud,
My Friend and I don't have access to Integrative, Holistic or Naturopathic Physicians. I cannot begin to count the number of times I have diagnosed and treated myself. Like yourself, I believe in natural Medicine. My Friend on the other hand doesn't, but what am I to do? I can't change her belief system. She would rather pop Medicine that has detrimental side effects, because as she says, "Natural Medicine takes too long to work.". I will never give up on her. The Doctor who dropped her is the head Doctor of the Hospice she had for 1 Year. Who knows, maybe since she didn't die he decided to drop her! Thank you for saying a Prayer for her. Prayer is one of the best gifts, and is free!