***Muddy Monday Roll Call***
Lisa,
I'm sorry to hear about your dad!!!! I hope he's doing better!!!!
Are you sure your mom heard them right when they said "he might not make it"? If she was upset, she might have thought she heard that but maybe they actually said something else. If it was said, I do think you should let the ambulance company know---that kind of behavior isn't good, IMHO.
Keep us posted on your dad!!!
I'm sorry to hear about your dad!!!! I hope he's doing better!!!!
Are you sure your mom heard them right when they said "he might not make it"? If she was upset, she might have thought she heard that but maybe they actually said something else. If it was said, I do think you should let the ambulance company know---that kind of behavior isn't good, IMHO.
Keep us posted on your dad!!!
Julia
I am so sorry to hear about your Dad but glad that he is OK - I've been there done that - my Dad is a type 1 diabetic.
Unfortunately I think in the rush to get information sometimes the EMT's are the most tactful (yes Pam, Brian and Eric can yell at me later! lol) Brian for one has told me several times that they just "get down to business". I agree that they could have handled that better seeing as the man wasn't dying! I hope that he is feeling better today. I know the day after a "Crash" can be hell too
*hugs*
Liz
Unfortunately I think in the rush to get information sometimes the EMT's are the most tactful (yes Pam, Brian and Eric can yell at me later! lol) Brian for one has told me several times that they just "get down to business". I agree that they could have handled that better seeing as the man wasn't dying! I hope that he is feeling better today. I know the day after a "Crash" can be hell too
*hugs*
Liz
Hi Lisa - sorry about your dad - watching parents get sick sucks!!!! Sadly I know this all too well! As for the Paramedics, I have to ask, was it a private ambulance or a public one? My husband is a Paramedic in Philadelphia, and there are times when he tells me stories of his partners being unbelievably rude to families, (never him of course in these stories..HA HA!). What he also mentions is that they are often in "the zone" and they need to get as much information as possible as soon as possible. While it is NOT ever OK to be rude and condescending, unfortunately, sometimes when these people are in the throws of working, they are only thinking about the best way to work the patient. Bottom line is that they did the best they could do for your dad, and the medics are trained in patient care, not necesarily in family care.
I hope dad is doing OK today. Keep us posted!
I hope dad is doing OK today. Keep us posted!
Should it have been said that way? No. Sometimes, though...you need to be THAT abrupt because in all honesty, when family members are distraught over everything, they don't hear, or have the ability to, follow directions or answer questions. Their emotions get in the way. And sometimes you just need to be blunt to get the attention OF said emotions. There would have been better ways to put it.
As far as "seeing that he was not dying" (I forget who mentioned that) that's a touchy situation. Chances are that at the time they didn't know what his blood sugar was, and, in all honesty, with such a low blood sugar, he could've EASILY looked like he wasn't "gonna make it" so that could have been an assumption.
I also wonder if that's what your mom heard as opposed to what was said...or wonder if they had possibly asked the question multiple times and she did not hear them or whatever. Either way..I still don't think it is correct to say it that way. I probably would have gone the way of "M'am, you NEED to listen to my question, and you NEED to my answer my question NOW. Does your husband have a living will, we will need to know his wishes if his condition progresses" You can't hear my voice inflection through typing, but I can assure you, it would not have been all cute and cuddly.
Hope he stables out and does well today!
The big question though....WHY did his blood sugar drop.
As far as "seeing that he was not dying" (I forget who mentioned that) that's a touchy situation. Chances are that at the time they didn't know what his blood sugar was, and, in all honesty, with such a low blood sugar, he could've EASILY looked like he wasn't "gonna make it" so that could have been an assumption.
I also wonder if that's what your mom heard as opposed to what was said...or wonder if they had possibly asked the question multiple times and she did not hear them or whatever. Either way..I still don't think it is correct to say it that way. I probably would have gone the way of "M'am, you NEED to listen to my question, and you NEED to my answer my question NOW. Does your husband have a living will, we will need to know his wishes if his condition progresses" You can't hear my voice inflection through typing, but I can assure you, it would not have been all cute and cuddly.
Hope he stables out and does well today!
The big question though....WHY did his blood sugar drop.
Instead of complaining that the rosebush has thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses. 
Hi Pam - thanks for the input. It really helps and I can definitely see the need to snap my Mom to attention to get the info. that they needed. I had to yell at her to get her to call 911 myself.
My Dad has esophageal cancer 1.5 years ago and had his esophagus removed. They brought part of his stomach up to create a new esophagus. He says that he sort of WLS that he didn't ask for. Anyhow, since the surgery, his sugar has dropped 4-5 times but never as bad as last night. He'll be following up with his primary doc this week - I'm hoping they will have him start testing his sugars regularly. He also needs to start paying attention to his body more now that he is beginning to be more aware of what the symptoms are. If he had popped some glucose tabs or had some orange juice when he first felt funny, that may have brought the sugars back up for him. My Mom actually thought that he was having a stroke and never considered blood sugar until the EMT's told her. Thank goodness is stroke.
Lisa
My Dad has esophageal cancer 1.5 years ago and had his esophagus removed. They brought part of his stomach up to create a new esophagus. He says that he sort of WLS that he didn't ask for. Anyhow, since the surgery, his sugar has dropped 4-5 times but never as bad as last night. He'll be following up with his primary doc this week - I'm hoping they will have him start testing his sugars regularly. He also needs to start paying attention to his body more now that he is beginning to be more aware of what the symptoms are. If he had popped some glucose tabs or had some orange juice when he first felt funny, that may have brought the sugars back up for him. My Mom actually thought that he was having a stroke and never considered blood sugar until the EMT's told her. Thank goodness is stroke.
Lisa
Wow...I'm gonna be all technical here..and comment...a whipple procedure...you almost never hear of that these days
Yes, he does need to be more careful and listen to his body....and your mom needs to listen to HER and not him. Unfortunately...when blood sugars start dropping....even slightly - the person it's happening to may very well be not able to think clear enough to understand the signs. It sounds like your dad becomes very defensive - and that may not be his fault. It's kind of like comparing a drunk person...some get happy...some get beligerant. So....if he starts having early symptoms it will be up to family members to get him to eat the glucose - he probably won't want to and wont' think he needs to, which can get difficult to say the least.
Best of luck to all of you :)
Yes, he does need to be more careful and listen to his body....and your mom needs to listen to HER and not him. Unfortunately...when blood sugars start dropping....even slightly - the person it's happening to may very well be not able to think clear enough to understand the signs. It sounds like your dad becomes very defensive - and that may not be his fault. It's kind of like comparing a drunk person...some get happy...some get beligerant. So....if he starts having early symptoms it will be up to family members to get him to eat the glucose - he probably won't want to and wont' think he needs to, which can get difficult to say the least.
Best of luck to all of you :)
Instead of complaining that the rosebush has thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses.
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