Why hospitalize?

A

anonymous

New member
Okay, my 11 yo step son has been hospitalized probably about 7 or 8 times in his life. His Mom called us today and said they will be admitting him tomorrow. She advised us he needs antibiotics and she says its just "routine". We really don't get along very well so my husband and I are sometimes left out in the cold as to what is actually "wrong" with him at the time. So, my question is when a child is hospitalized for the standard 2 week intraval what does this usually mean? And what specific questions should we ask her about his progress? We have to be specific because she will not volunteer information. I have done alot of research about CF and I do understand all that it causes. Its just that she always makes his hospital visits sound like a precautionary thing rather than something that is needed at the time. My husband is convinced nothing is wrong but I feel like they would not hospitalize him for nothing, or would they? What types of things would warrant him being admitted? He was admitted at almost the same times last year for 2 weeks.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Jennifer
 
E

Emily65Roses

New member
There's a nickname 2-week IVs get around here that kind of explains what they're for. We call them "tune-ups." Same idea as when you take your car in for maintenance. Maybe the brakes are a little weak, but not completely shot. So you take the car in to get the brakes fixed before they do go completely useless and you need to replace them altogether. Make sense?

Basically, they see possible trouble ahead (or trouble already starting) and admit us to do IVs so that we don't go straight downhill. IVs are sometimes used when we're sick, to fix the problem. But they're also sometimes used as a precaution to avoid getting really sick, if the docs see possible problems ahead. If your kid has a small bacteria growing in his lungs that causes maybe some extra coughing, but nothing big... the docs may want to do IVs so that the small bacteria doesn't grow out of hand or turn into something more serious.

If you're looking to figure out what to ask... try what exactly is he growing? Or what other purpose do they have for admitting him? I hope this helps.
 
A

anonymous

New member
Thanks Emily,
So, basically he may not be sick they may want to prevent him from getting sick? I'm still kind of confused about that. But, I'm not the one with CF, and he only spends the summer with us. He lives over 1,000 miles away so there is not much my husband can do. He wants to be there so badly but we just can't afford the trip this time. I know he feels very guilty about that. And I am a worry wart and always thinking the worse which does not help. I of course reassure him that I feel like everything will be fine. But, I just hate the way his x-wife (aka psyco chick) always leaves us in the dark. We love him and worry a lot so if we knew exactly what was happening we would feel....informed. Its just really hard, especially for my husband to be so far away and then be so closed out on top of things.
Jennifer
 
E

Emily65Roses

New member
I'm not sure, because I don't know him specifically, but it's possible they're doing it as a precaution. If you want a better explanation, and can't ask the psycho ex-wife, try asking the kid. He's only 11, yes, but often (mind you, not always) CFers learn very quickly what's going on. He may able to explain some of the problem to you. Not all of us learn that quickly, and I certainly didn't understand everything at 11. But I understood my medical situation much better than the average child with a cold, or tonsil problems, or what have you. I didn't know all the right terms, but I could generally explain the CF to where people were able to understand what I meant.

And on a different note, couldn't you call and talk to the kid's CF doc? You may have no "legal standing" as the "stepmom," but his father, being his biological father should be able to discuss the kid's situation with the doc. If the kid can't explain enough, or his explanation lends into new questions, and the ex-wife snot won't help, try calling the doc.
 
A

anonymous

New member
You make a good point, my husband should call and talk to the physician, after all he is the insurance carrier and the childs father, but for some reason psyco chick would trip if she ever found out my husband was calling the doctor. Don't ask me why, I don't understand it, and honestly I could careless if she gets mad or not but she tends to turn the child against his father when she gets mad and that is out right frightning. She uses him to hurt my husband and its really sick or as I would say "psyco". And the really sad part is he is such a good father, its a shame his son may never get the chance to really, truely, know that. He is so influenced by her, she is very narsasistic (sp?). He is told what he can and cannot talk to his father about on the phone and she won't allow him to talk about CF, its very hush hush. Until I came along it was not talked about at all, I have finally brought my husband around to believing that its okay that his son has CF and its not his fault. And his child shouldn't feel ashamed or scared to tell people. I mean he doesn't have to tell people but he should feel comfortable telling a close friend or something... I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. She keeps him very sheltered.
Well, sorry I got a bit off topic here, I appreciate your comments and advice. Thank you. Jennifer
 
A

anonymous

New member
Jennifer, your husband sounds like a good dad, so this should probably go without saying but since he can't be there this hospitilization, he should just try to call his son as much as possible, and maybe have a special gift arrive at his hospital room. That way dad will have time to explain why he can't be there, but is able to show that he still really cares and would be there if he could. And emily did a good job of explaining the "tune up". It is basically (especially when they are younger) a tune up to prevent something that could leave them real sick for real long and land them in the hospital for necessary treatment for an illness.

Julie (wife to Mark 24 w/CF)
 
L

LindseyRose

Member
I agree that your husband should call the doc himself. He should give the doc his phone number as well and inform the doc that he wants to be a part of any major decision making regarding your stepson's care.
 
E

EmilysMom

New member
Since doctor/patient stuff is do private and protected now, Dad should be able to talk to the doctor without mom even knowing. Since the son is a minor, Dad has every right to know what is up with his child (whether psycho mom wants him to or not!)
 
M

Mockingbird

New member
Okay, for some reason, it keeps telling me I have a forbidden word, but I haven't typed anything bad, and it isn't highlighting anything, so I'm gonna try this again... I've had routine hospitalizations before, so it is entirely possible she is telling the truth. On the other hand, when I'm in the hospital because I need to be and I don't want people to worry, I always tell everyone it's just a routine precautionary thing, and there is nothing wrong with me. it's sort of a natural lie. So, it could be either one, but either way he should come out just fine.

As for questions, you can ask what percentage his lung capacity is... or what his fev 1 is.... I think that's the right term, somebody please help me out. i never really pay attention to the terms, just the numbers. =-) Anyway, the higher the number, the better he is. And it is possible to go over 100%. That means he's doing really good. You can also ask how his weight is doing, how his appetite is, his energy level. Hope this helps. =-)

jarod
22 w/cf
 
E

Emily65Roses

New member
It depends on your standards. As a reference point... they start transplant evaulation around 30%.

Oh and Jarod is right, the number they pay the most attention to is the FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second). If that number is around 30%, they start the process of putting you on the tx list.
 
L

LindseyRose

Member
What Emily said is true, but they consider transplant when that number is CONSISTENTLY that low. I've been down to 27%, but after a tune up was back up to 70%. My last PFT was at 88%.
 
A

anonymous

New member
What causes lung function to drop? Could an infection cause it to? And then once the infection is clear the # will rise again? Could lung function be a reason for hospitalizing?
Thanks
Jennifer
 
A

anonymous

New member
Yes, a lung infection is usually a cause for a drop, especially a signifigant one. It can also be the reason for a hospitilization, but that is somewhat rare in the younger years. If an infection is treated properly and promply, there isn't signifigant damage to the lungs and the functions should return to normal.

Julie (wife to Mark 24 w/CF)
 
A

AngieM

New member
Hi Jennifer.... I am a stepmom to a 10 yr old w/ CF. Would love to talk w/ you. my email awilliams@cablemt.net

Angie
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top