This evening, Doug and I picked up his Mom, and we went out to grab a bite to eat. I’m off from school for the rest of this week, and Doug is off from work for the next week and a half. I hadn’t seen Althea in nearly two weeks, and I missed her. So - off we all went together, something we rarely get a chance to do.

Althea and I often compare our medical issues, since we have a few things in common, and sometimes even accompany each other on doc’s appointments so that we can go out and eat together after they’re done. She has all of the medical problems I have, plus CHF and diabetes. She’s scared us more than once in the last year by having some of her lab values go off the charts … and subsequently ending up in the hospital.

Tonight, on our way to the restaurant, I wondered if she was still being given Procrit injections for her anemia, which is secondary to her kidney failure. Medicare only covers it when she’s actually anemic, so when her numbers come up to normal, they take the Procrit away until the numbers slide back down again. The problem with that is you can take Procrit for up to six weeks before you begin to actually feel its benefits, so she sometimes goes for months on end when she’s just dragging herself through life.

She was obviously tired, and not feeling well … and it showed. I asked how she was doing with her shots. She misunderstood me, and told me that she was taking them every night, but they weren’t helping.

Every night? You don’t take Procrit every night …

Slowly, the story unfolded. Her type II diabetes was worse … lots worse. She had recently begun taking injections every night, but they weren’t helping. Her numbers in the last several days had been between 400 and up above 500.

My chin dropped!

“Did you tell the doctor?”

“Yes … I called a couple times. Didn’t help, though.”

“Did he tell you what you’re allowed to eat?”

“He hasn’t talked to me about food.”

“Did he tell you that you could have someone help you with your diet, so that you can learn what you can and can’t eat?”

“No.”

“When do you see him again?”

“Beginning of August, I think.”

“What about Dr. R?” (nephrologist)

“That one’s in August, too.”

The primary care she’s seeing is one that I’ve heard horror stories about before. He’s always had a reputation for not listening to his patients. She’s been with him for years and years and years … and just stays there because it’s easier than finding someone new. I won’t go into the stories, but I’ve known about this guy for nearly the entire 30 years I’ve been in the area, and none of what I’ve ever been told was ever positive.

Now, I’m no doctor, but I think that blood sugar levels of 400 to up over 500 for a prolonged length of time being ignored by a physician is criminal. This lady has CRF, CHF, HTN, and diabetes to boot. This is killing her! Is he just not bothering because she’s elderly? She’s independent, lives alone, travels, is extremely sharp witted … but is receiving egregiously poor care from her primary physician.

Should I be carting her off to the ER? Should I see if she can be transferred to another doc somehow?

No one’s even bothered to talk to her about her diet, for heaven’s sake! I’m honestly afraid that this fellow is going to just continue to ignore this!

What I need to know is if I’m overreacting … and just what I should do to help her right now? Also, what could I do to move her into the care of someone who’s not just going to stand back and let her die?

Is there some sort of specialist I could make her an appointment with who could at least be in charge of her diabetes? Is that something her nephrologist might be able to deal with?

Sorry for tweaking out … but this is important. Althea and I are quite close, I don’t want anything bad happen to her, and I don’t want to see her sicker than she needs to be! I need some ammo … !!!

Advice appreciated … I will print it out and take it to her. Thanks in advance.