Need help fast

[wahoozer]

My mother has been on dialysis for 3 years now. She is 80 years old and is having a very bad time.
She is getting very panicky, anxious, and having a hard time breathing the last half hour or so, that she is considering stopping.
She started taking an anxiety pill before she goes, which hepled a few times, but the last few times they haven't.
I don't know if they changed the dose or it is just getting cleaned out.
Is there something else they can give her there?
Any suggestions to help keep her mind off the situation and help her relax?
Can't they give her more anxiety medicine toward the end of the treatment?
Wouldn't it be better if they shortened the treatment to see how she does than to let her just give up?
Any suggestions appreciated.

[jbeany]

Have they tried IV Benadryl?  It makes most patients sleep thru the majority of their treatments.

She can demand to shorten her treatment any day she's feeling anxious.  She'll have to sign an AMA form (against medical advise), but knowing she can leave if she needs to might be helpful in getting her to stay.

[RichardMEL]

Question - if she's having trouble breathing could it be a fluid issue? I'm not sure on that one though.

[wahoozer]

It has been a fluid issue sometimes, but not all the time. I guess I don't know why they can't tell when they are taking to much off.
All the technology and still not perfect I guess. Very frustrating and depressing.

[Inara]

Ask the nurse to re-evaluate her dry weight.  Sounds like they may be taking too much off.  Some people, especially the elderly, feel better a little "wet". If that doesn't work, the benadryl is an excellent suggestion! 

[wahoozer]

I told my Mother about the IV Benadryl and she said the only thing they are allowed to give her is a tylenol.
Did a doctor make a prescription for the Benadryl?
Is there a doctor at your centers all the time.
The doctor is only at her center once a month.
She goes in early and sometimes she doesn't even get to see the doctor because he didn't get there before she left.

[okarol]

Jenna's doctor came by every so often, but I would call his office if there was a meds question. Maybe you could call the charge nurse and ask how to get the benadryl ok'd.

[Inara]

Maybe she could take an extra anti-anxiety pill with her and take it herself about halfway through? 

A lot of clinics don't allow administration of Benadryl except in the case of an allergic reaction.  It's all up to the medical director, and in my experience, they rarely make exceptions.  Of course, no one could stop her from bringing her own and taking it!