PD and Caregiver Backup?

[Marilee]

My hubby, a PD patient, had to undergo extensive eye surgery 4 weeks ago and he did not spring back from the anesthesia readily. Actually, he was delirious for weeks, so I took over all aspects of PD to get through that rough patch. On Thanksgiving morning I woke to some weird flashes and new floaters in one eye, and fears of retinal tears or retinal detachment bubbled up. I thought, "Oh, no! What is my backup if I can't help with the PD?" So I contacted the VA - they have a caregiver respite program where someone comes to the house to help out. But they wouldn't do PD setups. I contacted other home health caregiver organizations but they also didn't do PD. All our extended family live out of this state, so I was more than relieved to learn that I was OK after all and didn't need a backup. This week at PD clinic, I brought this scenario up to find out what they recommend if indeed I were out of the picture for awhile, and they said they would do an emergency catheter for hemodialysis because caregivers can give a person a ride to hemo appointments. But that means that my poor hubby, reeling from the effects of surgery, would undergo yet another surgery. It seems like overkill when really I just need someone strong enough to carry 14 pound bags, connect per the machine instructions, wash their hands and hook a few tubes together.

Has anyone else traveled this road and come up with better solutions?

[cassandra]

Maybe ask VA if you are okay to show a caregiver [size=78%]what to do with pd before your eyes go. [/size]

[Marilee]

LOL!

I actually wrote the VA a letter noting that PD is something that is being promoted from the White House on down, and it is in the VA's interest to make it possible for me to continue to be the 24/7 caregiver that I am. I said they have skilled nurses on staff that can train and that it doesn't require nursing skill to actually do (I am not a nurse)… haven't heard back yet .