# Grammas and DNR orders :( **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 24, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765 "2001-02-24T22:24:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Spider\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Spider\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spider_Woman)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/41 "2001-03-02T13:46:54Z")
////Gramma\\ ////chique\\ Maybe she’ll fool everybody and be back home soon. Do you know if this illness has caused any damage that would prevent her from returning home? Will she need to take ulcer medication (Tagamet or something like that?). Thanks for keeping us updated. ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/42 "2001-03-02T16:08:33Z")
Thats wonderful news!!! Yayyy Gramma!! ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2001, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/43 "2001-03-04T05:37:44Z")
…it looks like she’s going to be relatively ok. This morning she pulled out both her vent tube and her mainline (the thing in her neck her IVs are hooked to and from which they take blood). The vent stayed out (Yay!!!), the mainline went back on (Boo ☹ ). She also yanked out her catheter on Friday - that had to go back in, too. She now has something called ‘ICU psychosis’, which I’m going to go look up shortly. It’ll go away eventually, but what it amounts to is: She thought my name was “Al”, she called me her “old angel”, she hopes she made enough donuts, and she went to Chicago in 1967. But. It looks like she’s going to be ok. We hope. I’m pretty damn happy right now 🙂 🙂 And I can’t express my thanks enough to those who posted hugs and advice and support in this thread; you have no idea how much it meant to me. ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2001, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/44 "2001-03-04T06:40:09Z")
{{{Chique}}} Man, you are in a tough spot (though getting better, thankfully). It’s tough to be a “net” friend in a situation like this when you want to do whatever you can. We don’t even know each other really, but if you need anything at all, let me know. ---
**Author:** ![Spider\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Spider\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spider_Woman)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2001, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/45 "2001-03-04T13:40:08Z")
I’m so glad she’s getting better. [Here](http://search.altavista.com/cgi-bin/query?q=%2BICU+psychosis&kl=XX&pg=q&Translate=on&search.x=32&search.y=12) is an AltaVista page listing on ICU psychosis; hope it will save you a little time. Take care! ----:)/ x o x o x ----///\\ ---
**Author:** ![Jeannie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@Jeannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeannie)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/46 "2001-03-04T17:30:55Z")
Thanks goodness! I hope she recovers quickly. Take care of yourself and your family, and let us know how she’s doing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2001, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/47 "2001-03-04T19:11:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chique \* > \*\*…it looks like she’s going to be relatively ok. > She now has something called ‘ICU psychosis’, which I’m going to go look up shortly. /B] ICU psychosis is syndrome that is more-or-less caused by severe stress and sleep deprivation. With all the pain, medications,tubes, machines, treatments and the resultant stranges noises, beeps, bells, alarms the body just gets a little overwhelmed. Factor in the constant stream of doctors, nurses, therapists and visitors and it’s easy to see why a person in ICU gets very little sleep let alone the good restful REM sleep that is needed to refresh us mentally. Most people with “ICU psychosis” get restless and remove any or all tubes, catheters or otherwise foreign objects from their person. Many times they will need to have their hands restrained to keep them from interferring with treatment and causing more harm to themselves. It is extremely upsetting to see a loved one acting is such a bizzare manner. Hang in there. Gramma will be fine once she gets back to her usual routine and is able to get some much-needed sleep. {{{{{chique & Gramma}}}}} Cindi ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2001, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/48 "2001-03-05T00:41:22Z")
ICU psychosis is the least of our worries. Again. See, gramma DOES have a living will. According to her doctor she’s revoked it. Uh huh. He’s obviously not the one at her side at 3:30 in the morning when she writes ‘Take it out’, now, is he. Therefore no DNR order on her chart. Therefore, when she stopped breathing early this morning, the tube went back in. Therefore we’re back to where we were a week ago, only this time there’s the psychosis to contend with as well so she can’t even write to us cos she can’t remember how, apparently. She’s not having a problem inhaling; she’s having a problem exhaling, which causing a CO[sub]2[/sub] buildup. And I’m not quite sure why she has to have that damn vent in her to fix that. The also did a second endoscopy cos she’s bleeding again. In addition to her existing ulcers she also has a couple more from the feeding tube that was in her nose, so they’re not putting that one back in. So I’m home for a while, and maybe I’ll get some sleep, but most likely I’ll drink a lot of coffee and go back in to the hospital around midnight to keep watch. I’m very tired. ---
**Author:** ![fierra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@fierra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fierra)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2001, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/49 "2001-03-05T01:25:40Z")
{{{{chique}}}} ---
**Author:** ![Spider\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Spider\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spider_Woman)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2001, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/50 "2001-03-05T01:55:54Z")
Is the doctor who told you Gramma revoked her living will the same one who told you that she is suffering from a form of psychosis? Poor Gramma. -----☹ —////\\ ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2001, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/51 "2001-03-07T07:34:44Z")
We’ve taken her off of the ventilator. This was done around 4:30 this afternoon. As of right now all she has the energy for is breathing - she’s not talking, moving, opening her eyes…just sleeping. She’s been moved from CCU to what’s essentially the hospice wing, and we’re just keeping watch. I’ve ducked out for a while; clearing some stuff up here at work. I spent the night in the hospital, returned home around 7, went to bed around 9, received 4 phone calls before noon, and was back at the hospital by 2:30. That’s about all I know right now. Kind of playing a waiting game. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2001, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/52 "2001-03-07T08:15:32Z")
{{{{{{ **chique** }}}}}} ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2001, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/53 "2001-03-07T10:48:17Z")
She died. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2001, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/54 "2001-03-07T10:55:35Z")
I’m so sorry, **chique**. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Sapphire\_Bullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Sapphire\_Bullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapphire_Bullet)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2001, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/55 "2001-03-07T12:14:12Z")
Honey, anything you need, I am there. I know I can’t do much, being so far away, but your whole family is in my heart. If there is absolutely anything I might even remotely, possibly be able to do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask. {chiquey} ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2001, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/56 "2001-03-07T12:37:54Z")
I’m so sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![Spider\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Spider\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spider_Woman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2001, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/57 "2001-03-07T12:58:28Z")
Let me know if there is anything I can do. -----☹ —////\\ ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2001, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/58 "2001-03-07T13:56:02Z")
Damn {{{{Rachel}}}} ☹ Keith ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2001, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/59 "2001-03-07T15:51:51Z")
Oh, sweet Jesus, Rachel, I am so sorry. Please, please e-mail me if you need. I’m sure everything will be kind of a whirl, but of course let yourself cry and, almost as important, let yourself laugh. Let yourself remember what you enjoyed together. In the days right after my gramma died, I spent time baking, since that’s what I remember most about her. It was a way to connect. If there’s a place you went together or something you did together, visit it or do it. She’ll be there with you. {{{{{{{chique}}}}}}} ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammas-and-dnr-orders/55765/60 "2001-03-07T16:51:07Z")
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