dsmith Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 Our elderly neighbor was staying with us during lockdown, but now he sleeps at home and stays with us all day. I take him to all appointments, handle his meds, he eats with us, etc. but he is otherwise able to care for himself. At his latest dr. appt. his bloodwork had some issues, and they sent him home with a mail-in fecal sample test. There is no way he can take a paint brush, run it along his poop and dab a smaller than a centimeter square on a 2 inch sample card, twice. Ugh! I need some strength people!!! And an iron stomach!! 🤢🤮 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 I think this one confers superhero status on you. Oy... 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 If you don’t want to, a CNA could do it. Do you know anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted October 20, 2021 Author Share Posted October 20, 2021 Just now, Katy said: If you don’t want to, a CNA could do it. Do you know anyone? Nope, I think I'm stuck with it. My mother-in-law would have done it if she didn't recently have knee surgery. I need a day or two to work myself up to it! I'll be wearing a mask and gloves, but I know I will be gagging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooCow Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 Oh man....that is a hard one! He's so lucky to have you in his life! I agree, you are a superhero! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 Maybe get more technical and think of it from a scientific view. It is digested food. Nothing more. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 Maybe a little vicks vapor rub on the lip? would that help at all? 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted October 20, 2021 Author Share Posted October 20, 2021 15 minutes ago, mommyoffive said: Maybe a little vicks vapor rub on the lip? would that help at all? I was actually thinking of that. Dh used to do that in his fire department/rescue squad days when they were dealing with not-so-recently-deceased people. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooCow Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 (edited) The Vicks is a good idea. Edited October 20, 2021 by MooCow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drama Llama Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 (edited) . . . Edited October 26, 2021 by BaseballandHockey 10 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 This probably doesn't help at all, but the instructions that you're describing sound somewhat less disgusting than what I've had to do to collect samples from my child. I had to use a spoon-like thing to dig down in several areas of the sample to remove chunks to put into collection containers that had some kind of fluid in them. And shake well. I'm a squeamish person but managed to do this without losing my stomach contents. The suggestion to use something like Vicks is a good one! I used something perfume-y. It's good that you don't have to take the sample to the lab. I had to drive a fresh sample to a hospital lab one time...it either had to be fresh or refrigerated, and there was NO WAY that I could put it in my refrigerator or even a cooler. Another time, we had a number to call for pick-up by DHL, I think. I was very careful to keep the outer packing material free from any possible "sample" contamination by washing my hands really well after handling the containers, etc. But it was still gross to watch the man take the package from our porch, get into his vehicle and put the package on his lap while he was drinking something before driving away. Good luck! I'm sorry you have to do this, but thank goodness your neighbor has someone to help him. (Hopefully he's fine and his dr. won't order a colonoscopy next as the prep could be a more messy/smelly ordeal than the paint-a-square!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 District nurse? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted October 20, 2021 Author Share Posted October 20, 2021 23 minutes ago, Laurie said: This probably doesn't help at all, but the instructions that you're describing sound somewhat less disgusting than what I've had to do to collect samples from my child. I had to use a spoon-like thing to dig down in several areas of the sample to remove chunks to put into collection containers that had some kind of fluid in them. And shake well. I'm a squeamish person but managed to do this without losing my stomach contents. The suggestion to use something like Vicks is a good one! I used something perfume-y. It's good that you don't have to take the sample to the lab. I had to drive a fresh sample to a hospital lab one time...it either had to be fresh or refrigerated, and there was NO WAY that I could put it in my refrigerator or even a cooler. Another time, we had a number to call for pick-up by DHL, I think. I was very careful to keep the outer packing material free from any possible "sample" contamination by washing my hands really well after handling the containers, etc. But it was still gross to watch the man take the package from our porch, get into his vehicle and put the package on his lap while he was drinking something before driving away. Good luck! I'm sorry you have to do this, but thank goodness your neighbor has someone to help him. (Hopefully he's fine and his dr. won't order a colonoscopy next as the prep could be a more messy/smelly ordeal than the paint-a-square!) I’m very thankful that I don’t need to actually collect any poop! The test says just the water, so not too bad. I just know from being in the bathroom after him and having to go use a different bathroom instead, that it will smell bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 45 minutes ago, Melissa in Australia said: District nurse? You are confusing the Americans. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 KN95 masks really do block out quite a bit of smell. We cleaned out a house that was saturated with cat pee. The bathroom hadn't been cleaned for years, and had human fecal matter smeared around. The KN95s got us through it. Of course, there's still the psychological aspect of it, which makes me gag whether I actually smell things or not. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 1 hour ago, katilac said: You are confusing the Americans. Did they not have an equivalent? Because that is who I would be calling pandemic or no pandemic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 What is a district nurse? What do they do? We have some public health nurses who work at the public health department, giving immunizations and such. And certain people are set up with nurses to come to their homes to do things like wound dressing or take blood pressure, but it's only by prescription and not something you can just call up and ask them to take care of a one off health issue like this. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drama Llama Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 (edited) . . . Edited October 26, 2021 by BaseballandHockey 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 District nurses are attached to a hospital, but go out in the district doi g exactly these type of things. They change dressings, do well checks on elderly, check for bladder infections etc. They work very closely with the doctor and the age care workers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyroo Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 27 minutes ago, kiwik said: Did they not have an equivalent? Because that is who I would be calling pandemic or no pandemic. Uh, no. We won't tolerate no socialism here!! 🙄 After surgery or giving birth we are lucky if we get a phone call the next day to check if we are still alive. Obviously if we pay enough we can hire someone to do just about anything, but other than we are on our own. My elderly grandfather has taken to calling the fire department for things like picking him up after falls, changing blood soaked bedding, helping him get his cpap working again, etc. However broken you imagine our system is...it is a lot worse than that. 😫 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 (edited) Infant welfare nurses are the ones that check after you have a baby And it is viewed as an insult by some to say we have socialism Edited October 21, 2021 by Melissa in Australia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drama Llama Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 (edited) . . . Edited October 26, 2021 by BaseballandHockey 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyroo Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 54 minutes ago, Melissa in Australia said: Infant welfare nurses are the ones that check after you have a baby And it is viewed as an insult by some to say we have socialism 35 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said: I think she was insulting the Americans who fight against things like District nurses by claiming they are socialism, not implying it really is socialism or meaning to insult Australians. We do not have Infant Welfare Nurses either. Correct. Almost 25% of Americans are on our single payer Medicaid system, yet they are often the most vocal opponents of "socialism". It is a dirty word in this country, and the kneejerk, uninformed opposition means we can't have nice things like district nurses or infant welfare nurses. Instead, we have very limited birthing options, insurance kicks us out of the hospital 48 hours after giving birth, and we get to go home with no social supports whatsoever. Really, what most Americans call "socialism" is just seen as basic, humane public health policy in other countries. 4 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 10 minutes ago, wendyroo said: insurance kicks us out of the hospital 48 hours after giving birth Sometimes 24 hours. I'm waiting for them to install a drive-through. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 1 hour ago, BaseballandHockey said: I think she was insulting the Americans who fight against things like District nurses by claiming they are socialism, not implying it really is socialism or meaning to insult Australians. We do not have Infant Welfare Nurses either. Ah. I see Thanks 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyroo Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 22 minutes ago, katilac said: Sometimes 24 hours. I'm waiting for them to install a drive-through. But of course the drive through would only be open at certain hours of the day. You can't have people driving through and interrupting doctors' meals just to give birth whenever they want to. If you do show up when the drive through is closed, you should probably head back to work until it reopens...you really can't afford to squander your generously provided unpaid time off! 😅😖😭 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted October 21, 2021 Author Share Posted October 21, 2021 8 hours ago, BaseballandHockey said: It sounds like DH has the skills to handle this then. He flat out refused! I don’t know how he was an EMT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted October 21, 2021 Author Share Posted October 21, 2021 3 hours ago, Melissa in Australia said: District nurses are attached to a hospital, but go out in the district doi g exactly these type of things. They change dressings, do well checks on elderly, check for bladder infections etc. They work very closely with the doctor and the age care workers Our hospital actually has a service that is similar. I considered it, but I just couldn’t figure out the logistics - I don’t think if I called them and said the poop is ready, come and do this thing that they would rush right over, so who knows how long I’d have to keep this thing floating around in the toilet bowl lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted October 21, 2021 Author Share Posted October 21, 2021 3 hours ago, wendyroo said: My elderly grandfather has taken to calling the fire department for things like picking him up after falls, changing blood soaked bedding, helping him get his cpap working again, etc. When dh was on the squad a good deal of calls were for similar things. (We’ve called for help getting fil off the floor more than once, police or ambulance squad were always wonderful!) And teenage girls fainting at the mall, every darn Saturday, at least once!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 10 minutes ago, dsmith said: Our hospital actually has a service that is similar. I considered it, but I just couldn’t figure out the logistics - I don’t think if I called them and said the poop is ready, come and do this thing that they would rush right over, so who knows how long I’d have to keep this thing floating around in the toilet bowl lol. When we have had to do similar tests the instructions were not to let it go in the bowl. We were given special paper that is affixed across the bowl. It kept the sample from getting contaminated/diluted by the water. I would call the doctor’s office (or the lab), explain your role in assisting the neighbor and ask for their suggestions for how to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted October 22, 2021 Author Share Posted October 22, 2021 On 10/21/2021 at 12:42 AM, Jean in Newcastle said: When we have had to do similar tests the instructions were not to let it go in the bowl. We were given special paper that is affixed across the bowl. It kept the sample from getting contaminated/diluted by the water. I would call the doctor’s office (or the lab), explain your role in assisting the neighbor and ask for their suggestions for how to do it. This test is literally running a paint brush across the poop that's floating in the bowl and depositing that water on a very small square on a sample card, which is why neighbor can't do it with his shaking hands. They don't actually want any poop, so that's a relief! Except he's unable to poop now because he's mortified that I have to do this for him. I've never seen a test like this before, wondering if it's a new thing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 22, 2021 Share Posted October 22, 2021 1 hour ago, dsmith said: This test is literally running a paint brush across the poop that's floating in the bowl and depositing that water on a very small square on a sample card, which is why neighbor can't do it with his shaking hands. They don't actually want any poop, so that's a relief! Except he's unable to poop now because he's mortified that I have to do this for him. I've never seen a test like this before, wondering if it's a new thing. Call the lab and see if he can do it there. If he is “regular “ in his habits it might work better for him to have strangers/professionals do it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 On 10/21/2021 at 2:20 PM, wendyroo said: Uh, no. We won't tolerate no socialism here!! 🙄 After surgery or giving birth we are lucky if we get a phone call the next day to check if we are still alive. Obviously if we pay enough we can hire someone to do just about anything, but other than we are on our own. My elderly grandfather has taken to calling the fire department for things like picking him up after falls, changing blood soaked bedding, helping him get his cpap working again, etc. However broken you imagine our system is...it is a lot worse than that. 😫 Well in NZ we get kicked out next day if possible but the midwife visits for a few weeks. Care is then bonded over to a charity that gets funding for it but it is not a lot. Doctors are not involved in maternity care after 6 weeks pregnancy. But public health nurses do things like dressing changes for people who have been discharged from hospital. Our midwives aren't like the ones on call the midwife but I suspect the ones in the UK aren't now anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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