home iv's vs. hospitalization

[anonymous]

For those that have done both:
How does getting home iv's compare to being hospitalized for two weeks?
My husband really needs to go in but right now he has no coverage. He has never had home iv's before. How does that work? In the hospital they change the meds pretty often... do you do that yourself? Do you up your vest & neb treatments to 4x a day too?
Also, if you've ever seen your total bill, how much is it?
thanks,
Shauna

 

[HairGirl]

I am all for home I.V.'s, yes you do everything yourself but it's totally worth it! You do have to be responsible for all your extra treatments (but we are adults!) There's just so much more positive, and money wise it's cheaper because you're not paying room and for disgusting food, the meds (at least mine) are expensive but I save money because my husband does the dressing changes and the port needle changes. Definately go with home. Good Luck! Let us know if you need more support! We're here for you!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Emily65Roses]

I've never had a whole two weeks in the hospital. When I did go in for IVs, they kicked me out after 4-5 days. And I've done several rounds entirely at home. I much prefer being at home. Yeah you do the IVs yourself, but it's a lot less boring/lonely. And it's much easier for my Mike to visit me at home than 45 minutes away at the hospital. I just prefer it a whole lot more, like bigtime. Plus you're less likely to be exposed to hospital nasty bacteria. But I have NO IDEA how much it costs, sorry. Heh.

 

[fr3ak]

I was always told by my drs that it takes longer to get over an infection while doing home IVs because you are doing everything, and some patients are not very vigilant in doing their IVs on time etc or they skip doses....

I personally did IVs for over 10 years, I only went into hospital (and still only go into hospital) if I literally cant stand up... I find I do everything in hospital anyway so theres not that much point in me being there.....

It all depends on what you are like with regards to your treatment and how you handle the whole home IV situation. I know friends that dont do home IV because they tend to miss doses and still go out etc as apposed to resting, and they get sicker...

The only time I really struggled with home IV was when I was on 4 different ABs, and I was doing treatments every 4 hours, with needing to be up at 5am and not being able to go to bed until after 11 due to my final treatment...It took heaps out of me and it did take me a lot longer to recover then what it might have taken if I had of been admitted...

only way you can truly know if home IV is for you, is to try it...if it works for you then excellent, if not you know you're better off in the hospital...

In the last 5 years prior to tx if I had of been admitted every time I was sick and in need of IV I prolly would never have spent any time at home!

good luck !!

 

[kybert]

for me, home iv's are much better. heres my long list of why i dont like having iv's in hospital..

1. im just wasting a bed being there. i can do the exact same thing at home and im hardly ever in my hospital room anyway.
2. i dont get any sleep there.
3. my bones and muscles ache TERRIBLY from the hard beds. not to mention th beds arent made for anyone over 5'10.
4. the nurses give you the wrong meds, at the wrong time, the wrong way.
5. the rooms are disgusting. if you think US hospitals are dirty you should see the hospital here.
6. the staff are disgusting too. for christ sakes just wash your hands nursey!
7. i end up losing weight because the food is inedible. since when were COLD 2 MINUTE noodles with some spam like meat in it classed as a meal? no thanks.
8. if there is anyone who is going to catch a bug, its me.
9. no privacy. for example, the amount of times ive gone to the toilet to do a number 2 and have someone walk in my room and wait for me to finish instead of leaving and coming back. and they wonder why people get constipated in there. no one wants to go potty when someone is right outside the door listening to you.
10. the cleaners. there should be a strict screening process for who can and cant work as a cleaner in a hospital. i am so sick of loony, unhygenic, busybody, thieving cleaners.

i have 4387523985 more reasons but you get the point. i hate hospitals. well, only sub standard public ones in perth haha!

 

[luke]

I have managed to avoid hospitals for about 14 years. I always just do home IV's(1-3 times a year). Since I have been an adult I just do everything myself. I will say...that without help home IV's are tough though. If your husband decides to do home IV's prepare to take your shifts. My wife is the best and even though she works too she manages to relieve me for 1 or 2 doses a day. I always do the morning doses myself(I am up at 0500 anway) and she always does the 1000 doses when shes not working, because I always fall asleep and she works nights anyway. I would recommend home IV's for anyone who isn't so sick they need admitted.
Remember, it just isn't IV's when you stay at home it is also the increase neb's and CPT that you have to do. So you might want to add that in.

luke

 

[Jane]

We usually do home clean-outs if the boys feel well enough. It is a lot more work for us (coordinating meds, pt, with regular daily stuff), but it is better for them to be home with their own beds and stuff. When they are sick its more of a relief to have someone else take the responsiblity for their care, so being in is helpful.

That being said, we are IN for the 11th day and it S*CKS! They are doing construction across the hall from us (drills and hammers). Our window shades are broken and we face east, full bright sunshine in their eyes at 6 am. One of us always stays with the boys to help sort things out- there's always something to do. We (mom and dad) can only do three nights before we have to get out.

Tonight's my night at home- can't wait.

 

[Scarlett81]

I do both depending on the severity of my cf. For example I just finished 3 wks of home IVs, with 2 days initial stay at the hospital. My doc likes to admit me, put my PICC in, and make sure for a few days that I'm stable and this is just a routine exacerbation.

My doc's not a huge fan of home ivs b/c alot of people get home and don't actually rest of be vigilant with their chest PT, all that. I had to prove to her that I'm strict enough to do home ivs successfully. Sometimes if I'm really sick or something exciting is coming up, and I KNOW that I'm not going to be "good" and rest as I should I'll force myself to be admitted.

Obviously there's no comparing to being at home. Better food, better sleep, less germs.........IF you can do the work as good as you should be doing it. Financially I have no clue. I live in/near New York City so everything is more expensive, and I do have insurance-but I've seen the bills for 2 weeks of home ivs too-very pricey also! I've seen ones for as high as 16,000. So check first-make sure that going home is cheaper!

 

[JustDucky]

I am on IV's about every other month now, I do most of them at home. My last round lasted 6 weeks because the first combination failed, the second worked thank God! I used to go into the hospital at first...I never got any sleep, I was always in the ICU because I live on a vent and if any of you knows how noisy an ICU is, trust me...there is no sleep involved! I am usually hooked up to every wire they can find and monitored to their protocol. I will say the nurses and RT's are good their though about hygiene and getting the nebs right.
I prefer to do my IV's home though, I have a port and it makes it much easier to manage with that thing. I can change my own IV's although the home nurses like to do it, but if it is irritating me or not setting right, I change it myself.
The only thing is that if I am getting more than two IV's, then I resign myself to being admitted, it is just too draining to do 3 IV's at home. Especially when one is every 8 hours, the other 6 hours and the last is twice a day. Sleep becomes a huge issue then. I leave it up to the nurses and docs at that point...they usually can sneak into my room and switch IV's without waking me (usually I am so damn tired a hurricane could enter my room and I would sleep)
The only thing is, is that is can be expensive if you do not have insurance. Depending on the meds, the meds alone without the supplies can run into the thousands...But, I will say it is much cheaper than sitting in a hospital bed. A two week stay with me usually runs about $50,000 because I am on a respirator and that adds alot of costs, not to mention ICU costs.
I wonder if your husband can qualify for any type of insurance to help him? State programs, drug programs anything...I know it must be hard on you both.
Hug, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Landy]

Home IV's aren't cheap and without insurance coverage do you think they will be willing to do them?
Are there not any state ran programs that would assist or get you medical insurance?

 

[JazzysMom]

If I am really sick then I prefer to be in the hospital. I hate to be away from home, my hubby & daughter, but its best for me until I am stable. I need the manual clapping versus the vest for the first week or so & just not having to worry about anything or anyone except me. When I get home even with the best of intentions & help from everyone, I do more than I would in the hospital. It cant be helped. I dont care what anyone says! The food is better at home & the overall cost is much cheaper then being admitted, but again if I am really sick I prefer that admission. My doctor knows this also & she really tries to work with me & find the balance that will keep me happy, but help me recouperate.

 

[Emily65Roses]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>kybert</b></i>
9. no privacy. for example, the amount of times ive gone to the toilet to do a number 2 and have someone walk in my room and wait for me to finish instead of leaving and coming back. and they wonder why people get constipated in there. no one wants to go potty when someone is right outside the door listening to you.</end quote></div>

Ahahaha, Kylie, this made me chuckle. It actually reminded me of when I started to get comfortable doing that kind of thing and/or passing gas in front of my Michael. I was inpatient my very first time with him, and he stayed the whole time. Somewhere along the way, I had to go potty. Back then I wasn't taking enzymes, so it was nasty. I got back out and he made some shy mention of how he heard me and I was all embarassed. Hehehehee. But he was nice about it. And since then it's just been easier. *shrug* Course, he's not a stranger to me.

Either way, totally off topic, I just love that story, because it IS so true. It's like, okay, if you know I'm taking a crap, LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE LONG ENOUGH TO DO IT YOU MORON.... I'd have yelled through the door, if I were you. "Okay, I'd like some privacy in here, and knowing you're right out there is not allowing me to do my business... so go spend some time actually taking care of someone, and come back to me later. Kay bye."
Hah.

 

[anonymous]

Does anyone do their dirty deed down the hall in the public bathroom?
When I go, it not only stinks up my room but down the hallway too and this so embarrasses me!