I am hopeful you will take time to read through all of the below medical links especially Geodon, Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Dermatology, Abilify, Artane
Furious would be an understatement. This has been an ongoing problem for eleven years and TideWay/Anna/Dr Masel still don't get it... the problem is Dr Masel putting Keith on yet another drug without my knowledge or consent. Previous drugs administered by Dr Masel had been catastrophic to Keith. I became Keith's guardian to protect Keith. My major concern is every and anymedication can cause an adverse reaction and/or permanent damage. Not to mention my concern about adding another drug to the toxic brew of drugs Keith already taking. Even though the medications themselves may not have an interaction problem that doesn't mean Keith's body won't have an interaction. With Keith having memory issues from his brain injury, things he does remember he may think happened yesterday which actually occurred years ago or things that happened years ago he thinks happened yesterday in addition Keith may or may not remember he is on a new medication and even if he does, he isn't capable of correlating medication with side effects. Before any medication is added, I want to know if the medical issue can be addressed with diet, exercise or another option. If a medication is needed then I want to know before Keith is put on a medication and when he is going to be given the new medication so I can keep in touch with Keith to ask him directly how he is doing? (My first choice would be to be with Keith but since he is forced to reside in a facility fifteen hundred miles from me the best I can do is phone and talk with Keith)
Medical
Dr Masel without my knowledge or consent has put Keith on medications which have been catastrophic to Keith’s well being. As Keith’s guardian, every doctor Keith is seen by should be provided a copy of my guardianship / contact information and directed to contact me directly to discuss matters involving Keith but TideWay / Dr Masel do not acknowledge me and do not provide my information. TideWay sends Keith to every doctor appointment with a list of his medications and contact information of who to bill so they get paid but does not send my guardianship paper with my contact information. Even with my guardianship and contact information scanned into Keith’s UTMB medical file, Dr Masel and TideWay will not direct other doctors to contact me notifying me of an issue nor provide me with results or discuss options. Numerous times when I learned of issues concerning Keith after the fact, I would ask Anna the RN at TideWay for documentation information and her response has been, "write to medical" to get a copy. She has also told me I don’t take orders from family only Dr Masel which would be fine if Dr Masel discussed issues with me prior to putting Keith on medication but that is not the case. It has been hostile trying to get information on what was going on with Keith. At one point I realized TideWay must have to record what medications are being administered to Keith so then I started requesting copy’s of Keith's med sheets. Getting copies of medication sheet and other documents would take months if ever and by then damage was already done to Keith’s well being. First med sheet I have is Mar 2006. When a lawyer representing Keith got involved ~2010, the med sheets started coming in a more timely manner. Since 2010, ALL correspondence from TideWay is sent to me certified mail.
The reality of the situation is I am totally helpless to protect Keith. He is forced to reside fifteen hundred miles away in an environment I consider hostile. It is extremely stressful and frightening knowing TideWay / Dr Masel just do whatever they want with Keith.
Keith's lawyer obtained his medical records from TideWay in 2010 to provide to facility here in the northeast. The document below was included.
After eleven years of putting pieces together events make sense now but while at TideWay Keith’s health has been a roller coaster going from ok one visit and to a major decline by the next visit (my visits being only two weeks apart). Reason for some documents published is to note how I noticed things not right for Keith during my visits but was clueless at the time what was the cause for Keith's decline to later learn usually a result from Dr Masel adding a medication without my knowledge or consent.
It has been eleven years of hostility with Dr Masel repeatedly accusing me of endangering Keith's welfare and trying to remove me as Keith's guardian. Please read each link about Keith's medical issues while at TideWay under the care of Dr Masel. Especially sections in regards to Geodon, Dermatology, Diabetes and Abilify.
I have been with Keith every step of the way. I saw Keith in a coma fighting for his life with a brain injury, severely lacerated liver and a staph infection. I watched Keith progress through the coma stages. Visit after visit I saw Keith improving. Keith awake but unable to stand, walk, talk, possibly unable to see or hear. Keith learning to stand and talk. The next visit was the best. When I walked into Keith's room he said , "hi"! I said, "hi!" back. I then asked do you know who I am? Keith responded, "my sister". I then asked do you know my name? I was ecstatic when Keith responded, "Tracey". Keith had long term memories but I soon realized the extent of his brain injury. Every time I stepped out of Keith's view and back it was hi, hi, hi, hi. Keith had zero short term memory but Keith was up walking completely mobile able to hear, see, eat, drink, walk and talk.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families who have travelled down this road with their loved ones. It is a rough heart wrenching journey. Even more heart wrenching for those whose comeback falls far short of the comeback Keith was able to achieve.
Keith arrived at TideWay in Jan 2004 weighing ~255 lbs, completely mobile and didn't have incontinence problem. During a visit with Keith after he had been taken to TideWay, I took Keith to the Houston space Center where Keith walked up the 89 steps to the viewing area. Keith walked up and down the 89 steps without any assistance or hesitation. While physically ok, Keith had severe short term memory issues. During my visits Keith and I would go to the movies, zoo, museum, shopping, restaurants and play miniature golf. Through the years Keith's short term memory has improved but still a major issue.
The sole reason for me becoming Keith's guardian was/is to protect my brother keeping him mentally and physically healthy.
I have repeatedly asked for Keith to be provided exercise stating how Keith is completely out of shape having no muscle, endurance, flexibility, stamina or stability. Bi-Annual report after report states Keith refuses exercise. Problem is not Keith. Keith loves to walk but TideWay only offers two types of exercise... stationary bike or pool.... neither of which Keith has any interest.
While there is a need for medication to treat some conditions, many medical issues can be corrected without the use of medication using life style changes such as diet, exercise, anger management and sleep. It is well known any and all medications have the potential to cause worse side effects and/or permanent damage.
This document is a note by TideWay's RN, Anna Latham, May 12 2008. I just travelled fifteen hundred miles to visit with Keith. I walk in the door and Anna tells me Dr Masel had started Keith on a new medication today because Keith was diabetic. Again Dr Masel had put Keith in a medication without my knowledge or consent.
Anna wrote:
"I explained that Dr Masel was to write her a letter explaining the issue".
"At which time she was more concerned about how to spell the medication and the dose."
"Tracey seemed more interested in the fact Keith was started on a new medication."