"Myasthenia Gravis"

I’m a carer for a patient who was admitted to hospital. The patient recently had an ankle operation and was very clear that they had to take certain medication. When the patient had the operation, they had to go off the tablets beforehand. 

When I went in to visit, the nurses were saying that the patient wasn’t taking their tablets. But, the patient couldn’t physically take them because they had difficulty swallowing due to a condition. The patient has a condition called Myasthenia Gravis, which prevents the muscles in the throat from working, so the patient couldn’t swallow the tablets themselves. After I told the nurses this, they said they could crush them up and put them through the nose tube, and I replied - yes do whatever it takes because they need the medication.  

The following day when I visited, the patient was sitting up in the chair and was happy and chirpy. It really makes such a difference once this patient has have their medication.  

I feel the doctor should have informed the nurses on how important it is for people with this disease to take their medication on time. The nurses didn’t seem to understand that as time was passing, the patient’s health and muscles were deteriorating, and it was becoming more difficult for the patient to take their medication due to their throat closing up.