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Edema and weeping on leg

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Posted 7/3/2010 3:06 PM (GMT 0)

  My cousin has ESLD and is on the lsit awaiting a liver transplant.  Right now she has edema of the abdomen and legs.  For the past three days her leg has been weeping in one spot.   We called the doctor and he said to keep it covered and she has a appointment for Tuesday.   I am concerned that she should go in sooner.  she has trouble dialing the phone and writing.   Any thoughts?

Posted 7/3/2010 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Mallshopper. Is your cousin's leg also red and warm to the touch? My husband had I think what the doctor's called celluitis (Connie another word for are medical word list.) It's an serious infection which does require immediate medical attention.

Sound's like her disease may be progressing with having problems being able to dial the phone or write. Let her doctor know about that also at her next appointment.

Take care........thoughts and prayers.........
Posted 7/3/2010 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
PG, I will add cellulitis. Mallshopper, if it's just weeping without the redness, it's simply from the fluid retention which has gotten so bad it has nowhere to go. I had that also in my calves at one time. Is she on diuretics? They may need to be increased. As PG said, if that spot is red and warm to the touch, then it's probably cellulitis and more serious. Also, the difficulty writing and dialing a phone may be due to hepatic encephalopathy, caused by high ammonia levels in her brain. Her liver disease is probably progressing.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 7/3/2010 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
The area is not red or warm t te touch. I gave her a dose of lactulose so hopefully that w tae cae of the confuion. Thanks so much for your replies. You are all so wonderful.
Posted 7/3/2010 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
A dose of lactulose? She should be taking it daily, if not several times a day. At one point, my legs were so filled with fluid that I couldn't bend my knees. The inside of my thighs were bright red, but I never had a problem with excess fluid in my belly. However, I did have an infection in the belly fluid. It was all they could do to draw enough fluid to check out the infection. Twice, I was hospitalized to try and get rid of the fluid. They gave me massive doses of diuretics, allowed little fluid intake and gave me iv albumin and antibiotics. The second time, they knocked off 27 pounds of fluid, in 6 days. Three days later, I received a transplant.
Posted 7/4/2010 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
I feel we should not wait until Tuesday to take her to the hospital. She is still confused and has slept most of the day. I am alone here with her and do not drive. My cousin her son, does not do anything to help out and it is really getting to me. I feel so alone and scared. My best friend passed away suddenly five years ago and am so afraid...
Posted 7/4/2010 3:17 AM (GMT 0)

How much Lactulose is she supposed to have per day and how much has she had?  If you feel that she is in danger, then call Rescue/911.  However, liver patients do sleep a lot.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 7/4/2010 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your replies. I gave her another dse of lactulosand praying.
Posted 7/4/2010 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
You're not alone... and praying for u.. for strength and wisdom... hang in there... Sandi
Posted 7/5/2010 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
My cousin has slept all day but seems to be ok if I wake her up and ask her a question. My cousin (her son) came over for about two hours today and then left to go to BBQ's and never called to see how his Mom was doing. I feel like I amlosing my mind with stress uilding up. I am anxious to go to the doctors onTuesday with her. Any thoughts if they will admit her? I hope they do so she can be taken care of and I can relax a bit. I have high BP as it is.
Posted 7/5/2010 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
MS, I feel badly for you.  You seem to be kind of stuck in the situation.  I have no idea if they will admit her--depends on their findings, but I wouldn't count on it.  What you do need to do is find some respite care:  Someone who can come in for a couple of hours a few days a week, so that you can get out and away from the caregiver role.  You need to do this for your own health.  If Hospice were to be called in, you could get respite care from them, as well as visiting nurses.  However, a doctor would have to say that she has 6 mos. or less to live.  They may not be able to give such a prognosis at this time.  So see if there is a friend or neighbor or a community service who might be able to help you.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 7/5/2010 8:29 AM (GMT 0)
with ESLD and on the transplant list... what else do they need... good grief... push it hard to get help... or they are gonna end up with this person anyways... tell them you can't do it... contact social security about funding for help ... local social services... somebody.. you can't keep going on alone like this...  I know that Mike's doctor's were pretty willing to help... cuz they felt their hands were tied to do much else.. course he wasn't a transplant candidate.. but still..

Posted 7/8/2010 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
   My cousin is in the hospital again.   She was swollen and had hepatic encephalopathy.   She was so malnourished that they had to put in a feeding tube,and she is still disoriented.   I feel like she has given up in her fight for a new liver.   I told my cousin (her son) how I was a feeling and his repsonse was "everyone dies".   How can anyone say that about their mother?  My Mom died when I was 19 and Daddy died when i was 11.  I do not know where to turn, what to do.  I pray every day....
Posted 7/8/2010 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
Mallshopper,

I am so sorry that you are going through this, and that her son is so flippant about what is going on!Just know that although she is not able to tell you, I am sure she reallly appreciates you being there for her. I am praying for peace over you. I am also a caregiver, and it can be very scary at times. There were times when my husband would get so bad, that him being admitted to the hospital was a nice break for me. I knows that sounds bad, but you do need to take care of you, too!

Hang in there!

Posted 7/8/2010 3:15 AM (GMT 0)

Sorry to hear that, MS, but at least it will give you a little break while she is in the hospital.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 7/8/2010 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your kind words. they warmed my heart.
Posted 7/16/2010 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
    My cousin had a bad time of it last Thusday through Sunday.   She had an infection which caused her to become unresponsive.   She was rushed to the ICU and on a respirator.  It was so so sad to see her like that.   She came out of it on Sunday and was transfered back to the floor on Tuesday.    Today they removed more fluid which they had done before the ICU incident.  I am so afraid that it will happen again.   She wants me to stay in the hospital with her 24/7.  But I can't.  Has anyone experienced their loved ones wantiong the caregiver to be with them all the time?   I really feel like I need to talk to a professional.  I have been getting migrtaines every day and feel like my blood pressure is so high.  
Posted 7/16/2010 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
Sweetie, if you don't take care of you, how are you going to take care of her?? Not trying to sound abrupt. But, while she is in the hospital is definitely the time for you to take a break, get some rest, etc. She is in a place where there are highly capable people around to take care of her. I was in your place early on with my husband. Felt like I had to be there every waking moment, and absolutely wore myself out trying to be at the hospital with him, then rushing back to pick up my son from whoever I had watching him because I felt guitly about not spending time with him, either. You have GOT to take a break, get out of that hospital and take care of yourself. Go for a visit for a few hours a day, but leave, and go home and eat and sleep!!! She will be fine. The hospital staff will take care of her.

You take care of you so you care able to take care of others!

Mer

Posted 7/16/2010 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
I absolutely agree with Mer. Tell her that she is in the hospital for a reason--so that trained professionals can care for her--and that you are not able to do anything for her now except to visit a little. See if you can get yourself some counseling or in some sort of support group. Otherwise, you really have to stand up for yourself and learn to say "no" and mean it.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 7/18/2010 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
It was an awful feeling bringing Mike into that hospital.. cuz at home I knew he would have everything he needed right away.. wouldn't wait... wouldn't be overlooked... but when I brought him in for that last time I had no clue how long it would be... though it turned out to be only 24 hours... his eyes begged me to stay... every time I left that room... my heart dropped... I felt guilty for every step I took away... I turned and looked back each time.. as he entered the hosptial.. he said to me this will be overnight right?? It was but he did not come home... but for those 24 hours I had to leave  an hour at a time... and felt guilty for that... I would have had to go to work... eventually but I did take time off work... always feeling guilty as I went... but what I would say to you is this... you have to balance your health and wellbeing... your work... your home... and then go ... I tried to do this even those 24 hours because those 24 hours now seem like an eternity that I can remember... every move they made...
Posted 7/18/2010 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for your inspiring words. It makes me ee that I am not all alone with all the kind posts.
Posted 7/19/2010 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
From one patients point of view. There were plenty of times that I wanted to be alone, even when a loved one was there. And there were times when I wished anyone would come in, anyone at all to talk to. There is no way the balance is going to be perfect. Never feel bad about having to leave a patient, as long as you know you're doing the best you can. When you return, that's what counts.
Posted 7/25/2010 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
   My cousin is now in a rehablilitation center to get her back up on her feet.   She has good days and bad days.   They are giving her high amounts of lactulose and that is so hard on her.   I am so proud of her for being so strong and doing everything they ask her to do.  i do not know if i could do it.   I went away for two days and had fun but, I was glad to go into the hospital and see her.   It is lonely here at home at times without her but, it is good to not have to be worrying about her all the time.  Please keep her in your prayers that she gets stronger quickly and gets a new liver.   
Posted 7/25/2010 5:33 AM (GMT 0)
MS, I'm glad to hear that your cousin is in a rehab facility now where she will get good care. A little less pressure on you is good. Everyone has a hard time taking Lactulose, but it's a necessary evil. Hope she gets stronger soon.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 7/25/2010 7:57 AM (GMT 0)
will most certainly be praying for her and for you... Sandi

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