Caregiver's Sharing Thread III

Any one know what Connie is talking about, mixing the Lactulose with something to make it more palitable? He has the heaves when he takes it plain. And says he isn't taking it anymore and that would be a bad thing. ML

My husband has never had a problem with taking Lactulose, but I have heard other people say to mix it with a little Sprite.

The fever and chills were not a cold for my hubby last month. Rather an episode of peritonitis that won him 5 days in hospital on IV antibiotics Watch for fever and chills and call doc if it doesn't resolve.

Thanks for the input. No chills, just feeling cold. No fever either. He has had both flu and pneumo shot. Will keep an eye on him.

Emma

Butterfly is absolutely correct...........it definitely is one of the symptoms of liver disease.........I think the blood being  thin is part of the reason for them being cold a lot.  And also when their blood count goes down and  they need a blood transfusion.     I live in California where we get 100+degree temperature every summer.  My husband would take a bunch of quilts outside and lay in the sun  all covered up and still be cold.      Each time they gave him blood he was like a new man for a while. 

Thoughts and prayers...........

Allie, good to hear from you.  I'm quite surprised that they've not transferred her to a nursing home.  They surely would've in the US.  But I suppose it's different there with "universal health care."  I know it must be hard on you.  Hopefully, she will improve to the point of qualifying for the brain injury unit.  I hope they are able to determine where the bleed is coming from.

Hugs,

Connie

I am just catching up on everyones post... been a little distracted lately! I would like to pass on to people who are trying to go to AA meetings but to sick to attend, I know from working in a Rehab that you can sometimes get a small group of people to come to ur home for a more intimate type meeting. Most people in general are willing to help out in these cases so it doesnt hurt to ask. After all that is how AA began... so maybe go back to the roots.... a pot of coffee a snack then leave them to have a meeting. you can have that time to have coffee with a friend. As for being cold... normal for liver patients.... blood, blood pressure and changes in body fat and muscle mass make it to hard for the body to keep core temp normal. Lactulose... yeah nasty stuff but an evil you have to have. I did make smoothies for doug..... we would suck up a staight shot in am then later do the smoothie. Plain yogurt with frsh fruit, ice and a blender. Sometimes I would make him smoothies without the lactulose and use a splendor for sweetening as a snack cause it was wasy on the stomach, we strip all the good flora with meds so the yogurt helps replace that. Lactulose is very sweet so when mixing it with something remember to mix with un sweetened products. Doug learned the hard way to take it when he had to be given large doses through a nasal feeding tube to get his levels down.......needless to say he never wanted that again.
Sue

Connie, I just hate to see people try to make positive steps when health can make it so hard to do. I am so glad that there is a place like this to pass things on to make things as easy as it can be under such trying times. If I had found this site sooner it sure would have helped me alot. I had to learn the hard way... with alot of bumps on my head from beating it against the wall.

Sue

Sue,  it wasn't all in vain, since we now are fortunate to have you share your hard-earned knowledge with us.

Emma, I have a feeling that labs will be better since he's still sober.     Let us know the results.

Hugs,

Connie

Emma, I know what you mean! My sister kind of got mad at me one time cause someone asked how Doug was and I said he was hanging in there! She looked at me in shock,,,, and said why did you say that  he isnt hanging in there he is really sick. So I explained to her that you just know sometimes people ask to be polite but really dont want to know the details. I just knew who really wanted to know and who was just being polite. The glazed look is the first clue that if they ask at another time to just say Oh he is okay and go on with your day.

Sue

Pink Grandma-Yes, I work full time.  I am the bread winner for our family.  And I am very, very thankful for my job and our healthcare plan. 

I feel really fortunate because our healthcare provider posts lab results on line.  We usually receive the results 8-24 hours after the blood draw.  The very cool part is that for each test, we can get a graph or chart, so we can see progress and trends.  His GI doctor calls me within an hour of the lab results being posted. 

Back to folks that give the glazed look...I am learning to moderate my answers based on who is asking.  In just these few weeks I have learned who my friends really are. 

If I may comment on one more stinky thing...I was having dinner last week with a friend (one of those not for long friends) and she asked if I was going to have a glass of wine with dinner.  I told her no, I don't drink anymore.  She got bit**y and wanted to know why not, he's the one with the drinking problem, not me.  I just told her that I love him more than anyone else in the world, and how can I expect him and want him to not drink, if I wasn't willing and able to do it myself.  That shut her up.

Hubby is now 55 days alcohol free.  I am 56 days.  (We are competitive...I wanted to be one day ahead!  LOL)

Emma

I agree Pink Grandma. I do have another friend, that whenever we get together she has a diet soda with me. And she always has us "cheers" our glasses and she says, "in solidarity for hubby". Now that's a friend.

Emma

PG, the 3rd possibilty is that they don't want to drink alone, especially if they might have a bit of a problem themselves.

Emma, this disease certainly does weed out the real friends from the "fair weather" friends.

Hugs,

Connie