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MUM GOING DOWNHILL

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Posted 6/5/2012 9:38 AM (GMT 0)
Have not posted in a while. Mum has been sober for the past year now but from April this year she has been in and out of hospital with HE. about 2 weeks ago was having problems to breathe and had chest pains took her to the Er and doctor told us she had a massive heart attack.She could not open her eyes for the next days was talking but could not stay awake ,refused to have a diaper and catheter.Well she came around and doctor discharged her but called us in to say mum is taking a turn for the worst,because of the heart attack. He said to us that the body was put under enormous strain during her heart attack that her other organs are no coping.He said that she has gone into liver and kidney failure.

Well we brought her home and after 2 days her urine was red which indicated blood in the urine,well back to the Er did all test then refered her to a gynae went to the gynae and he admitted her again and gave her 2 pints of blood and discharged her. He did do a test for cervical cancer but results will only be back in 6 weeks.

Mum came home on friday and was ok saturday then on sunday about midday she started feeling very cold and whole body started to shake phoned the hospital they sent through an ambulance and now she in hospital cant even move. We have to lift her head up to fed her and she not eating a whole lot just a couple of bits and couple drinks of water

I am so worried . I dont know what to expect next

If anybody has gone down this road with a loved one please let me know what to expect

 

Posted 6/5/2012 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
Cindy , So sorry you are seeing your mum like this . We have quite a few survivors here and some caretakers who have seen this first hand and I'm sure someone with more experience will be along to help you soon .

A. Ziffle

Posted 6/5/2012 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply. Will await replies from other members. Thanks again
Posted 6/5/2012 12:43 PM (GMT 0)
Cindy,

I was so sorry to hear your mother has gone downhill.

When multiple organs begin to fail, the time may be short.

But, with lots of care, who knows, they may be able to settle the various system failures down so that she can get some extra time, good days to spend with her family.

One needs to be realilstic when a loved one has so many problems.

No one here is a doctor, we are patients and caregivers like you, who seek advice from our peers when things go wrong.

I must assume you re not in the US and wonder if you mother is at a major medical center or a community hospital? Here in Florida, if there were something REALLY wrong, I would try to move my loved one to the biggest most famous hospital within 200 or so miles so that the specialists and researchers with the most current protocols were availble to consult at a moment's notice.

When my Mike took a turn for the worst before his liver transplant I would not take him to the community hospital, rather drove him 125 miles to the ER at the transplant hospital. That way the liver and kidney and heart specialists were just a pager call away.

However, if your mother's time is at hand, and only the docs can say that, it is important to spend time, assure her you love her and help her have a pain free transition. It is hard to let our higher power (as we know her)make the decision for our loved ones when it is time to go.

As Mr Ziffle says, many rebound, especially those who have reformed their alcohol drinking behaviors.

Prayers to you and your family during this difficult time.

Carol
Posted 6/5/2012 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks MamaLama for your support. Yes I am not in the US actually I am from South Africa. Yes all we can do is pray and hope for the best as we all know god knows best.

The only thing that i am scared of is that her body is continously shaking, she is in hospital at the moment and doctors are doing other tests and stuff but she is insisting on coming home.

Why does the body begin to shake?
Does anybody Know
Posted 6/5/2012 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
I'd worry less about the shaking and more about her liver and kidney failure. What do her doctors say about her shaking?
Posted 6/5/2012 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
My Mike has two kinds of "shakes."

One is a tremor that sloshes his coffee fro and to...it is from some of the medicines. It was worse just before his 2011 transplant and at the beginning of the post transplant period when his prednasone doses were so high. I think his prograf does the same, but with the lower doses over time he can write his name more clearly, for example, but not great. Check out the side effects of her meds.

He also has the shakes when he is cold...which was also worse before transplant. It is as if his internal thermometer broke and no number of blankets or sweaters helped. Last night he made me skoot to my side of the bed because my body was too cold and made him shiver. I don't know why that happens.

Have they ruled out Parkinson's as a potential problem?

Maybe others can jump in here.

The cue you were not in the US was your use of the phrase "in hospital." In the US, they add "the"...my mother was in the hospital!

Oh, and one thing more...a tired, cranky, over wrought caregiver gets sick quickly. Always take care of yourself...sleep some, eat well, and do something to blow off some steam every day...walk, jog, go for a swim...something.

Hugs,
Carol

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 6/5/2012 8:20:30 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/5/2012 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
Doctors dont know why she get the shake just yet David.
Carol, they stopped all meds just giving her some injections that i dont even know the names of the injections given but will check with doctor.

Here in South Africa once admitted in the hospital it is very hard to see the doctor as you only allowed to see the patient during visiting hours and the doctors are not there.If you go after or before visiting hours the security does not allow you in.

Phoned the hospital now and begged for me to see mum's doctor so got an appointment at 10 tomorrow, so cross our fingers we should get some answers tomorrow.

Carol I am getting some rest and being 6 months pregnant its becoming a handful but my sister helps me out when i need "time out"
Posted 6/5/2012 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
 I cant say for sure but the shaking I used to experience I believe was due to thin blood , Just kinda made sense I guess . As to which of the contributing factors caused thin blood could have been both the meds and my severely damaged liver combined . Just a guess of course .

A. Ziffle 

Posted 6/5/2012 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Cindy! I am very sorry that your mum has become so ill. Congrats to her on her one year of sobriety, though. That is the best thing she could've done for her liver and undoubtedly bought her time. When the organs start to fail, the outcome is usually not good. However, sometimes a patient will surprise everyone and make a turnaround. I pray this is the case with your mom. It's very good that you have gotten an appt. with her physician. Come back and let us know what he has to say.

Congrats on your "almost here" new arrival! You definitely need to rest and also avoid stress.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 6/5/2012 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
Cindy001,

So sorry your Mom is so so ill. My hubby is in a nursing home with ESLD from Hep C. He gets the shakes sometimes. When he gets cold (which occurs no matter what the real temp is) sometimes he will shiver like it is below zero. He will feel cold to the touch. We wrap him up and it goes away.

He also gets tremors, where his hands shake to the point that he can't hold his coffee cup. Once Dr. cut one of his meds to 5 x a week instead of every day, the tremors went away. Whenever he gets them...we cut back on that medication. (I think the med builds up in his system and the liver can't sift it out and it kind of overcomes him....Just my idea).
Angie1953
Posted 6/5/2012 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
I have occasional tremors, which I think are caused by my antirejection med, Prograf. I also had them with Prednisone, though I think they were worse with that med. And I'm cold all the time, but I also have Raynaud's, a circulatory disease. The rest of my body can be warm, but my hands and feet will be freezing.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 6/5/2012 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
I had shaking with prograf at first, but my dose is low now, so no more shakes.
Posted 6/7/2012 6:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys sorry for the late reply.Well mum is still in the hospital and I spoke to the doctor.He said that mum has an infection on her left leg called cellulitis.Cellulitis causes a very high fever as well as the body starts to shake because of the fever.He has her on IV antibiotics as he said he does want to give oral antibiotics because of the liver and kidney.

He also asked if somebody could be with her 24/7 when she is discharged as he does not want any mishaps at home incase mum is dizzy or weak as if she falls and starts to bleed then it won't stop and she could bleed to death.

Doctor said we need to keep her on a low protein diet and thats it. They will treat the symptoms of infections when they do pop up other than that he said to just keep her comfortable and happy

Mum might be discharged hopefully by tomorrow.If my sister,Brother and I can not manage with her I will have to get hospice involved.
Posted 6/7/2012 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the update, Cindy. Hopefully, the IV antibiotics will work on your mum's cellulitis.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 6/8/2012 6:24 AM (GMT 0)
My Mike had the shakes from time to time... I don't know what caused it. the best advice anyone can give you is that this is an unpredictable disease. The doctor has given you the best answer he/she knows for know. Take care of yourself.. I will be praying for your mother and yourself. Sandia
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