Mom extremely sick-just diagnosed a month ago

I'm very sorry to hear that Sandy, have the doctors talked about surgery? Surgery is a lifesaver for most who can't get to remission and are very illl, specially when they are very weak, I almost had surgery during my first flare where I was 110 pounds and got to 89 pounds in about 60 days, only Remicade saved me. Considering your mother is 70, I would suggest she looks into surgery, perhaps when she gets better or right now if she keeps getting worse.

     Sandy, where in NJ?  I am in NJ also...Bellmawr...and I have a wonderful GI doctor.

Thank you all for your feedback.

They have talked about surgery, but they're still hoping to avoid that, as is my mom, given her age and all.  As far as meds, I know they're giving her flagyl and, since they re-admitted her, they started giving her prednisone.  As far as what else she may be getting, I'm not real sure.  But the prednisone seems to be giving her an appetite, something she hasn't had at all in the last month.

They did tell her that the vomiting and constant nausea are not a symptoms of the UC (is that true?) and that they want to do a test (forgot the name of it) to look at whats going on in her stomach.  They're doing that on Monday.

And I live in central Jersey, near the Trenton area.  My moms only complaint about the doctors is that she is seeing so many different GI doctors because they're all from the same group and that everyday she's seeing someone different.  I told her that's not necessarily a bad thing, because you have several doctors discussing your case and between them, can give different insights on what should be done.  Rather than just one doctors decisions.

We did get to have our holiday dinner on Friday, then after I went to the hospital to see her and she looked like a different woman from the day before - she was smiling and looked really well.  Only I know that it's probably only temporary as it's been for the past month.   I just want her to get her normal life back, I can't imagine what it's like to be so sick for so long.

Thanks again all - hope all of you are doing well.

I'll keep reading through the messages in the forum (I'm a big fan of message boards for support and information, as I'm a breast cancer suvivor myself and have found a world of information in boards like these).

Sandy

So sorry to hear about your mother's suffering, I hope they figure out something for her soon. I would not think 70 is too old for surgery, and it is a cure...
My mother is in the hospital, too, she had a small brain tumor removed yesterday. It was actually not serious, it was right along the outside membranes and not cancerous. She is 78! But very strong, and a former nurse so she knew what to expect. The nausea from painkillers is the worst for her.
AND my dad is in another hospital, he has heart disease and became severely anemic and has been given about 4 pints of blood in the last few days. He was admitted two days before my mother's surgery was scheduled. Geez.
Just sharing a little, this has been a wild holiday weekend for me too! Didn't mean to hijack your post!

Anyway, your mother is not really that old, 70 is the new 50!! The nausea is a horrible feeling, I'm sure she is anxious to get on the road to recovery.
Keep in touch

Hi Sandy,

     I'm in south Jersey, near Philly, so you are quite far from me.  I am sure there are many good doctors in central Jersey.  I agree with you about having different doctors in the same practice.  My GI doctor was really pushing Remicade on me, although I love him dearly he can be a real pain.  His associate, who basically took care of me while I was hospitalized said I definitely was NOT a candidate for Remicade because I was exposed to the TB virus back in the 60's and Remicade can reactivate the virus in my system and it could actually kill me.  I know Remicade has helped many people but I feel it isn't for me.  I also saw a colorectal surgeon and he told me I was not a candidate for surgery...yet.  My UC is located in the rectum and classified as mild/moderate.  Well, when I was sick and hospitalized....I sure wondered what they considered severe UC...probably one foot in the pine box.

     Good luck to your mom and I sure hope prednisone does the trick for her.  I have taken prednisone quite often.  My GI doctor calls it the best/worse drug as it really plays havoc with your system.  But, hey, it works for me.