[HillmanMinx]

EDIT

Just updating to say my mum passed away at home while we were with her, on Sunday 28th April. We are having a funeral on Thursday. Love her so much. Did a brief goodbye in the loss thread but thought this thread is the one that some people might be waiting for news about xx
















Firstly
- I've called mums doctor. (eta for clarity - the secratary said the following, because the doctor wouldn't make herself available) She said call an ambulance, or bring mum to the surgery immediately. Mum is refusing. We will over ride mum if there is no other choice... but she is distraught, exhausted and tired of her illness. And she was released in more or less her current condition, from hospital on monday.

Her doctors surgery is now trying to organise 'hospital in the home' for mum.

The situation is that mum has had 15 years of heart disease, triple heart bypass, atrial fibrilation, tachicardia, mitrial valve prolapse and COPD. She now also has diabetes and anorexia and probably other things. In short, she is chronically ill. Its all flared in the last few weeks again.

They removed some fluid and stabilised her blood pressure and heart rate over the weekend in hosp. She was sent home Monday.

Since she has been home she has not had any rest or slept. She is exhuasted but keyed up. I have read that this can be a result of end stage heart failure, so fine. But she needs something to get her the rest she needs. And I am looking for options. If you can point me towards any ideas to look in to, be it sedatives, morphine, whatever... let me know.

BUT here is something I have a sneaking suspicion about. When she was in hospital, they started her on prednisone spray for her lungs. They also messed with her other meds, and started her on 3 other new ones, so that confuses matters. But I just have this suspicion that prednisone could be making her hyped up. When she stabilised in hospital, her mind was quite scattered. she was talking more loudly than usual, and faster. It was like she was on drugs (pardon the pun) but you know, high. Or manic. This settled down but probably only because she is exhausted.

She isn't sleeping, and today she cried and cried (I have never seen her cry) about how exhausted she is but cant rest. It COULD be the heart failure, but COULD IT BE THE PREDNISONE?

Im asking because I have to advocate for my mother and do so very carefully and informatively because she doesn't advocate for herself, is sensitive to people doing so, and doctors miss a LOT of things with her because of her unwillingness to do so.

This post has been edited by HillmanMinx: 30/04/2013, 06:43 PM

[mummaorange]

yes def could be the prednisone!!!!!!!!! for sure 100%\