My nan collapsed 2 weekends ago and was rushed to hospital and isn't doing so well
She's been feeling very weak for a while, and they thought it was a recurring bladder infection, so have had her on antibiotics for close to 2 years. I mean after that long and she still has it, maybe somethings up??
They also thought her pacemaker was playing up, and this was the cause of the collapse, so they replaced her pacemaker and realised afterwards that it was actually fine, but that her heart itself is quite weak, and just not functioning as well as it should be, which is due to age and there's nothing they can do.
They also tested her urine and realised there was no bladder infection! The antibiotics for it make her sick, and it makes me so mad that they don't seem to want to do any proper testing, they just go for an easy solution.
Because she's been so unwell, she's not moving around much, and has lost a lot of leg strength, and they were excited yesterday because she was able to take 8 steps on her own. Woop-de-doo! She should be able to walk normally like she has for years! 8 steps is nothing.
And I just got an email from my aunt (who doesn't work and lives closest to my nan so is with her most) saying they found something wrong with her bone marrow, and are trying to figure out what that's about, and maybe THAT'S been the main cause of her problems all this time.
They were going to do further tests next week, but were worried so rushed her in to get the tests tomorrow, so of course my nan is stressed about that now
She'll be in hospital for at least another week (definitely over Easter, which is sad), and then she'll probably need to spend a week or two in a rehab facility to try and get her strength back in her legs. If she can't do that, they won't let her go back home.
I swear these doctors just don't seem to care because she's old, and well she's had a good life, so we'll just try to make her comfortable.
My nan is very independent. My grandpa died about 23 years ago, and she's lived on her own in a 2 storey house ever since. She loves having all the family come visit, so refuses to move out of her home. All the living areas are upstairs so she has to try and negotiate the stairs to leave the house, so has pretty much been confined to the upstairs of her house for a while now. Another aunt has put aside money to get one of those electronic chair lift thingys for stairs, but her stair case really isn't built for that.
She hasn't been eating because she's been sick from the antibiotics or doesn't have the energy, and so she's been getting weaker. Her neighbours are wonderful and have a key to her house and drop in daily to see if she needs anything, and they regularly bring her meals to make sure she's eating.
We're trying to convince her that she really can't live in that house any longer, and she needs to be in a care facility, but I think she figures she's been there that long, she might as well stay there and die in her home. It puts so much pressure on her neighbours, and all the family who worry about her constantly. Of course nobody minds because everyone loves her, but my poor aunt can't handle the stress of it anymore. If my nan doesn't answer the phone, she races out there in a panic.
And it's so hard being in a different country and not being able to do anything. I've been researching care facilities in her area as much as I can, and researching single storey houses in her area she could possibly move to so she can keep living independently, but that's all I can do.
My nan's giving up hope as well. She's bought a 5 year diary and filled it in every couple of days for most of her adult life, and is 85 this year, and said she doesn't think she'll bother with another 5 year diary because it's not worth it
She was so excited when I told her I was pregnant, and I really want to be able to introduce her newest great grandchild to her, but that'll be another year or so away until the baby is born, then old enough for an 14 hour flight, and we can get holiday leave.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest...
They also thought her pacemaker was playing up, and this was the cause of the collapse, so they replaced her pacemaker and realised afterwards that it was actually fine, but that her heart itself is quite weak, and just not functioning as well as it should be, which is due to age and there's nothing they can do.
They also tested her urine and realised there was no bladder infection! The antibiotics for it make her sick, and it makes me so mad that they don't seem to want to do any proper testing, they just go for an easy solution.
Because she's been so unwell, she's not moving around much, and has lost a lot of leg strength, and they were excited yesterday because she was able to take 8 steps on her own. Woop-de-doo! She should be able to walk normally like she has for years! 8 steps is nothing.
And I just got an email from my aunt (who doesn't work and lives closest to my nan so is with her most) saying they found something wrong with her bone marrow, and are trying to figure out what that's about, and maybe THAT'S been the main cause of her problems all this time.
I swear these doctors just don't seem to care because she's old, and well she's had a good life, so we'll just try to make her comfortable.
My nan is very independent. My grandpa died about 23 years ago, and she's lived on her own in a 2 storey house ever since. She loves having all the family come visit, so refuses to move out of her home. All the living areas are upstairs so she has to try and negotiate the stairs to leave the house, so has pretty much been confined to the upstairs of her house for a while now. Another aunt has put aside money to get one of those electronic chair lift thingys for stairs, but her stair case really isn't built for that.
She hasn't been eating because she's been sick from the antibiotics or doesn't have the energy, and so she's been getting weaker. Her neighbours are wonderful and have a key to her house and drop in daily to see if she needs anything, and they regularly bring her meals to make sure she's eating.
We're trying to convince her that she really can't live in that house any longer, and she needs to be in a care facility, but I think she figures she's been there that long, she might as well stay there and die in her home. It puts so much pressure on her neighbours, and all the family who worry about her constantly. Of course nobody minds because everyone loves her, but my poor aunt can't handle the stress of it anymore. If my nan doesn't answer the phone, she races out there in a panic.
And it's so hard being in a different country and not being able to do anything. I've been researching care facilities in her area as much as I can, and researching single storey houses in her area she could possibly move to so she can keep living independently, but that's all I can do.
My nan's giving up hope as well. She's bought a 5 year diary and filled it in every couple of days for most of her adult life, and is 85 this year, and said she doesn't think she'll bother with another 5 year diary because it's not worth it
She was so excited when I told her I was pregnant, and I really want to be able to introduce her newest great grandchild to her, but that'll be another year or so away until the baby is born, then old enough for an 14 hour flight, and we can get holiday leave.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest...
