I'm praying for your mother, and please never give up hope.
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Is there still hope left or should I just give up?
- Thread starter duchess15
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I dont think giving up is an option!
I know its tough, but you're doing a good job!! Sending to you and your mother!!
I just want to give you a big hug.
My mother is an alcoholic and has brain damage and of course liver damage, the doctor 4 years ago told us she had only 2 more years to live, I have unfortunately given up hope that she will ever stop, but i always cherish the times when I see her, because this means she can go any minute if she OD's on too much alcohol.
I can understand the pain you are going through.
My mother is an alcoholic and has brain damage and of course liver damage, the doctor 4 years ago told us she had only 2 more years to live, I have unfortunately given up hope that she will ever stop, but i always cherish the times when I see her, because this means she can go any minute if she OD's on too much alcohol.
I can understand the pain you are going through.
Best wishes for you and your mother.
Never give up hope!! I have worked with people with a similar medical outlook and they often say that seeing hope in the people close to them makes them to fight harder and will help your mum feel better about the condition. I am shocked that her LFT was not monitored if she was on a medication that can affect this!!! I think thats disgraceful!!! Sending get well wishes for you both
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- #26
I got to the hospital early enough to meet with about 4 doctors. They are all working with the specialist.
They have 3 plans. They found no infection in her diarrhea so the first plan is to find out what is causing it.
They started steroids last night since they knew there was no infection. They said her liver enzymes are dropping already. Better down that up, even if it does go up a few points, it could just be steroid wearing off.
They will check her colon to see what is causing her diarrhea. They also said that the liver biospy is necessary so that will be done on tuesday.
If the steroids are not doing much, they after the biospy, they will take her to baylor to have her evaluated for a liver transplant. This will be if they do not think anything else will work. They want to have her in that way if it is possible, she just has to go up there.
Today they put a tube in her nose because she wasn't eating that much. They want to make sure she is getting the nutrition she needs. They are also giving her phophorus and a unit of blood since her hemoglobin is down.
All in all, she is very weak, but they are very optimistic and are just taking things slow. I just hope the steroids continue to drop her levels and that the damage isn't permanent.
Please if you can spare them, send some vibes that the steroids will work and fix her liver. That she will get stronger and will have her spirit once again.
A friend of ours is going to rotate staying with her so that it is just not my dad and myself. We are also going to try and give her a shower and wash her hair and get her in some fresh clothes which should help a little.
Thanks for all your support and advice so far.
They have 3 plans. They found no infection in her diarrhea so the first plan is to find out what is causing it.
They started steroids last night since they knew there was no infection. They said her liver enzymes are dropping already. Better down that up, even if it does go up a few points, it could just be steroid wearing off.
They will check her colon to see what is causing her diarrhea. They also said that the liver biospy is necessary so that will be done on tuesday.
If the steroids are not doing much, they after the biospy, they will take her to baylor to have her evaluated for a liver transplant. This will be if they do not think anything else will work. They want to have her in that way if it is possible, she just has to go up there.
Today they put a tube in her nose because she wasn't eating that much. They want to make sure she is getting the nutrition she needs. They are also giving her phophorus and a unit of blood since her hemoglobin is down.
All in all, she is very weak, but they are very optimistic and are just taking things slow. I just hope the steroids continue to drop her levels and that the damage isn't permanent.
Please if you can spare them, send some vibes that the steroids will work and fix her liver. That she will get stronger and will have her spirit once again.
A friend of ours is going to rotate staying with her so that it is just not my dad and myself. We are also going to try and give her a shower and wash her hair and get her in some fresh clothes which should help a little.
Thanks for all your support and advice so far.
Oh, I'm so glad you got to talk with all those doctors -- in my experience, it really is true that patients whose families are very involved (i.e., pests
) tend to get more attention and better care.
Since your mom is so weak, though, you might not want to handle the shower yourselves. The medtechs are trained in how to do it without letting her fall... and a fall could be disastrous when she's already so sick. Just a thought.
May I ask... how old is your mom?
Since your mom is so weak, though, you might not want to handle the shower yourselves. The medtechs are trained in how to do it without letting her fall... and a fall could be disastrous when she's already so sick. Just a thought.
May I ask... how old is your mom?
Your mother and your family are in my thoughts. for improvement.
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- #29
She's only 52. They have given her a unit of blood so far and will give her another. She looks a little better even though she may not feel any better. She is still very weak and in a lot of pain.Originally Posted by CarolPetunia
Oh, I'm so glad you got to talk with all those doctors -- in my experience, it really is true that patients whose families are very involved (i.e., pests) tend to get more attention and better care.
Since your mom is so weak, though, you might not want to handle the shower yourselves. The medtechs are trained in how to do it without letting her fall... and a fall could be disastrous when she's already so sick. Just a thought.
May I ask... how old is your mom?
I think we may ask the nurse to help us with the shower. We will also make sure to get her bed changed at that time also.
If only the diarrhea would stop, that would be such a big improvement.
Oh gosh, you must be beside yourself
You must always keep hope when something like this happens to someone you love. Hope is what keeps us going. If you give that up, you are giving up on her.
I am sending many prayers for her and for you.
You must always keep hope when something like this happens to someone you love. Hope is what keeps us going. If you give that up, you are giving up on her.
I am sending many prayers for her and for you.
Oh my goodness she's my age (and I surely do not feel old). I know she'll feel better if you can get assistance to get her showered and her hair washed.
Hoping she continues to feel a bit better and that an answer is found besides the need for a liver transplant. If it is needed, I send for a donor to be found quickly.
Hoping she continues to feel a bit better and that an answer is found besides the need for a liver transplant. If it is needed, I send for a donor to be found quickly.
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- #32
Well, with the help of the nurse and my dad and a friend, we were able to wash her a little and get some fresh flannel pajamas on her. I was very upset that I had to ask 4 times for the bed sheets to be changed and waited over 2 hours to get a response. I was about ready to get the sheets and do it myself.
So we got her washed up, changed, and in a nice clean bed. She felt a little better just being in fresh clothes. She is still in a lot of pain, very tired, and very weak, but, she looks a lot better than friday.
I do not think she would have made it through the weekend if we had not gotten her in. Let's just hope I didn't get her in too late. I hope she gets stronger soon.
So we got her washed up, changed, and in a nice clean bed. She felt a little better just being in fresh clothes. She is still in a lot of pain, very tired, and very weak, but, she looks a lot better than friday.
I do not think she would have made it through the weekend if we had not gotten her in. Let's just hope I didn't get her in too late. I hope she gets stronger soon.
Sending tons of more vibes for your mom and your family.
You, your mom and your whole family are in my thoughts and prayers. It sounds like there is definitely hope, especially if the doctors are optimistic. It will just take her time to get her strength back after that.
One thing, when I was taking care of my mom and she ended up in the hospital, I had NO problem grabbing the sheets and making the bed myself. And filling her water pitcher, giving her a sponge bath, or putting her on the bed pan (I did call them to take her off...most of the time). I know every hospital in US seems to be short staffed, and anything I could do to make mom more comfortable at the time I would do if there wasn't anyone else available. No one ever got mad at me, and a few NAs actually thanked me and apologized.
It's good that you got to talk to the doctors. I agree that the patient gets better day to day care if someone is there to get all the info and question it if needed.
Please keep us up to date.
One thing, when I was taking care of my mom and she ended up in the hospital, I had NO problem grabbing the sheets and making the bed myself. And filling her water pitcher, giving her a sponge bath, or putting her on the bed pan (I did call them to take her off...most of the time). I know every hospital in US seems to be short staffed, and anything I could do to make mom more comfortable at the time I would do if there wasn't anyone else available. No one ever got mad at me, and a few NAs actually thanked me and apologized.
It's good that you got to talk to the doctors. I agree that the patient gets better day to day care if someone is there to get all the info and question it if needed.
Please keep us up to date.
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- #36
We do as much as possible. My dad is staying the whole night. I stayed for 12 hours before I went home to take care of the kitties, get another blanket, and check bills. I will most likely stay tomorrow night and just change clothes for work.
My dad is going to take next three days off after tomorrow then he has spring break.
I hope she is a little better tomorrow.
Oh gosh... she's just my age, too. It's just unfair for someone that young to feel so awful. I dearly hope she will turn the corner very soon.
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- #38
She seemed a little stronger this morning, but was still shaking.
I went up at lunch time and she had just gotten back from one of her tests to figure out why she is going to the bathroom so much. I also found out that she had to go during the test and asked her to hold it and she couldn't. That made me a little upset. I hope what comes around, goes around for them.
She has an air matress now, but it only goes down so far. She will most definately need help getting in and out of bed now. There was a student nurse that was helping her to the bathroom and so she was all cleaned up and put in fresh clothes and fresh blankets.
She seems a little weaker now and I think that is just from the test and I don't blame her. She just seems so weak to begin with.
I hope she improves soon. I think if they could stop her diarrhea, that would help so much. That tube down her throat is also bothering her now.
I went up at lunch time and she had just gotten back from one of her tests to figure out why she is going to the bathroom so much. I also found out that she had to go during the test and asked her to hold it and she couldn't. That made me a little upset. I hope what comes around, goes around for them.
She has an air matress now, but it only goes down so far. She will most definately need help getting in and out of bed now. There was a student nurse that was helping her to the bathroom and so she was all cleaned up and put in fresh clothes and fresh blankets.
She seems a little weaker now and I think that is just from the test and I don't blame her. She just seems so weak to begin with.
I hope she improves soon. I think if they could stop her diarrhea, that would help so much. That tube down her throat is also bothering her now.
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- #40
So this morning she looked a little better and seemed a little stronger.
She has been getting food through a feeding tube and hopefully that will help her nutrition levels. She still can't get up on her own.
Her levels are still dropping and that is only two days after taking steroids. Keep your fingers crossed they keep dropping!!
I talked to the doctor about what happened yesterday in the colon biopsy and said that if it happened again tomorrow, I would be filing more than one complaint. I told him I didn't want to hear it happening again. That is unexcusable and disgraceful to the patient. They could have gotten a bed pan. Part of the healing process is making the patient feel comfortable and confident in the people that are looking after them.
She has to constantly go to the bathroom, asked if she could go, they asked her to hold it and she couldn't. Then they got mad at her for going. They didn't even clean her up down there. They made her sit in it all the way back to the room.
Anyway, I need some really BIG vibes that she will be ok in her liver biopsy. I know she is scared to death, as I would be, and especially after that last experience, I can't blame her one bit. I will be going down with her and waiting down there until she is done.
They will give her a unit of plasma so that her blood will clot since it will bleed. Hopefully, she won't bleed that much, but if she does, they will have a unit of blood ready.
So if you can spare them....send some vibes that she will be ok during the biospy, that there will be no complications, and that they will treat her better this time....the way it should be!!! I just want her to come out of it ok and not in much pain.
She has been getting food through a feeding tube and hopefully that will help her nutrition levels. She still can't get up on her own.
Her levels are still dropping and that is only two days after taking steroids. Keep your fingers crossed they keep dropping!!
I talked to the doctor about what happened yesterday in the colon biopsy and said that if it happened again tomorrow, I would be filing more than one complaint. I told him I didn't want to hear it happening again. That is unexcusable and disgraceful to the patient. They could have gotten a bed pan. Part of the healing process is making the patient feel comfortable and confident in the people that are looking after them.
She has to constantly go to the bathroom, asked if she could go, they asked her to hold it and she couldn't. Then they got mad at her for going. They didn't even clean her up down there. They made her sit in it all the way back to the room.
Anyway, I need some really BIG vibes that she will be ok in her liver biopsy. I know she is scared to death, as I would be, and especially after that last experience, I can't blame her one bit. I will be going down with her and waiting down there until she is done.
They will give her a unit of plasma so that her blood will clot since it will bleed. Hopefully, she won't bleed that much, but if she does, they will have a unit of blood ready.
So if you can spare them....send some vibes that she will be ok during the biospy, that there will be no complications, and that they will treat her better this time....the way it should be!!! I just want her to come out of it ok and not in much pain.
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