Last Weekend Update

Don't feel I really need to go into a lot of detail since we experienced very much of the same as others have described. BP is low 90's, which I think is OK but lower than she has been recently. Mom is very weak and looks like she's lost a lot of weight since the last time we saw her (she's too weak to stand so she hasn't been weighed for several weeks). She drinks several glasses of juice, water, coke, etc. but only eats a bite or two of sandwich. We bought some Ensure to bolster her nutrition somewhat and she seems to like that somewhat.

Transitioning her from bed to commode to chair, etc. is doable but difficult. Lucky for me, Bob did most of those transitions; I'm not sure I could have managed, at least not very easily. Once she's out in the kitchen and doing her thing everything went very smoothly - it's really the transitions and the toileting that are challenging. With a little more "training" I would probably get a lot better at it (per Maggie, who seems to manage fine.) The Interim physical therapist suggested a special belt that she will provide that Mom would wear and give the caregivers something to hold on to other than Mom's arms, etc. (trial basis only).

Two problems we encountered - taking pills and sleeping. It was very difficult to get Mom to take her pills even though she has always been a very good "pill-taker". It was an all-day affair rather than 4 times a day. If you're not careful, she'll hold them in her mouth and spit them into a tissue when you're not looking. When Lisa was there on Friday we discussed the potassium pills, which are the largest and most difficult pills to swallow whole (though the antibiotic is also difficult). Lisa said a symptom of low potassium is leg cramps. Saturday morning Mom woke with a very bad foot cramp. Concerned that it might have other implications, we called Pugh's office and talked to the doctor on call who suggested cutting the potassium pills into 4, which we did. Also, recommended giving her quinine, which is found in tonic water, which we did. So far, she seems to be taking the potassium and likes the tonic water with OJ and no recurrence of leg/foot cramps.

First two nights Mom slept all night, almost 12 hours each night. We had given her the Lortab and attributed her sleeping to that. Sunday night we did the same but she was awake most of the night. Per Maggie, she slept Monday night but last night Gwen said she was up all night. For those who haven't experienced it, Mom calls out for help continuously (like a mantra, "help me, help me, somebody help me") but doesn't seem to be in pain or need anything when we go in to check on her. At times she seems to be half asleep and not totally conscious of what she's doing - but keeps calling out. At one point we let her continue to see if she would tire herself out and go to sleep but she didn't. She can go on for hours. While she can sleep in the chair the next day, she's probably not getting good sleep. Even after the two nights of 12 hours of sleep a night, Mom still sleeps most of the day even when we try to engage her with something to keep her awake. The Lortab prescription is not renewable and will soon run out. I know there are some downsides, but we could consider asking Pugh for an actual sleep medication so that both Mom and the caregivers can get a good night's sleep.

I think that's it but let me know if you have any questions.