Mom is physically weaker and less agile than she was 2 weeks ago. Her ability to stand is almost gone - even Maggie had trouble on Monday - making it very difficult for transitions and toileting. I'm not sure I could have managed with Bob. Luckily she likes sitting in the wheelchair with the special pad, which is easy to move around the house. She was not in her recliner all weekend.
Mom continues to have problems with pill-taking, particularly the potassium. I'm going to ask Dr. Pugh for a prescription for the liquid form - supposedly tastes very bad but at least she can get the amount she needs. I'm concerned that she will have another foot cramp if her potassium gets too low.
Maggie used the same ointment we had for the right eye for her left. Eye infection in her left eye is gone/almost gone. Her right eye looks slightly red but not bad. She continues with the fingers in the nose and eyes, very dirty nails, likely passing this infection back and forth. I cut her fingernails very, very short and cleaned them up. Asked Maggie to do the same but if she gets behind you might want to give it a try. Cleaner nails and hands might help limit some of these infections.
Last but not least Mom's emotional/sleeping issues. This was a very difficult issue this weekend - all three nights but Sunday night clearly the worst. Seems we have a pattern now. Goes to bed, several minutes later (15 or so) she starts moaning and calling for help, the mantra "somebody help me" or just moaning "oh, oh, oh" over and over again. I couldn't get over how quickly after going to bed she went to this stage; also the strength she has to keep it going and how loud she is. We went in several times between 10:30 and 12:00 and then she slept till 2:00 am. From 2:00 am to noon on Monday, she was in almost a continuous state of calling out and/or moaning - maybe an hour or two of down time. When we or Maggie asked her if she was in pain, she said no. We tried several things, gave her Tylenol, toileted her even though she said she didn't need to go, etc. but nothing worked. She seems to be aware that she's doing this but can't/doesn't want to stop, even to get some sleep. This was the first time we've seen it go on for so long, although Maggie says she had a similar episode last week. On the one hand it seems like a form or stage of dementia, on the other hand Mom seems very much in control of it.
When the visiting nurse arrived at 12:30 yesterday she could hear Mom as soon as she walked in. I asked her to give us any suggestions she might have to help us and to communicate to Dr. Pugh. Spoke to Pam later in the afternoon and Mom was asleep in her wheelchair. We had to leave to get back to Atlanta so I'll ask Tracey when I call today if we should consider any other course. I'm sure you will all experience the same thing and it is very difficult to hear someone in such emotional distress for such a long period of time. Our only consolation was that she was safe and sound in her bed or chair and said she had no pain. Maybe Kathy Green can give us her professional evaluation after her visit on Friday.
Back to the eye issue: Since Mom's left eye was clear and since she had such a bad night, I cancelled the Monday appt with Ballinger. Talked to Paige later and, after her having talked to Ballinger, we're using the same ointment now for both eyes. If either of her eyes get worse, we'll have to take her in.
All for now.
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4 comments:
MK - Sunday was the day you indicated Mom's emotional state seemed to be very even-keeled, right? I think we were speaking about 6pm. Must have turned at bedtime.
I like you am anxious for the Kathy Greene evaluation and recommendations. Would also love to know if the "calling out" is related to dementia or completely controlled by Mom. I don't blame her for being angry, upset or whatever, but if she can control it, then we can reason with her about it. If she can't, there's no reason to even try to reason with her.....just some thoughts.
I thought posted another comment here earlier but it doesn't seem to have connected. So here goes again.
Mom did OK during the day and was at times remarkably alert and "with it" most of the time. If that was I knew of her I would have said she has no dementia at all. During the night is another story and Sunday was very difficult as I mentioned. Don't know if she's taking a turn for the worse in that department but that night I would have thought she was completely out of it, especially the length of time and the loudness. Time will tell.
When I called Maggie this morning, I could hear Mom in the background going through the same ritual of calling out. Also talked to Maggie about 2:30 - Mom had slept most of the day.
Kathy Green suggested we try to keep her more awake during the day but I think we'd all agree that isn't going to happen. She also suggested considering a drug called Respidol (sp?), which a number of her clients use for agitation, etc. A totally different type of drug than a sleeping med. I could suggest to Pugh but we might want to wait for the full evaluation on 11/29 (which was just confirmed today!). No rush in my opinion unless Pugh wants to go this route. If Mom continues at this level or gets worse, we might want to take another look at this option.
We got the 11/29 appointment???? That is terrific. I am so happy. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Back in the day when I was wheeling in and out of nursing homes, it wasn't unusual to hear this calling from the rooms. The nursing home personnel just ignore it after awhile. It's like crying wolf. That was a long time ago. Maybe they can do more about it these days. It is very difficult to hear and not be able to do anything. Poor Mom. She's been through so much now this.
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