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More frustration


Jhari

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I was so upset that I missed chat last week. By the time I remembered it was 8:45 and I was just too tired to log in. I am frustrated (as usual) with what's going on with mom. With the last UA C&S, there was still bacteria in the urine. Prodius, but now don't know what the plan is.

 

In the last week, mom has seemed to be sleeping more and just seems weak. Bloodwork was done last Tuesday and her hemoglobin was 10.7. The doc ordered 3 occult blood stool specimens. Usually mom has a bowel movement every day, but of course last week she had only 2. Today she had another and they were all negative. The bloodwork she had done this morning showed that her hemoglobin was down to 10.1. This concerns me because when mom had the tumor in her colon, her hemoglobin was low. Because they couldn't find the cause for a few months, she had to have a transfusion every 2 weeks. If her hemoglobin got to 10, she had a transfusion. The nurse called tonight and the doc says they don't do transfusions until the level is down to 7.5, which seems pretty low to me.

 

So I am really upset and frustrated. Mom is so pale and her normally red lips are light pink. But there is nothing I can do.

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that has to be a individual doc choice ?? my doc has always done one at 9 ??? 7.5 is crazy .... i suggest you contact YOUR MOMS doc who has treated her in the past.. he knows that aspect of her history best.... then he can talk to the nursing home doc and advise... gets OLD always having to go the extra mile don't it ???

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Jhari,

 

I had bad bacteria too now low blood from a bleed some where in my body still unknown to doctors. I'm not sure where I stand and have not heard about the stool I turned in the 25th.

 

I just hope for the best outcome and to get well soon!

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Nancy, yeah I am getting pretty tired of going the extra mile. it just seems that things that should be noticed and reported, aren't. What would happen if I wasn't there to catch things? The same thing that happens to the majority of people there, it just gets ignored until they eventually get so sick that something has to be done or they die,

 

Today I changed mom's pull-up and it was disgusting. It was saturated with bloody urine and the smell was off the charts! Her socks were wet, too, and blood-tinged. So I got the nurse right away and she called the urologist. He wanted to know what mom's doc had treated her with a couple of weeks ago. The bad part is that we were waiting to hear from the urologist before she was treated!

So I stayed until the order for Keflex came in. Mom's doc will be in on Thursday and I need to talk with him about all of this. The infections, the low blood count. It's just not easy, is it. Hope to catch you in chat in about 20 minutes.

 

Thank you Yvonne and Fred for your concern and prayers.

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Joni: unfortunately that is the responsibility of the caregiver - whether it be in a facility or at home. We pray for an hour off duty - 10 minutes even. Never ends. We had family in this morning. I popped Bruce out of bed, spent the next few minutes coughing, hacking and sneezing. My sister said "go back to bed." I just looked at her and said "are you going to wash him up?" But one would certainly expect more from paid professionals.

 

Do let us know what comes of your meeting tomorrow with Mom's Doctor and yes, make absolutely sure he leaves strict orders about her transfusion and the blood levels he is comfortable with.

 

Sorry I missed you last night. I am still a bit under the weather and wanted to medicate Bruce, then myself and get to bed. I do hope you are getting some rest. Thinking and praying for all of you.

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to true -- and yes i missed you.... but yep - i guess because we "care" - then we notice, and like you said the people with no advocate either get so sick they get hospitalized or die... sad... that extra mile is so long..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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