Hi everyone. I'm new to posting here but have read a lot over the years.
My mum is sadly in the end stages of AD. She is in a wonderful NH just 20 minutes away from me.
My almost daily visits consist of me sitting by her bed while she sleeps. There's little or no recognition when she wakes up and our last conversation was over 3 years ago. Food and drink intake is minimal, but sufficient to keep her going.
She's recently had a couple of setbacks - seizures, UTI and has a recurring sore on her heel which despite everyone's best efforts is now very deep and difficult to heal. She's in a permanent foetal position due to contractures in her arms and legs.
We recently met with her GP to discuss her pain relief needs as she gave indications that she was in pain a lot of the time. We know it hurts when she's moved, but she gasps and shouts out when resting too (myoclonic jerks seem to be the main cause of her resting pain). Anyway, it was decided that her comfort was of the utmost importance and she now has BuTrans patches - 5mg changed weekly. Having googled these patches I am happy that they will make "life" more bearable for mum, but I have this niggling fear about whether we've done the right thing. The side effects for someone in mums state could mean that she will stop eating or be too drowsy to eat....
Has anyone else had any experience with these meds? I have such conflicting emotions at the moment. The last thing I want is for mum to suffer, yet I hate the thought that our pushing for the meds could be the thing that contributes to her slipping away.
I'm sorry, my post which started out quite composed has descended into babble! I can't seem to find the right words for how I feel...
My mum is sadly in the end stages of AD. She is in a wonderful NH just 20 minutes away from me.
My almost daily visits consist of me sitting by her bed while she sleeps. There's little or no recognition when she wakes up and our last conversation was over 3 years ago. Food and drink intake is minimal, but sufficient to keep her going.
She's recently had a couple of setbacks - seizures, UTI and has a recurring sore on her heel which despite everyone's best efforts is now very deep and difficult to heal. She's in a permanent foetal position due to contractures in her arms and legs.
We recently met with her GP to discuss her pain relief needs as she gave indications that she was in pain a lot of the time. We know it hurts when she's moved, but she gasps and shouts out when resting too (myoclonic jerks seem to be the main cause of her resting pain). Anyway, it was decided that her comfort was of the utmost importance and she now has BuTrans patches - 5mg changed weekly. Having googled these patches I am happy that they will make "life" more bearable for mum, but I have this niggling fear about whether we've done the right thing. The side effects for someone in mums state could mean that she will stop eating or be too drowsy to eat....
Has anyone else had any experience with these meds? I have such conflicting emotions at the moment. The last thing I want is for mum to suffer, yet I hate the thought that our pushing for the meds could be the thing that contributes to her slipping away.
I'm sorry, my post which started out quite composed has descended into babble! I can't seem to find the right words for how I feel...