aggressive Mum needs blood test

biker650

Registered User
Sep 2, 2015
4
0
Hi all
I'm new to site and am at my wits end keeping going round in circles to get a blood sample to check if my Mum has an infection. She is in a dementia care home and her GP seems to delay getting tests done until my mum is so aggressive that she wont let anyone near her to take blood. Once she has got over an infection she is calmer and compliant and not so terribly frightened.
My question is has anyone had any experience having their loved one sedated for this or had anesthetic cream applied so it dulls discomfort?
Thank you for reading this and any light you can throw on this.
biker650
 

Jotag

Registered User
Aug 19, 2015
14
0
Hi all
I'm new to site and am at my wits end keeping going round in circles to get a blood sample to check if my Mum has an infection. She is in a dementia care home and her GP seems to delay getting tests done until my mum is so aggressive that she wont let anyone near her to take blood. Once she has got over an infection she is calmer and compliant and not so terribly frightened.
My question is has anyone had any experience having their loved one sedated for this or had anesthetic cream applied so it dulls discomfort?
Thank you for reading this and any light you can throw on this.
biker650

Hi there

My dad is advanced alz and for many years it has been a nightmare to take blood and for any medical intervention. We find the best option is for my dad to be given half a lozapam ( sedation drug, not sure on spelling ) and then to wait approx 30 mins then the test to be carried out it has a great calming effect but you have to be quick sometimes the effects done last to long but I'm sure the doctor will know when to act ! Has a urine sample been taken to test for infection so much easier than blood test ?

J x
 

AlsoConfused

Registered User
Sep 17, 2010
1,952
0
Biker, Welcome to TP.

I was puzzled by your mention of blood testing because a lot of infections (eg UTIs - Urinary Tract Infections) can be identified from testing urine samples. Are you sure the tests that need to be done are blood tests?

Obviously it would be (marginally!) easier and less upsetting for your Mum to provide a urine sample, if that would give the doctor the information that's needed.

If the home or GP think your Mum has a UTI (terribly common), they should run a basic dipstick test immediately.

TP members with nursing or direct caring experience can give better-informed advice; however, I understand the dipstick "stick" is stuck into the urine sample and will then "diagnose" whether there's an infection present. Normal practice then is to put the patient onto a "general purpose" antibiotic immediately while more time-consuming, specialised tests are done on the sample to identify exactly what kind of a "bug" the doctor has to deal with.

If the GP seems to be unduly delaying testing and treatment then I think you need to talk to him or her directly, to find out what the GP's diagnosis is and why they're treating the medical problem in this way. Hopefully the GP will be willing to explain fully what they're doing and why ... and give helpful answers to your questions / doubts.
 

biker650

Registered User
Sep 2, 2015
4
0
Hi there

My dad is advanced alz and for many years it has been a nightmare to take blood and for any medical intervention. We find the best option is for my dad to be given half a lozapam ( sedation drug, not sure on spelling ) and then to wait approx 30 mins then the test to be carried out it has a great calming effect but you have to be quick sometimes the effects done last to long but I'm sure the doctor will know when to act ! Has a urine sample been taken to test for infection so much easier than blood test ?

J x

Many thanks - very helpful
biker650
 

biker650

Registered User
Sep 2, 2015
4
0
Biker, Welcome to TP.

I was puzzled by your mention of blood testing because a lot of infections (eg UTIs - Urinary Tract Infections) can be identified from testing urine samples. Are you sure the tests that need to be done are blood tests?

Obviously it would be (marginally!) easier and less upsetting for your Mum to provide a urine sample, if that would give the doctor the information that's needed.

If the home or GP think your Mum has a UTI (terribly common), they should run a basic dipstick test immediately.

TP members with nursing or direct caring experience can give better-informed advice; however, I understand the dipstick "stick" is stuck into the urine sample and will then "diagnose" whether there's an infection present. Normal practice then is to put the patient onto a "general purpose" antibiotic immediately while more time-consuming, specialised tests are done on the sample to identify exactly what kind of a "bug" the doctor has to deal with.

If the GP seems to be unduly delaying testing and treatment then I think you need to talk to him or her directly, to find out what the GP's diagnosis is and why they're treating the medical problem in this way. Hopefully the GP will be willing to explain fully what they're doing and why ... and give helpful answers to your questions / doubts.

Thank you so much. Mum has been tested for UTI but as she is incontinent it is via pad and not ideal ie not conclusive. Have had problems getting to speak to her GP and info second hand from carers. She has seen three different doctors who have all changed her meds and she wont take it regularly even when mixed in with food which has been approved. I have got so upset I am not coping well and am nervous of loosing it speaking to her doc and it is no easy task to get hold of him anyway but I know I have got to try before the district nurse tries to take her blood tomorrow in case mum hurts her. Sorry about the rant and thank you for listening.
biker650
 

AlsoConfused

Registered User
Sep 17, 2010
1,952
0
If you can get in touch with the District Nurse before she comes, how about explaining your worries to her and ask whether she could perhaps bring a colleague to assist her? If forewarned, the District Nurse and her colleague might well be able to agree in advance how best to forestall any aggro from your Mum - and how to handle it if it does happen.

Please try and find some way of getting help for yourself as well as your Mum. It's so easy for carers to push themselves to the brink and beyond.
 

biker650

Registered User
Sep 2, 2015
4
0
If you can get in touch with the District Nurse before she comes, how about explaining your worries to her and ask whether she could perhaps bring a colleague to assist her? If forewarned, the District Nurse and her colleague might well be able to agree in advance how best to forestall any aggro from your Mum - and how to handle it if it does happen.

Please try and find some way of getting help for yourself as well as your Mum. It's so easy for carers to push themselves to the brink and beyond.

Thank you so much for your suggestions and caring.
biker650
 

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