Hospital

dogdayafternoon

Registered User
Dec 30, 2017
185
0
Arrived at 11 am, again she was waiting to go to the toilet so I got her there and back. The nurse came with pain meds, two paracetamol and a codine, also an antibiotic as the result was back she does have a UTI, pity it took so long to discover.
Noticed she had a canula in her arm, they had been giving her liquid as the bloods showed her dehydrated, she is still not eating though not even chocolates or crisps, did manage to get her to drink more orange juice.
After lunch they connected her back to her canula to give more fluid, after a while she wanted to go to the toilet so I advised the nurse to disconnect and she said ok but after 10 minutes my wife is wanting the toilet now and starts pulling on the tube, I go out of the room and the nurses are chatting, I sasid she was tryng to to remove the tube and one nurse came in to disconnect. I worry what happens when I am not there, at least the UTI is being treated now, hope to see some improvement tomorrow
 

Palerider

Registered User
Aug 9, 2015
4,160
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56
North West
Hmmm the nursing ethos is not what it was, I was shocked at how mum was treated in ED a week ago. I didn't have to say anything I think my manner said it all
 

dogdayafternoon

Registered User
Dec 30, 2017
185
0
I think the antibiotics ate working, visiting at 11 am she wanted the toilet but was not trying to stand and trying to use the bad arm. When I said not to she got angry in the way she used to. Tried to find her sling but it's missing, told the nurse but not bothered.
She told me to go away in the way she would before her fall so I have left her until after lunch.
I think she has been this way with the nurses today, she refused to have blood taken or her bp.
The psychiatric team are supposed to visit her today so see what happens.
 

dogdayafternoon

Registered User
Dec 30, 2017
185
0
Terrible day, arrived at 10:45, she asked where had I been and that she needed the toilet, managed to get her up but on the way she leaked, got her back to her seat but after 30 minutes she wanted to go again so again she leaked on the way, after getting her up she did not want to go back to her seat so we went out into the corridor, she got as far as the doors which are locked and was not happy so we returned to her seat.
She was not happy, drank a little juice and some protine drink but was getting angry with me so I left for lunch returning one hour later, a nice lady doctor turned up wanting to take blood, she said she had managed to book an MRI scan and at that point noticed a porter with a wheel chair, she said the MRI is important so would you go with her, she was not happy, would not sit back in the wheeel chair, the porter and I managed to get to the MRI, the staff there were very kind but she had a mini meltdown, in the end MRI was concelled and we returned.
I asked about the psychiatric team visit and they had come at Monday lunch but she was not talking so they said they would call me (never happened yet) possible visit next week the nurse said.
Then the nurse calledme to the phone, social care wanted to ask how she was before compared to now, in the end they said unable to go home at present.
Returned to the room and another doctor wanting to take blood, she got very upset but blood was taken in the end, in the end the doctor said they would give mild sedatives to try to calm her in future and if I could get her to take more fluid, I managed to get her to drink a little more but she was getting more and more agitated so I left at 3:45 feeling drained
 

Sarasa

Volunteer Host
Apr 13, 2018
7,193
0
Nottinghamshire
So sorry this is so tough @dogdayafternoon , but at least the hospital are now aware of the difficulties you have been facing at home. I'm glad they are not suggesting she goes home yet, as it sounds as though you wouldn't be able to manage. Your wife sounds very determined, so I'm not sure how you are going to get her to drink more if she doesn't want to.
 

dogdayafternoon

Registered User
Dec 30, 2017
185
0
Another day, same arrival time, sitting in her chair dozing so I sat for a few minutes then she saw me and said "oh it's you" then closed eyes again. After a few more minutes woke up and had some juice, no rush to toilet today.
Lady from social care arrived, asked a few questions about her history and said a dementia nurse would come later.
I left to get some lunch and bought her more juice and some fruit gums she used to like.
She ate some fruit gums then an auxilliary nurse who she likes came and said my wife had some skin loss on her thigh and wanted her to stand up so she could apply some cream, I got her up and cream applied then a nurse came and said they wanted photo's on the skin and i had to sign a form to allow it.
Lady photographer turns up and asks where the damage is and is it covered, I told her only cream on and she think's it will shine in the photo so gets a nurse to wipe off the cream and take photo's, Cream not reapplied.
Talked to one of the other patients who tell me my wife gets disturbed through the night and does not sleep much and last night was out of bed sitting on the floor
Wife seems happier and I finally get her to eat some nuts and raisins and then more gums.
Dementia nurse never turns up so I left at 4 pm
 

Alex54

Registered User
Oct 15, 2018
356
0
Newtown, Wales
@dogdayafternoon my wife was in hospital for three months and did not eat much. Try something different today, bring in some finger food such as Jaffa cakes, put one in her hand and see if she will eat it. Also, try it away from the bed, if she has nowhere to put the food down she might be more inclined to eat it. From experience, I know my wife does not see things which are right in front of her, and she is more likely to eat if the food is in small portions.
 

dogdayafternoon

Registered User
Dec 30, 2017
185
0
Last two days she has been just sitting in her chair moving trying to be comfortable, when I ask if she is ok or has a pain she answers in a quiet voice and I cannot hear all of what she says.
I brought a selection of things she likes small finger foods and sweets, she only managed a few m&m's and drank the orange juice but not as much as before.
In the afternoon she falls asleep and i sit reading, they took her for an x ray of her arm at lunch, she was confused but had it done. She never asked to go to the toilet all the time I was with her.
I feel she is going downhill not eating and not interested in anything, I left at at 4 pm as she was still sleeping.
On the way home as I crossed the road to our house I tripped on the speed bump, lucky nothing broken only bruised arm and chest.
No one seems to be bothered about her not eating, tonight is two weeks since she was admitted, the bruises on her broken arm are still very dark and her hand swollen, she would not wear her sling all day
 

Louise7

Volunteer Host
Mar 25, 2016
4,683
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Last two days she has been just sitting in her chair moving trying to be comfortable, when I ask if she is ok or has a pain she answers in a quiet voice and I cannot hear all of what she says.

Just a thought but did your wife get thoroughly checked out after her fall, not just her arm? When Mum had a fall they didn't conduct a full assessment/evaluation in A&E or on the ward. She was uncomfortable in a chair and kept moving about, was in pain and unable to stand/walk and was subsequently placed on morphine, leaving her unable to eat/drink. We suggested that the symptoms may be due to an injury suffered in the fall, and Mum was indicating that she had pain in her back, but the consultant informed us that all of this was due to dementia and refused an x-ray. After discharge we requested an x-ray via the GP and this identified a fractured spine :(
 

dogdayafternoon

Registered User
Dec 30, 2017
185
0
yesterday she was almost normal with me or as she was three weeks ago, talking firmly and tellling me to go and do something so I left for two hours and when I returned she was happy to see me ate a ginger nut and a fruit gum.
Today she was listless complaining about pain in her arm, the nurse was there asking me about the skin loss they had just found when washing her, I told the nurse the auxiliary nurse told me on Thursday and the hospital photographer had taken photo's, the nurse said it was not on her notes.
I sat with her for a while but she was not very happy so I left for lunch, still not so happy when I returned complaining of feeling cold so I put her cardi on and a blanket on her knees but she kept on sitting up and the blanket fell down again and again and she was talking softly that I could not hear, when i asked what she wanted she said "stop disturbing me".
Then she asked to go to the toilet but had a performance trying to get her to stand up, finally managed and returned to seat but became more agitated removing the blanket. i asked if she was hot and she said I asked for the blanket then we are back to her sitting up and pulling the blanket off.
In the end after about 30 minutes she wanted to go to the toilet again, on trying to get her up she was trying to use the broken arm so I placed it back in the sling and she asked why I was being nasty with her. Finally got her to the toilet but going out she tried to go out to the corridor, lucky there were two physio's there who convinced her to return to her seat. By this time I was worn out and told her I had to get some shopping before they closed and I exit stage left before she replied.
 

Louise7

Volunteer Host
Mar 25, 2016
4,683
0
I'd be worried about the skin loss and the hospital taking photos of this. Have they said what has caused this? Is it a bed sore?
 

dogdayafternoon

Registered User
Dec 30, 2017
185
0
Today she was lisrless until near linch time someone from social services came to ask about denial of liberty in cas she tried to leave so I said ok. Then she wanted to go to the toilet but I could not get her to stand even with the help of a student nurse, in the end they got a lifting device and a comode, so I left to get some lunch.
When I returned she had not eaten and was complaining of being cold, in the end I placed two blankets round her but she was still cold and complaining of neck pain. I asked the nurse and he said she had refused pain meds at lunch and returned with some oramorph which she refused from him but accepted from me.
After a little while she got sleepy then the Psyciatric team turned up but she was not engaging with them, I said she had just had oramorph and they said they they thought she was delusional and were going to look at getting her nurses who specialise in delusions and get her checked for her food and water balance.
A little later I was about to leave when she perked up and smiled, I said I was going to get some shopping and she said ok, I felt guilty about leaving then but I needed a break
 

dogdayafternoon

Registered User
Dec 30, 2017
185
0
Another bad day, when I arrived an auxilliary nurse was standing beside her and told me my wife had wanted the toilet but would not stand up, I tried a number of times but no. Then she said she did not want to go now and she was cold so I covered her with two blankets after about 20 minutes she said she wanted the toilet and again I could not get her to stand up, I told her if she did not stand the nurse would bring the lifting machine so she said no I will stand but no so I called the nurse and left.
After lunch I returned, again she had only eaten about two bites of a sandwich, I tried to get her to eat some more but nothing but she drank some orange juice then said she was cold so I covered her with two blankets. After about 30 minutes she wanted the toilet and again I tried to help her to stand in the end the nurse came with two physios and they got her up but she was walking with her knees bent, they entered the toilet and I heard some commotion, I heard later she tried to go before reaching the toilet seat.
As I waited a lady from social services turned up and asked about her and how she was before hospital, the nurse then came with a wheeled trolly and wheeled her back to her seat. The lady asked her a few questions but had to get most of the answers from me, I got the impression the hospital want her in a care home as her problem is not really medical now, just waiting for her broken arm to heal.
After the social lady left she nodded off and the lady in the next bed told me my wife had been awake all night, not wearing any clothes and almost falling out of bed and she had to call the nurse for her a number of times.
She woke up again feeling cold and again I covered her with blankets and she started talking about sitting in the car while i got the shopping, I told her she had to eat and start walking to be able to leave, then I said I am going shopping now and left erlier than usual about 3:30pm as I had had enough.
 

Bunpoots

Volunteer Host
Apr 1, 2016
7,342
0
Nottinghamshire
I’m sorry you’re having a rough time. Hospital is not a good place for PWD. My dad improved once he was moved to a carehome to recover. They got him walking again when hospital could not.

Maybe your wife would accept milky drinks or yogurt if she not feeling like eating.
 

dogdayafternoon

Registered User
Dec 30, 2017
185
0
Upsetting day, arrived as usual 10:45, wife in bed asleep, no nurse about to ask, finally I sat with her and an auxilliary nurse came and said two of them had managed to get her in the shower and thought the sores on her bottom were not healing so they were keeping her in bed on her side so the could check.
Later a doctor came in and said they had taken blood and her potassium level was high related to kidney function and they were going to give her an infusion of glucose and insulin to try to bring it down and take bloods every hour. If it did not they were going to call the renel department for more advice.
The doctor had a real struggle to find a vein, in the end had to get another doctor who is the "ace" at getting the needle in. After the infusion they came to take more blood but the "ace" was in the ER and the doctor was having trouble again, in the end she tried the other arm which is still bruised but managed to get a sample and said they would insert a catheter to check urine output as they hydrated her through the canula.
She usually drinks 500ml of orange juice when I am there but today only about 100ml.
I left just before they were going to do the catheter as I knew she would be upset.
Now I am worried she has damaged her kidneys by not eating and drinking
 

Sarasa

Volunteer Host
Apr 13, 2018
7,193
0
Nottinghamshire
Oh @dogdayafternoon, this all sounds very hard for you and your poor wife. I guess as she has no insight into her condition keeping cannulas in etc is going to be very tricky. I hope they get her sorted out soon, but it sounds like she'll need a period of respite before she can come home. I guess the only good thing about all of this is that SS and the hospital are aware of your wife's needs. it sounds like before you were battling on alone.
 

Alex54

Registered User
Oct 15, 2018
356
0
Newtown, Wales
If my maths are right it is now twenty days your wife has been in hospital. Every day I look for your update, hoping that today will be the one when you say things are getting better, instead they seem to be getting worse. After twenty days you have to ask how much is due to your wife's condition and how much is due to poor treatment from the hospital.

Take care of yourself, it must be taking its toll on you, and you will need all your energy when your wife finally comes home.
 

dogdayafternoon

Registered User
Dec 30, 2017
185
0
Better day, when I arrived she was sitting in her chair smiling and the nurse said when they inserted the catheta last night it released a large amount of fluid and the infusion of glucose and insulin had reduced the potassium.
The hospital social services lady comes and tells me they are looking at various plans, one is another hospital that has a ward of older patients in recovery but things can change and she will keep me updated.
After sitting with her for a few minutes she got agitated complaining of pain in her arm and neck so I asked the nurse for pain relief and was told it was on its way, after 30 minutes nothing so I asked again this time told that she had pain relief this morning and it's not due. By now she begins to sleep then a doctor turns up says they need to take blood and fit a cannula for a blood transfusion and fluids, she has very narrow veins and they always have a problem so it takes about four tries. she falls asleep so I go for lunch, when I return she is in bed sleeping then the sister comes and attaches the fluids to the cannula and leaves, 2 minutes later the fluids pump starts beeping so I go to the nurses station, they say they are all physios but they will tell the nurse after ten mitutes an auxilliary nurse comes but it will not reset she leaves saying it needs a senior nurse to flush it. Next a porter comes to take her for an ultra sound scan of her kidneys so drip disconnected, catheta bag is quite full now but moved onto the trolly with my wife, scan done and returned to room, sister asks if all was ok, I answer yes and she reconnects the drip, the blood will be later, by now it's 4:30pm so I leave happy that her potassium level is normal.