After 5 years of having Mum (now 92, AD plus several other health issues) living with us, getting through several episodes when she seemed to be so weak from UTIs she couldn't possibly recover, but she did (with the magic of antibiotics), now the GP has said this time she won't.
She has had a cold & cough - no chest infection, says she's not in pain but is refusing to eat & is barely drinking. She's just in sleeping in bed all the time. It was yesterday when the GP came & said palliative care only. No mention of any support or end of life care - no pain, so no need for pain killers, apparently. Call the GP again when she gets worse - but the decline is quite gradual, so when to call them?
i'm feeling quite resentful - it's not how I imagined it would be. I've got used to feeling that we're largely on our own in this dementia boat as far as the health service is concerned, but I did expect some support at the end (if that's what it is - Mum's powers of recovery have amazed us before, but I think the GP is right to say, not this time). I even had to ask the GP if she'd be calling again.
I'd like some advice on how long it might take - days, weeks, months? I know everyone is different, though, so it might not be possbile to say.
Thoughts are whirling round my head, sorry if I'm incoherent.
She has had a cold & cough - no chest infection, says she's not in pain but is refusing to eat & is barely drinking. She's just in sleeping in bed all the time. It was yesterday when the GP came & said palliative care only. No mention of any support or end of life care - no pain, so no need for pain killers, apparently. Call the GP again when she gets worse - but the decline is quite gradual, so when to call them?
i'm feeling quite resentful - it's not how I imagined it would be. I've got used to feeling that we're largely on our own in this dementia boat as far as the health service is concerned, but I did expect some support at the end (if that's what it is - Mum's powers of recovery have amazed us before, but I think the GP is right to say, not this time). I even had to ask the GP if she'd be calling again.
I'd like some advice on how long it might take - days, weeks, months? I know everyone is different, though, so it might not be possbile to say.
Thoughts are whirling round my head, sorry if I'm incoherent.