Good Morning
Have not posted for some time, as we have been kept pretty busy here caring for Dad. For those who may remember us - a little update. For those who don't remember us, my lovely Dad is now 93, has had Alzheimer's for 16 years and I have cared for him at home for the last 3 years.
Dad went into respite care again on Tuesday 13th Oct. Had been having some problems "down below" but nothing major and seemed quite well in himself. Transfer day to respite is never easy, but went OK.
Wednesday - visited him and he was fine, we even took part in the sing-a-long with the OT's.
Thursday I got a call to say that the hospital were very worried about him & went straight in. When I got there the lovely House Doctor advised that he had another urine infection and that this had led to scepticemia. He had been recatheterised, given IV antibiotic and put on a drip.
On Friday consultant very bluntly told me that Dad had kidney failure and to expect the worst. We had to decide whether he should be transferred to the General where he would be in an open ward where no-one knew him and they were unlikely to be able to do anything further, or to keep him where he is, where he has the privacy of his own room and the staff all know him well and care for him so well. We opted to keep him where he is - with that old cliche of "keeping him as pain-free and comfortable as possible".
Since then we have really been through the mill. His kidneys are actually functioning now (so that was a mis-diagnosis) - but he is very poorly. The drip had to be removed because it caused a lot of swelling and it is proving difficult to get him to take fluids because he is asleep for so much of the time. He now has a morphine patch which we hope is keeping him more comfortable.
Dad was really poorly in March and ended up staying there for 6 weeks rather than the two weeks respite planned, but he rallied and we got him home again.
We are just taking things one day at a time here now. Have moved back with Mum for moral support and because it is closer to the hospital. We are spending as much time as we can with Dad. Difficult times....
If you are able to do so - please pray for him.
Kind regards to all
Gill x
Have not posted for some time, as we have been kept pretty busy here caring for Dad. For those who may remember us - a little update. For those who don't remember us, my lovely Dad is now 93, has had Alzheimer's for 16 years and I have cared for him at home for the last 3 years.
Dad went into respite care again on Tuesday 13th Oct. Had been having some problems "down below" but nothing major and seemed quite well in himself. Transfer day to respite is never easy, but went OK.
Wednesday - visited him and he was fine, we even took part in the sing-a-long with the OT's.
Thursday I got a call to say that the hospital were very worried about him & went straight in. When I got there the lovely House Doctor advised that he had another urine infection and that this had led to scepticemia. He had been recatheterised, given IV antibiotic and put on a drip.
On Friday consultant very bluntly told me that Dad had kidney failure and to expect the worst. We had to decide whether he should be transferred to the General where he would be in an open ward where no-one knew him and they were unlikely to be able to do anything further, or to keep him where he is, where he has the privacy of his own room and the staff all know him well and care for him so well. We opted to keep him where he is - with that old cliche of "keeping him as pain-free and comfortable as possible".
Since then we have really been through the mill. His kidneys are actually functioning now (so that was a mis-diagnosis) - but he is very poorly. The drip had to be removed because it caused a lot of swelling and it is proving difficult to get him to take fluids because he is asleep for so much of the time. He now has a morphine patch which we hope is keeping him more comfortable.
Dad was really poorly in March and ended up staying there for 6 weeks rather than the two weeks respite planned, but he rallied and we got him home again.
We are just taking things one day at a time here now. Have moved back with Mum for moral support and because it is closer to the hospital. We are spending as much time as we can with Dad. Difficult times....
If you are able to do so - please pray for him.
Kind regards to all
Gill x
