Another update.
Mum went down with a diarrhoea bug on Saturday, 26 Sept. Was, she said, up all night with it. She is only just over it since Tuesday. It wasn't terribly frequent after that first night, but with mum's mobility issues, she wasn't making the loo in time, and was then cleaning things up herself, so between the illness and the work, she got exhausted. I went down with the bug on the Monday night, but by Tuesday night, I was fine again. Getting an occasional sharp cramp until a couple of days ago, but was otherwise well. Mum continued to get an occasional cramp until yesterday, but is otherwise over it. Her doctor stopped her daily antibiotic, as he feels they may have been partly the cause. Of course, this does leave her more vulnerable to the pseudomonas infection she is living with.
We can all see how much the bug has caused mum to deteriorate. So much frailer. She's literally just shrivelling away. And getting her to eat is becoming a problem. She will have her breakfast. Sometimes, she will eat a snack during the day. She keeps saying she's having her dinner, or sandwiches, but she isn't. Well, some days, she will eat a very small dinner.
Yesterday, I found her,....I don't really know. Quite vague? But was able to hold a conversation, if prompted. She was exhausted, and I encouraged her to go lie down for a rest. My sister in law called in at around 5, and mum was so tired, she went to bed then. I bet she'll be telling me this morning how she woke up in the small hours, and hasn't slept since! I think, to be honest, that mum is starting to fade. How long that will take is anyone's guess. Her doctor is (finally!!) coming to see her on Friday morning, to give her her flu shot, and "cast an eye over her".
I found myself getting very upset and tearful yesterday, as I went to her local supermarket. It's the odd things that get you, isn't it? There was a car reversing into a disabled parking space. I got so upset, remembering that it doesn't seem long ago that I was taking mum shopping, and how delighted she'd be if there was a disabled spot free! And then I started thinking back to how well she was just three years ago, when I took her away for a weekend. She was using crutches, but was able to walk a long way with them.
Still, at least I'm here. My sister and youngest brother are on the other side of the world, and can't travel home. That's so terribly hard for them.