Sores/Blisters

[lisaw]

Hi,

I have not been on here for a while, mostly because I needed a break. However something is worrying me about my mum. She is in the final stages on AD, well what we assume is the final stages, though she has been like this for several years now - she is bed ridden, cannot talk, eyes can't focus, has to have her food pureed etc. She has had the disease for 18 years now, it started when she was 45. She has recently developed sores on her hands, similar to blisters, and around near her nappy. It is really raw and red. The nurses are treating it with antibiotic cream. They have said that she doesn't have a nappy rash. I was wondering if this is just part of the process of the body deteriorating? Apparently when my grandfather was dying he developed a really bad thrush type infection before he passed away. I was wondering if anybody has seen this before and know what is best to treat it with, or if it is just part of the deterioration? The doctor is visiting her later on in the week.

Thank you for any responses.

Lisa x

 

[jenniferpa]

Whether it is or it isn't (a usual part of the process) it still needs to be treated aggressively. There is no doubt that as people age their skin becomes much more fragile and if these things aren't dealt with quickly and effectively there can be a rapidly worsening situation. It could be chafing, a sudden contact allergy and a host of other things, but whatever it is you need to push for appropriate treatment. There are, I believe, specialist nurses that deal with tissue viability and I would be pushing for someone like that to take charge of this.

 

[julieann15]

Hi Lisa
If it is thrush then mum will need an anti-fungal cream from the doctor- I had been treating Erin's nappy rash with her old favourite cream but it would not clear up- a few days later she got white specks on the sore area indicative of thrush. a couple of applications of anti-fungal cream did the trick.

If it really is as sore as you say I would insist on the doctor calling and getting her something to alleviate the discomfort?

Love Julie xx

 

[Vonny]

Hi Lisa,

Another thing...if it is thrush, then antibiotic cream could actually make it worse. I'm not sure if cream has the same effect as oral medication, but the latter can cause thrush.

I'd be pushing for an urgent visit from the doctor with a referral to a skin expert if required, as Jennifer suggests.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on

Vonny xx