[Debbie D]

Yesterday, I called MIL to see if she needed to go grocery shopping, since I hadn't been home since last Thursday. She did, so I picked her up. We went to the library first. She was a little off kilter with balance since beginning her antibiotics for a UTI last Wednesday (of course, she didn't tell us when we called from up north).
We finished quickly at the library, and went on to the grocery store. I held her arm as she walked to give her some stability, but she was good otherwise.

As we walked through the store though, she began more shallow breathing and would stop occasionally, complaining about feeling tired. she got worse as we progressed through the store. We finished up quickly and headed to the checkout line. She began to look ashen and leaned on the cart...I asked her how she was, she said, "okay"...I asked if she wanted to sit down while I finished her transaction, and she said yes. I got her on a bench and finished up. I sat down next to her...she looked awful. I asked her if she was okay...said she didn't feel right. I pulled her over so she could rest on my shoulder...my DS30 works at the front end of the store and came over, took one look at her and said, "I should call 911..." he ran over to his desk and made the call. that fast, I felt her slump in my arms, and her leg was jerking a bit...I couldn't see her face, so I had one of the cashiers call my son over...he bent down, called her name a couple of times and looked at me, said, "Nothing..." a customer who is a nurse came running over and took her pulse...nothing...we laid her down and put her feet up, and then she came to.
That fast the emts were there, got her on the gurney, into the ambulance...took her BP, sugar and O2 reading...couldn't find a vein to IV her, but thought they should get her to the ER stat...she began talking and joking...
When we got to the ER they swarmed her immediately...asked if she was always that pale..she actually looked better than at the store. Her ekg looked okay, the pacemaker seemed to be doing it's job. Sugar was a bit high, bp was a little high but not horrible...
They did her bp sitting and standing and it went down when she was standing and she felt crummy again...
she stayed overnight for observation...DH brought FIL over so he could visit with her for a few hours...we both went home to eat some dinner, and when we left them, they were holding hands
I haven't called yet...DH stopped by on his way to work to see how she was, and they were already doing an echocardiogram on her...
So we'll se what's up...part of the problem is she doesn't know what was going on...she thinks she just slumped over and doesn't remember how tired she felt while shopping...so I have to get a hold of the doc to give him the true story...
I slept until 9 am today...Calgon, take me away

[soxmom]

aw deb I hope things are better with her soon

[tkrik]

Debbie - I will say some prayers for your MIL as well as your FIL, DH and you. Please let us know how she is doing.

[Kitty]

Thank goodness you were with her, Debbie.

Please keep us updated on her condition. I'm praying for her and you, too.

[barb02]

Sorry Debbie, I hope they can figure out what is going on and help her.

[hollym]

The different BP sitting vs standing can indicate dehydration. I hope it's just a little dehydration from the uti. Did they put her on any IV fluids?

[Debbie D]

Called her today...they did an echocardiogram and an ultrasound of the carotids. Her cardio's partner came in today and had her stand...he stood behind her, massaged her neck at her carotids, and she just about passed out...he caught her. They laid her back down and she said she had tremors for about 20 min after...
the doc said she has "sensitive carotids" and she can't have anything near her neck..no jewelry, scarves, collars, etc. She joked with me she told FIL no more necking
Not sure if that adds up, since her problem came on gradually yesterday. The Pcp is going to check on her incontinence...she's in for another night. I still think she doesn't drink enough due to her fear of leaking...she tells me all the time "I drink a lot of water..." but since her mind is going, I can't believe her

On the bright side, she looked a lot better today when I dropped FIL off.

Thanks for prayers...we need 'em...

[ewizabeth]

Oh my, thank goodness you were with her. I was with my sister when she had a heart attack.

I hope they find the cause and treat it.

[Darlene]

She and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

[Debbie D]

Finally got her out of the hospital around 5 pm yesterday...she's weak, but happy to be back home. FIL had ordered food up from their restaurant, and had it waiting for her.
He said, "I didn't eat all day!!" I asked him why not, and he said, "Well, I ate some chips and stuff..." He probably was like a kid who's mommy went outside, and raided her hidden candy and chips. He is a diabetic, but just doesn't get it...
So now we need to make sure she drinks fluids every day...which she thinks makes her leak more. But really it's just one of those things that's either from old age or her Altzheimer's. Trying to explain that to her is impossible now. I just tell her if you don't keep drinking you'll end up back in the hospital.THAT she understands...