I'm losing it --------
 

Hi,
FINALLY spoke to a DR this morning. Her CAT SCAN did show mini strokes. Her MRI results will be back this afternoon. The test w/ the camera to see the heart came back fine as did the Echo of her heart.

Her heart is still fibbing, which means not beating right, it is at a 1.4 and should be between a 2-3 they have her on medication for that.

They also have her on a blood thinning medication Clomidin (sp) which if she is to fall and get cut she could bleed to death!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The DR said she MAY be coming home TOMORROW. They are getting her up and around today.

I really don't have a clue what or how I am going to prevent her from falling. Due to her Parkinson's, even with her 4 wheel walker/with chair seat.

Going up to the hospital this afternoon, should have the MRI results by then, which will show EXACTLY what happened.



I spoke to my mom on the phone and she sounds okay.

Hugs, Nikko:hug:

nikko :hug:

most likely the amount of cumadin ( lol..sp) would not be that much. she might bruise very easy. and those will look nasty. it's falling and breaking bones..and those bleeds to worry about.

but tricks to help with bumping into things...

place thick towels on end tables. let the towel go over the edge for padding. same for coffee tables.

if she leans into bathroom counters or sins to say..bruch her teeth..used a rolled up towel as a bumper.

or if she leans on her elbows when eating...same thing.

my daughter..lil'monkey..her fathers mother took cumadin for years and years. i'll try and think of other things she did.

oh..her 4 wheel walker...there are roll type of pads you can get. like they use on bikes. or you can get the foam tubes to insilulate pipes..they slip right over the metal parts and are easy to cut to the length you need.

mega :hug:

Nikko,

Wha kind of physical shape is your mom going to be in with the mini strokes? I hope all goes well.

befuddled2

Nikko

I would also have a very heart to heart talk with her about how somethings have to change when she comes home.

First I would tell her that at least for a while that when you aren't there she will have to allow you to have someone come stay with her as a companion.
Because I would think that she would qualify for that.

I would also work on seeing if maybe she qualifies for say physical therapy to help learn to get around in a housing situation. Or something like this.

Donna

Thanks all - I did speak with her nurse yesterday and I have a consult with a social worker this afternoon to see if my mom can make the transition from the hospital to rehab then home.

I didn't get the results of the MRI yesterday, so I should today.

Unless the Dr has something different to say after he reads the MRI.

Still in somewhat limbo land.:confused:

Just taking it a minute at a time.

Hugs, Nikko

Dear nikko,
Well that explains some things....
thanks for sharing and letting us know.
the coumadin will have to be monitored on a regular basis, blood draws either going to the lab or having home health care doing the labs.
Atrial fibrilation is the irratic beating/qivering of the heart which puts it at risk for clotting..i think and that is why they want to thin her blood.
She would take this as long as she is fibbing.
SHe would also need to be on a balanced diet watching out for foods that have vitamin K in them...
they will explain all of this to you...later when she goes home.
How are you doing thru this?
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Nikko

I'm so glad that you are talking to a social worker about her going to rehab first. I was wanting to suggest this but was worried to.

I am not always sure about this.

Donna.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR They thought that the last time they did the MRI it went smoothly.

WELL - Yesterday I spoke to the DR and he said she moved too much and they didn't get it completed.

SO - Yesterday afternoon they were going to sedate her more and try again.

She was telling the DR SHE WAS GOING HOME AND NO PLACE ELSE. The DR told me when he was talking about it she said NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO loudly, maybe because he also mentioned a nursing home.

I spoke to her and told her she HAD to go to either their REHAB FLOOR if they take her, or this other place she had been before, she agreed. So, I spoke with the DR again and he has that process started.

So, now I wait once again for the MRI results and see when or where her transfer will be. I am praying that she DOES NOT get C-Diff again like last time she was in the hospital then rehab.

I am just in limbo land still. I am just tired of it all. I know that sounds terrible, but I am.

Hugs, Nikko:confused:

Dear Nikko,
Perhaps you can ask the staff to post contact precautions sign on her room door, ask her to have all staff wash there hands before entering her room...you can state these wishes saying that she is highly susceptable and has a fragile immune system which is true.
I wonder if they could have her eating yogurt...this will help her digestive tract since she is on antibiotics.They can also givelysol wet ones on her bed side table for her to "wash" her hands off when she eats her meals and toileting and to wipe down her tray table as well....anything to encourage everyone to be as clean as possible...she is very susceptable to pick up a staph infection there....
I am sorry that she will have to have another MRI...maybe it will work out this time.
((((HUGS))))
bizi:hug: :hug: :hug:

Nikko

Please take care of yourself too.

Also go down to the volunteer area and see if they have anyone that would go by routinely that knows how to just stop by and say hi.

I realize that she is supseptible to infection. But they could just become like
a stop by friend. IF they could find the right kind of person, someone she
could get used to seeing daily then it might become something she gets
used to looking forward too.

I think you need her to want to see others.

Donna

I am just in limbo land still. I am just tired of it all. I know that sounds terrible, but I am.
My goodness you decided to join the human race. It is about time. It doesn't sound terrible at all but it sounds so healthy. Your mother couldnt have asked for a better daughter and we couldn't have asked for a better board member.
You are just so wonderful. It is a honor to know you
Hugs
Bobby

Amen to what Bobby said! :hug:

N - I've been on vacation, and I had rec'd your e-mail, sending you hugs and hoping things will work themselves out well for you and your Mom.

I can only imagine how frustrating it is when you are looking for answers, and they are few and far between :(.

Hang in there! :hug: Jacquie

Nikko,

I agree that your wonderful daughter and board member. Thanks for the updates.

befuddled2

Thank you all so much for you support. It means a lot to me.

Yesterday they moved my mom from the heart unit to the medical unit, now she is waiting for a bed on the physical therapy unit.

It seems they cancelled the MRI, I am livid. I found that out on the phone after they had moved her. I saw her when she was still on the heart unit. They do believe it was a stroke, just from the cat scan and the other tests, plus they got her heart to stop fibbing with a med.

She can talk and hasn't lost any body movements as far as they know, I guess they will know more when they get her on the physical therapy unit.

They stopped the Adivan because it was making her worse sending her to neverland talking crazy, so she is very coherant and frustrated. I told the nurse she takes Xanax 3x a day, so she was going to get in touch with the Dr.

The move in floors has my mom upset and just wants out at this point, but knows she isn't physically able yet.

I have been bringing her yogart (thanks Bizi) the fear of c-diff is still in me.
I don't dare mention it to my mom.

I did get to talk to her neurologist yesterday. He wasn't even aware of her Parkinsonion symptons. DUH I told that hospital EVERYTHING. He said it was stroke and there isn't anything else they can do, they have her on all the medications to keep her stable and prevent another stroke. YA Think........I WANT AN MRI dammit.

Too many cooks, I say. I am going to find out exactly why the DR cancelled the MRI. Yet, I need to catch him and talk to him.

Dirk and I are okay, yet it is putting a strain on our relationship, but that is my fault, my moods are not good and swinging.

I don't know much more. Be back later, going to the hospital this morning. I plan on getting a complete DIAGNOSIS, yet how can they tell me the extent of the stroke when they aren't doing an MRI......grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Yesterday, I need a nap, but couldn't sleep, my mind wouldn't let me, I ended up just crying, which was somewhat of a good release, then took klonapin and finally drifted off for a few hours after I got home from the hospital.

Woke up to a call from my mom saying Where have you been? HUH, I was there on Sat. she slept a lot. Then she wanted to know what was going on. I told her what I knew, which is confusing enough. She is a fighter, she knows now what the hell has been going on. She isn't a happy camper, and I don't blame her.

Love you all, thanks again, Nikko:grouphug:

Nikko

In some ways its good that she is getting to the point she is wondering what is going on. That means she will want to be part of her health plan.

So let her help to figure out what is going on too.

You need to take care of yourself too. So make sure that you have her do
that.

Donna

I agree - that's truly a good sign that your Mom is coherent enough to want to know what's going on! Goodness knows she won't get any answers from the nurses or even the doctors. :rolleyes:

You are well informed about her conditions, and it is good that you can talk intelligently to the docs - there are so many folks that are clueless about things, and they just go along with what the doctor says....

Don't forget to take time out for yourself each and every day!

Hugs, Jacquie