sick mother...

[kelsebby92]

OK to start off with I know most of you know what I'm dealing with in other terms than this from previous posts ... well things have cooled with my boyfriend.. and that's not why I'm posting today.. my mother is turning 49 this November so she's not very old bit she's not young... her father passed away at the age of 40 something dye to lukymia.. now about a month ago my mother called me right as she was walking into the doctors office tto get surgery on one of her lymphoids takin out.. didn't let me know ahead of time.. just as she was walking in. So I was sscared. It was right by her groin my mother isn't skinny. She's short and has extra weight on her so it was hard for her to get around after that. So I took her to her appointments for her follow up and everything wwas OK. Until she could drive again a.d take herself. The doctor told her she had mersa from the insission they were going to hospitalize her but she refused.. my mother is a very strong woman.. and feels she can over come anything and its to the point where I'm scared to death now. She decided to get home care instead a.d has been off and on work since which has been two or three weeks now. And today I called her figuring she would be at work and not answer when she did and I could tell she was home and didn't sound to well. I called to tell her about my dog and the dog park experience I have just had.. and I asked her what was wrong and why she wasn't at work and she ignored me and wouldn't tell me. Until I asked her about three more times she told me today at the doctors they told her she had caught phnemonia. My mom seems to be all I've ever really had. She's the only one whl stayed by my side my hole life and I love her with all my heart. I feel like growing up I was so bad to her. I need my mom more than anything right now I can't lose her. Her first grand child will be here in less than ten weeks. And I honestly can't bear to ever think of anything else going wrong with her. :'( I do.t know what to do anymore. I honestly wish i could take it all away from my mother and let her life the rest of her life happy and sick free and make me have it all..

[Londres70]

She is in isolation because of the MRSA; that is pretty much standard.  There was no need for any isolation sticker a couple of days ago because she was not admitted in the hospital.  This sticker is to inform all the healthcare workers, etc. who are coming in contact with her and giving her care.  

Sounds like she is on the mend.

Keep us posted dear.  

[kelsebby92]

They took the pic line out and put it in the other arm. And the doc told her about the clot moving she had a blood clot in her leg when I was younger that was moving to her lungs. So she's felt with that before. She also has two ivs in her left arm she seems to be well and like herself she's just mad cause they have an isolation sticker on her door and she was working there acouple days before. So some of the nurses wont go in but others laugh at it and go in.

[Londres70]

Oh, PICC lines, they are notorious for clotting and sometimes causing infection.  They are great when they work though.  This is unfortunate.  If they think the PICC line is infected the physician will usually order for the line to be pulled and the tip of the line is sent to the lab to be cultured.  If there is a clot involved, normally a clot-busting agent is injected into the line in an attempt to dissolve it and then there is a re-attempt to to see if the line is opened or patent.  If it is determined the line is infected and there is a clot, the line will be removed.  

Hard to say if the PICC line is doing this or the MRSA infection.  This will be the physician's call about what to do in regards to the PICC line.  

I have NEVER taked care of a patient that had a clot from a PICC line go to his/her heart, brain, etc.  Usually, clots in the legs do that.  

If she doesn't have a central line, i.e. PICC, then she will have to get her antibiotics through a peripheral site.  Hopefully, her peripheral veins aren't too bad.  Some antibiotics can be harsh on peripheral veins.  

Well, keep us posted.  Sounds like she is where she should be; the hospital.  

[kelsebby92]

They thought she had phenomena because of her chest pains and fever of 102-103. And I'm not sure all she told me was that the blood clot was in her arm pit and could go to her heart or brain :/

[specialmom]

Well, it is a relief that she is admitted.  Symptoms of a blood clot and issues with a pic line can look like pnemonia??  That surprises me.  But either way, she's in the hospital and hopefully they can work out any issues she is having.   Pulmonary embolism isn't what she was having is it??  anyway, hope she continues to recover.  good luck

[kelsebby92]

Well my mother got admitted today, not because she chose to I did talk to her n told her how I felt it didn't change much she told me not to worry. But she went In to get her blood drawn from the arm of where her pic line was n nothing came out. They sent her for an ultrasound n she has a blood clot in her left arm. She does not have phenomena all her symptoms were from the clot I went to see her and spend time with her after work and she seems like herself

[Londres70]

In my opinion, you are more stressed out not knowing 100% exactly what is going on.  

She sure is taking a big gamble with her health.  Plead your case once more with her.  This is nothing to "toy with."  She is definitely taking a big risk.  Things can go from ok to life-threatening very quickly; not to say this will definitely happen, but it can.  

What does her husband think?  

[Londres70]

Thanks Kay

[vintagequeen]

But you are ALREADY freaking out and ALREADY stressed!

Is your mother admitted as an in-patient yet? This is life threatening. Pneumonia on its own can be life threatening if it isn't treated, but now MRSA is thrown into the mix. Voice your fears to her and make them CLEAR! My heart goes out to you hun, all these ladies are very concerned about you and your mother. She needs to know the importancy of being admitted and the severity of this illness. I understand she has a pic line for antibiotics...is she on Hospice care? The antibiotics aren't being effective if she developed pneumonia... MRSA pneumonia. Make it clear that she isn't alone and that you won't leave her alone while she stays at the hospital. I believe she is scared of the unknown and is trying to avoid it to see if it would go away.. it won't. She needs to be in the care of a hospital.

Good luck sweetheart. You don't need this kind of stress while you're pregnant. My prayers go out to you and your mother
~VQ

[specialmom]

Tell HER the truth then--- that she is really scaring you and stressing you out and that you'd please like her to aggressively treat these infections.  That you are going to have this baby and just can't bear the thought of something happening to her.  It would break your heart.  So for peace of mine, you would like her to follow up on treating these infections.  

good luck and I hope she listends to you and is okay either way

[kelsebby92]

Thank yyou.. and yes I do speak up to her but she doesn't listen she smiles and tells me she will be OK and I want to believe it but I know it's getting to much to be able to believe it. I don't want to be nieve anymore. Espically when it cones to her and her health. No she doesn't live alone she lives with her husband although I know he will take her to the hospital if she needs I just know hhe wont watch her or tell her she needs to go he will only do it when she would go to him. She doesn't want to be admitted because of her experiences before when I was younger she had a blood clot in her leg moving to her lungs. And she just doesn't care for it she's hard headed like my grandmother when it comes to hospitals.. I'm seeing her today I will have a talk with her... hopefully she will Listen. But she likes to not tell me the truth when it comes to her health. Because sshe knows how I feel and she doesn't want to freak me out or stress me out more.

[specialmom]

thank you londres, good advice!!

[Londres70]

Oh my goodness.  She's not much older than I am; I am 46

Speaking professionally (I am an RN), MRSA infections are nothing light to treat and are stubborn to treat as well. This could turn life-threatening and you should be concerned for your mother.

I see two issues here.  1.  Your mother refusing to be admitted to the hospital for care and returning to work too quickly  2. Treating a MRSA infection of this nature at home.

I can't really comment on the competency of this physician related to his age.  Plus, he did advise her to be admitted into the hospital.  

Does she live alone?  

This doctor that you're referring to is he an ID Specialist (Infectious Disease Specialist)?

She needs to be admitted like now and having a Specialist (s) seeing her with OTC care and IVs not at home.  She is really playing with fire staying at home.  Plus, I just think the nurse coming to her home is NOT appropriate at all; not enough.  Can't believe the doctor approved that.

Do you know why she doesn't want to be admitted?  Is there some particular good reason?  This just doesn't make sense.  

Please plead to her once again.  Voice your concerns about losing her and that you want her here to be able to see her grandbaby.  

I just feel awful for you.  

[specialmom]

Ugh.  Well, she needs to rest and recover.  Both of the infections she has could have serious consequences.  You really have to be your own advocate when it comes to your health.  I do believe in doctors and that most are good----  but even then, you have to force the issue sometimes if something doesn't seem right.  Your mom is actually young.  Very young.  And it would be a tragedy to lose her at the age of 49.  My mom died at 52 and it is just too early to go!!  (when it comes to our mom's, it is always too early).  

It just sounds like your mom is having one complication after the next and needs to be admitted to the hospital.  If not, then she certainly shouldn't be working.  IV antibiotics aren't just a shot---------  it's an IV in which you are hooked up constantly.  

I guess I don't want to panic you but urge you to be forceful to get help for your mom.  good luck

[kelsebby92]

Well she's been on home care. Having a nurse come to her home and giving her anitbiotics thru an IV and she has a pig line now for about two weeks or so so she is receiving help and medication..she just keeps going back to work and it's making her get worse, she works in the hospital. And idk I feel like its the Doctor that she's been seeings fault he's seriously like 80 some years old and walks like he's about to fall over. I keep telling her not to go back to him but she insists she likes him.

[specialmom]

YES!  Take control of her and take her to the emergency room immediately.  Between the mersa and the pnemonia, your mother is very compromised.  She needs IV antibiotics right away.  Sometimes when you are quite ill you don't think straight.  Your mom needs your help to get her to medical care.  Let us know how this turns out dear.  good luck but act quickly

[trying43]

Everything you just said about your mother you need to tell her that and then take her to the er.  Good luck

[vintagequeen]

Oh, Sweetheart!! My heart goes out to you as well as some prayers!

She really needs to go to the ER now. She contracted MRSA and now has pneumonia.. You can get MRSA in your lungs causing pneumonia. What are her symptoms? She needs to be on some heavy duty meds now!
Private message me if you need to hun. I will try to answer any questions you may have. All I know is that MRSA is a form of Staph infection and can be very harmful if it gets into the blood or bone. I am shocked she isn't seeking medical treatment now. It is not a small matter, MRSA is one thing but MRSA pneumonia is quite another!
Keep in touch sweetheart!