Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

That's good news SXguy. Bet she can't wait to sleep in her own bed!

haha well, her OT came round earlier, because they haven't assessed her at home yet, she didn't want her going up stairs, so she has to sleep on the sofa till Monday.

Ive made it in to a bed for her, and no sooner than 2 minutes she was asleep. So long as shes happy that's all that matters. My wife is coming round Monday with the baby, which I cant wait for, miss them so much, as much as I love my mum I cant wait til I can go home again and know that mum has the care she needs in place.

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

That's good news SXguy. Bet she can't wait to sleep in her own bed!

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

We have a shop mobility place at our local shopping centre so will look in to it.

Mum is now home and settled catching up on Eastenders. Waiting for an OT to pop round at 4pm to asses her needs. Social worker is coming Monday.

Was a slight delay in her discharge, left arm not knowing what the right is doing etc, but its all been sorted.

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

a wheelchair which she can use for up to 2 months

Oh, good.

I'm sure she'll find that much more comfortable than a wheel barrow.

If there's a "shopmobility" charity near you, you might be able to borrow a powered wheelchair or scooter.

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Brilliant, well done!

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

The local mobility shop had none free to hire, but luckly I found the british red cross only down the road, they were more than happy to help. For a £20 donation they gave me a bath seat to keep, and a wheelchair which she can use for up to 2 months. Really helped a lot. No longer worried about getting her home now.

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

the swelling will improve as she moves around a bit and her own pride will help as well

but it's back to squeaking for you, fraid you're going to be the rusty gate until everything gets back to normal. You just have to keep asking until they've got her sorted out and ensconced back in her life

just be aware she is telling the staff and you the truth, my mil smiles a lot says everything is fine when in fact it isn't but she just hates the whole carry on with hospitals and doctors, she once went on holiday up a mountain in Switzerland on a train, with a broken knee because the first junior doctor she saw at hospital said something like "oh no need to make a fuss it's not really badly swollen", so make sure she is being 100% honest and I'd still get a second opinion as they still don't seem to have any firm answers

Yes I agree, my mother is the same, sometimes what she tells me isn't exactly how it was said, and im forever having to double check with the nurse or doctor. Im hoping that being at home makes her feel better. I did say to her, you must try and recover at home, don't get lazy or give in, and her response was, of course, I may as well be dead living like this for the rest of my life.

I will give my mother credit, she is the most determined person I know, so if anyone can do it, she can.

Im off to a local mobility shop soon, to see if they will hire out a wheelchair for the day so I can get her out the car and in the house, I'm unsure whether the hospital will provide her one short term, but the dr has said, it would be quicker to get one private long term as NHS will take months.

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

transient heart failure would make sense as this has all happened since she found it hard to breath, she doesn't find it hard to now the fluid has gone, apart from a low BP (Which she has always had) her vitals are stable. However, no doctor has told me whether its congestive or transient.

Im def going to seek a 2nd independent opinion when shes able to move around. It just doesn't sit with me that her symptoms came on so rapidly.

[MrsD]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

the swelling will improve as she moves around a bit and her own pride will help as well

but it's back to squeaking for you, fraid you're going to be the rusty gate until everything gets back to normal. You just have to keep asking until they've got her sorted out and ensconced back in her life

just be aware she is telling the staff and you the truth, my mil smiles a lot says everything is fine when in fact it isn't but she just hates the whole carry on with hospitals and doctors, she once went on holiday up a mountain in Switzerland on a train, with a broken knee because the first junior doctor she saw at hospital said something like "oh no need to make a fuss it's not really badly swollen", so make sure she is being 100% honest and I'd still get a second opinion as they still don't seem to have any firm answers

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

I would imagine they'll phase them out if possible if the oedema goes completely, particularly if they decide the cause was transient and not Congestive Heart Failure.

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

She wouldn't go in to a nursing home Elsa, shes desperate to come home as it is. The thought of being away any longer is killing her.

Shes still on diuretics, fluid on her legs has now reduced a lot, but its still visable from her shine bone, down to her feet, although he feet are no where near as swollen as they were.

Think shes on 2.5mg of diuretics, should be reduced to 1.25mg when its clear. Im unsure whether she will come off them completely? no one has said.

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Is your Mum still on diuretics SXGuy? If so she'll be producing a lot more urine and the urge to go will be more urgent and more frequent. This should get better as her meds reduce but the inco nurse should advise. The nurses will have to keep a close watch for pressure sores developing. Might even be better for her to have a catheter in on a temp basis until it settles down. It could be a residual effect of the stroke, but such a long period of bedrest has it's part to play. Once she starts the crucial mobilising all her muscles will strengthen. Hopefully they'll teach her pelvic floor excercises too.
If her needs are so great, would an interim convalescent stay in a nursing home be feasible?

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

The piddle pads I recommended can fit quite comfortably in ordinary briefs - they'll just not be at all feminine!

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Ive got her a pack of the pants they do, 7 days worth, Ill need to get more, the hospital have said they will supply her with pads, but they are really horrible, need netting pants to hold them, pull ups would be a lot more easier and probably more dignified.

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

One of the nurses have advised that they need to sort out an incontence nurse, as they believe she may be having trouble. I don't really know, she has been stuck in her bed for over a week, today was the first day she actually got out and in to the chair, she has hardly any strength, less than she had prior to the fluid on her chest, and I wonder whether she just passes urine etc because its easier than having to keep calling the nurses to help her.

I read that as "she has been stuck to her bed for over a week" and wondered if she has diabetes which made her urine all sticky.

She feels that when shes home she will make more of an effort, I reserve judgement.

Get a supply of Tena "Comfort Super" piddle pads - "Comfort Plus" just are not sufficiently capacious.