Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Ok Pixie thanx, will juggle things around if that's the case, not a problem (just dinner with inlaws)

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Jigsaw puzzles or Rubik cubes are good too.

As are Chinese finger traps, as they improve hand-foot coordination.

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

that's why it's really important to listen to your own body

Mine mostly just gurgles and farts - as you've probably guessed already.

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

thanx for the tips guys, They call my mother glamour puss in hospital because shes always doing her makeup. shes drawn her eyebrows on and painted her nails with little effort, so hand eye coordination seems to be fine.

It really is just speech and writing my mother is having difficulty with. The OT nurse said therapy only lasts 6 weeks, I think that's shocking. My mother should be on an intensive therapy for at least 30 minutes to an hour per day in my opinion. Which is why ive decided to take it upon myself to help her. So ive installed a phonics app on her tablet, so she can re learn how words should sound. And repeat them over and over.

There is also other programs (which arnt cheap) that help you to learn to speak everyday sentences.

I think the most important thing right now is that she is surrounded by people who wish to speak, forcing her to communicate verbally, thus making her brain create new neuro pathways to help her respond. Im not about to let the NHS give her 1 hour a week for 6 weeks and then walk away and say theres nothing they can do, I just don't buy that for 1 moment.

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Hi Guys

Mother has been on oxygen for the last few days, her blood oxygen levels were low, around 88%. Her vitals are fine now, and its back up to 92-95%.

I remember the monitor reading 88 a lot when she was in the stroke ward, but since moving her to the recovery unit, they have given her oxygen therapy as and when she feels like it.

I don't know if this is a sign that her CHF has got worse, or whether they are just trying to make her feel better.

She was told last Thursday that she was fine to be discharged this coming Tuesday. However I have a strange feeling this will be moved back.

The board in her ward shows discharge as being the 20th, so a further 2 more days.

I will try and speak to someone tomorrow regarding her discharging Tuesday and if they intend to keep her longer, ask what's changed since Friday.

The nurses who help her know nothing, the ones who take her vitals and record it, know nothing either, its so frustrating to get any real answers in hospital over the weekend.

I see they have placed her on statins, and given her age, she has a decreased level of CoQ10, the enzyme responsible for heart function, statins, block the livers ability to produce coQ10 and I can only assume this has resulted in worsening the symptoms of CHF.

Last time I spoke with her doctor he said that CoQ10 would not interfere with her medication and so I have been giving her supplements every day, in my last hope that it will help to strengthen her heart and reduce symptoms.

My mother had wet the bed, and because they were so short staffed, waited over 4 hours yesterday for it to be changed, and today, after waiting an hour, I had to change them for her.

The fluid on her legs appear to be reducing to her feet, and she appears to have lost the "cough" she had due to fluid on the lungs, so they are positive signs, it just scares me seing her now on oxygen.

This has really been a nightmare for the both of us, its all happened in the space of 9 weeks.

From reading online (bad I know) CHF at the stage my mothers at, has a mortality rate of 50% within 5 years, the rest within 10.

I am praying that she regains at least some mobility soon, so she can enjoy life with what little time she has left. I know my mother will not cope with being bed ridden.

My wife is being great support right now, and I don't know how id cope without her, but its tough at times because I have to stay at my mothers on my own to look after her bills and business.

Ill update when I know more tomorrow night. Keep the prayers coming.

[cymruambyth]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Sorry to hear that you are feeling less sure of things today. I think that with CHF it does fluctuate. My father lived for several years with it; he had emphasema and lots of other problems. As a total aside, my parents had a Great Dane with CHF who lived quite a few years on medication and had a full and active life!

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Wishing you and your mother all the best, it's hard to take setbacks after she did so well at the outset, but fingers crossed its only a minor one.
I see they've put her on statins, I know from my husband's experience that they can quite rapidly cause ankle oedema in some people, so that may be something to bear in mind.
He came off them and I got his cholesterol down well on diet and plant sterols - Flora Proactive and a sterol capsule supplement.They can be taken in conjunction with statins, but always best to check with the medics first.

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Thanx Elsa, I think I will speak to her doctor and ask why she is on pravastatin as the studies ive read have all concluded it does nothing for women over 65, other than cause their CHF symptoms to worsen. I don't see why I cant control her cholesterol in other ways such as diet and supplements.

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

That would be my view. Your poor Mum has enough to contend with at the moment without more side effects. Sometimes they just seem to blindly follow the N.I.C.E. guidelines for each individual condition without looking at the whole picture. xx

[di30]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

I do hope they resolve this for your mum SXGuy and hope she is doing okay, she been through the wars by th sounds of it bless her and all the worry for you all too, I can totally relate to how you have been feeling x

My meds for cholesterol were changed from Simvastatins 40mg to Pravastatins 40mg last year, because of awful leg cramps, thankfully all fine now, and despite my normal levels of cholesterol, I was informed due to my kidney disease I am at risk of heart disease, so my kidney specialist and family gp want to me to continue with these meds for now.

However, my dad was on statins as well when he was with us and also had good cholesterol readings but due to other health conditions they wanted to safe guard him from them by keeping him on the meds at the time.

Hope they work it all out for your mum, good luck x

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Thanks Di.

Shes being discharged today, not sure what time, but if I don't get a phone call I will be going up there when visiting hours start. I need to speak to someone regarding walking aids, i.e wheelchair, as im not sure if the hospital lends them or not, and I think she could do with one until the strength returns, being very fatigued, she will need something to ease her breathing.

I went to boots today and got her a raised toilet seat, bath stool and pill box, hopefully they will help. A nice lady saw what I was buying and handed me a mobility catalogue which has loads of things I think she will need to make life easier.

She has a social worker due round on Thursday, and her heart nurse has confirmed he will be round next Tuesday to assess her, so fingers crossed she will be fine until then.

Ive also got her some incontinence pants, as the ones the hospital gave her are just pads with a net pull up, not really ideal for her as she struggles to get them in place correctly. Im hoping her symptoms will pass but with all the medication im unsure.

Shes a bit worried about transferring from the car to the house, but shes only 8 stone bless her, so im sure worse way ill carry her over the threshold lol.

Does anyone know if the hospital will supply her with a wheelchair to take home?

[di30]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

All the best on your mum's return home SXGuy, and they did used to lend out chairs at one point, but there is also the Social Services that deal with these matters too, so as I can see you have that appointment coming up, it maybe worth contacting them as soon as you can for a Occupational therapist who deals with all these things, chairs, seats, stair lifts and so on, they may be able to get hold of an OT straight away.

Good luck and keep us posted, sending our love and best wishes x

[MrsD]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

they assessed my MiL and then a big van popped around with loads of stuff to help out, I think you need to ask. biggest problem was the wheelchair which weighed a ton so was difficult for her to use, we've bought a lightweight one so that she could use it. Has she a shower or a bath? important to get that right, if it's an over bath shower they'll provide a seat thing that whirls out, then whirls back in and someone then has to operate the shower, worth asking about

[Sophie]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Can I just add something here? when my mum couldn't get around on her own the social services came and measured her for a wheelchair, but it took a long time to come..In the meantime we were referred to the Red Cross, who will lend you anything for a small donation, we borrowed a wheelchair for a couple of months till hers was ready.

Hope your mum picks up soon SXGuy xx

[SXGuy]

Re: Mother been diagnosed with Heart Failure

Well they have delayed her discharge, doctor is concerned about the fluid still on her chest and wants to get rid of this first. Either via drugs or by drawing it out manually. He thinks this may help somewhat with her breathlessness, which he is also concerened about because she cant walk very far. His intention is to try at least to increase her mobility before letting her go home.

He is trying to push through an xray for tomorrow morning, and then he will know more. As for oxygen therapy at home, this also falls under assessment, as its treated as medication, and they cant simply just send her home with a canister of gas, it has to be assessed and prescribed.

He said she will need it at night, but until more tests are done, is unsure if its needed during the day. So fingers crossed for Discharge Friday. Mum admits she feels a little weak right now, so probably best to not come home just yet. she asked if I could bring some work up for her, which I will do, as then she wont feel so useless. Im also sorting out some audio books for her to pass the time.

Its so hard seing her there, the worst part is, shes more upset seeing me having to deal with everything on my own than anything else. When I leave she says I love you, and then wells me up. I know shes scared, but I hope being there everyday eases her a little.

All the best on your mum's return home SXGuy, and they did used to lend out chairs at one point, but there is also the Social Services that deal with these matters too, so as I can see you have that appointment coming up, it maybe worth contacting them as soon as you can for a Occupational therapist who deals with all these things, chairs, seats, stair lifts and so on, they may be able to get hold of an OT straight away.

Good luck and keep us posted, sending our love and best wishes x

Thanks Di, her social worker will be seing her Thursday, unsure of the time, but its likely to be during visiting hours because I have a feeling they will need to speak with me also, so I will get all that sorted with them then.

they assessed my MiL and then a big van popped around with loads of stuff to help out, I think you need to ask. biggest problem was the wheelchair which weighed a ton so was difficult for her to use, we've bought a lightweight one so that she could use it. Has she a shower or a bath? important to get that right, if it's an over bath shower they'll provide a seat thing that whirls out, then whirls back in and someone then has to operate the shower, worth asking about

That's good to know! I spoke to her OT today who pretty much said the same thing. I really didn't know they provided all that, I always thought you had to spend money to get any sort of help.

Can I just add something here? when my mum couldn't get around on her own the social services came and measured her for a wheelchair, but it took a long time to come..In the meantime we were referred to the Red Cross, who will lend you anything for a small donation, we borrowed a wheelchair for a couple of months till hers was ready.

Hope your mum picks up soon SXGuy xx

Thanks for the info, I will bare that in mind, apparently the hospital will lend her a wheelchair until one can be sourced, but ill keep the red cross in mind should I have any problems.