DH fell 1 1/2 weeks ago. No major damage. Last week he was walking well. Friday night he was unable to get up. Called for help, he went to hospital, dr. said bronchial infection. He was put on meds for a week. This past Friday the dr. put him on a second round of meds because the infection has not cleared. He is still able to walk but can't get up by himself. Dr. seems to think it is progression of the disease rather than weakness from meds..I don't know. I do know that he is more confused due to being in a strange place with strange people around him. I spend as much time with him as possible but today he was not communicating except for "yes" and "no." I asked did he know who I was and he gave no answer. I know the nurse on night shift gave him Xanax at 3:00 this morning because she said he was agitated and couldn't sleep. Maybe that is why he is like this today. Anyone have a similar experience (not able to stand) in later stages or do you think this is just weakness? As you can tell, I'm grasping at any straws. I can't stay with him 24 hours a day and I don't rest if I'm at home....thanks for listening.
Jackie, sorry I can't help you or answer your questions, but know that someone cares about you and your dh. Someone will be along and I am sure will be able to answer your questions and give you support. How old is your dh and what stage do you think he is in??
When my mom had this disease, she went from one day able to walk with a guide to not knowing what her legs are for. It is most likely the disease if all else has been checked out carefully and is not the cause.
jackie i can attest to the fact that any small illness much less a bad one sets them back enormously. as i type the nurse just left here for a catheter for urinary tract infection. it started thurs after DH went down so quickly with fever shaking and inability to focus and diminished functions. they orignally thought upper respiratory infection as hes on hospice we just treated for fever and hoped it would run its course. today the fever broke but his urine was almost brown in color. antibiotics as treatment. so yes they go down very quickly cognitively speaking and one day happy smiling to almost comatose. in 24hrs. its my belief the meds also play a part in their inability to function as metabolics may keep them even more confused along with infection. its been my experience they can tend to bounce back after antibiotics clear up infections but its always a hit/miss to find the right ones that do the trick. hope hes better soon divvi
Jackie, I went through this many times with DH. Things would look so bleak, and then he would rally, never quite coming back to where he'd been, but still miraculously. However, since the doctor said he thought it was a progression of the disease, then I would take that as the most probable cause. But don't give up hope. It could be that DH is still weak from the infection; that it is a sign of aging (depending on how old he is); that there is a physical problem such as fluctuating blood pressure; that there is a side effect from a drug he's on - not the antibiotic; and that the Xanax at 3:00 a.m. would make him less responsive when you visited.
My DH has days where he walks and stands pretty good and then other days he can barely move. He is at stage 6 but it has been going on ever since is dx., so I really think that is going to happen on and off throughout the whole progress of the disease. He hasn't fallen yet...but I watch him like a hawk on the days that he has trouble walking. He uses a cane when he is going to walk any distance beyond the apartment.
Divvi, has he had brown urine in the past? My DH's urine begin to turn brown the week he went into his coma. They said it was the beginning of kidney failure..and the brown color was caused by cells in his kidneys that were breaking down. I'm very concerned about your DH...please let me know what they find out. Will you hear immediately..or will it be Monday? Keeping my fingers crossed. ....
Thank you all for you answers/advice and most of all your support....one of the wonderful things about this place.
I left DH about 30 minutes ago and he was talking, ate his dinner, smiled at me and sang a little with one of his CD's!! Hard to believe the change since this afternoon around 3:00!!! I do think it is the drug and that it is finally wearing off.. I asked the nurse to call me if he became agitated and I would come....not to give him the Xanax until I had a chance to calm him. She said she would so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The coughing/congestion continues and I hope this round of meds will finally clear it up....if not, the doctor should try something else. He is 70 and was diagnosed with PCA in 2007. He can't see well at all and it was a big change for him being placed in hospital. Thanks again to all of you.
yes DH has had urine issues now for 2 yrs plus. he does have impaired kidney function in one kidney we have known it for sometime now. . hes already running much clearer urine with the antibiotics and pushing fluids tonite. the dr always starts antibiotics as soon as we do the tests and are waiting for cultures to come back. in our case waiting the extra time would be very detrimental to DH as he has continuous history of kidney/urinary tract issues. sigh..i will hear from hospice dr on monday but since we already have the meds i am less stressed. always something to keep us on our toes! thanks for your concerns nancyb. meds are working well so far. divvi
Can't tell you how relieved I am. I will always remember that week and watching his 'bag' of urine get darker and darker day by day. It was a scary flash-back. I do recall you have dealt with his UTI's for a very long time. Otherwise, how is he doing. Is he totally bedbound, or can he get up for short periods of time. I ask about you every time I visit with Anita and Sherry. They tell me it's time for another CTC meeting. nancy b*
his physical abilities are losing ground in as much as he can only get out of bed with 2 of us pulling him up. and move him with help to his chair or wheelchair. we still get him into the shower 3/wk with a very strong aide to manuever him as he does seem to enjoy his showers and warm water now. but times are coming it wont be feasible to do it at some point. otherwise i have gotten quite proficient with bedbaths and shaving in bed. :) we have to use our hidden talents to find ways to cope with the issues that arise in each stage- stage 7 is no different and imposes its own set of concerns. i am grateful for what still remains. its very hard to think only a short year ago he was still mobile and getting into stuff.. but its the nature of the beast/ yes we are getting ready for another luncheon soon as things die down!divvi
Update on DH. 2nd round of antibiotics seemed to help and then he developed what the nurse called a "wet cough." Dr. came, speech therapy came...decided it might be aspiration of fluid/food into his lungs. He was also put on Seroquel last night and has been very sleepy today. I hate this disease and what it has done to my husband.
jackie, I'm so sorry (((HUGS))) I was talking to a friend whose husband had EOAD and lived five years after diagnosis. We were discussing how difficult this is on the teens, She said, "Well, I did the best I could under the circunstances." I replied, "Hey, you are still sitting across the table from me today. The fact that you didn't let the disease take both of you, means you did great!" The stress on the spouse is just almost too much to bear. But that is what I consider victory. Each time you go through one of these horrible ordeals and you are still standing on the other side. Stay strong!
Thanks Mary..I'm trying to stay strong. Nurses have tried to "send me home." I told them this is where I want to be. I can sit and hold his hand, I can feed him or give him something to drink. I am at home at night without him. I try to give him what I can while I can. It is a victory if we can get through this.