Unhappy Legs

DiamondSmiles · #21 ● 09-17-2012, 10:20 PM

My mother is like a child now. She is 77 and had a stroke in 2004. She is not allowed to drive due to loss of some of her peripheral vision.

She picks and chooses which tests she will get and argues with every doctor. Our eye doctor retired and she was pissed we had a female doctor.

She thinks she can get over on men and I know she misses all of my brothers terribly because I don't take any shit from her.

Not mean, but, I worry about her. Her mother died of colo-rectal cancer and she won't get a colonoscopy.

Her doctor writes on her chart, "refuses colonoscopy", and whatever else she refuses. Mammograms are out for the past couple of years.

They're no big deal. The worst part, to me, is drinking that salty shit that doesn't taste like the flavor you chose, expecting a Kool-Aid or Crystal Lite taste. I expected that. Don't know about anyone else ;)

Mammograms, you have to do it! I tell the techs to plop me where they want me and I'm outta there! Not on the top of my list of fun things to do, but, they're not that horrible either!

I'm glad you got your mother-in-law to go to the hospital. Her leg was nasty! I hope they can fix her up! How old is she?

Great first post by the way! Welcome to the family!

zombiehunter1231 · #22 ● 09-17-2012, 11:47 PM

SICK I SMELLED THAT THROUGH MY COMPUTER SCREEN

khiarhu · #23 ● 09-18-2012, 02:41 PM

Hey all, we'll be going to see mom later today to get an update - so far they've kept her in the ICU because her breathing is shite (the woman smokes a carton a day AND has asthma, so I'm not surprised at all) and because they couldn't get her to respond/wake up very well. She does have a Staph infection (they're working on culturing it or something like that), a fuck-ton of "other health issues that shouldn't have been left alone so long" (the doctors are appalled at her over-all condition)...and she might have congestive heart failure. She's on oxygen, will have a CPAP mask, needs to stop smoking (she won't stop until she's dead - this I know because she's said it. Hell, she said her goal is to "drink and smoke myself into the grave") and...that's just the tip of the iceberg.

We don't know how long she'll be in the ICU, but she's staying in the hospital for a while...likely a week or so. @__@;;

DiamondSmiles · #24 ● 09-18-2012, 04:15 PM

If your mother-in-law has a death wish, there is noting you or your wife can do.

People have lit up cigarettes in hospital rooms while they are using oxygen.

The only thing you can really do is make sure she isn't contagious and keep her as comfortable as you can.

I had three brothers who died from alcohol-related injuries. It's a helpless feeling, but, there really is nothing you can do.

If she really wants to die, she will find a way.

Sharon · #25 ● 09-18-2012, 04:56 PM

Wow, thank you for sharing these awful images

I'm saddened to hear how she feels and what she's saying, hope you as a family cope.

khiarhu · #26 ● 09-19-2012, 08:25 PM

The wife and I finally got to speak with Mom's wound-care and ER doctors about her health and prognosis - I gotta tell you, it's been one hell of a day. Her leg is looking amazing though - they debrided it (I'm kind of sad I missed that, but I am glad I missed Mom screaming through the mask they've got her wearing) and it's healing beautifully: doesn't smell or anything now and can heal properly.

She won't be out of the ICU until Friday (at the earliest) due to the fact that her lungs are shot to hell and her blood is so acidic from CO2 the Docs are amazed she's not in a persistent vegetative state/comatose and on the way to the grave. Actually, they're kind of impressed. Horrified and impressed. "Worst I've ever seen - and that's saying a lot."

Mostly she's fucked due to her lungs now and we've been told that supposing Mom does everything possible to help her physical situation (and likely a few minor miracles thrown in) she might last 5 years. If she continues as she is, she could die tomorrow. Or we could have 2 years (at the outset). Wife is absolutely broken-hearted and I'm...not surprised at all, really. Just so damned sad for us all because I know she won't stop smoking (oxygen be damned) and she won't stick to a healthier diet/exercise plan...or go to the doctor when she should.

So uh, that's about the long and short of it. Ya'll enjoy the pictures provided but I think that'll be the end of it. Thanks for the support and input.

Brometheus · #27 ● 09-19-2012, 08:28 PM

so uhh.. what exactly was wrong with the leg..? dont see the connection with smoker's lungs and this diabetic looking leg. id say its sepsis, but due to what?

khiarhu · #28 ● 09-19-2012, 08:59 PM

Sorry, staff (is that the correct spelling?) infection in the leg.. brought on by celulitus (sp?). Basically she wasn't taking her blood pressure medicine, held way too many liquids in her body, and then had a broken lift chair / stubborn nature so she didn't put her legs up where she should have.... It caused the legs some massive damage. The leg problems are almost a blessing, though, as we found out about her lung problems due to them. She was also in heart failure when we arrived and would have been MUCH worse off if we'd taken even an hour longer... - Written by Khiarhu's fiancee.

Brometheus · #29 ● 09-19-2012, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by khiarhu ↗

Sorry, staff (is that the correct spelling?) infection in the leg.. brought on by celulitus (sp?). Basically she wasn't taking her blood pressure medicine, held way too many liquids in her body, and then had a broken lift chair / stubborn nature so she didn't put her legs up where she should have.... It caused the legs some massive damage. The leg problems are almost a blessing, though, as we found out about her lung problems due to them. She was also in heart failure when we arrived and would have been MUCH worse off if we'd taken even an hour longer... - Written by Khiarhu's fiancee.

Staph*..

wow.. thank you Black Salve's fiancee..

I forgot about Staph infections.. that leg looks exactly like a staph infected neighborhood cat I once came across..

SmokeyNite · #30 ● 09-19-2012, 09:55 PM

Well Khiarhu. as a nurse I see this all too often, and unfortunately it never ends well. I hate to say it, but if she insists on being non-compliant with the medical orders, have her sign a DNR/DNI so that people don't have to keep coding her because she didn't follow instructions.

I have several patients that come in because they can't breathe, are in pain, etc and bitch the entire time they are in the hospital, refusing all tests and treatments, and leave AMA, over and over. We always wonder why they even bother coming in if they aren't going to let us help them.....

Unhappy Legs

Documenting Reality