I was out running errands and Mom called to tell me the nursing home had sent Dad to the hospital. (THEY DID NOT CALL ME FIRST, AGAIN!!!!) Mom was a wreck...and had just made herself lunch, when she got the call. She told me she felt like she had a bowling ball in her stomach and no appetite.
Apparently, Dad was sitting in the dining room drinking some coffee and was spilling it on himself. When the Aide went to him, Dad was unresponsive. They called 911.
Dad spoke a few words to the 911 people, mostly kept his eyes closed, and responded only to pain stimuli. I know Dad will go into "combat mode" when he is afraid and going somewhere strange. He closes his eyes and won't talk to anyone unless he feels safe.
Mom sent out a fast email to everyone and told me she was off to the hospital. She had taken the day off to work on the Medi-Cal paperwork...
I sent a text to everyone. I just got home and called the hospital. They transferred me to the ER, and then to Mom. She is sitting with Dad. The doctor discovered Dad has a bladder infection, so they are treating him with antibiotics. He does not seem to have any paralysis. We were concerned he may have had a stroke.
Ironically, the doctor has a Father with Alzheimer's and suggested not doing a battery of tests on Dad. Mom told him she did not want him to be traumatized or upset. The doctor agreed and said they would only do tests which would disturb Dad the least. The doctor told Mom he would probably keep Dad over night.
5:49pm My sister just called. She spoke with Mom who was on her way home from the hospital. The doctor determined Dad could return to the nursing home and did not have to stay in the hospital. What a relief! Just has a bladder infection, so he must have felt pretty lousy, and no doubt, disoriented. Closing his eyes, is something Dad also does to concentrate or to disengage himself. If something is unpleasant to him, he will just close his eyes and take himself to a nicer place.
I am soooooooooooooo relieved! I want to thank all of you for the prayers, I know you all prayed for Dad... and the prayers were heard!
6pm The nursing home called me...HOORAY!!! Dad is safe and sound back in his bed. Am so glad he did not have to stay at the hospital. I know he will feel more comfortable there. The nurse told me he was sleeping and had not eaten any dinner. I told her he was probably exhausted from being in pain. Once the antibiotics kick in, and he gets some shut eye...he will no doubt wake up STARVING and RAVENOUS!
Welcome back Dad....sleep tight.
10 comments:
I'm so glad he didn't have to stay in the hospital. It's so hard on Alzheimer patients to be in a strange place. Glad it's just a UTI; the antibiotics should start working fast!
All's well that ends well! I hope your Dad feels better soon.
so glad your dad is back in familiar places tonight and it was "just" a bladder infection; poor guy (and all of you for the stress and worry)
betty
That has got to be frightening for all of you! I'm so glad that the doctor understood and didn't choose to keep your dad overnight. I'm praying that the antibiotics kick in fast so he'll be feeling better in no time.
What a scare! Glad thing are being taken care of.
Take care of YOURSELF and do some special pampering.
I hope he's doing better. He looks so precious in the pictures you posted of him the other day.
I wonder if it would help to put a note - like a flourescent index card in a plastic frame - over his bed or on his night stand that says NOTIFY DAUGHTER FIRST IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. And ask to actually look at his records to see if his file has the notation in a spot that can be quickly seen? I know that must be very scarey for your mom to get a call like that!
My dad did the same thing, close his eyes tight when he didn't feel well or when he had to go to the hospital. They sent him so many times that I finally asked if there was any particular reason they couldn't do the test right there in the room first for the UTI, assuming his blood pressure and pulse were within healthy limits,and actually yes they could! But he was sent so many times that the doctor at the hospital, who worked with his heart condition, suggested that I request that he be treated at the nursing home because the trip was too hard on him.
Know he will recover quickly now on the antibiotic. It would be nice if alzheimers could be treated that easily!
I am glad this turned out well and I hope that he will get over the UTI quickly, but I know it was hard on your mom and all of you.
A few days of peace, everyone well and safe and un-stressed...is that too much to ask? My mother used to say, when someone had gone the extra mile in kindness and concern, "There will be a star in your crown." You and your family will be dazzling, all the stars you have earned. So glad to see he is doing better than it first seemed.
So glad to hear this!!
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