UPDATE ON MUM

26/02/2007 by Ted.

EVENING OF 26TH FEBRUARY, 2007. THIS MORNING THE DISTRICT NURSE TOOK ANOTHER BLOOD SAMPLE FROM MUM, THE STOOL SAMPLE WAS SENT TO THE PATHOLOGICAL LAB AT FURNESS GENERAL HOSPITAL FOR ANALYSIS AND MUM’S DOCTOR CALLED OUT TO ASSESS HER CONDITION.

THE BLOOD SAMPLE REVEALED THAT THE EFFECT OF THE MEDICATION ON MUM’S KIDNEYS HAD DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE THE LAST ANALYSIS. HOWEVER THE DOCTOR STILL REDUCED THE DIURETIC MEDICATION WHICH SHE THOUGHT WAS CAUSING MUCH OF MUM’S DAILY LETHARGY AND TIREDNESS.  THIS MAY CAUSE A RETURN OF MUM’S BREATHLESSNESS IN WHICH CASE THE MEDICATION WILL BE ADJUSTED TO OBTAIN AN ACCEPTABLE BALANCEOF BETWEEN THE TWO.

DURING THE AFTERNOON THE PATHOLOGICAL LAB TELEPHONED THE NURSE AT ST GEORGE’S TO URGENTLY ADVISE HER THAT THE STOOL SAMPLE REVEALED THAT MUM HAD PICKED UP ONE OF THE HOSPITAL BUGS - CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE - AND IT WAS THIS INFECTION WHICH WAS CAUSING HER DIARRHOEA. THE BACTERIUM IS HIGHLY INFECTIOUS AND CAN BE LIFE THREATENING ESPECIALLY IN OLDER PEOPLE AND CHILDREN.  CONSEQUENTLY MUM WAS PLACED IN QUARANTINE AND STRINGENT HYGEINE PRECAUTIONS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE. ALL HAVING CONTACT WITH MUM HAVE TO WEAR APRON AND RUBBER GLOVES, WASHING THEIR HANDS THOROUGHLY IN SOAP AND WATER THEN IN ALCOHOL GEL.

SHE STARTED MEDICATION TO DEAL WITH THE BUG THIS EVENING AND ALSO RECEIVED IMMODIUM TO DEAL WITH THE DIARRHOEA WHICH WILL MAKE HER LIFE MUCH EASIER. 

BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF SPREADING THE INFECTION WE HAVE DECIDED THAT MUM WILL NOT RECEIVE VISITORS UNTIL THE BUG HAS BEEN ELIMINATED - ANOTHER TEN TO TWELVE DAYS.  IT IS ALSO GOD’S BLESSING THAT THE GRANDCHILDREN DID NOT VISIT LAST WEEKEND AS THEY COULD HAVE BECOME CONTAMINATED AND CARRIED THE INFECTION HOME TO PUT CHILDREN AND FAMILY AT RISK.

TONIGHT WHEN I LEFT MUM LOOKED BETTER AND HAD SOME COLOUR IN HER CHEEKS.

MORE TOMORROW, 

LOVE TO ALL,

TED.

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