My mom has a catheter, as a nurse I know the symptoms of infection in the urinary tract. She had also become very confused and lethargic due to uti. She has had chronic UTI’s for years even before her health debilitated. She has never ran fever with a uti. She is on hospice so asking for a u/a was out of the question. I spoke with her hospice nurse and she called the doctor and he prescribed Macrobid. My mom has always had urinary infections that are resistant to macrobid. I voiced my concern to her nurse when she told me what he ordered. She contacted her Dr. again and he said no give Macrobid as I ordered. Three days later her symptoms are worse and urine the color of tea with a very foul odor. Mom's new nurse whom we just met came by to introduce herself and meet mom. I voiced my concerns again regarding the Macrobid not helping rid the infection. She contacted Dr. and finally he ordered a broad spectrum antibiotic. Three days after starting new antibiotics and her urine is clear, appetite is back and a lot less confusion. The down side of a broad spectrum antibiotic will cause diarrhea, so of course I’ve been pushing her to drink more fluids to prevent dehydration. Sometimes we have to be a little persistent to get the right medications. Thank God she’s much better.
Warm, encouraging thoughts to you!
Thankfully the antibiotics that were ordered always helped him. However there were times when the hospice doctor/PA wanted to add a new medication of one kind or another and if I didn't agree with it or saw no need for it, they wouldn't.
You have to stay on top of hospice that's for sure, as you are discovering. I'm glad your mother is doing better. God bless you for looking out for her.
Glad mom is doing better.
You have to be on top of things. I can't believe you told the Dr. the med did not work for Mom and he ordered it anyway.