So, regrettably mom is back in the hospital. She has Sepsis and has been diagnosed with Failure To Thrive. I'm hoping that the hospital can intervene some how and make both diagnoses better but it's been 4 days and she is still not well.
Any experience with these diagnoses? Any idea what I might be facing? Hospice? Palliative care?
Life can seriously be so depressing some days
We soon moved her into Assisted Living, which she suggested and selected because an acquaintance of hers liked living there. Made it so easy for me! She was placed on Hospice due to the Failure to Thrive, but several months later, after getting 3 healthy meals every day, she was taken off Hospice and put on Home Health. They came to check her vitals and helped bathe her twice weekly, and set up her daily meds. That was our experience with Failure to Thrive diagnosis. She finally passed @ 92 with mild dementia, several TIAs and finally a stroke.
Yes, my mom was diagnosed with both.
Failure to thrive was she was not eating, but drinking water and lost some weight. She also was not really enthusiastic about participating in any type of therapy.
She then had Sepsis, they thought she had beaten it, but it came back. She eventually had multi organ failure and passed after the plugs keeping her "alive" were pulled.
The nurse called and let me know, not the PCP or anyone in his office.
I'm so sorry you're going through this and your mom has received these 2 diagnosis
A year later, she started on hospice care for 22 months during covid shut down, then off for 6 months and is back on now using a different company; they seem to work very much the same way. The focus is to make the body comfortable (liquid pain relief) so it stops fighting to stay alive (a natural reaction). NO ONE can say how long a person will llive, hospice just eases the fear and offers the family information and support. Mom, now 96, has no quality of life (dependant on others for everything, does not know me, where she is, if she had a meal and mostly can not process any information) but is not in any pain, when the staff sees her grimace or act uncomfortable, they have the hospice supplied access to lotion, drugs, items to help. My husband and I commiserate she will out live both of us. Her next hospice review is end of April and my prayer is that they will keep her on (each renewal is for 2 months). Best wishes, I hope your Mom will reconsider hospice, it is only a good thing.
I understand the damage sepsis can do to organs. She has stage 3 heart failure, kidney failure and is diabetic. All 3 were prior to Covid. The CG is so hard.
my prayers are with you!
Mom had that many visits in 3 months. starting Apr 13 in the year she passed.
In a way it is. The patient stops eating and/or drinking and starts to lose weight.
Daughter50.
As my Grandma used to say.."people get angry, dogs get mad"
You mention in your profile that you are guilty caregiving.
I am sure your mom would not want you feeling guilty.
If you are making decisions that in your head you know are right then that is all that can be expected.
When I was caring for my Husband I would tell the Hospice CNA that I was ruled by two organs in my body, my Head and my Heart, and that I could only hope that when it came time to make any decisions for him that the correct organ was in charge.
((hugs)) for both of you.
The thing is, my mom has written a book (figuratively) on how to make all us kids feel guilty, so guilt does creep up from time to time.
This time I've just taken to active listening to what she wants/needs, etc., and if I can do it without destroying my spirit, I will. If I can't, it won't be done.
Be hopeful. Watch & wait. Sepsis can be halted but not always. So be prepared & realistic too.
It is what it is.
If it is her time - it is her time.
One day at a time.
Find a phrase you feel is right to help though this.
This too will pass.
My husband developed sepsis and septic shock after almost dying from aspiration pneumonia, but continued to live completely bedridden and under hospice care for the last 22 months of his life in our home.
If hospice believes her time is limited to a week or less, you can have her brought to their hospice home to die as that will be a much more peaceful and beautiful place to die than a hospital, and moms Medicare will cover it all 100%.
I pray for Gods peace to be with you as you face the unknown with your mom.
My mom passed at the hospital, because folks at hospital said she would not make a trip anywhere else, then again they wanted they were subtly pushing for the plug to be pulled so she would pass.
BUT speak with the team about the circumstances that would prompt them to intervene, as opposed to taking a comfort-only approach. It sounds like you are unsure.
If your mother is communicative, you may want to talk to her about the differences between her options (e.g., hospice) once you fully understand them. If you are not sure, speak with the person on her team responsible for this type of education, which I'd recommend anyway.
Lastly, I would suggest you speak with the key players of her care team (medical and social) there at the SAME TIME to discuss both things I mentioned. Their individual input, when all assembled, will give you a better understanding of the big picture.
I'm sorry you had to hear those words. To you, my heart...and hugs.
Just never came out of it. Sepsis, no matter from original source is often devastating. Antibiotics seem to be less effective against more and more resistant strains.
My brother begged for Hospice, as did I. He was facing down a probable early Lewy's diagnosis,and he was as happy to try to beat that one to his grave, quite frankly.
I wish your Mom luck. I hope you will update us.
My mom has medicare and a major supplement thanks to my dad's time in the service, so I'll be making some calls. If we can set something up for her at home, the city in which I live has one of the best Hospice agencies according to people I've known who've used them. This is hard but I don't want things to get uglier for her.
This, if she is cognizant is her choice.
If she is not cognizant then it is your (or who ever is POA for health) decision to make taking your moms wishes into account. That is the difficult thing to do.