My mom

[Melsyboo]

Hi everyone. I am a daughter of a dialysis patient. It is my mom. She is 65 and has been on dialysis for about 6 years. My main reason for checking out this message board was to find info/support on pneumonia. My mom was admitted to the hospital last night and it scared the pants off of me. Monday, she had her regular Dr visit with her primary care Dr. She had the start of a light cough on that day, nothing serious it seemed. The Dr listened to her lungs and all was clear. Tuesday evening, she started feeling really bad, lots of mucus sounding coughs and trouble breathing when coughing. Wednesday, she went back to her primary and they listened to her lungs again and said she had bronchitis. Well, 1 day later she was really congested and it got scary. They did start her on z-pack Wednesday for the bronchitis. Her sugar was also very very low Thursday which made her really out of it, so I called 911 and they brought her in. They did an x-ray and said she looked like she has a "touch" of pneumonia. She did not have a fever or any pains, so the Dr found that odd. He said it could be that she has fluid build up or it could be pneumonia or both. She was scheduled for dialysis that Thurdsday but postponed it until Friday (today)...so they kept her overnight, and did her dialysis treatment this morning. They are keeping her overnight again and also another dialysis tomorrow which is her normally scheduled day anyway..I know pneumonia is serious and her being on dialysis and diabetic sure doesn't help, but I just want to hear from others who have been there and done that! It's so scary seeing her so ill!

[galvo]

Sorry about your Mum. I just found out from my neph yesterday that, when I was hospitalised with sepsis a few weeks ago, I MAY have been suffering with pneumonia as well!! I am diabetic, on dialysis, and 2 years older than your mum, and I recovered pretty quickly. I hope she does the same.

[Melsyboo]

Thanks so much for the reply. I just came back from the hospital. While she does look better and I see a very slight improvement, she is just so uncomfortable. It breaks my heart to see her like that, but I know she is where she needs to be right now and they will take care of her when I can't. I just miss her here at home! I am glad to hear you got better quickly. Hopefully tomorrow, I will see more improvement and before you know it she will be back home! Take care!

Melissa

[Yvonne]

Just think your Mum is in the best place possible at the moment, I do hope your Mum is much better today and maybe they will let her come home.  It sounds as though you have a good relationship with her, which is very nice Lots of love to you both.

[billybags]

Hope your mum gets well soon.It is always worrying, when dialysis patients get coughs, you don't know whether it is fluid build up, whether it is the tablets they take but your mum is in the right place. Dont worry they will get her right.

[monrein]

Sorry that your Mum is going through this right now but I do think how lucky she is to have such a caring daughter.  I hope she kicks the pneumonia and is home soon.
  to IHD

[peleroja]

Welcome to the group.  I had a "patch" of pneumonia a few months ago.  They gave me IV antibiotics and then sent me home with a 10 day supply of oral antibiotics.  Hope your mom gets better soon.

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community!  Sorry to hear what your mom is going through.  Having had my 60th in January, I am your mom's contemporary.  I too have been through all these things.  Thankfully, I am doing very well these days.  My caring thoughts and prayers are with your mom.  Let her know that a group of caring individuals all over the world are with her.  This is the best place for you to be for information, support and sometimes, fun.  We are more than just a website - we are a genuine family   Just keep reading and posting.



Bajanne, Moderator

[Melsyboo]

Thank you everyone for your kind words! She is still in the hospital and I can see small improvements each time I see her.Her main complaint still is not being comfortable, but then again nothing compares to home and the things you are familiar with. The Dr came in today and checked her lungs, he still hears wheezing so she has to stay there until it clears up. They are truly wonderful there and make sure she has everything she needs. Hopefully tomorrow she has a bit more energy and tries to move around some. I will keep everyone posted! I am glad I found this place, lots of great support here! Thank you!

[Rerun]

Melsyboo thank you for joining us.  I hope we have helped so far with support for your Mom.  Please stay with us and read and learn.  It is a great site.

Rerun, Moderator          

[Sluff]

Welcome to IHD Melsyboo,

I hope your mom is doing better today, pneumonia is nothing to mess with and your concern is understandable. Hopefully you will learn from the members here at IHD more about healthy living while on dialysis and with ESRD. Most of all I hope you find the compassion of our family very supportive through the ups and down of ESRD.

Come back often and update us about your Mom and most of all take care of you, or you will be no help to your mom.

Sluff/Admin

[MooseMom]

Any updates on your mom?

[Darthvadar]

Thinking of you....

I too am caring for my mum who's on PD...

Take good care of yourself....

Darth...

[Melsyboo]

Hi everyone. Mom came home today..I am glad to have her back, but I am still so nervous. She didn't want to come home until tomorrow. I think she was nervous that if she came home, she would get sicker. When I went to see her at the hospital today, she looked and felt miserable. She was on dialysis at the time, so I can understand. They kept her on an extra 30 minutes to remove more fluids. She said she just felt weak everywhere. Last night I was happy because she seemed to be more herself, but seeing her this afternoon got me down again. The hospital told her that she is on the mend, xrays are looking much much better, and there is no reason to keep her longer. They did recommend going to a rehab to get her strength back, but she was against it. She wants to be home, so they are having a visiting nurse come to help her exercise and get back to normal. They called this evening and will visit tomorrow to assess her. I know pneumonia takes a long time to recover from, but it still stinks to see her like this. She is stubborn and tries to do things like she used to. I try and tell her to let me know when she needs to get up, but she does it on her own and tells me she doesn't want to burden me. It breaks my heart. I fear that she will get up and fall. I am around her all the time and must ask her 100 times if she is ok. She is walking around and seems to be getting back into things, but still, I know she must be weak. Hopefully the visiting nurse will explain things to her and get her on an exercise schedule. I pray that tomorrow will be a better day for her. Thursday is dialysis day, so she will be getting back into her routine. I just want to make sure she is comfortable getting ready in the morning, as I will not be here Thursday AM. I am off tomorrow, so that is good. UGH, I just wish this would clear up fast for her. I can't help thinking that this is the beginning of the end..I need to be more positive!!! She just has been through a lot and it's not fair that all this is happening! I forgot to mention that she also was just diagnosed with breast cancer! This was about a month ago. Her surgery was postponed due to her pneumonia. It is a very treatable type and most likely just a lumpectomy is needed, but again, another thing for her to deal with. Thanks for the support, it is greatly appreciated..It's also great to come on here and VENT!!!

[looneytunes]

Hi Melsey and I also welcome you to IHD!     Sure hoping things go well for you and your mom as she continues to mend.

[Melsyboo]

Hi everyone..is diarrhea and vomitting part of pneumonia? My mom sounds less congested but today she is throwing up some bile and has the diarrhea. In the past I know if she hasn't had a regular bowel movement she will get the diarrhea for a day or so. Could it be all the medication causing this? She has dialysis tomorrow and they always ask her how she is, so she will surely let them know. I just want her to get better soon and this is scary!!!