John in hospital

[Yvonne]

9.30 am Sat. 7th Feb.  I phoned the hospital to see how John was, the nurse said he was as bright as a button and they maybe sending him hoe on Monday.  I said what about yesterday when I left him, was he still confused and did you inform the Dr. she said there is nothing on his notes as far as she was concerned he was fine. I was pleased for John feeling fine but now I'm confused.

3am.  Went in to see John he was just lying on the bed awake looking a bit confused.  I said how are you, he said alright but where is every one else!!! Just then a Dr. came in and took 3 samples of blood from John, about 1/4 hour later another nurse came in to take another sample, she said the first one had funny readings, then another Dr. came in, they were talking not to us but each other, then they said to John have you ever suffered with Diabetes, he said no but his Dad had had it since being in a motor car accident when he was 30. They both went away and soon after the nurse came back and gave John a shot of insulin, she said that is why he is feeling so tired, thirsty and confused.  She said she would be back in an hour to do another blood test and maybe give him another shot of insulin. NOW what do you all think of that, when I think back over the past few months John has often been confused and I was just bitting my tongue putting it down to his medical condition. Just think if I had not told them how confused John was they would just be brushing off his confusion with old age and sending him home without us ever knowing he might have Diabetes.

Is Diabetes connected to kidney failure???   Thanks once again for all your kind thoughts where would I be if I could not come on this site and unload my troubles Yvonne

[breezysummerday]

Well, son of a gun.  I'm surprised no one ever took a blood glucose
at one time or another. 

And I'm glad you come here and share your thoughts       

[drinkboy]

I guess diabetes can cause kidney failure.  My mom was never diagnosed or found to have diabetes until after she had kidney failure and went on dialysis.

[monrein]

This is excerpted from Medhealth.

"Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, accounting for more than 40 percent of new cases. Even when drugs and diet are able to control diabetes, the disease can lead to nephropathy and kidney failure. Most people with diabetes do not develop nephropathy that is severe enough to cause kidney failure. About 16 million people in the United States have diabetes, and about 100,000 people have kidney failure as a result of diabetes."

[The Wife]

I was wondering if dialysis can cause diabetes.  One time I reading the monthly bloodwork and the numbers were higher.   I'd have to find that months bloodwork to see what it said but I remember asking my hubby if he now had diabetes.  The numbers have now gone down.

My mom was diabetic and it did cause problems with her kidneys.  When she was in the hospital at one time, her kidney function dropped but eventually went back up. 

[pelagia]

I thought blood sugar monitoring was almost routine.  At least with our docs.  

[monrein]

http://www.fda.gov/Diabetes/related.html

Here's some information on the common complications of diabetes.  Heart disease is right at the top of the list and that is a very good reason to follow the healthiest diet possible, low in saturated fats.   

[Yvonne]

8th Feb. 3.pm I went in to see John today, they have connected him back up to his oxygen and now had another drip going in as they say he is dehydrated. The nurse said his glucose levels are fine now but they will do a fasting test on him first thing Monday morning. I know this hospital has saved John's life, when he was in HDU I felt he was safe, but I'm not sure now he is in this side ward, I'm sure they forget he is there. They told John if his Sats are reading fine they will send him home with a look at sending in a nurse every day to check him out. That's all very well but John can't even sit up without holding on to the side rails, that we do not have on the bed at home. I can't help him as I already have a bad back, so they must teach him how to manage that. I'd love to have him home, I'm sure I could get him back on his feet. But I will need help of some sort. Yvonne

[okarol]

I was thinking about his confusion, when you said he was talking gibberish (or something similar) and it reminded me about my mom when her sugar gets low. She doesn't make sense and she cannot figure out whats wrong. If we get her to drink juice she improves pretty quickly. Just a thought.
Hope each day shows improvement! 

[Auntie V]

I am new and have not read all of this post but would like to add a comment about confusion in a patient while in the hospital. Please forgive me if I repeat something that has been covered.

Often when an older person is in the hospital they will become confused. Part of the reason is the constant noise and not being able to get a normal nights sleep. They might sleep for 10 minutes and think days have passed. All of the strange people telling them what to do also plays a big part in the confusion. Once they are back home they return to their pre hospital state of confusion or lack of it. 

Changes in medications or combinations of meds can also contribute.

[The Wife]

My heart goes out to you Yvonne.   I also have a bad back. 

When my mom was in the hosptial and her blood sugar went too high, she spoke gibberish too.

Big hugs to you both.

[breezysummerday]

Yvonne, I am posting this link to give you an idea of what's available here in the US.
Perhaps the Uk has something similar?

http://www.specialtymedicalsupply.com/medical-supply/Bed-Rails/?gclid=CPmt8avtz5gCFRlcagodrjoF2w

[Yvonne]

  9th Feb. John has been taken off the drip and also the oxygen. He can walk a short way on his own to the toilet (all but they don't like him to in case he falls) he still looks very tired but spoke to me all the time I was there. Where the different Stoma nurses keep changing his bag, because it is sited right next to his operation site, they keep making it bleed. They have to renew his dressing every 2 days as I don't think it is healing very quick. His tummy is still very swollen and pleased to say his hands and legs have nearly gone back to normal.
Being a Sunday in hospital there is no one around to ask about whether he had his fasting blood test, John seems to think they did not do it, but as Auntie V said I think John's confusion is bought on by this long stay in hospital and one day blending into another. I'm sure he will be fine when he comes home, WELL last week I didn't think I would be saying that as he was so very ill, all this time they have been also testing his blood for his kidney Disorder and that has been holding out they said if his creatinine level reaches 900 then he would have been transfered to the renal hospital, the highest it got was 800 and has slowly been coming down from there. He must be one very strong determined man thankgoodness.
In England we have the British Red Cross and I think they would be able to help me with aids I may need for John.

I hope I can go in to see John today 10th Feb as we had rain all day yesterday and coming home on the bus was like going down a river, I felt sorry for the cars as the bus didn't slow down and the puddles were going all over them. If it keeps up all night , they may have to close off our 8 mile road until the floods subside. We live out on a peninsular, very nice in the summer but a bit bleak in rough weather. Thank you once again folks  Yvonne

[drinkboy]

Glad John is doing better and able to at least get up and walk a little.  Hope you get to see him today despite all the flooding

[Yvonne]

  The hospital has let John come home as they think he will recover better, he has lost so much weight, but he still does not feel like eating, I suppose it is early days. His wound is still leaking so the District nurse is coming in every day to redress it. All he wants to do is stay in bed, but I know that is not good for him, but even when he gets up you can see how uncomfortable he is. They never ever did anymore test for  diabetes, so pleased he has not got that. He is very quite not like John at all, and I think I know what he is thinking all the time.  I must try and get him to think more positive but it's very hard, the family are coming down this weekend, so I hope he may improve by then.
 Yvonne

[drinkboy]

glad he is home and hopefully that will lift his spirits as well as seeing the family this weekend;  take it day to day and hopefully he'll improve a little each day.  You're doing great Yvonne and continue to be positive and patient like you have been and that will go a long way. I do remember after one of my mom's longer hospital stays that when she got home, she ate almost nothing for a long time and slept most of the day for quite a while.  It was real concerning but she eventually got more energy and appetite... it just took some time. So hopefully John will rebound soon and be more like his  normal self.

Wishing you the best & keep us updated

[2_DallasCowboys]

Dear Yvonne,

Glad to see your John is home.  Will pray that
he will imporve and grow stronger each day.

Sending warms  to you both from
New Jersey, USA!!!

Anne

[paul.karen]

Home is always better then the hospital for recovery.
Hoping John returns to normal a.s.a.p.
At least you dont have to worry about travels anymore.  And you yourself can get some rest as well.

More prayers and    coming from
New jersey
P&K

[The Wife]

I'm glad to hear he's home.

My heart goes out to the both of you.

Take care of yourself too.

 

[pelagia]

Hopefully the visit from the family will perk John up. 

[okarol]

John and Yvonne 

[kitkatz]

Hugs and kisses to you both now that he is home! 

[Yvonne]

  Thanks for your kind letters. Also Drinkboy you have put my mind at rest a little telling me about your Mum, the only thing the hospital told us he must not lie around in bed all the time as he may get a blood clot, that worries more than anything. I can't understand how anyone could sleep all day and all night. I have to wake him up to give him his breakfast in bed, the nurse comes in at 9.45am, I try to wash him, he stays in bed till dinner time, has a small amount of soup then goes back to bed, he might try and get up again for an hour in the afternoon. I don't know if I should get the doctor in as he always says he is cold, although our heating is on and most of the time when he is up he has this big blanket round him. Our local Dr. cannot do his kidney function test he will have to go to the renal unit for that but he is too ill to travel at the moment.
I really feel Iv'e been left out on a limb with John, no one around to reassure me he is going to get better.  Yvonne

[Joe Paul]

I really feel Iv'e been left out on a limb with John, no one around to reassure me he is going to get better.  Yvonne

I pray John gets better, sending you comforting hugsss 

[drinkboy]

You're right about the possibility of a blood clot, so do your best to get him up when you can.  I know my dad had a hard time getting my mom up for breakfast  and she would eat and go right back to bed within 15 minutes. She would usually stay there through her mid day pause exchange. Then, after pleading with her, he made her get up to go sit in her chair in the living room; and then she would nap on and off, but she could move her legs more easily from the sitting position and do very light leg exercises between napping there.  It was a long few weeks of us forcing her to  get out of bed to go to the chair. We figured that getting her sitting up was better than being in bed laying down and then she progressed little by little, but it was a slow process, especially getting her to eat more. 

So maybe if you could get John up to a favorite chair for a few hours a day and then he could move his legs a little between napping.  Hopefully you can build on that.  I know how frustrating it is to watch him sleep so much and also not eat much. It is very draining emotionally as well as physically to have to plead everyday to get him up.  So please try and get as much rest as you can, and eat properly so you are as healthy as you can be. 

Wishing you the best