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WE are the caregivers for my MIL. She has CHF and COPD high BP and also a colestomy. She doesn't walk anymore and a few falls and broken both hips. After long stays in the hospital with COPDS or pneumonia excessive fluid. She just never rehabilitated back to walking. We pay sitters to sit daily so I can work. My husband and I care for her the rest and on weekends. Recently we were hospitalized for a blockage in her colon so she was in 4 days. She did great bounced right back and was great Sun (when discharged) this past week and then started a few weird things as the week progressed. She was sort of acting like she didn't hear or could not focus on what's going on when we would speak to her and ask if she heard or understood after a long pause she would answer yes. Very delayed, also unable to reach for her cup or food and having to be fed and given drink. Her vitals are fine no fever but just sort of out of things. I know something is wrong, but what? She was eating by herself and loved tv and slept a good bit but not all the time. She has not been confused before unless a uti or dehydration which the nurse said she doesn;'t have. She was sharp last week and sun when she got out of the hospital and now she is not wanting to eat or drink and the light has gone from her eyes. She says she just doesn't feel good. I have no idea if she is sick or is this her body's way of letting go. I cant stand not doing something for her. She was placed on hospice for the COPD and CHF but they are just like this might be the final stages. But how do you say that when last week she was perfectly fine talking and responding and no issues except the blockage.

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Thought I would post the solution just in case someone else has this issue. All was cleared up with 2 weeks of antibiotics. She is back to her self now and has been for two weeks. No weird symptoms. It was UTI and a bad one. Its a shame no one would listen at the Hospice office until it was really bad. The sample was like milk! Poor mom had to suffer through it while they all just past it off as "just being her time to go". This stuff makes me ill!!!!
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If possible, change Hospice The nurses are to be available 24/7. Maybe not to rush out but to talk to. You don't have to stay with the present one. Medicare is paying for this and you have a right to change if not satisfied. They should have left a booklet of what they do. If they aren't doing it tell them ur changing.
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I called the Dr. that is assigned to her through hospice. The Nurse said she could not see her nor could the dr call me back. She would have the dr call Hospice and get their notes. Which sounds good...no because they are not really hearing me on this. Ive talked to the three times over the weekend but no visits. Mom is not hurting that she says and is breathing better than she has in months. No problems with swelling or heart. I can put her cup in front of her and she will try to reach it but its like she cant find it whether its on the left or right or in front of her. She kind of has a blank stare at times seems confused but then you repeat things to her she can answer slowly but she answers. She just says I don't feel my self. She is having more trouble reaching with the left hand than right and turning her her to left. I know several things have symptoms like this including stroke.

I will try to get someone the examine her today and we may have to take the advice and come off hospice.
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I agree with CW's approach too; which is why I wouldn't take your mother to the ER unless there is something fairly specific you are expecting them to do. I know - indeed I remember - how hard it is to adjust to doing nothing about a marked change that you notice; but when you think it through: if you were to take her to the ER, they would do an EKG, possibly a CT scan, make her jump through all kinds of hoops - and for what? You'd be stressing her out and putting her in an uncomfortable place with no useful purpose to it.

But I am still appalled that no one has been out to examine your mother. Providing reassurance and an explanation of what is happening day to day is very much part of hospice's job; and without seeing her they can't possibly know if she is receiving all the palliative care that might help to keep her comfortable. I hope you're able to get someone to respond helpfully without having to stamp and shout too much.
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You need to realize that when someone is in hospice care nobody is looking very hard for answers, the focus is in relieving pain and agitation at the end of life. If you want answers you need to drop hospice (she can always be reinstated later) and have her seen by someone who will look for them.
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They haven't been out to see her?

That's appalling. Call them back and don't take no for an answer.

Stroke is very common in late stage heart failure. The reaching and the loss of fields of vision could be symptomatic, but I also totally agree with Ahmijoy that you need a professional opinion here.
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She really needs to be seen, even taken to the ER. Even if we were medical professionals here, it would be unethical and dangerous to try to diagnose someone over the Internet. Get her seen ASAP.
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DeeAnna- we have call the Hospice nurse and dr but just said maybe the COPD or CHF causing it. Her symptoms are not related but I can't seem to get them to hear me on this. They have not been out to see her.
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Her vitals are great and I don't know about stroke but nothing that I can tell or the nurse said. Its like she tried to reach but cant find it and it I hand her the cup she is too weak to hold it. When she was in the hospital she was not given any meds other than antibotic.
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Unable to reach for food and drink - is that a physical thing, or a brain thing, do you think? I'm wondering if it's possible your MIL has had a mild stroke, with no very obvious symptoms other than those you're describing.

If you're not happy with the explanations your hospice team are providing, keep asking questions. Are there other investigations you would like to see done? What was done for your MIL in the hospital? - could you go back to her surgical team and ask them to follow up, perhaps?
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Possible Urinary Tract Infection or maybe the blockage has not completely cleared up. Maybe the COPD and CHF have worsened, but not enough to affect vital signs. Maybe your ML had a small stroke or TIA? It is so hard to "diagnose" via the internet. You need to call her doctor TODAY and let them know what is happening ASAP!!
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