I'm a fullt time carer for my 78 year old mam. We live together and have a great relationship, her main issues are severe arthiritis, poor mobility and chronic leg ulcers that have led to sepsis on a few occasions. She tested positive for the flu after collapsing at home on the 30th of December. She was discharged on the 2nd with tamiflu to finish her recovery at home. Since then it's been good and bad days , no appetite though as a type 2 diabetic I haveto force her to eat, zero energy and very weak.with a chronic cough and phlegm. Today I rang the GP and he prescribed antibiotics incase it was a secondary bacterial infection which we started earlierSince she started being on unwell I'm in a total hyper vigilant state, almost waiting for something to happen like when she collapsed and I had to call the ambulance. I'm watching and checking and seeing if theres deterioration. It's just me with her, I'm single with no kids and at times like this I really feel that. I have a good family, two sisters in particular who are a great support but when they've gone home it's just me panicking, worrying and waiting for something to happen. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Whenever you have concerns or doubts about your Mom's condition feel free to call the nurse's line for your Mom's GP and ask follow-up guidance questions, ex: "Once she's on the antibiotics how long until she should show signs of improvement? What should I do if she reaches that date and does not seem to be improving?" I think all the phone convos go into her record, which is good.
Also, it never hurts to remind the medical staff you're talking to that your Mom is recovering from the flu and that she is diabetic (and elderly).
Continue doing the basics, including keeping her hydrated -- which is more important than eating. Even if it's only 1 Tblsp of Gatorade every 15 minutes, that is better than nothing (and/or chicken soup, broths, tea, diluted fruit juices); and checking to see if she's running a temp, etc.
Best of luck to you.
IMO, you do need to be vigulant. This could go into pneumonia. If Mom starts having breathing problems, get her to the hospital.
Are you retired and financially secure, or did you give up a job and sacrifice your own finances to provide this full-time care? I ask because if she's 78, you may be 60 or younger and if your own retirement finances are precarious, that can contribute to your stress also.
It's refreshing to read that you have a great relationship. So many people write her who don't.
Do know that to foster independence is CRUCIAL to your Mam. Making her dependent on you, babying her, will harm her and set her back. Keep an eye on that cough and go to doc when you feel she should as these things can move into a chronic bronchitis, and then to bronciectisis which is more spasmodic and trouble, as well as exhausting.
As to food? Not crucial to Type II, and in fact what WILL help her diabetes is not overeating. So go ahead, off a supplement in chocolate or coffee flavor or any other she likes daily, and ask her for favorites. Chicken soup WILL indeed keep that stuff loosened and easier to move out. Watch for COLOR in phlegm, your most important clue. Clear to white to creamy is fine, but the more yellow it gets the worse, and any brown to green concerning a a good reason to call doc. Check daily and no more.
You well know what you are doing is NOT good for her or for you. Try not to. As she ages things will get more unpredictable. Things will result in slower recovery for CERTAIN. And the flu will take her a GOOD TWO MONTHS to recover from fully.
Keep a good eye on those legs. Keep them up, keep her moving even short distances a few times a day for circulation. A TEENY ulcer on his shin is what finally did for my 85 year old brother. He was resistant to all the antibiotics and did move into sepsis, hospice and death in a two week time. It is OK to be vigilant. Just try to keep out of the hyper portion of it. You already "know" yourself. You'll be fine. I wish you both the best.