Hospital visits in the time of Covid--personal story--update below

[Maeve]

Last edited Tue Jul 21, 2020, 08:48 AM - Edit history (2)

This past week, I spent much of my time helping my 89-year-old mom who was in acute pain from a kidney stone and chronic pain from other issues. She wasn't eating, wasn't sleeping....Monday, we called the squad and they took her to the ER, but they said she was fine and discharged her---because covid is fairly high in this county, I wasn't there to speak for her and the nurse I spoke to on the phone either didn't understand the level of pain she was experiencing or didn't convey it well.

By Friday, she was at the "just let me die" stage. I talked to two of her doctors and they said to take her to the ER and get her admitted. The small county hospital is so busy, we were in the waiting room for at least an hour and a half, her sobbing and me rubbing her back until my hand went numb, but they let me go back and be her voice. I sat and waited half an hour for her covid test to come back (negative, she's fine as I knew she would be). In the end, she was admitted, got the pain relief she needs and will stay there a couple of days and then go into assisted living until she's strong enough to go home.

Visits are possible, but very limited and I'm not sure how it will be at the nursing home. In normal times, she would have gotten the care she needed Monday. That's the other side of this pandemic--the pain of other illnesses pushed to the side.

Quick update--she's doing better, but in a nursing home for the week--more details in post below

[MissB]

1. I'm so sorry

I’m really glad she was able to finally get the pain relief she needed. Scary time to have to visit an ER.

[Maeve]

7. Thank you--it is, indeed a scary time!

[malaise]

2. Get well Maeve's mom

[Maeve]

8. Many thanks

[livetohike]

3. Wishing your Mom a quick recovery! These are frustrating times.

So glad they allowed you to be with her .

[Maeve]

9. It was obvious she couldn't answer questions

But it has to be REALLY obvious, I'm afraid.

[chriscan64]

4. I'm going through something similar with my wife.

I am glad your mom was able to get a hospital room, albeit late. My wife has a fluid build up from what her doctor says is from her liver. The procedure to drain it is usually done in hospitals, but they will do hers as an outpatient procedure. I am scared to death about infections afterward. She has needed a hospital bed for almost a month now but emergency room doctors here in Texas keep sending her home.

I will keep your mom in my thoughts as I press on. As hospitals fill up, this issue of non-covid cases going untreated will get worse. All we can do is tell our stories and try to apply pressure on officials and the public.

[Maeve]

5. My sympathies for your wife, too

Ohio isn't as bad as Texas, but we opened too soon and our gov caved on a mask mandate when it would have made more of a difference (he tried to follow science and that just turned the legislature against his Replican't self)

[sheshe2]

6. My thoughts are with you and your family, Maeve.

Wishing your mom a speedy recovery.

Hugs

[Maeve]

10. Thanks so much

DU has been like extended family for many years

[Maeve]

11. Kick

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. Wow, I'm so happy to hear that they let you in.

When you're feeling as terrible as your mother was, it's hard to talk coherently and explain things to them. Plus, I get annoyed with having to repeat my story as many times as you typically have to tell them.

I hope that she feels better quickly and gets back home soon, even though it sounds like it'll be a while.

[Maeve]

13. Thanks, mo chara

It looks like a day or two in the hospital then a week in a nursing home. She is still sometimes convinced that she is going to die any moment, but I think that is the pain talking.

Right now, her being in the hospital is getting me the rest I need.

[greatauntoftriplets]

14. You're welcome. I've been there and know what it's like.

That's what they say about the pain from kidney stones, and I hope to never experience that myself.

Take care of yourself.

[Maeve]

15. Mom's in a nursing home now

Just for the week, but I cannot visit and the clothes, etc I took in have not been given to her or placed where she can reach them from her bed. She has a cell phone (which she has trouble using, sometimes) and so we are in touch. Still, she is getting better relief for her pain and the doctor in charge is partner to her regular doc, so she feels he's looking out for her.
This situation would be difficult any time, but with the limits imposed by covid, it's not only difficult, it's scary. The Ohio county she is in is a Level 3, still short of total stay-at-home, but...

[boston bean]

16. My advice is to not send your mom to a rehab.

She may contract covid there. They are breeding grounds.

They send positive covid patients to free up hospital beds.

Take her home after the hospital stay.

[Maeve]

17. I can't take her home

Right now, she requires more care than I can provide and getting home help is difficult right now, again due to covid. The hope is that a week in care will bring her back to mostly independent living status. The hospital wouldn't keep her more than the weekend.
There are no good choices.

[boston bean]

18. I understand. No judgments from me.

I know of a family that was caught in this quagmire and it is very difficult. No good answers.

But I was really surprised learning from them that positive covid patients were being returned to nursing homes and short stay facilities. And this is common throughout the country.