12/25/2012

Mom had to be readmitted to the hospital after 7 hours in the ER for breathing problems, drooping on the right side of her mouth and slurred speech. In addition to that, she had some kind of crud in her mouth that was massive and green and yellow. That did not happen overnight and the nursing facility did not do anything about it. I have been continually asking about her dentures. Are they being cleaned and by whom? I have been asking for a week to get a salt water rinse in her mouth as she said it had sores. It was much more than sores. That was disgusting and unacceptable. If she refuses treatment or hygiene call ME!!!!

Mom has many health issues all of which seem to be minor, but add up to allot of discomfort and require constant attention.

Breathing issue is number one. She reports that her nose is stopped up so she is breathing thru her mouth. They are giving breathing treatment (Atrovent), morphine and applying lubricant to the nasal passage. Respiration rate continues to be very high. Chest X-rays continue to be clear, nuclear report initially ok, but waiting for full report.

Coughing- she continues to cough but nothing is coming up

Bleeding from the rectum or vagina. No one seems to know exactly where the bleeding is coming from or why. The stool and urine continue to have blood in them. Treating the bleeding is important b/c we cannot treat to prevent more strokes with blood thinner agents until the bleeding is stopped? Or go ahead and treat and then stop if we see it causes more bleeding.

UTI- this has been an on again off again diagnosis since the stroke (11/16/2012). Treating it with Levaquin (since 12/25, she was on CIPRO 12/20-12/25 from Palomar emergency) and get rid of it to see if the brain fog improves.

Probiotics – added a daily does on 12/16 at 5:45 PM ok per Dr. G. (Palomar)

Incontinent – is this a result of the stroke weakness or laziness? Either way; it will contribute to sores, disease and possible continued UTIs. I asked Skilled Nursing Facility  to do something towards getting her off the diaper; they were supposed to ask her every two hours to go to the bathroom. I have no report on how that was progressing, other than the obvious that she is still in diapers.

Swallowing meds and vitamins – problems reported at SNF; we now find out that she could not swallow due to breathing problems and the gunk that was in her mouth; it was choking her.

Daily hygiene- dentures need to be cleaned, mom is not capable of doing it all herself.

Regular Meds- has she been restored to all daily meds? Thyroid – yes, Amalodapine- yes, Colase – yes, Ritalin? Meghase?  

Yeast Infections - The nurses at Palomar found that mom has a severe yeast infection in the groin area. They are treating it with Niastatin powder, the same medicine they are using as a swish and swallow for the yeast in her mouth.

Is there an external test to see if she is reactive to penicillin?

Skilled Nursing Facility issues - Spoke to Ann at Skilled Nursing Facility about her dental hygiene and no breathing treatment administered. She said she would investigate and get back to me.  I have little confidence that mom is getting adequate care at their facility. I spoke to Sadie 12/19 about my concerns and she told me that mom was getting her meds for sure. I have my doubts. These concerns must be addressed before she can be returned to the facility.