I just spoke with caregiver. She said SIL is in so much pain she can’t even sit up to take her antibiotic. The nurse is bringing over a liquid form so she can take it laying down. CG says the thigh appears to be better but the lower part of the leg still looks bad. I dunno…she seems to be taking such a blase attitude toward it. Am I overreacting? Seriously…is this as dangerous as I think it is or do I just need to back away from the internet and get a grip?
Thanks for that drug info. I’ll bring it up when I talk to the nurse (hopefully before 2:00 when the next dose is due).
Well, the other SIL talked to the nurse and it appears she’s responding to the current meds. The redness is better and she’s no longer running a fever. She said she doesn’t think hospitalization is indicated at the moment and they’re going to continue to watch it closely. I’m feeling somewhat better. Thanks for all your help!
IANAD. I have had an MRSA and in-home care. I was not allowed to inject the medicine in my PICC line, even though I inject my insulin twice a day. I don’t know if that’s a local law or just the way my insurance works. I did not like my PICC. The cats, on the other hand, loved my home health care nurse, the IV line, and getting a visitor every day.
I hope this infection clears up soon, for everyone’s sake.
Is SIL alert and awake? If so, she is “charge” of her decisions re care. If she doesn’t want hospitalization or IV antibiotics etc–that is up to her. It can be quite difficult to stand back and “allow” this type of thing, but as long as she is alert, and there is no legal paperwork placing someone else in charge (like a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care)–SIL calls the shots.
Well, she’s been pretty out of it the last couple days…all jacked up on more pain meds than she normally takes. Unfortunately, she’s always been in charge of her medical decisions, which have been bad 99% of the time. At least she’s not saying flat-out “no” to the idea of hospitalization should this thing get out of control.
I will call over there today to see how she’s doing. It seems the nurse made the most headway with regard to making her understand that her quality of life would most likely improve if they decide to go the IV route. But as I said earlier, she’s not the brightest bulb on the chandelier when it comes to making sound health decisions.
Wow. That’s strange. SIL does have the caregiver. I figure if she’s allowed to give her morphine and methadone, they’d probably give her the green light on the PICC meds, as well. But I’ve been surprised before!
She didn’t like her PICC line either (when she was in the hospital). She said the installation was rather painful. But I figure if it’s a way to get her meds at home, it would appeal to her. She doesn’t want to leave her cats again.
But, they are her decisions. That’s my point. She is driving the bus. I understand that she might not be making good, sound decisions, but they are hers to make. You have a difficult task–to advocate for better decisions while respecting her autonomy to make bad ones. It’s not fun, believe me, I know. Good luck.
Right. I keep pushing, but not as hard anymore. It was my constant harping that got her in for her terminal cancer diagnosis in the first place . She was in such denial that she told everyone it was just a nasty case of arthritis! However, now that the writing is on the wall, everyone figures it’s kinder to just let her decide for herself without any unpleasant dialog. She has an extremely distant relationship with her children, so they are of little influence. We just have to sit back and watch the train wreck.
. She was in such denial that she told everyone it was just a nasty case of arthritis! However, now that the writing is on the wall, everyone figures it’s kinder to just let her decide for herself without any unpleasant dialog. She has an extremely distant relationship with her children, so they are of little influence. We just have to sit back and watch the train wreck.