# I'm worried about Mom. Less than a bottle of water per day. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 16, 2007, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460 "2007-02-16T06:23:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/1 "2007-02-16T06:23:59Z")
Mom is getting radiation/chemo for her brain tumor. I just found out that she has been drinking less than a bottle of water a day for a week. Dad is trying to put off sending her to the hospital until after she sees her MD monday. He is incredibly stubborn. I expressed concern about how little she is eating earlier this week, & he blew me off. Today i find **this** out. I think Mom needs to go to the ER & get fluids. I don’t wanna call the cops. One brother out of touch (his choice) the rest of the family in Florida.How can I communicate with a stubborn old fool who pays less attention to what I say than he does to a barking dog? Posted at 12:30 AM local. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/2 "2007-02-16T06:56:00Z")
I don’t know how you can convince him, **Bosda** – but from what you’re saying, you have every right to be very concerned about your mother. Is there some way a doctor could see her at home? ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/3 "2007-02-16T07:05:06Z")
Is there any way you could go over there to stay for a few days so you can help make sure she is getting enough fluids? If your father won’t help her I would advise him that you will be speaking with your mother’s doctor about finding her a nursing facility or someplace where they can make sure she stays healthy. Don’t sit back and do nothing and let your mother die of dehydration because you want to avoid a scene with your dad. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/4 "2007-02-16T07:08:12Z")
Dad drank less than a bottle of water per day (couting coffees, which are supposed to be dehydrating) for 30 years, including his last three (three bouts of cancer but what finally got him was an aneurism). He had dry skin, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/5 "2007-02-16T08:21:36Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] He is incredibly stubborn. I expressed concern about how little she is eating earlier this week, & he blew me off. Today i find **this** out. I think Mom needs to go to the ER & get fluids. [/QUOTE] If you think your mother needs emergency care, go over there and pick her up and take her to the hospital. Don’t take “no” for an answer-- be more stubborn than he is. Let your dad bluster all he wants, but he’s not likely to try to physically restrain you from taking you rmother to the doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/6 "2007-02-16T11:35:16Z")
Is she supposed to be pushing extra fluids? Many people do fine on a small amount of fluids per day; they get a lot of water from their food. ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/7 "2007-02-16T12:54:51Z")
I myself drink _maybe_ a glass of water a day. Any more than that and it goes right through me. Seriously, I’ve tried. And a full glass of anything will fill me up as much as a proper meal. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/8 "2007-02-16T13:47:24Z")
**Bosda** , I drink less than that. One way you can check for dehydration is to lift up a pinch of skin. If it goes right back down, she should be okay at least until her visit Monday. But you might want to go with them or call the doctor and mention it, if you think neither of your parents will ask about it. Keeping my father eating was very difficult when he had cancer. He was on morphine, which I think supresses the appetite. And nothing tasted right. That was the worst part, watching him just wither away. {{{vibes}}} to you and your family. StG ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/9 "2007-02-16T14:47:02Z")
Fill the house with things that are tastier than water! There are many wonderful juicy fruit drinks all around. Maybe you know what her favorite drink is, make sure there’s lots of it on hand! Jello is your friend when you’re trying to get old people to take more liquids, it’s yummy, easy to make and makes a nice snack. Also juicy fruits about the house wouldn’t hurt either. I know it’s expensive and out of season but watermelon, yum, who doesn’t like that? They all count as liquids and are easy ways to get around the stubborn without putting anyone out. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/10 "2007-02-16T15:10:19Z")
I think Jello and fruit and all those juicy things count for liquid intake. I would not be freaking out, per se…just make sure liquid is coming from somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/11 "2007-02-16T20:49:34Z")
OK, she went to the hospital this AM, arround 10AM, & is doing much better. A big part of the problem was Mom’s doc & staff telling Dad she was “just fine”. I supposed that they are so used to the problem that they don’t grasp the patient’s family **isn’t**. Dad did one of his mercurial mood changes & backed this 100%. I’ve stopped shaking. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/12 "2007-02-16T20:59:31Z")
**Bosda** good for you for being worried. You’re a good son. Keep it up. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/13 "2007-02-18T12:10:33Z")
Visited Mom yesterday, in the hospital. I thought of all the times She took care of me, when I was sick… And I felt helpless now. Broke down & cried. As a side note, one of my brothers, Tommy, phoned & accused me of “not stepping up to the plate”. He’s blaming **me** for this. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/14 "2007-02-18T14:29:03Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Visited Mom yesterday, in the hospital. I thought of all the times She took care of me, when I was sick.. And I felt helpless now. Broke down & cried. As a side note, one of my brothers, Tommy, phoned & accused me of “not stepping up to the plate”. He’s blaming **me** for this. [/QUOTE] Your brother, pardon the expression, can bite my fat white ass, **Bosda**. You’re there and doin’ what you can. You know that, I know that, the entire Dope knows that. I’ll keep your mom, you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/15 "2007-02-18T14:49:24Z")
A lot of times, when in a stressful or sad situation, people lash out inappropriately as a way of venting their emotions. Don’t take what your brother said to heart. It’s definitley not your fault - or anyone else’s. All my best to you and your family. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/16 "2007-02-18T15:04:27Z")
I agree with **lavenderviolet** – but it’s never pleasant when such reactions happen. Hope all this gets sorted out soon for you and your family’s sake, **Bosda**. Best wishes to your mother and all of you. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/17 "2007-02-18T15:50:28Z")
I’m sorry to tell you this, **Bosda** , but you’re closely related to an ass. And yeah, doctors tend to forget that “fine for her condition” is not the same as “fine” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/18 "2007-02-18T20:01:38Z")
Were gonna push the water. Also, a major change in prescritions is likely gonna happen. Mom’s regular MD is on vacation, but he’ll be back Monday. As for Tommy, he’s been told to go stay at my brother Andy’s house, & that if he picks a fight in Dad’s house, or anywhere else, we’ll call the cops on him, & not bail him out, either. Dad means that, as Tommy has been in fistfights with both Andy & me, post-teen years. He is a belligerant jerk, and we all know it. BTW–gonna cut, paste & edit this to the SDMB. Thanks, HC! thine Bosda ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/19 "2007-02-19T12:38:56Z")
The hospital called at 6:30 AM. She’s got problems. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460/20 "2007-02-19T12:44:47Z")
☹ Hang in there, **Bosda.** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-worried-about-mom-less-than-a-bottle-of-water-per-day/392460.md?page=2)