For those who don't know, Mom was admitted to the hospital monday through the ER. Technically, it was for "altered mental status." This is the third time in less than a year. Aft this point, she didn't even make it four months before being hospitalized again.
Lab tests showed her potassium level around 2.8, which is low enough for a heart attack. They also found that she had applied two fentanyl patches, which could have killed her. Her GI believes (and I agree) that her xanax triggers HE episodes and exacerbates her liver condition.
They gave her potassium and monitored her meds, making sure she takes her kristalose. Her potassium level is back to normal and she is *mostly* back to herself. That means her ammonia level is coming back down, but we've observed that her xanax causes her to become groggy, then seriously grouchy and straight up hostile. She was back to her pleasant self today, but after her xanax nap, she started getting angry at me and threatening again. It was also sundown, and I think sundowner's does play a role.
The doctor plans on releasing Mom tomorrow, as long as her labs are normal. We're trying to work with a social worker. I'm demanding medication management and money management (if she won't let me do it, *someone* has to protect her. Otherwise, we're just going to come back after she takes too many pills or puts on too many patches again. This cycle will repeat until her luck runs out. I don't know how much longer every doctor, social worker, physiologist, insurance home health care aid, etc, can pass the buck and expect this woman to survive. I'm so tired of this crap I can't see straight.
Hoping for a brighter tomorrow!
No comments:
Post a Comment