I've noticed things that cause Mama to be Worse on certain days. For two days, she was doing very good. She was coherent, talkative, seemed to have a little strength for walking, and said she was feeling better than she had in a long time.
Mama does better when she:
Eats - She was eating a lot more for those three days, one day prior and the two days following in which she felt better. She ate about twice what she usually eats.
Walking - She was walking more which seemed to strengthen her some as long as she didn't overdo it.
But that night, she said she had a Sore throat, and the following day she was incoherent again, barely stayed awake during the day, said her feet hurt and throat hurt, and ate practically nothing.
I checked her feet. They were swollen a little bit so I upped her water pills. Swelling is something I have to watch carefully for because it indicates congestive heart failure and will decline her health very fast. I immediately put her on double water pills and bought some throat spray at the store.
Mama does much worse when she:
Doesn't Eat - And some days she eats little to nothing at all.
Swells - Any swelling at all causes her to be incoherent and her feet and legs to hurt.
Is ill - If she catches anything at all, cold or flu or virus or pneumonia, it's enough to run her down so low and so fast that it could be her end.
Mama is much worse today so I'm trying to stabilize her swelling and reduce it quickly, and treat the sore throat. If other cold symptoms appear, I will get Zicam and dose her with it and add antibiotics to regime.
I very mad at a friend of my dads, because he came over while he was nursing a cold. I'm sure that's where she picked up the sore throat. I tell them to stay away if they are sick at all, but no one listens. I tell them don't touch her, kiss her or hug her when you say hello or goodbye, but they don't listen. I tell them a simple cold can kill her and flu certainly will, but they don't care. I guess I'm the only one who cares.
This post first appeared on Mama Died, Dad's Dementia + A Grandchild, please read the originial post: here
