I'm worried. My mom usually gets pretty bad UTIs, so bad that she needs to be hospitalized. I've tried my best to keep her from having one for months, but I think she has one and she has developed her usual confusion that she gets when it's bad.
I'm just so worried about sending her to the hospital during Covid. Like my anxiety is through the roof. I don't want her to catch it there. Has anyone had to send their loved one to the ER? What was it like? Did they catch Corona?
I've been running through options in my head. Her nurse is on her way here, so I'll ask her and her doctor before I send her to the ER, but... I've been through this SO MANY TIMES, that I think it's the only option.
I work in an ER & the likelihood of your Mom catching Covid 19 from taking her there is pretty slim, do to the sterilization/cleaning techniques we’re implementing since this virus has come about. I would be more concerned about the UTI spreading into her kidneys & her cognitive issues because of it. Don’t they have an Overseeing Physician who makes monthly rounds for the patients there? They could send a “clean catch” Urine Sample to the lab & evaluate it for infection & blood, so the Staff Physician could call in an Rx, without having to take her anywhere. Good Luck in dealing with this.
Sincerely,
BTDT (Been There, Done That!)
I saw my mom again, in person, a month later.
I could not accompany him.
I was quite pleased with how the visit went.
I am proud of my little community hospital here in Maryland and their ability to provide care. We have a low Covid rate here.
Now I certainly do understand that in your mother's case, it may be too late for those suggestions if she already has a U.T.I.
I have suspected a few UTIs in myself, and managed to get through it without medications. Elders, esp those with dementia, will need Rx, but the fluids do help flush the infection too.
She also gets Mac Degeneration treatments 4x/year. The place is a long drive (not a lot of places do these, and it was in the area we had lived for years, but move to MC made it a long trip!) and requires we transport. The medical facility delayed her visit one month (April -> May) and then instituted strict protocols to enable them to continue necessary treatments.
For OP (or anyone else in similar situation), you are aware that she has UTIs often. I would recommend you purchase some OTC UTI test kits and check her on a regular basis - don't wait for the tell-tale signs, as it would already be running in her system. Also, those "signs" can change over time. Mom's first UTI after moving to MC resulted in severe sun-downing (she'd never had those before.) The next 2 showed up as night time bed wetting.
If you test her, maybe once/week or every other week, you could catch these sooner. Most likely she would need to have a real urine test done (culture is best) before Rx, but if doc is good/responsive, he could order Rx after you get positive test and also order a sample to test (hopefully they get sample before you start the meds!) This way the UTI would not get out of control and require a hospital or even ER visit/stay.
Even better would be to have her on a longer course of medication. One urologist told me that if UTIs were frequent, it would need maybe a 3-6 month course of antibiotics (in either case, be sure to include some good "biotics" in her food as antibiotics can mess up the digestive system!)
So, ask doc if you can do these regular test and get quick response if you detect a UTI. Best to nip it early and avoid the need for ER or hospital stay altogether, with or without worries about the virus! You don't mention dementia, but if she has this, the back and forth to ER/hospital can wreak havoc as well!
My dad fell, so I really had no choice. But good experience for what it was. Luckily, no broken bones at 95 and I got respite.
Dad is now in nursing home for rehab, but possibly long term. We are working on him coming home & staying there. Lots to consider on either end of the equation.
Do not let it wait. UTI infections can travel to other organs such as bladder.
She had am episode that I knew would need medical care to correct and I know how you feel. I was horrified. Of all the awful timing, right in middle of a pandemic. :0( very frightening. More so for me, I think, than mom.
I was allowed to be with her, both of us with masks on, in E.R. but then they had to take her mask off, to put hose through nose, and down into gut to ciphen-off yucky stuff that was not going through, due to the blockage. I was in despair. I do all our errands and everything for us, out in the public. I only go when it's, completely necessary, and always wear a mask. When I come home, always sanitizer in car before entering home again and again inside house, before touching anything inside. Anyway, very careful and cautious, but at E.R. all my efforts went right out the window when moms mask was removed. I cried behind my own mask and prayed a lot when she was finally admitted and taken to third floor for 4 days. They let me come yuko send get her settled in, which wad more than I expected them to do. But then I was asked to leave.
Itwas scary and hard to do add my mom suffers with memory troubles and dementia. I am always by her side to get her anything she wants or needs, but head to leave her with them.
Theywere ALL very professional and safe with her care and in constant contact with me, regarding her status those 4 days.
It'sfrightening but I can tell you, at some point, all you can do is your very best, then turn the rest over to
Papa-God. Nothing takes Him by surprise. :0)
I felt guilty leaving her there, but I also had an English/Comp II term paper due... so the time to laser-focus on something other than my precious mom was needed and appreciated.
My thoughts are so with you.
God be with you friend. Hugs.
Kk