Back to the Doctor

[yaka]

Hi,

The symptoms keep compounding. Today my mom told me she has sores on her legs. I think the cellulitis has popped up in a different place. She still has sores in her mouth and pain in her neck and upper back. She is seeing the doctor again this pm. I guess he will put her back on antibiotics.

I hope it is oral for her sake. She really doesn't want to be in the hospital. She pulled it together to come to my house for Thanksgiving, but I wonder how long her strength is going to last. She sounded so fed up today.

Yaka

[yaka]

The doctor said that he doesn't know what it is that she haves. He gave her an infusion of platelets.

What could it be?

Yaka

[bebop]

can you tell us what the sores look like hon? are they dark red? or white?

[yaka]

The sores look like blood under the skin.

She was admitted back to the hospital today. She has pain in her upper back and neck. Also now her feet have swelled (edema?) and her ankles hurt (achilles tendon??) on both legs. She can barely walk.

She asked to be admitted by to the hospital and then she will probably go to a nursing home because my dad cannot care for her. They don't want help in the home. They have a small 2 bedroom apartment and they don't think that is the best way to go.

I am sick with worry and I don't know who to turn to. It seems no one at the hospital where she goes is a specialist in MDS. They seem confused.

On the bright side, she has no fever or dizziness. Also, her appetite is good.

Any insights that anyone can give is so helpful.

It is very lonely out here.

Yaka

[bebop]

those are blood blisters just under the skin but please keep a watch on them. they can bleed and you don't want her to bleed if at all possible. I am so sorry you are going thru this hon. I doubt the swelling has anything to do with the achilles tendon though. I don't want to scare you but alot of times it is poor circulation or congestive heart failure. she may need some lasix to get rid of that. a mild dose.

[yaka]

So since checking in at the hospital they have give my mom and EKG and a shot of neutrophil in her stomach. That is to raise her WBC, right? Will the EKG show congestive heart failure? They haven't given her anything yet. Why don't they know that her ankles are swelling because of congestive heart failure?

What stops it? If anything?

Yaka

[AngieA]

My husband has had alot of swelling in his lower extremities. Extremely low sodium can be a culprit. They have him on a liquid restriction diet and it has helped tremendously and he's been eating what salt he wants, like roasted cashews and almonds. I put compression stockings on him for a couple hours a day which also helps with the swelling. So the swelling can be something other than congestive heart failure.....

I found this quote recently and forgot to write down who said it, but I've printed it off and have a copy of it on my fridge at home and one on my computer at work....helps me to enjoy what time I have now with him

"Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy." Maybe it will help your stress too

[yaka]

I was thinking that it was too much sodium in her diet. She is eating whatever she wants. She is on the neutropenia floor in the hospital, so no fresh fruit or vegetables.

I have a button that says Don't Postpone Joy. Hard to do right now.

Thanks for your words.

Yaka

[Chirley]

Hi, I think there can be many causes for swelling of the legs. Perhaps the circulation to her legs is poor and it might even be the cause of the sores on her legs. Maybe it's the other way around, maybe the sores on her legs is causing the swelling.

I had swollen legs earlier this year. I was told that it was due to a combination of hypotension, low protein and steroids. I was given some intravenous albumin, had my steroids reduced and was told to keep my legs elevated. It eventually went away. ( I also wore compression stockings).

I know that swollen legs is a symptom of heart failure but oddly enough when my Mum recently had heart failure (and kidney failure) she became swollen on her face and hands but not her legs.

Regards

Chirley

[yaka]

Good morning,

Another day, and another diagnosis. The doctors told my mother the cause of her pain in her neck and ankles is arthritis. Does this come about so quickly? She never had arthritis before. She is getting PT and they are showing her how to walk with a walker.

She sounds so down and disgusted. I don't know how to boost her spirits.

Yaka