Hey all...
My Mom was dx. with MM about 3 yrs. ago. Has been on/off chemo. (Rev., Dex.), basically just surviving. Over last 6 months, has been in and out of the hosp. w/a multitude of issues (broken ankle, confusion/psychosis d/t poorly managed meds., pneumonia, bacterial infection, acute renal failure, the list goes on.). Most recent hospitalization was 3 wks. ago w/pneumonia, extremely low BP. Was released to her assisted living fac., then returned a week later w/very low pressure- pressure dropping d/t med. passers do not take vitals and continued to give her BP meds.- causing BP to go even lower, as well as dx. of acute renal failure.
She has some dementia (she's only 72), partially related- I believe, to a long hx. of substance abuse. But now her protein levels are up, ALOT of confusion. In the past, she would "snap out of it", but now she isn't. My sister (who's an RN) believes this cont. confusion is d/t sleep deprivation from being in the hosp. She's use to about 10 hrs. a day.
I guess I'm asking......have any of you had experience with this type of pattern w/MM. Is this pattern what it looks like at "the end"?? I'm really scared, anxiety ridden about this most recent decline. She lives in FL w/my 3 sisters, but I'm up in WI and feel helpless. I want to go down and help, see my Mom, but not sure what to do.
Any advice, info. would be greatly appreciated.
chris