DM is 82 and in full time care with advanced Alzheimer's dementia. She's been declining slowly since the new year when she went into a private care home, with failing mobility, increasing frailty and constant falls.
Last night she lapsed into unconsciousness with shallow breathing, and was rushed to hospital to find that she was septic, with a "significant" UTI. She had almost finished a course of antibiotics at the home but her blood sugars were through the roof - turned out she was in retention and when the hospital catheterised her, pus poured out according to the doctor. Her chest x-ray was clear but she was so sick they warned that she might not last the night...but she did, and when I called this morning she was awake and had taken a little food. I chatted with the doctor who was so kind and helpful, I gave her some history, and she was cautiously optimistic that DM can get through this - with repeated warnings of course that she is weak and frail, and things can change rapidly. There is a DNR, and if DM deteriorates she won't go to critical care and won't be ventilated. I said DM and the family were fine with that, we discussed it all years ago.
Her oxygen sats are low and she has been tested for Covid19, but we won't have the results until tomorrow. They told me to call for an update this afternoon, so I did - but the phone was handed to someone who said she wasn't a nurse. This person said DM was "ok", had been "sitting in the chair" so she was a bit tired, and that I could speak to her. She passed the phone over and all I could hear was mum moaning, crying, saying "they're hurting me" and unable to speak properly. I tried to soothe her, told her she was ill but would get out soon, she just has to grin and bear it. She said my name, and I told her to just rest her eyes and sleep through everything.
Eventually someone took the phone from her and I asked to speak to the doctor for a proper update on her condition (is she responding to ab's, how's her oxygen, how's her temp, how's her kidney function, why is she slurring her words etc). She found the same doctor that I spoke to this morning, who told me very impatiently that there was no change since this morning (OK, but SHE told me to call again). I asked why she couldn't speak and she said patronisingly that "elderly folk do get confused when they're as unwell as she is." I said she's confused because she has advanced Alzheimer's, and that didn't explain why she couldn't speak. The doctor simply said. "Yes."
So I don't actually know how she is at all, just that she is "not a well lady" - so why did the nurses make her sit up in a chair then? Why can't she stay asleep absorbing IV ab's, insulin and glucose in peace, since she was septic less than 24 hours ago?
I just feel utterly distraught, normally I would be there holding her hand and speaking for her. I can't do anything, if she dies the last time I spoke to her will be when she was sick and frightened and I wasn't even with her.