Mum is poorly - stress or sick?

[IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere]

Nine months ago DH and I went away for a few days and in the days before we left mum started to feel ill, by the time we came home she was vomiting, diarrhoea, not eating and by the end of the week she was rushed to hospital with a perforated ulcer.

On Sunday my son had a bump in his car. I didn't tell her about it until I had had a long chat with him, about all sorts of stuff and I told her he was fine, the car was a write off but no one was hurt etc.

Next morning she told me she had had a terrible night, hadn't slept, felt rough and so I told her to stay in bed - she has tv, drinks, biscuits, everything she needs and ensuite toilet.

Tuesday she got up as normal.

Yesterday she started with diarrhoea so she stayed in bed all day, didn't eat much but was up with it through the night.

Today she seems to have no control whatsoever, I have changed the sheets three times, scrubbed the floor twice, have got everything she has worn in the machine on a boil wash, having washed her and put puppy pads on the bed to save the sheets.

I thought she might have been upset about my son but I have shown her his courtesy car, told her he is driving again and really positive about buying a new car but I am going away next week for two nights and I can't help wondering if this is her body's way of coping with the stress.

I can't let her go on like this can I? I have to call the doctor if she is still like this in the morning don't I?

Sick, I'd have thought. You'll be close to 48 hours tomorrow morning - yes, I think you should call the doctor. Or 111.

Worry about dehydration, make sure she is taking sips of water, or sips of water into which you've put a bit of sugar and a tiny bit of salt.

If it's that uncontrollable would she wear the tena version of pull ups? That's what they have my mum in in the nursing home, she wears a large and is a 12/14 dress size.

oh she definitely needs to see a doctor.

is there any way 111 can arrange some kind of visit?

Sorry folks - I didn't realise anyone had replied.

Her mobility is so poor that even going from her bed to her ensuite she had accidents on Thursday but was better yesterday and got up in the evening to have dinner.

She was fine most of today but started again with the diarrhoea this evening so persuaded her to go to bed although she is quite grumpy about it!

She wears Tena pads but not the knickers. I'm not sure if washing her in her tiny ensuite toilet would be possible and there is no way she can get into the proper shower. I think it might be easier to stick down puppy pads and chuck them in the bin rather than try to wash her when she can't even stand up.

I am at my wits end with her tonight. I have been with her all day. Husband and daughter have gone out and I decided not to go because the practicalities of cooking her meal before going out and then coming back and spending half an hour to put her to bed before going home seemed overwhelming. However as she is in bed I came home to make myself something to eat and she keeps phoning me asking me what she is meant to be doing - staying in bed - and saying that she will get up if I come back. Which I don't want her to do.

She is eating and drinking - drinking particularly well although I have stopped giving her her water tablets because I was worried about dehydration.

She isn't vomiting at all, and no pain, just terrible diarrhoea.

It is just like parenting an articulate toddler!

So she’s not seen a doctor?

She might have a bug that needs treating.

I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this. I think the short term is to see if you can get a home visit and after that you need to tell her she’s got to accept carers.

Has she had Imodium or anything like that?

I had decided I was calling the doctor yesterday morning but she slept all night, was eating as well as could be expected - she has a very poor appetite at the best of times - and was really good in herself.

She got out of bed last night and had some chicken and chips and was right as rain.

This morning she was still good but this afternoon it started again.

I haven't wanted to give her Imodium because I don't know if it is safe with everything else she is taking. Our surgery is very good so if she is not 100% on Monday I will phone them and ask them to send someone out although I don't relish collecting a stool sample!

Previously when she has had d & v she has just wanted to lie down in a darkened room with no tv, no papers or anything. At the moment though she is fine in herself other than the diarrhoea.

Your local pharmacy might be able to advise re Imodium and other meds.

Hope tomorrow is better for you both

I think I will go down that route tomorrow if there is any indication of further upset. I am going to google now.