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Original poster

MRSA how worried should I be?

25 replies

triplets · 23/06/2012 01:04

My 84 yr old mum is very ill in hospital. She has gangrene in her right foot, amputation is not an option as her aorta is blocked. He mrsa swabs they took on admission on Mon have come back positive, so they have moved her to a side room. How worried should I be?

OP posts:
sashh · 23/06/2012 02:52

More worried about the gangrene.

MRSA lives on skin and most people don't know they have it. It becomes a problem if it is introduced to a wound, then it gets nasty.

They have moved your mum to stop the MRSA getting into someone's wound. I'm assuming your mum is on a surgical ward. They may have also moved her as she is very ill, to make her more comfortable.

Original poster
triplets · 23/06/2012 05:38

Hi............cant sleep for worry. My mum is 84, she has gangrene in all her toes on her right foot. Her aorta is blocked and so they wont offer surgery. She does have a wound on the same leg as she fell at home 4 weeks ago and had to have stitches. I am feeling scared, poor mum, everything that could go wrong for her has. 8 weeks of mis management by diff depts inc the care home she was sent to for respite care. Thank you for your reply.

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gingeroots · 23/06/2012 11:06

Oh triplets I've been wondering how things were .

I am so so sorry .

I'm sure she's in the best place now ,and as far as I know ,I think the MRSA isn't too great a concern ,fairly common .

Please try and look after yourself and get any support you can .

Northernlurker · 23/06/2012 11:15

Many people have MRSA on their skin and with your mum's open wounds, her lack of mobility and the fact that she's been in and out of hospital and care homes - also full of people with wounds - the fact that she's swabbing positive for MRSA is not at all surprising. Did they find it in her wound or in her nose or throat? Being in a side room may be a good thing for her - at least she will get some peace in there and they can only move her to another sideroom so tbh she's much less likely to be subjected to the 'we need to move you to another bed Mrs X and yes we know it's 3 am....'

monkeymoma · 23/06/2012 11:17

if it was on admission its most likely to be nose and throat, you and I may well have it in our nose and throat and never know unless we get admitted to hospital and get swabbed, its more of an issue if it gets in the wound but some antibiotics do work on it, she'll prob end up with unpleasant thrush as a result but that can be treated too

Original poster
triplets · 23/06/2012 23:05

Thank you.............hello Ginger, you have been so kind to me in your posts. I have had a very sad afternoon with her, she is in alot of pain now, they are giving her morphine which is making her hallucinate, its so sad to watch her. Even when she goes to sleep though, she is frowning and reaching down to her horrible foot and trying to rub it. She seems to be slipping away, my brothers say its the drugs that are making her worse, but I just have a feeling. They were going to change the dressing on her leg after we had gone and swab that for MRSA ,they did find it in her nose. Its so cruel to watch someone you love end their life this way, poor poor Mum. x

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Northernlurker · 24/06/2012 01:08

Triplets - honestly I think your instinct is right and she is reaching the end of her life. That being so she might be more comfortable in a hospice bed. It might be worth you asking to speak to the nurse in charge and enquiring about the suitability of that.

sashh · 24/06/2012 07:50

I also think your instinct is right. I'm sorry to say if they won't / can't operate then it is probably for the best.

I hope they manage to get her pain under control. I will be thinking of you.

Original poster
triplets · 24/06/2012 07:52

Northern...............I had not thought of the possibility of that, she would be looked after there so much better wouldn`t she? Thank you, I will ask today. x

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Original poster
triplets · 24/06/2012 07:53

Hello we x`d post, thank you. I must have woken up a dozen times in the night and just say,"oh Mum". Such an awful end. x

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Northernlurker · 24/06/2012 10:36

There's time yet to try and get her comfortable. I think you're being very brave. Your support and your selfless care will mean a lot to your mum.

RandomMess · 24/06/2012 10:38

So sad to read your Mum's update I too would be asking about the possibility of a hospice place, it's more intimate and visiting is easier Sad

Northernlurker · 24/06/2012 10:44

this may have some useful information about hospice care.

gingeroots · 24/06/2012 10:58

triplets wish I could say something more helpful than how sorry I am that you and your mum are going through this .

You have so much to cope with supporting your DH and children as well .
You do know how important it is that you try and look after yourself ,at the minimum make sur you get some rest ( hopefully sleep ) and eat .
And take liquids to sip when visiting hospital - I always end up with a thumping headache after hospital visits and feel sure forgetting to drink is a factor .

Good luck with hospice enquiries - have you any siblings /friends who could help you persue this ?
Maybe your lovely practice nurse from your GP surgery ?

Original poster
triplets · 24/06/2012 23:15

Hi..........I dreaded goi ng to the hosp today, but what a surprise, she was wide awake and very much with it. She was though very agitated and snappy, with me, my brother and the staff. She refused the morphine twice, she said the pain she is feeling today she can manage and she hates the way the morphine makes her feel! She has eaten a little better and has had more fluids. Hopefully the team will be round in the morning, no-one has seen her since a 2 min visit last Frid! I hope tomorrow I find her the same. xx

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Northernlurker · 25/06/2012 23:32

Wow - well that sounds like a good visit, How was she today?

Reenypip · 26/06/2012 15:52

Hi,
MRSA is fairly common the skin. It's when it gets into wounds or blood that is when it's very serious.
I had a spine and foot operation then
I contracted MRSA and it got into my wounds and also my blood causing septacaemia, and I also caught C . Diff. at the same time.
I feel so lucky to be alive.
I've got multiple chronic health problems and have survived many life threatening illnesses which I feel so lucky and blessed. I'm nearly 26, this all happened in the last 5 years :-(

Reenypip · 26/06/2012 15:56

Make sure you rest, and see if other family/friends can take it in turn to visit.
If she is pain, let the nurses know, so they can make her as comfortable as possible. If she doesnt like morphine but is still in pain, there are other strong medications available like fentanyl.

I've just come out of hospital from more surgery.

Original poster
triplets · 26/06/2012 23:23

Hi Reeny, so sorry to hear your health problems, really hope things improve for you. Well y/day and today were much the same, she is still refusing the morphine but whatever they are giving her is making her sleepy and very confused. Y/dy we had a meeting with the social workers who were as frustrated as we were over the fact that the vascular team had not been down to see her, 4 days now. So we demanded to see them this morning, waste of time. They are saying she may as well come home as there is nothing they can do for her. We have everything she needs in place at home, but I am dreading it.She will be on her won from 7pm -8am 13 hours is a long night stuck in a bed you cannot get out of..watching your foot deteriorate. A living nightmare. x

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gingeroots · 27/06/2012 08:46

Oh why do some people ( Reeny ,Triplets and her mum spring to mind ) have such a rotten time Sad

I don't know what to say .....maybe she would be better at home ?
Maybe she'd be more comfortable ?

Can you ask your lovely practice nurse what she thinks ,or whether she thinks the hospital should be doing more ? And how she suggests you could get them to do it ?

One thing occurs to me - I eventually got the Tissue Viability Nurse ( community service ) to see my mum by self referring .
I hadn't realised you could and actually think the system allows self referral to a lot of professionals/services ,but ,understandably I suppose , doesn't advertise this .

It took me a bit of googling to find out where they were based but then I was lucky with admin staff .

Just think a TVN might be able to advise on care ...or maybe a podiatrist ?

Northernlurker · 27/06/2012 11:12

It may well be that there is nothing the vascular team can do but they still should have seen her and explained that to you. That's not good patient communication at all. One for PALS maybe?
If you don't feel you can manage with mum at home then say that to the ward staff and social worker. I think she needs a full end of life care package or admission to a facility that can provide that. You should not be expected to manage that all by yourself. It's not reasonable for a frightened and confused patient to be alone all night nor can you cover every minute. Did you ask about hospice care or do they feel that she is not yet at the point that is appropriate for?

noddyholder · 27/06/2012 11:13

I have had it twice once in a wound and the second a UTI It was treated both times succesfully and I have a compromised immunity and a heart condition so it is positive they have isolated her to treat. I hope she gets well soon x

PeanutButterCupCake · 27/06/2012 18:12

Hi sorry to hear about your DM Sad

Another option is a fentanyl patch at a low dose which slowly releases painkillers over 3 days and oramorph when she needs it. Start with the smallest dose and build it up according to how her pain and side effects are?

If she's in pain but the side effects are intolerable you could ask for a McMillan referal for advice on pain control.

Definitely ask for a district nurse referal for support and palliative care at home.

Original poster
triplets · 27/06/2012 22:45

Hello everyone, thank you all for your wise words. I sort of had a day away from my worries today. I do a voluntary morning at my trios ex primary school with the reception class, been doing it for three years now. I had promised them I would help on the school trip, and we had such a lovely day, took them by coach to Hythe, then on the miniature railway to Dymchurch where we were met by the local fireman! Went to their station and had our pic-nic lunch there, shown around etc. Back to the beach, miles of sand and a lolly! Then back on the train and then coach back to school. It was hot and sticky and great fun! Got home at 3.45pm feeling good and saw an answer phone message. The hospital had phoned me at 1pm, though they didnt try me on my mobile!. It was from the ward sister, she is Indian and tbh I couldnt understand what she was saying, something about my mum had had an "episode" this morning. I phoned and she explained that they were unable to wake her this morning, she was breathing but in a very deep sleep. They called the doctors down to her, they couldnt wake her. They did basic checks and took some blood, all normal. An hour later she came round herself, very confused and has been so all day. My brother went to see her and he said she kept saying that I was there, she could hear my voice and ept calling out my name:( They have asked for us to go over early tomorrow to speak to Social Services and the doctors again. I am so confused as to what is going on. Another awful thing happened today to my other brother. He is the manager at Dover train station, as he was finishing work at 2pm a passenger collapsed and Barry tried to resuscitate him before the ambulance arrived but sadly he died.He was shocked and very upset when I spoke to him as it brought back memories of the morning my son collapsed and died:( Oh...we are having such a horrible time and I dont know how its going to end at the moment.

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gingeroots · 28/06/2012 08:56

triplets - how awful .

Was really enjoying your school trip description - as a child Dymchurch was one of our holiday destinations .
The news about your mum ( and your brother ) must have come as even more of a shock after a brief respite like that .

Thinking of you today .

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