Elderly person - vomiting and now shortness of breath

[ifonly4]

We found out a couple of weeks ago MIL was having problems keeping food down - apparently sometimes she was being sick and other times didn't fancy food. She's been to the Doctor, has a scan tomorrow and results this week. DH called in on her a couple of days ogo and she was breathless and finding it hard to do a household job, quite chatty though. Apparently she hasn't had any Complan today, she can't have it tonight with scan, so she'll have gone all day without anything.

DH is trying to convince himself it part of an elderly body slowly struggling to operate normally and she has months/years. I myself have alarms bells, sickness, no appetite, weight loss and now shortness of breath (she hasn't had a cold/similar). I know symptoms can be different for everyone, but I have a relation with lung cancer and his symptoms aren't the same.

Honest opinions, what do you think could be wrong? I'm not hopeful myself - it's not just a case of sickness and going off food so a tummy problem, something has brought on shortness of breath quick.

I think that this is one of those hope for the best but prepare for the worst situations. There is really no point in you and your DH making yourselves more anxious than you already are by speculating on possibilities when the scan is about to happen anyway. But mentally prepare yourselves that you might have to go and see her or help out in some way. Whatever diagnosis the scan brings she is obviously not in the best of health at the moment. Does she live alone or with somebody else there?

I wish your MIL all the best.

DH appears to be oblivious to what's happening unless he's trying to protect me as I have a friend and relation with cancer, also a sick cat.
We've had very little time as a family over the last couple of years, things are easing and we've scrimped and saved during this time for a holiday abroad next month, so he's probably in denial this could fall flat. DD is about to leave home at a young(ish) age for a fantastic opportunity, so that;s something else to face.

I agree I think it's a case of preparing for the worst, she is going down hill a lot faster than my friend and relation who have cancer. I'm sat here feeling tearful over this, but I'm always one for over talking things so trying not to go on too much as it's my DH's mother.

She does live alone. One good point is that she has a relation in the road who wouldn't desert her. DH works long hours but as of last week he's a bit more free so could pop in on way or work - 7am or mid evening to check as well and if he had a call his work are fairly good about family issues to help. There are other close family, like every family some can do more than others. I'd say the fact she hasn't had anything today should be brought up at the scan especially as her doctor thought she was dehydrated, if they are concerned, there may be a chance they'd admit her.

OP, you've obviously got a lot going on for yourself and it sounds like your being realistic over MIL, maybe your DH doesn't want to admit what must be going on in his mind.

I wondered about the diaphragm and just looked up that with sickness/shortness of breath and found the wording, anything that causes a buildup of air or foodstuffs could cause both bloating and shortness of breath. As the sickness started first, maybe something in the stomach area. It could be a case of the system not working so well with old age, but obviously cancer does spring to mind.

They're not doctors, but if the people doing the scan aren't happy with MIL, I wonder if they'd keep her in for monitoring.