Age 80 and not eaten in six days

[Suzi888]

Any bugs going around?

DM is 80, aside from arthritis her health is ok. Not on any medication.
For six days now she hasn’t eaten, has no appetite, managing to drink water, is sound of mind. Generally feels tired/exhausted, doesn’t feel like eating, feels a bit sick but not been sick. Had a bit of ear ache in the lead up (suffers from terrible ear infections, bleeding ears, abscesses etc and always has due to syringing etc from childhood).
Will not see a G.P. Getting a bit worried now as whatever it is, isn’t getting any better.

She had something similar two years ago, but didn’t last so long. Any idea what could be going on

Yeah she needs to see a doctor. Can you ring her GP and ask for advice?

Needs to see a doctor.

When my 80+ DM is unwell she generally comes out with stuff like she won't see a doctor - after she has got better she acknowledges it was a bad decision and part of the illness.

Sometimes I have had to be VERY firm - when my DM is well she is perfectly well but when she is ill she is very very ill and the decision making ability can be crazy.

She needs to see her GP

Has she had a covid test too? Lack of appetite, tiredness all part if the picture .

She will hit the roof, I can speak to her I suppose but it won’t be popular. Last time she had this I did call the G.P and they didn’t actually do anything. Just wanted to send a nurse to check on her and she refused. She then got better a few days later.
I’ll have to speak to her, was hoping it was just a bug.

Please do call and even speak to a nurse if you can. It's also worth asking about meal replacement drinks if you mum can't tolerate food just now.

Yes we tested. No covid. I had a fluey type illness a few days ago and didn’t test positive, but felt awful.

She’s worried she could be dying and her body is shutting down and wishes it would just hurry up. She will refuse hospital and I’m nervous that’s what could happen, go on a drip etc.

Then apart from getting her to see a GP, you need an end of life conversation.
Not saying that se is dying just now! But if this is something she is worried about or think is happening/should happen soon, if she has specific requests etc… there is a discussion to have so her wishes are respected.

((Hugs))
This is nit an easy conversation to have.

I think it’s because she just can’t eat @WhyIsEverythingSoHard
no appetite. Certainly doesn’t want to die, she’s very outgoing despite all her illnesses.
I’m going over this morning so I’ll see how she is and she will have to agree to see the doctor- just hope they’ll come out, as no way I’ll be able to get her to the surgery. She says she feels awful but imagine she would do without food. I’m worried how long she will remain strong.
Her end of life conversation is that she wants to go in her sleep, no treatment and is not going to hospital or a nursing home.
Thanks all for advice.

Are her symptoms similar to the illness you had a few days ago?

Did you do a LFT or PCR?

Yes we’ve done lateral flows - no covid.
It did start off as a flu/cold type illness yes. She has said her urine is orange and she has backache-she only told me this today.

The doctor is coming around noon.

Often it's a UTI, fingers crossed it's an easy fix.

When my nan didn't want to eat anything, we got her to eat muller rice pots and custard pots. Wasn't much, but at least she was getting something in her - and wasn't as daunting as the thought of a full meal. Qnd she had some meal replacement drinks. She may be de hydrated or have a uti - if so, then her thought process can be affected by those. Hopefully the gp will be able to help.

That sounds like a UTI.

With flu like symptoms I would have gone for a PCR rather than LFT

Not saying your mother is end of life , but when mine was her last few days all she ate was crushed pineapple ( from a tin ) and slightly melted ice cream , she loved it .

Well the G.P has been and said it’s a chest infection, so she will be getting a prescription for antibiotics to clear the infection and he said they’ll cover any UTI’s She ate a few spoonfuls of cornflakes and is drinking water fine. If she’s still not well in five days she will need a chest X-ray.
She really wants to eat, she’s hungry but once she gets the food she just can’t seem to eat it as feels sick.

Fingers crossed the tablets work- thanks all for the advice. G.P said it’s a bit nondescript but infections can cause lack of appetite. She also has low oxygen levels and she coughed a fair bit today but he didn’t give her a pump. DM is a bit 😕 about the infection part- but we shall see!

@Sunnyday321 I’m sorry about your mum .

@Suzi888
Thank you for your post about my Mum.
Glad the Dr has been out and she has eaten something.