82 year old dad not eaten since Monday any GP's about please?

[DumpedByText]

My dad is 82 and usually in good health and mobile. On Monday he had chronic diarrhea for 24 hours, and was very weak. He took to his bed and has more or less been there since. He's sitting on sofa occasionally.

He hasn't eaten at all, he is drinking well and also drinking lucozade sport (pharmacy suggested this to me).

He is saying he's thirsty, has a dry mouth all the time and going to loo for wees a lot, which is a struggle to get there.

He lives alone, and said someone had been in the house talking to him. This is impossible, as all doors were locked when I called, and I have a key. He seems confused and is very wobbly on his feet.

He will not let me call his GP, he will fall out with me if I go against his wishes.

Do we ride it out as a tummy bug or could it be more serious.

He is adamant it's from mustard on a beef sandwich! He's also stubborn will not let me take it further. I work full time so have called everyday but can't stay with him.

Just bumping this for you.

I’m not in the least bit medical, but it sounds similar to the time my DF had a urine infection I think he needs to see a Dr. DF was talking absolute gibberish, but was back to normal pretty soon after taking medication.

UTIs can cause confusion especially in older people and if he’s visiting the loo a lot it suggests that might be the case.

Would he tolerate you calling 111 for advice?

I'm not a doctor but I've been through similar with my Dad.

I rang 111 and they sent a GP out to the house - this was in 2022

Yes UTIs can make them confused, used to happen with my gran. She usually needed antibiotics to sort her out.

Yep you need to get someone to see him. Sounds possibly like a UTI, but he really needs to be seen.

The confusion and unsteadiness would bother me more than the lack of eating. It could be an infection of some kind, often older people are more affected by things like UTIs and it can cause a drop in mental acuity.

I think it would be worth contacting 111 to get advise on whether a doctors appointment is needed and whether there's anyway to arrange this without his permission.

In the meantime if he's willing to drink would he have any shakes like Ensure or even Slimfast would get some calories in. One shake is around 250 calories, they don't always taste great but you can get meal replacement or protein shakes in latte flavour and they can be heated in the microwave which makes them more palatable.

Not a doctor but a health professional.
It definitely sounds like an infection and with kindness I don't think you should worry about going against his wishes. He needs to be reviewed as a a matter of urgency.
Deal with the fallout once he's on the mend.

I would be falling out with him. I was recently very unwell, almost hospitalised and couldn’t eat for 2 days and was struggling to keep water down for just over a day. You can deteriorate very quickly. Dr said 12 more hours and you will be admitted no liquids you will have to go in. Ring 111 for advice.

If he's confused, wobbly, fluid balance is all over the shop and you don't actually know what the diagnosis is then yes, he clearly needs real life input from an HCP.

What on earth could a GP say from a distance on MN? Go round to see him, he'll probably need an ambulacne from how you have described it

I'd try him on diarolyte in this instance, it's more isotonic than lucozade sport and will help rehydrate him properly (he needs to rebalance electrolyte levels).

Try & get him eating little & often if you can. Potato, crisps, nursery-style food, anything easy to digest.

Is he still having loose stools? If so get him on immodium.

Continue keeping a close eye and if he deteriorates call for medical assistance.

Would he agree to a GP appt video call? There’s some private GP’s online that you can get an appt within 30 mins, I did it for my grandmother, it was about £50. They prescribed antibiotics, emailed me the prescription and I’d collected it at local pharmacy within 20 mins.

100% need a fave to face physical assessment by Gipson/medic.
Sounds like he's dehydrated despite his efforts and a bit delirious if seeing things and could get more poorly quickly.
Given it's the weekend, no time to waste.

Sorry, not a GP, just have elderly parent. There's something called delirium which sets in with a UTI. If it's a UTI the infection should clear up in a few days with the right antibiotic, but the delirium can take weeks to clear and he'll need extra support with the confusion until then.

To get the right antibiotics (or indeed any at all), you usually need to take a urine sample to the GP.

If he's not getting much warning before he needs to go, you need to be set up and ready. A plastic mixing bowl already wedged in the toilet bowl has worked for us to collect the urine. Then pop it in a small clean jar or tuppwerware to take to the surgery. Do this as early as possible in the morning - they'll normally dip-stick it and if infected, send to the lab for further analysis the same day.

For a meal replacement drink, we use Fortisip (Boots, Amazon etc). Small supermarket puddings like Creme Caramel also seem to help when no appetite. To encourage more fluid consumption we give water or squash in a glass with a soft silicone straw (Joie brand or similar). A lot more goes down than just sipping.

If you can't get him to the GP, maybe phone them and ask if District Nurse might call?

MN is obsessed with UTIs in older folks, and while they are common, it's very far from clear that that's the problem here. This gent needs to be assessed in real life by an HCP who can think of other diagnoses beyond UTIs, consider his fluid balance and his safety at home alone given the confusion/apparent lack of support.

Can you get to him after work and call 111 from his @DumpedByText ? If he's been unwell since Monday and is now hearing things that aren't there he needs to be seen soon.

I've been to see him everyday, I've been today and he did seem improved. I'll speak to him again about his GP.

He no longer has loose stools thankfully.

Don't worry about him falling out with you if you think he needs medical attention. Ring 111 and get advice. Would he have complan or other meal replacement type drinks?

Many people at his age have had enough, and make the choice.

There is a nasty tummy bug doing the rounds I had it I am 67 started on Saturday only now am I beginning to feel better but still tired. The dry mouth and thirst was dreadful. I have got some yukult drinks to help.

Sounds like my dad. Weve had a rough week.
Water work issues, didn't want me phoning a dr as it was in his opinion 'a waste of time as I'm fine' but when he started taking nonsense and not making sense I rang them.
My dad is 84 and normally OK so I knew something was wrong when he started rambling.

You fall out with him.

I had to have a massive slanging match once with my elderly DM to get her to see a doctor. She was v sheepish and apologetic afterwards as it turned out to urgently need treatment and be easily fixable.

we had to go over my dad's head last year because of his bloody stubbornness and phone the Dr for him. he had a multi infection going on. yes he was annoyed but he really was ill, I'd maybe give your dad the weekend and say you will phone on Monday

Oh definitely fall out with him!
I was working for the ambulance service when my dad rang me and said my mum was unwell and refusing the GP
I sent an ambulance dad let them in then vanished before she started yelling
She had meningitis and was still cross at me