Sqad Are You Around Please? My Mother In Law Is 88 And Had Alzheimers. My Brother In Law

[lilacben]

lives with her and she was given some tablets for her badly swollen ankles. Frusemide I should think she had. Anyway when we went to visit this weekend I was really worried as her ankles looked like tree trunks.! So mentoned it and was told when she was having the tablets she kept peeping everywhere ( my BIL exact words.) so he stopped them. I told him he was wrong to do that as she looked like she needed them. Can you please tell me how dangerous it can be for her not to take them.? Many thanks Brenda x

[Sqad]

"peeping" is peeing I assume.......

She is 88 years old with Altzheimers.........swollen ankles for which the diuretics made her "pee" all over the place and your BIL stopped them.

That seems reasonable to me in the above situation.
How dangerous is it? You mean will that shorten her life? I don't know and at a guess it would be weeks rather than years. Myself, I wouldn't push the issue.

[lilacben]

Many thanks to you. Yes typo error put in too many p's.! lol
She does get awful pains in her legs that is why I was worried.
again thankyou. Brenda x

[Sqad]

Pleasure.

[lcg]

i'm a nurse, and have cared for/treated dementia patients - his response is basically the same as mine. good luck with things x

[lilacben]

Icg many thanks. I just hope I do not go down that road.......ever.! Brendax

[woofgang]

The only reason for not doing as other have advised would be if the ensuing breathlessness is distressing to her. Does your bro in law get any community support?

[anneasquith]

only my opinion, but id say it could be dangerous to stop diuretics.

[woofgang]

Anne, only my opinion, but the lady is in such a state and age that her general life quality is more important than the length of it if you get my meaning......

[anneasquith]

i see your point. but going into CCF would be awful for her, surely it should be a medical decision re discontinuing the diuretics.

[murraymints]

My FIL whom I cared for was catheterised ....was doubly incontinent so it halved the problem ...a possibility....??

[society]

Give the poorly lady the diuretics and let her wear adult diapers. I could just imagine how painful and uncomfortable those painful ankles/legs must be.

[josaphine32]

murray, Alzheimers patients tend to pull them out causing water infections making th situation worse, Surely she has carers in to look after her, Can they not pad her up and take the forusemide. just a thought.

[murraymints]

My FIL was advanced Alzheimer's and
Cancer sufferer...he eventually after a couple of weeks accepted it..

[josaphine32]

Sorry for you murry, not not a nice situation to be in, x

[murraymints]

Jo...you do what you have to do in the circumstances ....if you love someone enough nothing is too much trouble ..

[Nibble]

Hi mm, hope your ok ;), feel very sorry for brenda in her current circumstances, but as you say we do what we can for those we love.

[murraymints]

I'm fine nibble thanks xxx it was an honour to care for FIL..a lovely old gent, we were very close...he wouldn't let anyone else care for him intimately ...

[Nibble]

That's great, minty, stay strong. Catch up soon. Sorry for digressing, Brenda ☻

[Carakeel]

Surely, the fact that this lady is in pain with badly swollen ankles is something that needs serious consideration. Far better to sort the pain out and let her wear pads than to make her put up with the pain!! My mother is 96 and has dementia. She is no longer able to walk or stand and wears pads (the panty type). I would never allow her to be left in pain for even a short time, Incontinence is something one can easily deal with! Being left in pain that may get worse as time goes on will distress her far more!

[RATTER15]

I would certainly not stop her medication without talking things over with her GP first, that is just plainly irresponsible, I agree that a catheter may be an option, depending on other factors of course. Pain relief has got to be the most important factor here.

you say she has Alzheimers,how badly affected is her mental capacity, is she able to make her own decision on this matter, many are still able to make perfectly rational decisions for themselves and of course remembering that we may not agree with her decision but if it is an informed one....