This has long been my plan at the appropriate time. Mom is advanced stage 7 and has a possible UTI. It's impossible to know as a getting a urine sample is next to impossible. She's really declined a lot in the past few months so this is a very different decision than a year ago when we did opt to treat. I have no qualms about this decision but it is weighty. she's peeing and pooping in a diaper , beginning to have difficulty getting out of bed and sitting straight and i'm seeing more evidence of dysphagia things I do not want to see her suffer from
It might be possible to get a test done with a "dipstick" if it can get wet enough from the urine in a incontinence product. May not be as good as a true urine test but good enough. And IMO treating with antibiotics even if you are not sure there is a UTI is better than not treating at all.
Sepsis is not pleasant.
I am POA for my uncle and father (and to my mother but she has passed). I made certain that a MOLST is on file and all of their wishes are in writings with a physcian signature. The MOLST does include the decision of antibiotics as a treatment and in all cases they have chosen to accept treating with antibiotics.
An UTI is very painful infection. To treat the UTI doesn't mean that their life will be prolonged indefinately. But it will help their end of life care without the painful affects of the infection.
Is your mother on Hospice? If not please have her accessed and allow her the comfort and care they provide. You will also benefit from the grief services they offer.
in the shower chair and have Mom sit on that until we got a sample.
One of the best things about hospice is they would prescribe antibiotics without a sample.
Also--discontinuing C-Memantine, a memory drug, stopped the UTI's from occuring. Mom was getting the UTI's as a side effect.
That's where hospice comes in and I do hope and pray that you've brought them on board by now, as even they will treat a UTI and make your mom as comfortable and pain free as possible so she can die in peace.
You can call the hospice agency of your choice and have them come out today to do as assessment on your mom. If she qualifies they will contact her doctor and get her all set up. Hospice is available 24/7 so don't delay in bringing them on board today, as they won't allow your mom to suffer.
Your mom deserves that much don't you think?
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