Mom in hospital tonight - need advice re elderly & acute septicemia

[Sapphocrat]

I just got back a couple of hours ago from taking my 82-yo mother to the E.R. for what appears to be a preliminary diagnosis of septicemia.

My SO has done some research on the condition, and I've just begun to Google it myself, and, after nearly five hours of listening to doctors and nurses, what I'm finding on the Web is a bit overwhelming -- it seems to be quite the "mystery illness."

Can any DUers give me some anectodal incidents of dealing with septicemia in the elderly? My mom's history: Hypertension + renal failure (one kidney all but dead, the other at about 20% function) + extremely low pulse rate (40-45 bpm, thanks to Atenolol) + all signs of a urinary tract infection + uncharacteristic depressive mood for 3-4 days before onset of fever & chills, uncontrollable shakes, intense lower abdominal pain, vomiting, confusion, slurred speech, & sudden inability to stand or walk under her own power.

Symptoms have subsided somewhat, but she'll be spending the at least next 2-3 days in ICU.

Any thoughts from other "kids" who've had to watch this happen, or unofficial medical advice from those who've treated it? I'll be most appreciative. I'm the only one near "home" (i.e., the default "responsible" one for watching out for Mom), and could really use some guidance on what to watch for, and what questions to ask. I've done pretty well so far communicating seemingly incidental info to the med pro's, but it would really help to know what else I should be asking about.

Thanks, DUers. This is the one place I know I can come for help.

P.S. Please don't pull any punches. If it's as bad as I think it might be, I want to know. I can handle it. I've got no choice but to handle it.

[Dookus]

1. Hey SapphoCrat...

Sorry to hear this. I don't know anything specific about septicemia, other than ANY major infection in a person her age is serious. I wish you both the best - you'll be in my thoughts.

[Sapphocrat]

2. Thanks, Dook...

That helps on a night I won't be getting much sleep.

You're a sweetheart. :)

[boilerbabe]

3. I can't say anything that would be right...

Hunny, she needs a blood transfusion completely I would think....septicimia, to me is a blood infection, where you get the 'red lines"...there are some antibiotics that take care of some of it, but in someone that is probably on a lot of other meds...
I bet she can hang in there, though!!
i have a "mimmy" who is 86 and on so many meds and she is starting to think she's on the end...
See, I had the same prob, but I was like only 25 when it happenend to me. redlines going up my leg if it wasn't for my roommate Rita, I would have probably died....
I hope all's well here...will sit and wait...and keep my fingers crossed...it's pretty much all up to how quickly they caught it!!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOO
Jo-lee

[roguevalley]

4. that's the ONE illness we haven't had to face so far. I will ask my RN

niece and post tomorrow. In the meantime, I will be
thinking good things for you and your mom.

[Sapphocrat]

9. Thanks, rv...

That's very kind of you. :)

[boilerbabe]

5. Let me start over

I am probably so late on this posting...and I realize that my last post was so like NOT MAKING SENSE....
I have had septicimea, but I was like only 25 when it happenend. So I had this smacked up sore on my foot, that no-one noticed until it almost became gangreneous...whooooa. Good thing I am a very even tempered gal. could have sued from here to there. anyway,what happenend, they dug out the skin in my foot like 15 times...it was not pretty, kept turning black...they thought I would never get to do the skin graft....lucky me. anyway, I was not 80-something, and diabetice...so I would like to know how that worked out?
Best of wishes, guess I must count my blessings, seems like there's always someone that just makes me look like the Pic of Health!!!

[Sapphocrat]

8. Ah, I hear what you're saying...

And now it makes more sense why everybody was asking if she'd ever had a blood transfusion (she hasn't), and why her ICU nurse brought papers last night (for me to sign) OK'ing a transfusion if she needs one.

I haven't finished slogging through all the treatment info yet (right now they're just pumping her full of antiobiotics) -- so you helped put another piece of the puzzle in place. That helps my knowledge base considerably -- thank you, boilerbabe! I appreciate it.

Oh, and no, this wasn't from an injury (which, I realized later, is why they kept asking her if she had any open wounds) -- they're kind of at a loss at this point to come up with a cause.

[REP]

6. When Was She Last Dialysized?

Sounds like a problem with to little dialysis as well as septicemia from the UTI. If she's not on dialysis, sounds like it may be time to start; confusion, ataxia, slurred speech all sound like uremia to me.

[Sapphocrat]

10. Not on dialysis...

...and she's not diabetic -- but she's definitely had some renal failure going on for the last 2-3 years. This past year, her renal specialist brought up dialysis as a future possibility, and I'm expecting that, after this episode, they're going to recommend it in a big way.

Thing is, Mom came to the conclusion that she didn't want to be tied to a machine three times a week, or however often it would be. If it were to become a necessity, and she doesn't go for it, she realizes the alternative just means dying.

I don't know if she's changed her mind about that in the past 24 hours (from my understanding, dying of kidney failure isn't the most pleasant way to exit)... but I'll ask her today. (This is when the reality of being a grown-up with advance-directive power hits home in a big way.)

In the meantime, REP, just by mentioning dialysis, you triggered my memory of the conversation she and I had about it, so now I've got another question to ask her -- and another to ask the doctor -- this morning. Thank you, REP, that definitely helped me today.

P.S. Don't know much about uremia (yet), other than Jean Harlow's premature death of uremic poisoning at 26. Not a pretty sight. Amazing the way one's brain synthesizes dozens of seemingly disparate trivia when looking for answers, isn't it?

[foreigncorrespondent]

7. Wish could be there with you...

...but alas it isn't meant to be. So, I am with you in heart and soul. Lean on me, sweetheart. AMLFYA

[Sapphocrat]

11. You're here...

...in the way that counts most. :)

AMLFYY

[BiggJawn]

12. It killed my Mom.

She had undiagnosed Diabetes, never went to the doctor, hid any symptoms from Dad. Got an ulcer on her foot that became infected, it triggered a case of Sepsis (another name for Septicemia?) She was in the hospitel on life support for 4 days while they tried to battle the renal shutdown and circulatory failure.

After the prognosis came back that they would have to take off both her hands and one leg (even if they could get her kidneys restarted), Dad gave the order to remove life support.
She passed away peacefully.

Mom lived to do craftwork. I couldn't imagine what her life would have been like without her hands. My daughter was with us and I told her "You do the same for me if I ever get like this."

Lilly's has come out with a drug to fight Sepsis. It was released about a month after Mom died.

My thoughts are with you, Sappho...:hug:

[Sapphocrat]

14. Thanks, BiggJawn...

I just finished this morning's preliminary Googling, and what I found wasn't encouraging. Average fatality rate is "only" 20-25%, but with what I've begun to surmise may be the cause (azotemia?), and where she may be at this stage (end-stage renal failure?), right now I'm just hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.

With luck, she could be home and functioning by the end of the weekend. Without luck, well...

Thanks for the hug, BJ. And knowing your mom had a peaceful passing helps a lot, too.

[soleft]

13. Good luck, sending positive vibes

[Sapphocrat]

15. Thanks, soleft...

Every positive vibe helps, a lot.

Off to the hospital now...