Disclaimer

I am not a doctor. I am providing information based on experiences that my mom has with natural remedies. The purpose of this blog is to help folks to educate themselves. Use this information with your own discernment.

12 May 2010

Update On My Mom

My mom has a UTI and a kidney infection.  She is on antibiotics.  I'm hopeful that once the infection is gone she won't hallucinate as much.  I'm also expecting improvement in her cognition.

I've been reading about urinary tract infections in Lewy Bodies Dementia patients for over a year.  I read the stories, the nightmares that other Care Givers had experienced.   LBD patients who have an infection will hallucinate a lot.  My mom began talking to the hallucinations and would get mad at me for interrupting.  I couldn't win.

I cried... I cried A LOT.  I was ready to call 911 and have the ambulance take my mom to a psych ward of a hospital for an evaluation.  I was giving up on my mom, I was mentally ready to send her to a nursing home.

Fishing for an easy solution I remembered the advice of the LBD Yahoo Community, they recommend tests to check for infection, mostly a urinary tract infection.  This is very common in LBD patients and is often the cause of wild behavior.

I called my mom's kidney doctor and set up the tests.  They came back positive, she does have an infection in her kidneys and her urinary tract.  I think she's had it for awhile.  In hindsight, my mom has had a backache for a long time.  Maybe I could have avoided all the insanity of chasing her hallucinations if we had her checked out sooner?

My mom's ND was the one who told me that my mom's kidney trouble could be causing her elevated blood pressure.  He prescribed Pellitory, an herbal tincture that he made for her in his office.  She takes it 2 x's a day.

2 weeks ago my mom's BUN was 53, very high.  2 weeks after taking Pellitory, her BUN is 28.  Her Creatine numbers are lower too, 1.2 instead of where it had been at 1.5.

Her hallucinations are not as wild.  Her blood pressure is coming down and her spirits are good.

Today things are better than they've been in a very long time.  I'm hopeful.  I'm encouraged.

I read an article today about a man who began taking Coconut Oil and his cognition changed for the better.  There's a test that is given, the patient needs to draw a clock from memory.  It's very difficult for those folks with Alzheimer's and the different stages of Alzheimer's is determined by how well the individual draws the clock.  Here's the article by Dr. Mary Newport had written about coconut oil:  What if there was a cure for Alzheimer's Disease and no one knew? 

I found a new product at Whole Foods, ice cream made with Coconut Milk.  I've been giving it to my mom for the last few days.  Could the coconut milk be helping her cognition and finding words... big words?

I don't know yet...

I did read that the ketones in Coconut oil helps the body absorb nutrients, including amino acids... the RLA and L-Aceytl Carnitine are amino acids.

I bought coconuts today and had my mom drink the milk from the coconut.

So, with the clearing of the infection and the amino acids and ketone addition to her diet... we may be able to cure my mom of her dementia.  I believe in miracles.  I will not quit on her.  We never fail until we quit, so I will pick myself up, dust myself off and march forward toward success.

8 comments:

  1. Now I'm at a loss how to respond.

    YAY, your mom has an infection. Taking care of it should alleviate some of your anxiety as well as hers. I'm having Hubby tested for UTI at his Primary Care appointment tomorrow. An ounce of prevention.

    I'm sorry your mom has an infection. I pray she recovers from it quickly and completely.

    Like I said, at a loss how to respond, but I know you will understand :)

    I am so amazed at the care you provide for your mother. Keep marching sister!{{HUGS}}}

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  2. Found your blog via Mellodee. Your posts really impacted me - my husband and I went through with three of our parents in a little over a year. It was sad and grueling - but it felt good to be able to "pay back" some of the love and nurturing they had given us. Stay strong.

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  3. Kathy... it's so hard, as you know. The UTI and kidney infection have sent her on a wild ride.

    She wants to die, but she wants to live... she wants to be with my dad. I've been helping her deal with her fear of death. Today she told me, "Well, you know, I won't be here long, I'm going with Pa."

    It's bitter sweet, happy that she'll be happy and sad to lose my mom. It's all good... when my mom finally goes, we will have our honeymoon... I am looking forward to sitting on a beach with a nicely made margarita.

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  4. Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog, Sandi. It is tough being a care giver for the aged, especially when they are nuts. My mom said to me today, "You're going to listen to me? I'm crazy!" We laughed out loud together.

    These are the precious moments that I will treasure. I'm sure you and your husband have similar moments that when you think of them, they make you smile.

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  5. Hi Susan, I am glad you found a source of the problem and that your mom is getting better.

    I like that you blog about the naturopathic remedies you are trying. My dad did some of that, too, when Mom was still alive. I have spent much of my adult life in the medical field and I know it is easy for many of us to poopoo the natural remedies, but there is so much we don't know about this disease and so we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss things.

    I agree that there are precious moments and treasuring them is so important. I tell people that caregiving for my mom was one of the hardest things I ever did but also one of the most rewarding.

    Keep treasuring your mom!
    Tammie

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  6. Thanks for your note Tamara. It's definitely the hardest job I've ever done, being a care giver. There are days it's very rewarding and then there are other days that I wish I knew when she would be getting on the bus with my dad.

    One day I will miss my mother, a lot. Fortunately, I take pictures and videos of her every day, pictures and videos that I can watch to remind me of my mom's end days.

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  7. Susan,

    You are so strong and such a wonderful daughter! I came across your blog by chance and now am sitting here with tears streaming down my cheeks. You have moved me so much. I also read your Letter's From Heaven blog. What an inspiration on your part! Thank you for sharing and inspiring!

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  8. Thank you for visiting my blog Carrie. I'm happy that my written words moved you. Thank you for sharing your reading experience. I appreciate hearing what folks think about my writing.

    Thank you for your compliments. I document my journey with my mom so that others have a place to compare their own experiences with their loved ones.

    Personally, I have learned a lot from other bloggers who were care givers. I feel obliged to "pay it forward", sharing my experiences for someone who walks a similar path as a care giver.

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