Advice needed regarding antibiotics not given by hospital
Posted , 5 users are following.
Just over a week ago my partner was diagnosed with a severe water infection caused by his catheter and our GP prescribed Amoxicillin stressing how important it was he took them. He started the course but the following day our GP rang with his blood test result - he had almost total renal failure and was hospitalised the same day. He was rehydrated on a drip and discharged 6 days later but I was horrified when he told me he hadn't been given his Amoxicillin - he'd taken them with him along with other drugs he was on but they were taken off him and locked up. When he asked for them he was told he could only take tablets that were prescribed by the hospital. Unfortunately I was unable to visit him so knew nothing about it until he came home. I rang out GP who said the hospital must have put them in his drip and to check his discharge letter but there is no mention of any antibiotics at all. I found this strange as he was also on long term Trimephoprim. I counted his tablets and found he had been given the Trimethoprim and also his Omeprazole but not his Amlodipine or his Amoxicillin. On rechecking his discharge letter under Detailed changes to drugs since admission & reason it said his Amlodipine have been stopped and Bimatoprost issued as 300mcg/ml (these are his eye drops). No other drugs are mentioned, nor his other eye drops. Then I noticed he had brought two new boxes of tablets home, prescribed by the hospital. These are his Omeprazole and strangely his Amlodipine!
My partner did not seem much better when he came home and despite finishing his Amoxicillin yesterday has deteriorated further over the weekend, it burns when he pees and today he couldn't stop shivering. I rang our Drs surgery today and was asked to take a urine sample in which I did and it tested positive to infection. I then had to wait for the Dr to write a prescription and for it to be filled at the chemist, a total of almost 3 hours, leaving my partner on his own. He is so unwell he's not capable of doing anything for himself, he had his bowel removed in March due to a bowel obstruction and has a bag and I got home to find him in a right mess as it had leaked (again!) but at least I'd managed to get the antibiotics so it was worth it.
I feel very upset that he is suffering as a result of having a 6 day break in the Amoxicillin and feel this is a mistake that should not have happened.
0 likes, 146 replies
kaydi
Posted
The electrics continued blowing behind washer n I knew Don was incapable of dealing with it so I texted David who came round. He saw and heard the electric blowing, said its a fire hazard, repeated we DO need an electrician. He told us to turn downstairs electric off at bedtime and went.
Bedtime Don turned electric off then on again saying he can't see to do it, needs daylight n will do it in the morning! Texted David n he came back but he couldn't do it either as he couldn't get the cover off the box. He then pulled out the washer finding the cause of the bangs, a wire behind washer (that had been chewed by a mouse the cat brought in) had insulating tape round it (the washer repair man did this) and the water had got behind the tape, tape was burnt n wire was fizzing like a small firework.
David then went saying ALL electric must go off at bedtime. Don then surprised me saying the fridge and freezers would go off too. David said can't be helped, it must go off.
Don stayed up awhile, I waited for electric to go off, he went to bed leaving it on! So I turned it off, 3.30am he turned it back on obviously cold as I heard him trying to start the boiler, without success. I waited awhile then turned it back off.
In morning it took me ages to get boiler to start but thankfully it did eventually. Wire continued banging all day, David texted to ask bout electrician, told him Don said he doesn't think we need one, that I know we do but my hands are tied. He just said to make sure electric is off at night. Not heard from him since!
My daughter Becky came yesterday, saw wire n heard electrics blowing, turned electric off and wrapped fresh insulating tape round the burnt part. She then checked to see where the wire was from and was horrified to find its from an electrical socket under the sink. Who put it there so close to the water supply I have no idea but it's been there a long time!
She told Don about the burnt wire and that we DO need an electrician. He asked how the wire got wet!!! He also said he tried getting an electrician but can't as its bank holiday. (I know this is not right, you can get one anytime but I said nothing as I'm making sure I don't antagonise him for fear of his aggression) He'd told me we don't need one!
He had rung our odd job man who rang back Friday, I spoke to him n he told me the wire isn't dangerous, he's away until Monday but if we still need him he'll come then. I know nothing about electrics but I'm sure the wire IS dangerous as is the socket under the sink. And there is no way I'm using the washer or dishwasher until they've been checked but we've no got a huge backlog and have no clean kitchen utensils. I can't even wash up by hand as I'm severely allergic to washing up liquid, even using rubber gloves would cause my hands to blister up as no amount of rinsing gets rid of traces in the sink, been there done that, not worth it!
As if all this wasn't enough I then found the shower upstairs has packed up! Was fine Thursday night, stone cold Friday night, no light on the pull switch! I'm not too concerned about this as I'm having baths, it won't affect Don as he never showers anyway!
When the kitchen was flooded I threw loads of towels downstairs to Don, went down to find he'd put them on top of the bin, he said he didn't know what they were for!! All these sopping towels need washing before they go moldy, the whole house smells, most of this is Don himself and his bedding which I've not touched.
I am gradually getting the upstairs sorted, trying to put everything down there out of my mind. But I can't believe how everything turned out, instead of opening his family's and his Social workers eyes by me going to Becky's for ten days, it achieved nothing! I know Don has dementia, Becky has seen it, even the plumber saw it as Don asked repeatedly how much he wanted paying yet David first blamed his age then blamed the amount of port he drinks! As for his SW, I'm flabbergasted he closed Don's case!
In his last email Chris told me it's best I don't continue trying to care for Don, Jacqui too agreed with this. It feels wrong but I know I can't pick up where I left off as I can't cope with Don's aggression, caring for a person with dementia requires giving 24/7 care, I cannot do this alone, I need help. But I'm burnt out, can't keep fighting to get that help as I can't convince ANYONE it's needed!!
Don's health is deteriorating as I knew it would, NO ONE cares he's not being medicated or using his eye drops!!! This whole situation seems inconceivable, why why why will no one take notice of what's going on?
But as you said, Lynne, I can do no more, I'm banging my head against a brick wall and for the sake of my health all I can do now is keep myself to myself upstairs and do the same as his family have been doing for almost 2 years, turn a blind eye to it!
lynne69494 kaydi
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eric31962 kaydi
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As you say you have to think about your own health and well - being.
The crying baby gets the milk!
So ring social services explain, that the house is unsafe, and the situation is making you ill. If I was in your home it would make me ill anyhow. These people actually hate having to fill out reports and might find this hard work !
Perhaps you have to consider the possibility of being re- housed ?. At least you would be in control of your own life. Be very careful what you do and say in that regard. Try not to act in anger or despair solicitors and other advice sources are seriiously dangerous to health and wealth.
Thinking of you, E
kaydi
Posted
i spoke to our handyman Neil on Monday and he said it would be fine to use the washer and dishwasher and that he'd come Tuesday evening and take out the socket and burnt wire. Set dishwasher off first then was doing my second load of washing when I opened the cupboard under the sink to find water flooding into the big tub under there! I couldn't believe it, just when I thought things were on the up, here we go again! I asked Don which plumber he'd called but of course he didn't know, he doesn't even remember we had a leak! We paid in cash, no receipt so we paid the plumber £225 and then had to pay Neil to fix it, the plumber hadn't put a washer in! Neil took out the socket and wire and said he'd been wrong when he'd said it wasn't dangerous, it was! I'm glad I didn't know!
I'd asked for quotes on the net for installation of the cat doors and yesterday they were fitted, quotes ranged from £60 to an unbelievable £160! So now I've got my bedroom door shut all the time which is a relief as I not only need to shut out the smoke but also the smell - Don smells so bad, much worse than he's ever smelt before and it was even strong in my bedroom. I still get the odd whiff now and again but mostly the shut door keeps it out. I know part of it must be his bedding but so far I've not succumbed to the temptation to change it as I keep reminding myself it is no longer down to me to care for him. I am doing his washing up but told him anything that's got food scraps on or isn't on the tray above the dishwasher, I won't put in the dishwasher. It's so hard to ignore the dirty washing up on the work surfaces but it's working as he's now put some of it on the tray. I debated whether to do his washing, there's been no more added to the 6 pairs of trousers so I donned rubber gloves and have washed those. I've also been round the kitchen with the antibacterial spray several times for hygienic reasons and swept the floor as the bits under my feet annoyed me. But I've done nothing in the living room except fetch everything of mine to put it upstairs. The carpet is still covered with food scraps but I now have no need to go in there.
It feels so wrong to not be continuing to care but I know I MUST hold firm, somehow Don's sons HAVE to realise Don is THEIR responsibility, I've shouldered it for almost 2 years and I'm burnt out, can do no more.
And at the moment that includes fighting to get them and the authorities to see Don DOES need help. I've been flogging a dead horse, I HAVE to quit so I can concentrate on my own wellbeing which I've seriously neglected. I've not been elevating me legs and my oedema is bad again, can't remember when I last had a proper meal as I've just not had the energy, have been having sandwiches, soup or ready meals that I know are too high in fat and salt. I even forgot about a blood and blood pressure test I was supposed to have, I saw the dr about my toes being numb and pain in my hip, I was supposed to have the tests then go back to the dr n she is going to refer me to a specialist. Must rebook those tomorrow.
As for my mental health, I know if I don't quit now I'll be in trouble.
Will post this now and finish in another post as I've run a bath and if I don't go get in it it'll be cold!
kaydi
Posted
As I was saying I've got to stop fighting to be heard as that is all part and parcel of caring and I know no one is going to do anything. For one I emailed Jacqui, telling her about the leaks and electrics, was she concerned we were living in an unsafe house? Not in the slightest! She just said she hopes its all sorted and safe now. Asked if I'm finding having my own space to be better and said to let her know whether I'll need her to come back in s few weeks!
I told her yes it's better although Don now smells so bad the smell is upstairs too. That his sons are not visiting and that I find it hard to believe Chris closed Don's case, leaving him without care or medication despite knowing he is severely self neglecting. I said had Chris and Helen performed a proper 2 visit mental capacity test I'm sure he wouldn't have passed it. I've not had a reply yet and doubt I'll get one.
While surfing the net about self neglect I found one site said even if someone is seriously self neglecting and refuses help, if they have mental capacity there is NOTHING anyone can do!
The fact that I feel Don doesn't have mental capacity means SFA as no one else agrees! I've no doubt one day I'll feel strong enough to continue the fight but at the moment I've decided to leave it alone and have some me time.
Someone on a dementia forum gave me a link to complain about all the medical treatment he hasn't received. And I intend to write again to the MP. Just not at the moment.
lynne69494 kaydi
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desperate need and suffering due to it. l would guess there are people like Don, on their own and left to it, people who arent taking the meds needed to keep them alive, people living in squalor health hazzard, still left to it. Only needs a relative who,s in half decent health ability and they can absolve responsability completely. It seems we also allocate more for the criminal, anti social, hard cases, those who are most threatening to society, and weve a society with a lot of threatening people in it now, the violent, gangs, extremists, drug abusers, binge drinkers, bad debtors, so the law abiding, decent, responsible, caring pay their way, are left to it. We learn the hard way, as with you moving out to force their hand, l,d have thought the same, even as a cynic, but proved wrong, it didnt achieve caring and support for you. and Don, he,s a victim also, be it a more willing one.
So your just encouraged to live seperately and ignore him and look our for yourself, Not always easy when your lilving in same property, but your doing ok, switching off as much as your able, to try look after y our own health, Bad luck youd problems again with the flooding, talk about it never rains, but pours, well hopefully thats sorted for you.
Now its trying to put blinkers on to as much as you can, the smell would drive me mad, lve a keen sense of smell, even when outside if smelly,s pass me by, or cannabis smokers, lve known me put perfume right under my nose, and do use oil burners and sprays, Been all pay out for you, but hopefully your sorted with most jobs done, including sorting cats access in and out. Well l hope you can get some r and r and a bit of peace to put your feet up, build your own health up, and maybe in future get a social life to support you. Best Wishes.
eric31962 kaydi
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Facts are no one cares and wants someone else to do something, and will use any excuse to transfer the blame and responsibility onto anyone else. Most people are cared for by neighbours and relatives, or whoever. Carers are there for the minimal amount of time and not paid for the work they do. Just a kind of veneer or someone to blame. I've known several people who worked as carers, whole system is a corrupt joke as the local authorities pay thousands to faceless companies.
To face what you must face on a daily basis must be a kind of hell? Don, or the way you describe it is a full time job for a team . You need weekends off and holidays to look forward to. And only then can you have time to take a breath and think what you want to do with your life. Regards, E
kaydi
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You're right Eric, it is hell living this way, I just want the whole nightmare to end and was so hopeful of this when we finally got our assessments. Never in a million years could I have predicted this outcome! It's left me feeling so helpless and hopeless, all I can do is just wait it out.
David said he or his brother would drop by a couple of times a week to check on Don but it's been over a week since David came and neither have been near! I feel so frustrated as if they bothered to come and spend time with their Dad they would see (and smell!) that all I have said is true and realise this can't continue.
Although it is possible David has seen enough, knows full well how serious things are but is turning a blind eye as he doesn't want to deal with it!
Eric, you're spot on when you said everyone is hoping someone else will step in. When I was at my daughters David sent a text asking if I could stay there a bit longer to try force SS to act. No doubt he was as disappointed as I was that instead they closed Don's case but has he bothered to complain about how wrong Chris was to do this? His brother Christopher was here when Helen performed what was supposed to a mental capacity test, if he bothered to check out, as I have, just what a capacity test involves he would know that she performed no such test. Has he put in a complaint about this?
No, neither have done anything at all! Why???? The only answer I can come up with is because that would mean facing up to their responsibilities and it seems they're too spineless to do this!
As well as performing a proper mental capacity test I feel Chris should have arranged a meeting with both sons, himself and me so that everything could have been discussed. I have tried to do this with all three sons and myself but first Andrew said he wasn't available until April, then come April when I asked for date he ignored my text! It's obvious all of his sons prefer to stay in denial that their Dad needs help. This leaves me feeling so hopeless and resentful, how can they live with their selves knowing he's getting no care or medication? If they bothered to visit they will see their Dad is still wearing the same filthy clothes he's had on for weeks, they would smell the atrocious smell that's permeating the whole house as Don's still not showered, they'd see his health has deteriorated in the last few weeks. I keep asking myself are they staying away because they DON'T realise all this or because they DO?!?!
Don asked if I need a chair upstairs, saying he'd bring my computer chair up. He is so wobbly on his pins I know he's not capable of doing this, I also want my pedestal desk bringing up so he said he'd ring David to ask him to help. I expected he'd forget but I then got a text from David saying he'll come Friday. I had a feeling David would probably think this was a ploy to get him to come (I'd mentioned the foul smell last time I spoke to him on the phone over a week ago) and sure enough he sent another text yesterday saying he didn't feel too good so would come bring the chair up some other time! I've not bothered replying.
Like you, Lynne, I too have a keen sense of smell and find the stench hard to bear, it's far worse than its ever been in the past probably due to the warmer weather. But at least now I'm upstairs and keeping my door shut certainly helps but doesn't eradicate it completely. But I'm determined to put up with it, NOT touch his bedding and just keep telling myself the longer his sons stay away the worse it's gonna get. Don knows where his clean bedding is but is oblivious to the state of his bed just as he's oblivious to the state of himself.
The smell NEEDS to be disgusting but even then I'm not sure his sons will do anything if they do come. I think it's going to take much more before they will face up to what's going on, just how much or what this may be only time will tell!
lynne69494 kaydi
Posted
l wonder if we all won a million pounds would things change. l think theres probably a fear element also, but again, youll face that daily, not knowing what will happen, its all beyond me. l have another son nearer, see him once a week or so, he does help me at times, but lve often to create, l often rely on taxi drivers to help, lift and carry, tip them extra. But at least lve only myself to sort out, so not too much cleaning to do, l,m afraid your going to be left with the lions share of it, all you can do is keep it to minimum as much as your able, but keep reminding them all, sons and authoraties, they could at least send someone in to bathe him once a week, half an hour. Hope your own health problems are improving a bit, and you can get settled in your own space and get some peace at least some of the time. Take care lynne
eric31962 lynne69494
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lynne69494 eric31962
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kaydi
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These sites are for adults yet it never fails to amaze me how many things are not allowed. Swearing for instance, on one of the dementia forums I go on it even changes HELL to H3LL!
eric31962 kaydi
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It was just a case at a nursing home called Linford, near Ringwood. It was an abandoned country house . I used to play there as a child. Some of the scenes from the film the 'Elephant man' were filmed there. Saying as little as possible to avoid blue pencils.
Chin up both.
Love and regards, E
eric31962 kaydi
Posted
A total of 13 suspected illegal immigrants were arrested at the Linford Park Nursing Home in Poulner and a further four staff members, believed to have been running the home, were arrested on suspicion of neglect.
A fifth person was arrested on suspicion of theft – but this is not related to the care investigation.It is now feared the home could be forced to close, after all its residents were moved out. So this relates to 2010. I have removed information which may attract censorship and references to newspapers. E x
helen54849 kaydi
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Why have they they let him out of hospital with complete renal failure? This means he has little or no kidney function? did he have emergency dialysis? Did he have acute renal failure? has his kidney function returned. Sorry for the questions just trying to understand your situation better x