Ok people I really need support, prayers and good wishes

Steve had the swab that he said wasn't pleasant, but not horrible like many people report, hes a tough guy , We were at a drive through testing site, they also did the blood test. Both Negative.. Of course if this dose of Bactrium doesn't kill off the bacteria and he needs to go to the hospital they will test him again, many times most likely.

This is just so far beyond frustrating and scarey

I'm sorry that both of you are experiencing such long-term stress. There's no greater burden than health problems.

No, the test is not bad, at all. Slight discomfort for 5 seconds.

Christina

Well I was able to get Steve up for about 2 hours. Long enough to nebulize take his meds and eat something.. Hes so unsteady on his feet. He went to get up and he started to fall and Im trying to get to him. Anyway he landed hard on his hands and knees, He said he didnt hurt himself.. His blood pressure was a bit low for him 100/55 ... I rechecked him about 20 or so mins later and 100/67.. Im going to check his BP through out the night , I might hold off on his Lisinipril he was put on a few weeks ago as his blood pressure was too high then.. I am hoping I can get him up for a bit longer tomorrow.. But Bactruim just knocks him out. 16-18 + hours a day he is sleeping...This damn antibiotic really needs to work ,it has to work..

I am still walking on rusty barbwire juggling flaming razor blades.

Christina

Huh.I did not know that about Bactrim. Weird.

I think you are extremely wise to be cautious with that lisionpril--you could easily bottom him out...

Prayers and love.

prayers for you both!!!!
bizi

I am glad to hear you're holding off on the Lisinipril. High blood pressure is definitely bad for someone with dementia.

I hope the antibiotic works for him soon. Sorry to hear he fell on the ground though. That must've been scary to watch.

I hope things are better today, even if only a little bit.

Ive been waking him enough to drink water/gatoraide every hour or so.. I did hold his Lisinipril this AM since his Bp was low last night and he fell. I have been checking his Blood Pressure every few hours, the last was 195/72 at rest. So it is slowly moving up . If it continues going up I can split his 10mg to 5mg..

His blood pressure is typically fine but 2.5-3 weeks ago it was running high due to this damn infection so this med is just temporary.

He is going through pure hell fighting this

I hate lisinopril. When I did home health we had to check BP with every visit and if it was at some level we had to call the dr and not do therapy. There were some patients who always had blood pressure holds and they always seemed to be in lisinopril. I could be pretty sure if I had 2-3 failed BPs in a few sessions that the person would be on it. I used to hold my breath checking med lists on new patients for exactly that reason.

I hope that his blood pressure stabilizes and that it helps him feel better.

Once this crisis has passed I am sure he will be taken off it. Probably another issue with bad interactions? He did have to Stop his Trazadone to take the useless Levaquin

Im going to call the Doctor tomorrow and see if we can D/C this junk and Maybe up his HCTZ from 25 to 50mg to get a better overall blood pressure, regardless I have to worry about Syncopy.

Lisinipril and so any other meds are a freaking nightmare to deal with... I know you were pulling your hair out daily because of it

hugs to you dear woman!
you are a warrior, ever true and loyal to your man.
hugs to you both!
(((((((HUGS)))))))
bizi

Yeah, a warrior! You are the alpha wolf.

Thanks Guys

Prayers and well wishes to you and Steve!

Originally Posted by ~Christina
"Well I was able to get Steve up for about 2 hours. Long enough to nebulize take his meds and eat something.. Hes so unsteady on his feet. He went to get up and he started to fall and Im trying to get to him. Anyway he landed hard on his hands and knees, He said he didnt hurt himself.. His blood pressure was a bit low for him 100/55 ... I rechecked him about 20 or so mins later and 100/67.. "

The increase in his blood pressure 20 minutes after his 100/55 and being unsteady and falling after he got up may indicate that Steve now has Orthostatic (Postural) Hypotension which is a drop in blood pressure from standing up, especially after laying down, but also when standing up after sitting down. "Standing upright challenges the cardiovascular system as the pull of gravity displaces about 70% of the circulating blood volume to below heart level, much of it to the compliant veins of the dependent limbs and the pelvic organs"

The good news is that his blood pressure improved with time.

He may not have had Orthostatic Hypotension before, but as Mayo Clinic indicates one of the risk factors besides his age is: "Bed rest. If you have to stay in bed a long time because of an illness, you may become weak. When you try to stand up, you may have orthostatic hypotension. ( Orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic).

Perhaps having him move from laying down to slowly sitting up, and when he is sitting up have him move his feet and legs below his knees up down and tensing the muscles in his legs for several minutes could help his blood move from his legs back to his heart by the calf muscles.

"There are some exercises that help circulation and some manoeuvres which reduce [postural hypotension] symptoms. These simple exercises stimulate your circulation. You can do them in bed, or whilst sitting or standing and should do them before you change position or if you have been sitting or lying down for a while. Aim to do these for 5 to 10 minutes:
· Move your feet up and down at the ankle
· Rotate each ankle round and round
· Do gentle marching on the spot Living with Postural Hypotension

When it comes time for him to stand up having a cane or something for support. Some sources also suggest tensing leg muscles after standing can help.

I apologize if this is out of line or if you or someone else has already mentioned orthostatic hypotension in your thread. I have some familiarity with it because I have it.

Best wishes and prayers to you and Steve!

Thank you Rick that is what is going on.

Last night he even got up slower and took about 4 steps and started to fall and he would have landed right on his face, I was lucky to get to him in time. He also has severe neuropathy in his feet and legs so he cant really feel the ground with his feet and he often is a bit wobbly just from that but doesnt fall but then add this infection on top? its a Disaster in the making.

This bacterial infection he has is knocking him down physically and this last desperate attempt of another run of Bactrium is the last option before he has no choice but to go in the hospital for IV antibiotics and all of those have high risks..

Christina,

I am going to space my paragraphs for you. I KNOW you are exhausted and are having difficulty with reading comprehension.

Do you have a cane or even one crutch? These might help him to steady himself. He may need a walker.

(In this area, we have 2 places to get them in used condition for free. Don't know if you have anything similar available? Here, they offer them at the rehab section of the hospital and at the local Council on Aging office. Just an idea.)

I've responded to you on PM. I wanted to leave a brief note here. I've just thought of the possibility of a walker for Steve. It would be ideal if someone could bring one to the house for you. I know, not much is "ideal" right now.

Please do let me know if I can do anything, anything at all to help.

May you both feel surrounded by Love.

Love, hugs and prayers to you both

Good idea, WC! In my area, I found them at a local senior center (when I had to get a cane for my SO at the time). Of canes, they only had one. But of walkers? A closet crammed full.

I'm sorry things are continuing so rough, Christina. Pointing that magic wand your way...

Thinking of you and Steve. Sending those purple healing rays.

Hope the medicine is working for your husband That he gets what ever equipment he needs to cope . One thing I most clearly remember from being in the offline MH support group is when you feel you are at the end of your rope, the rope miraculously gets longer. May that be true for you and your husband. Hugs.

Hey Yes we do have some canes.. Maybe a walker will be safer. Ill have to call around while I am out for me T phone session.. Great Idea thanks

You are an amazing person , I hope you know that

Thrift stores also seem to always have walkers