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My Mom Is In A Memory Care Facility. She Had
Question:
my mom is in a memory care facility. she had fallen twice on Friday, Sept. 27th. on sunday the 29th hospice told me her body was showing signs of Transitioning. they did not believe that she would last 48 hours. on Monday the 30th she ate her breakfast and part of mine... but after eating, suffered obvious pain in her abdomen and at times, seeminly her left and center rib and chest area. pain medicene was administered. the same thing happened at lunch, she had a good appetite, but then bad pain and discomfort followed. she was given morphine for the pain. supper consisted of lots of juice and water and applesauce and Morphine. My mom has always been a lightweight, so the morphine pretty much knocked her out. Tuesday-Friday were more of the same, applesauce and liquids and morphine. the pain seemed to continue. her vitals during this time were dropping in the beginning but have now climed back up to just below normal (bp 85/56), for her normal was about 98/65. oxygen saturation was low (below 50%25), and again has climbed toward normal (72%25). her pulse has bounced around from 132, 77, 112, and this morning at 61. She has had a couple of bowel movements these last three days. strangely, she has been having lots of bleeding fom her vagina. this started on October 8th and as of only this morning her diaper was clear of blood. she had a hysterectomy decades ago. she seems to react to movement with short gasps, she still grabs the wet sponge woth her lips or teeth, her eyebrows react to touch between her brow, and some other subtle signs.
my question is, are we missing something? could there have been an internal injury that shares some of the same symptoms as transitioning?
my mom is in a memory care facility. she had fallen twice on Friday, Sept. 27th. on sunday the 29th hospice told me her body was showing signs of Transitioning. they did not believe that she would last 48 hours. on Monday the 30th she ate her breakfast and part of mine... but after eating, suffered obvious pain in her abdomen and at times, seeminly her left and center rib and chest area. pain medicene was administered. the same thing happened at lunch, she had a good appetite, but then bad pain and discomfort followed. she was given morphine for the pain. supper consisted of lots of juice and water and applesauce and Morphine. My mom has always been a lightweight, so the morphine pretty much knocked her out. Tuesday-Friday were more of the same, applesauce and liquids and morphine. the pain seemed to continue. her vitals during this time were dropping in the beginning but have now climed back up to just below normal (bp 85/56), for her normal was about 98/65. oxygen saturation was low (below 50%25), and again has climbed toward normal (72%25). her pulse has bounced around from 132, 77, 112, and this morning at 61. She has had a couple of bowel movements these last three days. strangely, she has been having lots of bleeding fom her vagina. this started on October 8th and as of only this morning her diaper was clear of blood. she had a hysterectomy decades ago. she seems to react to movement with short gasps, she still grabs the wet sponge woth her lips or teeth, her eyebrows react to touch between her brow, and some other subtle signs.
my question is, are we missing something? could there have been an internal injury that shares some of the same symptoms as transitioning?
Brief Answer:
Pancreatitis is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
I am sorry to hear about this situation with your mother. The pain after eating she is having may be related to pancreatitis.
It is inflammation of the pancreas and possibly it can be acute pancreatitis. In severe cases, it causes bleeding into the gland, serious tissue damage, infection, and cyst formation. This can be the reason for the intense pain she is having after eating, the time when enzymes are released. The enzymes may be released on peritoneal lining causing the strong pain in which strong painkillers like morphine can be used.
Severe pancreatitis can also harm other vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys. The pain causes the fast heart rate she is having. She may need to do an ultrasound or CT scan of the abdomen to check it.
Oxygenation is really low and oxygen may be used to increase its levels. An issue with her lungs or brain can cause that low oxygen.
About the vaginal bleeding, she may need to get physically examined by a gynecologist.
You said that she did a hysterectomy but blood may come also from Colum uteri lesions so she needs to get examined.
I hope to have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Pancreatitis is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
I am sorry to hear about this situation with your mother. The pain after eating she is having may be related to pancreatitis.
It is inflammation of the pancreas and possibly it can be acute pancreatitis. In severe cases, it causes bleeding into the gland, serious tissue damage, infection, and cyst formation. This can be the reason for the intense pain she is having after eating, the time when enzymes are released. The enzymes may be released on peritoneal lining causing the strong pain in which strong painkillers like morphine can be used.
Severe pancreatitis can also harm other vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys. The pain causes the fast heart rate she is having. She may need to do an ultrasound or CT scan of the abdomen to check it.
Oxygenation is really low and oxygen may be used to increase its levels. An issue with her lungs or brain can cause that low oxygen.
About the vaginal bleeding, she may need to get physically examined by a gynecologist.
You said that she did a hysterectomy but blood may come also from Colum uteri lesions so she needs to get examined.
I hope to have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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