I'm worried. My mom usually gets pretty bad UTIs, so bad that she needs to be hospitalized. I've tried my best to keep her from having one for months, but I think she has one and she has developed her usual confusion that she gets when it's bad.
I'm just so worried about sending her to the hospital during Covid. Like my anxiety is through the roof. I don't want her to catch it there. Has anyone had to send their loved one to the ER? What was it like? Did they catch Corona?
I've been running through options in my head. Her nurse is on her way here, so I'll ask her and her doctor before I send her to the ER, but... I've been through this SO MANY TIMES, that I think it's the only option.
Do not let it wait. UTI infections can travel to other organs such as bladder.
My dad fell, so I really had no choice. But good experience for what it was. Luckily, no broken bones at 95 and I got respite.
Dad is now in nursing home for rehab, but possibly long term. We are working on him coming home & staying there. Lots to consider on either end of the equation.
She also gets Mac Degeneration treatments 4x/year. The place is a long drive (not a lot of places do these, and it was in the area we had lived for years, but move to MC made it a long trip!) and requires we transport. The medical facility delayed her visit one month (April -> May) and then instituted strict protocols to enable them to continue necessary treatments.
For OP (or anyone else in similar situation), you are aware that she has UTIs often. I would recommend you purchase some OTC UTI test kits and check her on a regular basis - don't wait for the tell-tale signs, as it would already be running in her system. Also, those "signs" can change over time. Mom's first UTI after moving to MC resulted in severe sun-downing (she'd never had those before.) The next 2 showed up as night time bed wetting.
If you test her, maybe once/week or every other week, you could catch these sooner. Most likely she would need to have a real urine test done (culture is best) before Rx, but if doc is good/responsive, he could order Rx after you get positive test and also order a sample to test (hopefully they get sample before you start the meds!) This way the UTI would not get out of control and require a hospital or even ER visit/stay.
Even better would be to have her on a longer course of medication. One urologist told me that if UTIs were frequent, it would need maybe a 3-6 month course of antibiotics (in either case, be sure to include some good "biotics" in her food as antibiotics can mess up the digestive system!)
So, ask doc if you can do these regular test and get quick response if you detect a UTI. Best to nip it early and avoid the need for ER or hospital stay altogether, with or without worries about the virus! You don't mention dementia, but if she has this, the back and forth to ER/hospital can wreak havoc as well!
I have suspected a few UTIs in myself, and managed to get through it without medications. Elders, esp those with dementia, will need Rx, but the fluids do help flush the infection too.
Now I certainly do understand that in your mother's case, it may be too late for those suggestions if she already has a U.T.I.
I could not accompany him.
I was quite pleased with how the visit went.
I am proud of my little community hospital here in Maryland and their ability to provide care. We have a low Covid rate here.
I saw my mom again, in person, a month later.
I work in an ER & the likelihood of your Mom catching Covid 19 from taking her there is pretty slim, do to the sterilization/cleaning techniques we’re implementing since this virus has come about. I would be more concerned about the UTI spreading into her kidneys & her cognitive issues because of it. Don’t they have an Overseeing Physician who makes monthly rounds for the patients there? They could send a “clean catch” Urine Sample to the lab & evaluate it for infection & blood, so the Staff Physician could call in an Rx, without having to take her anywhere. Good Luck in dealing with this.
Sincerely,
BTDT (Been There, Done That!)