h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

That's almost a DNA gag.

Has anybody told her that to get rid of an earworm you just have to think of another song?

Mum wasn't very good today for some reason she thought she was going home today and was disappointed that she wasn't. Then when the physio walked her to the kitchen to make a cup of tea she couldn't manage it. And she has another water infection. When I arrived she said she just wanted it all to be over and she didn't know what she'd done to deserve all this.

Annie, the water infection might be making her confused. Hopefully she will improve quickly (hug)

Noodles! Skype is making my smileys go all over the place!

Oh, GB, that's sad. Water infections can have a very strange effect but I am sure they are treating it.



Websailor

Thanks, yes she is back on antibiotics. I reckon she got it from the catheter she's been on since all this started. My older 2 kids are travelling from Sheffield and Manchester tomorrow for their other Grandma's funeral. I'm also going to attend because I still had a lot of contact with the Ogle family even though Joyce was no longer my mother-in-law, she never treated me any different and Heather and Andrea still think of me as a sister. I told Mum I'll bring Allan and Helen to see her sometime on Wednesday so hopefully that'll cheer her up (it will certainly do me good)

those catheter's are deadly to infection, ask my son

back to silentand positive vibe sending

What I wouldn't give for one of your bear hugs right now, Prof.

When Mum fell asleep I had a sneaky look at her notes. I was truly shocked when I read her weight, but I suppose because I see her every day I failed to notice. She was weighed on admittance (1st Feb) 48.1kg, 7st 8lbs, today she weighed 41.7kg, 6st 8lbs.

I'm still lurking, still reading, and still sending positive healing vibes both to you and your mum, Annie.

Gentle to the pair of you.

GB, she's been treated for heart failure. That causes a lot of fluid retention - and as you treat someone with a medication that makes them pass water their weight goes down because they get rid of the fluid. You often see people loose 1kg (2lbs) a day of fluid if you're treating them agressively. I often order daily weights to monitor the effect of the treatment.

Also I forgot to say that without a cather the treatment for heart failure often causes incontinence in the immediate stage, and you do also sometimes need to to measure the urine volumes to know that the treatment is working. That said I try and remove it as soon as possible because of the risk of infection. But if the alturnative is incontinence I usually explain both options and try and work out which the patient prefers. If she's being admitted to A&E for extra treatment for heart failure she probably can't tolerate a reduced dose of diuertic.

Though a specialist continence nurse can often do clever things to make life with high dose dieuretics management without a cather.

Oh GB! It is so good to see 'Z' posting some excellent advice, which should help you to a) understand, and b) question if necessary, what is being done for Mum. My thoughts are constantly with you and prayers also.

your wish is my command

Thanks Z, I've calmed down a bit now.

An emotional roller-coaster of a day. Spent time with 3 of my kids. We all called in to see my friend Linda, who had a mastectomy a few years ago, she hadn't seen them since they were little, and I learned she now a clean bill of health which was so good to hear. Then Joyce's funeral which upset me when I heard Heather crying, so I decided not to go to the cemetery and then later met up with Helen & Allan at the Beacons to visit Mum. She was in bed asleep at 4pm, but perked up for her visitors and got up to have her tea at 5pm with the other residents. My lovely sister just rang for a chat and we're off out for lunch on Saturday. Can't wait.

enjoy Saturday to the utmost whatever the weather

I will thanks Prof

Strange things going on...I checked Mum's chart while she was asleep...she weighed 42kg yesterday which was an increase of 0.3 and I smiled at the significance of the number. Imagine my surprise when I went to the office to pay for Mum's hairdresser tomorrow morning and was given receipt #42.

Good Omens I hope GB

Websailor

I could put the first 42 down to coincidence. But the second? I hope it was an