Helping my Mum after shock diagnosis

My Mum was taken to hospital on Monday after an accident and when they did a CT scan they found a collapsed lung, lung tumours and liver tumours.

I took her home from the hospital to my house for Christmas, nearly 200 miles from her home. I'm really worried about her, she's become very frail almost overnight as I last saw her on Sunday. Since then she's stopped eating and drinking and has the most awful gurgling sounds from her lung. She doesn't seem to actually cough anymore, it's almost like she's swallowing a retch. Her blood oxygen levels are low too.

She won't come to my GP (hates doctors and hasn't been for 40years), she'd had symptoms for a while but refused to get herself checked out.

Am I unduly worried or should I call an ambulance against her wishes? It's just me at home but my brother is visiting tomorrow.

  • Hi Larry, did the hospital give you any idea of how she will or will not recover?  Or her prognosis?

    if you are concerned maybe ring 111 for advice or if you think her life is in danger dial 999, I appreciate it may be against her wish but you need to be aware, equipped and supported to care for her .

     

    Kiera 

  • Hi Kiera,

    No, they just kept telling us we would receive an appointment with a specialist within 2 weeks. The GP said to call my GP if I was worried about her breathing and we should try and enjoy Christmas.

    She's a little brighter this morning and her oxygen levels are increasing, now nearly 90%, whereas before they were in the 70s.

    I will call my GP to ask about symptoms and when I should seek urgent help. I've said to her if the oxygen is low they would give her some and it would make her feel a lot better, trying to encourage her that it's not going into hospital long-term, but would make her a lot more comfortable.

    MacMillan said to call 999 if I'm worried and she won't seek help, I'm a little less worried today but am worried she's effectively drowning in her lung,she says she can't cough.

     

     Thanks,

     

    Laura