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Elderly mum has Colorectal Scan in few days and lots of weird Symptoms

TerryW69
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Hi all, my elderly mum (85) has lost a stone over the last few months (was 8 stone now 7 or 47Kg) and has been ill for about 10 weeks.

FIT test showed blood in stool. Put on rapid Colorectal list and a CT scan is planned for coming Tuesday (initial investigation showed no he hemarroids etc.)

My dad (86) has had various issues over the last 3 years and lastly a brain bleed in May resulting in a mini craniotomy. My mum was caring for him but could cope so we had to get him residential care about 6 weeks ago (after another he was in hospital again and then discharged to the home). Clearly this has been very stressful for all but particularly my mum.

However in the last 2 weeks my mum has had a major gout attack in both wrists and knee (never had gout before). She is in terrible pain. She has been to hospital twice in last few days as dangerously low sodium levels (125, 124). She has suffered from Bronchitis for 25+ yrs and had a chest infection on /off for last 10 weeks.

The hospital don't seem to want to treat the low sodium (dispite the GP telling us it's dangerously low) and are just saying restrict her fluid intake (again contrary to normal drink lots of water with gout). They just keep saying let's wait until Tuesday scan.

Clearly there is something seriously wrong and I presume bowl cancer which I've come to terms with but hate seeing my mum in terrible pain.

Just wondering if anyone has come across low sodium and gout issues linked to bowl cancer before??

  • Offline

    Hello TerryW69, 

    I am so sorry to hear about your elderly mum being poorly for the last ten weeks - she sounds so frail and so thin and she seems to have been in a lot of pain with the gout attacks in her wrists and knee and on top of that the low sodium levels and chest infection. The last ten weeks must have been really hard for her and for her loved ones. It's good that she will have a CT scan on Tuesday - this will shed some light on what is going on. It's true your mum has been through a lot recently especially with what has been happening to your dad. I hope your dad is doing OK now. 

    I can understand why you are worried especially if you feel you are being given contradictory advice and it's making you understandably concerned that they don't seem to want to treat the low sodium and that restricting her fluid intake will not help with her gout issues. Your poor mum seems to be suffering from  different issues  and it would be good to talk to someone maybe who is aware of all the symptoms she has had. Luckily it won't be long now until Tuesday but it might be a good idea if you are worried especially about things like her fluid intake, to talk to her GP or to seek a second opinion if you feel your concerns have not been addressed. You can find out more about getting a second opinion on this page. 

    I am not sure myself whether the low sodium and gout issues could be linked to bowel cancer or if they are totally unrelated; this is something you could ask the doctor if you get to talk to them in the next few days but I hope that these can be treated quickly and successfully soon. Once you have the CT scan results you will have a bit more clarity on all this and I hope that other members of the forum who have been in a similar situation before will be along shortly to share their story with you. 

    We're thinking of you and your mum during this stressful time - keep us updated if you get a chance on what you find out. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    Hi Lucie, 

    Thanks for the message. 

    The nightmare continues to develop for the worst though I'm afraid.

    Although she has been suffering a lot of pain, we hoped that she would be OK until the scan Tues morning..

    Last night at 00:30 she woke me up as in terrible pain and confused. She was then sick and almost collapsed. I struggled to get her back to her bed.

    She said the pain was unbearable and begged me to stop the pain. I only had the codiene issued on Tues at the hospital.

    It was unbelievably hard to watch her in so much pain. I called an ambulance and explained. To be honest they were unsympathetic and no help. They said the ambulance would be at least 4 hrs.

    I gave her extra codiene to no effect. I sat with her for 6+ hrs until and ambulance finally came. 

    They immediately realised it was serious and she was given morphine for the pain and taken into hospital.

    Having spoken with the hospital there talking about sending home again until the scan Tuesday!!!

    I can't watch her in that much pain again and have said I can't support that plan and they need to think again..

    I do wonder if any of these doctors have any family and if they'd treat there loved ones like this.. 

    I'm going crazy with worry...

  • Offline in reply to TerryW69

    Hospital insisted that my mum was discharged today even though she has the CT scan booked for 10am tomorrow morning. 

    When I've gone into collect her I called into the CT department to ask how long the results would take following the scan (as my mother is still in pain).

    The CT dept. so said oh in that case they'll do it now, so it's planned for about an hour's time... Makes you wonder if doctors have a problem picking up the phone...!!!

    While I am waiting I've checked her medication prescribed on discharge and it's the exactly the same (strength/dosage) as when discharged on Tues.... This clearly is not strong enough not working for her..

    I'm sure there are great people in the NHS but I'm afraid to say that some people clearly either don't care or are not up to the job...

    Anxiously await the CT scan. I've been told results will be available in a few hours, next morning at the latest...

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