My wonderful 90-year-old mother has been plagued with bladder infections all year and has been on 20 antibiotics. Now she has c. diff. and is struggling to recover. The bladder infections make her dizzy, cranky and combative and exhausted, and the c. diff. is a nightmare.
In January she was dizzy, confused and disoriented from a bladder infection, jumped out of bed to answer an imaginary doorbell around sunrise, and fell and broke her leg.
I have tried everything I know to help with the infections: cranberry juice, cranberry pills, vitamin c, lots of water, lots of rest and exercise, yoga to help her immune system and stamina, 20 antibiotics, I've gotten her Ready Wipes to use in the bathroom, and a bidet, but just had her tested yesterday and she has another infection. It's heartbreaking. She has such a wonderful quality of life when she is not worn out from the illnesses, and these infections are just taking over our lives.
Could it be the Poise Pads and Depends she uses?
I eat yogurt daily and take a probiotic before bedtime. I haven't had a UTI or yeast infection in years.
Now having my Mom do something on a daily basis is another story. When she first arrived here she was having terrible problems with constipation. She used harsh laxatives that her docs recommended, etc. I finally told her to incorporate ground flax seed (which I buy at the grocery store) in her diet every day. "Magically" the constipation disappeared. But, to this day, she thinks she only needs to use it when she is feeling constipated.
I will do anything not to have to go to the doctor. The last time I did, he gave me a new antibiotic that I had never tried. It sent me to the ER with a bad reaction. I am not saying that all drugs are bad...there are MANY beneficial ones. But ya' got to wonder when drug companies are advertising on television and when I go to the pharmacy I see hundreds of prescriptions waiting to be picked up. I once lived near the Astra-Zeneca corporate office...it was nicer and bigger than most college campuses.
Seniors are especially vulnerable because Western medicine has convinced them that aging is a "disease." When they go to new doctors they load them up with new drugs without eliminating some of the old ones. My in-laws had 15+ bottles of pills they took everyday.
I am a fan of naturopathy because their philosophy is holistic: the body, mind and spirit working as one. I think the best of all worlds is your MD and ND working together....but, that is highly unlikely.
Bottom line: start with the simplest and safest solution then go from there...
Lilli
mom didn't want them - it was easier to take a pill (different generation!!!) - yes an
antibiotic again and wouldn't listen when she was told that it was the antibiotic that was actually causing this chain reaction - UTI then C-diff (which she constantly had) How could it be - the doctor gave her the antibiotic and he should be right - was her attitude. Like I said "different generation". So it was impossible to help her - but I tried everything from my end that I could. Probably the best thing is to try all of these suggestions. Hope things work out. Thoughts and prayers to you as I know how hard it is to be a caregiver.
Keeping the area as dry as possible is the challenge. Also, in-between showers your Mom can use a vinegar/water wash to cleanse the outer area. Then use cornstarch powder (never use a powder that contains talc).
Adult diapers are good for the condition, but trap moisture. I wish there was an alternative because both pads and diapers have an outer plastic covering.
A geriatrician who really knows the problems of elders may be helpful. You could try different incontinence products,but it seems as though you are doing nearly everything imaginable. I would keep checking with specialists to see if someone has an idea. The very best to you and your mom as you cope with this distressing problem.
Carol