She has a very intense rash on her back and her stomach. It keeps her up all night. Hospice gave her some benedryl and anti-itch cream. She is also nauseous every morning until mid-day. Hospice gave her some anti-nausea meds and anti-diahrrea meds. Since she’s been on hospice for over a year, she hasn’t been to a doctor, so I don’t know anything about her kidney function (GFR) or her uremic count. I am wondering if her kidneys are failing and this is what the rash may be, from toxins her kidneys are not flushing from her body? I am overwhelmed and I’m hoping she will go to our hospice facility soon. Odd how the congestive heart failure is no longer the main problem. And edema is very bad. They cannot give her more water pill dosage because her blood pressure is so low.
I really don't know, but it is my understanding that hospice is about comfort care. One can barely do that if there is no diagnosis by a doctor.
There is a hospice doctor, right? Not sure, but you can still have her seen by outside of hospice doctors? Others will know better than me.
From what I read, shingles can be very painful. It also may be communicable, I would have to look that up. (the chicken pox is communicable to immunosuppressed persons if they have not had chicken pox). That was a very simplified explanation, sorry.
In light of people 'graduating' from hospice, after improvement, not dying when expected, I would look into a diagnosis, then go from there since hospice does not do 'life saving/life sustaining"
treatments.
Keep in mind that a person can go for treatment instead of having hospice. I am not recommending you do that, every case is different.
And as far as her kidneys possibly shutting down, if they were, you would notice your mom's pee being much less and dark in color.
All of this is tough on you and your mom, and I am so sorry you are having to deal with all this. Just please enjoy whatever time you have left with your mom, and make sure that Hospice is doing everything in their power to help you. ( I had to stay on top of them ALL the time). Hopefully your hospice agency is better than my husbands was. God bless you.