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Suggest Treatment For Severe Cold And Pain In The Foot
Question: My mother has not eaten in days and she has not gotten out of bed except to have something to eat and quite frankly, I am getting concerned because she will not see a doctor. My feeling is that the situation is more psychological than physical. She had a head cold and now its gone, her foot hurt her and now that's gone. Her back hurt her for a few days but now that's gone. Her sweat is making her room stink. I quite frankly want her to see the doctor. Can you tell me exactly what needs to be done? She is eighty-nine years old and I want her to get better any ideas? Thank You. XXXXXXX M.Fanale
Brief Answer:
Check if she is confused or oriented- if confused needs urgent care
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at Healthcaremagic.
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
It is usual after a cold or other infections to feel like you do not want to eat is your mother might be heaving low appetite due to that. On the other hand having frequent small amounts for food is a very good idea in this case. Like having small pieces of fruit and offer her time after time to get small pieces is good, one or two spoons of yogurt, and any other food she would like to have but small pieces every 5-10 minutes is more likely to be received by her.
On the other hand an adult decides on his own if they want to eat or not and if they want to see a doctor- this is hard when you want to take care of your parent and I realize this. Make sure your mother is oriented which means conversations with her make sense, she knows where she is and so on as she might be confused and unable to do right decisions on eating or on her health issues and need to see a doctor or not. If you are not sure if she is confused or not than it is best to consider her confused and ask for urgent medical care. Elderly people might get decompensated with simple infections due to complications that might develop. If she has chronic conditions and takes medications this might also be contributing to confusion.
So what I would advise is:
1. check with your mother if she is oriented or confused
2. if she seems confused (does not know where she is or conversations with her do not always make sense) you need to call emergent care (ambulance or send her to the ER)
3. If she is alert and oriented than help her with frequent small amount of food that she seems to like to have. One bite in 5-10 minutes seems reasonable. Fluids are very important also so make sure she drinks well especially water. Make sure she takes at least 5-6 glasses of fluids a day so her kidneys can work well.
4. If you are not sure if she is confused or not than consider her confused and call a doctor to see her at home or send her to the ER. If she is not drinking or eating she will get confused soon so I would still recommend you to call for urgent care before this happens.
5. Depression might affect elder people and this might cause them to not want to take care of themselves, in this case she needs help with medical care also.
6. Elderly people might get complicated with urinary infection or lung infection and most of the times not have typical symptoms but might just seem to behave strangely so make sure she sees a doctor.
I hope this is helpful and answers to your question but please feel free to contact me in case more clarification is needed.
Kind regards
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
Check if she is confused or oriented- if confused needs urgent care
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at Healthcaremagic.
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
It is usual after a cold or other infections to feel like you do not want to eat is your mother might be heaving low appetite due to that. On the other hand having frequent small amounts for food is a very good idea in this case. Like having small pieces of fruit and offer her time after time to get small pieces is good, one or two spoons of yogurt, and any other food she would like to have but small pieces every 5-10 minutes is more likely to be received by her.
On the other hand an adult decides on his own if they want to eat or not and if they want to see a doctor- this is hard when you want to take care of your parent and I realize this. Make sure your mother is oriented which means conversations with her make sense, she knows where she is and so on as she might be confused and unable to do right decisions on eating or on her health issues and need to see a doctor or not. If you are not sure if she is confused or not than it is best to consider her confused and ask for urgent medical care. Elderly people might get decompensated with simple infections due to complications that might develop. If she has chronic conditions and takes medications this might also be contributing to confusion.
So what I would advise is:
1. check with your mother if she is oriented or confused
2. if she seems confused (does not know where she is or conversations with her do not always make sense) you need to call emergent care (ambulance or send her to the ER)
3. If she is alert and oriented than help her with frequent small amount of food that she seems to like to have. One bite in 5-10 minutes seems reasonable. Fluids are very important also so make sure she drinks well especially water. Make sure she takes at least 5-6 glasses of fluids a day so her kidneys can work well.
4. If you are not sure if she is confused or not than consider her confused and call a doctor to see her at home or send her to the ER. If she is not drinking or eating she will get confused soon so I would still recommend you to call for urgent care before this happens.
5. Depression might affect elder people and this might cause them to not want to take care of themselves, in this case she needs help with medical care also.
6. Elderly people might get complicated with urinary infection or lung infection and most of the times not have typical symptoms but might just seem to behave strangely so make sure she sees a doctor.
I hope this is helpful and answers to your question but please feel free to contact me in case more clarification is needed.
Kind regards
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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