My 95 year old mother is in hospital and had a fall April 2013. She had taken BP medication for about 20 years and in November 2012, her Family Dr. took her off this and she had loose cough and swollen legs within 5 days and progressively got worse. She had a body rash since March 2012 and he said it was eczema and treated her with cortisone creams. Rash disappeared for a short time- but returned with a vengence. In Nov. 2012, she had a yellowness to her skin. She lost weight and was becoming less mobile due to the horrible leg swelling. In March 2013 she was needed to use a walker in her home to get around. In April 2013 she passed out and fell in her bathroom and cut her right head. Tests in the hospital showed no scalp fracture nor brain bleeding. She had sutures to her scalp, she was anemic (CT abd showed no issue, no occult stool; Dr. said ameia was due to the blood loss from scratching and leg swelling) diuretic therapy, she had enlarged heart due to the fluids on her lungs and body and now had arrythmias, the dermatologist did a scraping and found she had a fungal infection on her legs/feet and she said this caused her body to react..therefore the rash throughout her body and the leg swelling, plus she wasn't getting her antihypertension medication/diuretic. Dermatologist started her on antifungals and rash and swelling disappeared, diuretics, anti-arrythmias, Asprin was started after much discussion amongst the specialists not wanting to give her injectable anticoagulants to prevent a brain bleed at her age and status, just Aspirin conservatively for arrythmias to prevent blood clots. She was assisted with physio and went home. Became worse in over a week and wasn't able to get out of bed or eat. Was taken to hospital and we were told she had a reaction to antifungal medication to her other medications and had a bacterial infection on her lower legs. Gave her antibiotics in hospital. New Doctor had started her on injectable anticoagulants, plus kept her on Aspirin and she became verly drowsy and had watery stools. Sampling showed C.diff. I asked this Dr. why she is getting injected anticoagulants and Aspirin and that her injection sites are bleeding for long periods after injection. I told her about the Internists' recommendations and concerns. She hadn't read my Mom's chart and was too busy to talk to me. This Dr. told my family that she had brain bleeds and that is why she is drowsy. (CT Scan done in May 2013 shows 2 brain bleeds, not in previous scan done after her fall in April 2013).
She was transfered to another Dr (Nurse Practioner) when asked about my Mom's drowsiness she said it was due to her C.diff. Now my Mom isn't talking well, very slowly and mixing words, only speaking in response to a question and after a long delay. Her voice is really low and slow. C. diff is over and Mom had been left in bed for over a week and has a loose cough and almost needs to relearn how to walk with 2 therapists and her walker.
Mom transfered to another Dr. and hospital unit. This doctor says my Mom is healthy, X-ray clear and that my Mom is severely depressed. He is not looking at the injectable anticoagulant therapy as a possible issue and wanting to start her on Ritalin. I am not familiar with Ritalin for adult depression. What if my Mom's drowsiness is due to brain bleeds from injectable anticoagulants? What side-effects could this medication have on a 95 year old who never has taken sedatives or strong medications? She is already very drowsy with speech affected...the last thing we want to have added complications from another medication/fall or not to treat the actual cause, if the hospital is avoiding acknowledgement of using this therapy when their own specialists had recommended not to? What is our next step?