Something New and Different

Last night, Dave asked our small group Bible study to pray for our family, specifically that God would prepare us to know what Mom needs. Our group meets at the lake house on Friday nights from 6:00-9:00. On the schedule I leave with Mom, I have us set to return home at 10:00 p.m. Yesterday afternoon, she said, "I'll see you in the morning."

But as we were driving home, I got a call from Mom. She was concerned about a "weird new thing." She said her right leg was swollen and "leaking water." She couldn't find the hospice phone number. I called hospice and asked for the on-call nurse to come out. I was thinking heart. Mom was thinking kidneys. After googling, I found weeping edema can also be just a side effect of cancer.

The very kind and efficient nurse arrived and gave Mom a thorough going-over. Her blood pressure was a little low (for Mom), but okay. Her heartrate was a little fast, but normal for Mom. Her lungs and bowels sounded good. Both Mom's legs were significantly swollen, at least up to the knee. Because they were both swollen, and were not hot or red, the nurse did not think it seemed heart-related. She said the only way to know for sure would be to go for testing. And we all know that is not happening.

The nurse called the on-call doctor, who prescribed lasix to draw off the excess fluid. Mom said she would like to have medication, which is an indicator of how uncomfortable she was. She was not aware/did not admit/did not have any pain, only saying her leg felt "tight." But if Mom is willing to take medicine, something is seriously wrong.

This morning, Mom's legs are no longer noticeably swollen or weeping. Her medication was delivered to the house and she promptly read the side effect sheet. And decided to not take it. Which is fine with me. Although lasix will drain the excess fluid, it will also make her pee A LOT (tiring), strip the potassium from her body, and could drastically lower her blood pressure. Those are all things we can do without.

Hopefully Mom's Nurse Christy will appear on Monday instead of her normal Tuesday visit. I know Mom would like to have input from her regular hospice nurse and doctor. And so would I. As we continue down this path with Mom, each new twist and turn reminds me how we really don't know what we're doing here. Good thing God does.

Postscript: After Mom's afternoon nap, the weeping edema is back. She is back in her hospital bed with her feet elevated. She seems serious and withdrawn over this development. I'm sure she is worried about what comes next.