C-diff...Jan?

Sorry about your MIL. I wish I could say no, that this is something most people just shrug off as a minor thing. I am not saying your MIL is doomed, but she is in the right place in the ICU, and here is why:

There are new, and very potent strains of C. diff out there, which I am sure you are aware (mostly bred in hospitals due to the constant exposure to antibiotics). The toxins they form are extremely damaging, and the bacteria can be resistant to even Vancomycin.

She is in a high risk group by being elderly AND weakened by chemo and cancer. So, maybe she is lucky and this is not a vanco resistant strain and they can beat this back. But, it may mean she might have to delay or stop chemo.

I don't know what sort of cancer she has or what shape she was in prior to her diagnosis, but I imagine it will matter. Presumably, prior to her beginning chemo, she had discussed her advance directive with her family and physician, so that everyone knows what she would want, should things go badly in a hurry. This is the time to "circle the wagons" and be sure everyone is on the same page. Communication is key...

PM me if you want to talk more. Things went sideways quickly with my dad after beginning chemo treatment, but contingencies had been discussed in advance. He was 75 and reasonably healthy until the cancer hit.

Jan

Thanks Jan. She had breast cancer 5 years ago and beat it. So it is back now in her liver and they found a tumor in her hip bone. They radiated the tumor in the bone and she started the chemo three weeks ago. It's upsetting how fast she had gone down hill. Just since Christmas. We know that realistically she isn't going to walk away from the cancer this time but we were hoping she had more time left with us all. This c-diff thing really through us for a loop. She is so sick.

I just talked to my sis in law and right now she's stable and more comfortable than she has been. I will PM you if I have any more questions. Thanks again.

Marianne,
I read about fecal transplant and c diff last week in our local paper. It is truly amazing and maybe worth looking into.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-20...used-by-c-difficile/

Just an aside. I had C-diff when in the hospital for UC. I was told that the toxin produced by C-diff can interfere with the ability to store long term memories.

I still don't remember most of my time in the hospital. I'm told that is a good thing b/c I was very sick.

But the point is, your MIL might sound crazy b/c she can't remember things. Drove my doctors crazy when I would ask them questions they had just answered.

Thanks for the replies. She is on a thin line right now. We have come to
Realize she probably can not fight this c diff infection because she is also riddled with cancer and her body is just tired. So at this point we are going to make sure she is comfortable and wait and see what tomorrow brings. They talked today about the possibility of having to remove her colon if it starts shutting down but she wouldn't survive that surgery that I'm sure of.

Sorry this is looking so grim. At some point we have to decide what choices are for the one suffering, or for ourselves. In the end we have go with what makes the best of what time is left. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Jan

Oh I'm so sorry you're all going through this. I hope she rallies and things turn around. Sending healing thoughts and vibes your way.

kathy

Marianne,

I am so sorry to hear what your MIL and your family must be going through.

I will let the Knights know so we can pray for her

Also, please stop at the Carmalite Monastary since praying in seclusion is their vocation.

Rocket

Thank you Jan, Kathy and Rocco. Rocco thanks for lettings the Knights know. We have a small army praying for her.

At this point we are praying for her just not to be in so much pain. Hoping for a turn around but after seeing her tonight I just don't know. We took our boys to say goodbye to their Gram just in case. They are really close to her.

Marianne,
This is so sad. I've had c-diff before but never needed hospitalization. I don't know what her wishes are but wouldn't put her through a colonectomy in her frail health.

We quit treating my step-mother when the cancer went to her liver as she had a brain tumor that grew back after they removed it once. It is so hard figuring out what to do. She never needed pain medication other than tylenol and died peacefully.

Again I'm so sorry and think it was good you took your boys to see her.

Oh, that makes me so sad. I remember taking my two boys to say goodbye to my father and I still become tearful. It is not easy but letting go and knowing she will be out of her misery is very consoling. I am sure she has angels waiting for her with open arms.

Thank you all. We were with her all day. She is in liver and kidney failure. We have hospice for her now and she is on a morphine drip to keep her comfortable. We are a big close knit family so she will be surrounded with people who love her until she passes. The cancer was spreading quickly but it was this c diff infection that just pushed her over the edge. Crazy how someone can go down hill so quickly....just Friday she was playing cards with everyone.

Thank you for the update Marianne.