Questions

ndmmxiaomayi SG

I have been observing for some time about my grandma's condition.

Her toilet going frequency, is getting worse. Sometimes, barely one minute later she needs to go to the toilet.

Now, she can't get up on her own without someone helping her. According the physiotherapist, it's due to the lack of exercising that caused the muscles to weaken. She has suggested some simple exercises and advised us to get a heat pad. My grandma doesn't want to do those exercises because it hurts to do so.

I got a few questions:

1) Is her toilet habits that are affecting her? The frequency is very short.

2) Does the medication affects? (I will post the medications and latest medical reports after I reach home)

3) Where can I get a heat pad?

oxford mushroom SG

Visit your GP to make sure she is not having a urinary tract infection. Is she diabetic or have any renal ailments? One early sign of renal impairment is the inability to concentrate urine.

As for heat pad, you can try the pharmacy in the public hospitals. They can tell you where to get one if they do not stock them themselves.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Here's the medication and medical reports.

Medication:

Sangobion (100 ferrous gluconate): taken one capsule every morning, half an hour before food.

Omesec (240 Omeprazole 20mg): taken one capsule 2 times daily, half an hour before food.

Tobumide (90 Tolbutanide 500mg): taken half a tablet 3 times daily, immediately before meals.

Suncal - D (120 Calcium Carbonate 450mg/Vitamin D 200IU): taken one tablet every morning, either before or after food.

Senna (300 Senna 7.5mg): 2 tablets taken every night, after food.

Sunward Paratab (240 Paracetamol 500mg): 2 tablets taken daily, 4 times per day, either before or after food.

120 Potassium Chloride 600mg SR tab: 1 tablet taken every morning, after food. Tablet not to be chewed or crushed.

Medical Reports:

Can't find the latest medical reports. Confused

But I know that she did blood tests. She always have to fast for one day before taking the blood tests.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Thanks oxford.

By the way, a urinary tract test has been done. But have never seen the report... Shocked

Just scan through some of old medical records. My grandma has diabetes. I can't find the latest... Confused

How about the inability to help herself up? She needs someone to hold her up. She can walk on herself though, but she also relies on someone to help her walk. I have also noticed that her hands "shivered" when lifting up the spoon to eat.

oxford mushroom SG

So she is diabetic...maybe time to check her sugar control. That may explain the polyuria to some extent...although from your description I still do not know if she is passing more urine or passing small amounts of urine frequently.

Diabetes can lead to a variety of complications..diabetic neuropathy and myopathy may supervene in elderly patients with long standing disease as well. Her weakness may be due in part to her diabetes and inactivity will not help it as well.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

I never notice how much urine is passed. But from the time she takes to come out of toilet, I think it may be little. Not sure though, I am in school half the time.

I tell my parents that.

By the way, what is long standing disease?

oxford mushroom SG

The longer she has diabetes and the poorer the control, the higher is the risk of diabetic complications

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Should we wait for the checkup or check on it as soon as possible?

oxford mushroom SG

See your GP first. You should be able to do a simple dipstix test on her urine but your GP can do a proper evaluation to exclude infections and high sugal levels.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Any ideas how to get my grandma to work out those simple exercises recommended by physiotherapist? We tried all ways to persuade, but to no avail.

I also need to ask one question for myself.

It is about my toes. Today, when I moved my toes, a short, sharp pain will shoot through it. Only one of the toes. The pain is like electrical shock. And the pain is only in the toes, legs not affected.

thinkdifferent SG

It can be a pinched nerve. Have you hurt your toes (someone stepped on them, you kicked a wall or something else by a mistake and so on) or did you wear new shoes yesterday?

Well, if a person has no will to do the exercise, it's hard to persuade her.
Many old people are afraid to be unable to stay independant from the help of the others. Doesn't your grandma have this fear? Maybe you have done it already - I would explain her that it's good for her health and that she stays longer self sufficient (though she needs here and there some help) and her problems can be moderated. I think you explained her this. I have really no idea. The attitude of your grandma should be changed, she needs a motivation.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Nope, never hurt my toes or wear new shoes. It just happened only yesterday.

Motivation.... how to ignite it? As you said, if one doesn't want to do it, he/she won't do it. The motivation to get well has no effect. The motivation for her to be independent is also not there. And I have ran out of ideas, so do my parents and relatives.

Of all things I forget diet. My grandma eats porridge for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is either noodles or bread. Anyway to improve this diet?

thinkdifferent SG

So today had no pain in the toe?

The diet of your grandma is very one sided. She should include fruits and vegetables (careful with fruits containing lots of sugar due to her diabetes) and also fish, cereals, dairy products like yogurt and some meat too but not too much as too much proteins would be a hard work for her kiednyes.

About the motivation, I too have no idea, it's hard to change someone's attitude. Some old people get motivated when they have to care for pets like a budgie or a cat. Does your grandma like pets? Would she like to have some? (It creates a feeling that the old people are needed, that someone needs them, pets do this job.)

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Toe still hurting.... Sad

I have no idea if she wants a pet. Plus, my family won't get one either, because I'm asthmatic. Although they said I am "cured", but they won't get it for fear of triggering attacks. A bit weird I would say because I had never had asthma attacks, neither am I allergic to them.

thinkdifferent SG

Turtles don't cause asthma nor allergy. Wink

For the toe I would suggest you visit an orthopaedist. Sometimes it can be a problem of the whole foot (wrong shoes, wrong position when standing or walking, for example like fallen arches and so on).

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Wrong shoes will never happen. I have been wearing the same kind of shoes for years. My feet are flat, so not all kinds of shoes fit me.

Turtles... a good idea. Very Happy

thinkdifferent SG

Flat feet are the reason the visit an orthopeadist.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Shocked

But never happen to me before as I worn the specific kind of shoes as describe by my family doctor.

thinkdifferent SG

If you have flat feet, you should make a check up once in a while. To wear specific shoes is good, but sometimes not enough. Sometimes special insoles are needed or even some exercise.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Doctor never say and I don't know that.

Looks like time for checkup. Very Happy