I think mom is going into renal failure.
She didn't urinate all day yesterday or today but evidentally does in the night as she is changed. Tonight during her ensure drink she was asleep setting up in her wheelchair.
I was thinking last night driving home, I dread the holidays at NH but yet I don't want to loose her during the holidays.
My dad died in 2003 on my birthday...
Does anyone else have a LO that is going through renal failure? and how long do they last?

Dear Lois G,

Welcome to the AD Message Boards. I'm sorry to hear about your Mom. I know this is very difficult for you. Have you spoken with her doctor about her kidney failure??

If you Mom isn't drinking much, she will not produce much urine. Kidneys need water and liquids to filter and produce urine.

My grandfather died of kidney failure along with other illnesses.

Please, speak with your Mom's doctor and nurses. Is she on Hospice??

Good Luck. Please, keep us posted.

My Mother was diagnosed with "renal failure" after she had been found laying on the floor in her carpeted room,,at the ALF.

She had a few UTI's prior to this. She was also on Risperdal for about a year.

To make a long story short,,they only gave my Mom a couple of month's to live,,so I went and prepaid for her funeral arrangements,,and due to the fact that Mom has had so many surgeries over the years,,I said "NO" to dialysis.

Well,,,her creatinine numbers had climed really high,,,then started to drop lower and lower and almost back to normal.

It seems to have stemed from her having such a severely dropped bladder,,,and the kidneys constantly recycling urine,,,so Mom is going to be getting whats called a "pestery device along with a hormone ring,,installed in the Dr office,,and this device will hold the bladder up where it needs to be ,,and she will be able to completely empty her bladder,,hopefully,,and the hormone ring is to help keep muscles strengthened.

I'll keep you posted on how this works.

My Mother also is a diabetic that takes the pill daily,,had high BP,,which is now normal since she has taken off alot of weight. Her risperdal was stopped as was most of her medication,,and she seems to appear to have rebounded,,but we'll see.

Ask your Mom's Dr about if her bladder has "prolapsed",,and see about the installation of that pestery device.

I wish you and your Mom the very best,,,,please keep us posted. Peace

Are you sure she is getting enough liquids?

I go just about every night and give mom as much as I can as I know the aides don't have time to do this with every resident. I suspect a lot of them need more liquids, but there's never going to be enough staff to sit there and do the job. I've been staying 1.5 hours.

Kidney failure can be diagnosed with blood tests. Usually when kidney failure developes there are other signs that appear besides anuria (absence of urine)prior to this happening, As stated above se may be dehydrated and need some extra fluids. If she is on hospice they may not be willing to do any bloodwork. If she is truly in renal failure I will be more specific with my answer if you need me to..
Kat

quote:

Originally posted by va bch kat:
Kidney failure can be diagnosed with blood tests. Usually when kidney failure developes there are other signs that appear besides anuria (absence of urine)prior to this happening, As stated above se may be dehydrated and need some extra fluids. If she is on hospice they may not be willing to do any bloodwork. If she is truly in renal failure I will be more specific with my answer if you need me to..
Kat

If someone is urinating at some point during the day...is that a good sign? Or does the frequency matter?

When my DH was in the hospital in September it was because he wouldn't get out of bed. They thought originally that he might have UTI but nothing just dehydration. Ever sense I try to push the liquids on him. I have been able to get him out of bed every day though sometimes only for a few hours. If he is only going to get up once I give him water, soup, and fruit. Hoping I get enough liquids in him to keep him hrydrated. I think about his meals in terms of liquids as much as I can.

Always so much to think about and so much to worry about. Are they getting enough liquids, protiens, going to the bathroom and my DH is only in Stage 5 entering stage 6. Know so much more lies ahead. I am hoping to learn more from this site so I will be somewhat prepared for these things.

AL More,
Urination may occur even if someone is in end stage renal failure, the kidneys may not be filtering the toxins and cleaning the body although they continue to produce urine. The toxins build up in the body and that is what true renal failure is,and is usually not reverible, and is termed chronic renal failure A few simple blood tests can determine renal failure as it shows in the blood if the toxins are building up. With dehydration the lab tests may show a decrease in kidney function but are reversible with hydration and called acute renal failure. All nephrotoxic (toxic to the kidneys) agents should be avoided in acute and chronic kidney failure, as continued use can cause permanent damage.

I just posted almost the same message and then came across this one. My Mom is having the same problem. She did not urinate at all today. She only has a few weeks to live (per Hospice) so I will not be doing any blood tests or anything else to her (less than 70 lbs). She only has two ice pops a day and a few sips of water a day. I was asking the same question is this normal towards the end?

quote:

Originally posted by va bch kat:
AL More,
Urination may occur even if someone is in end stage renal failure, the kidneys may not be filtering the toxins and cleaning the body although they continue to produce urine. The toxins build up in the body and that is what true renal failure is,and is usually not reverible, and is termed chronic renal failure A few simple blood tests can determine renal failure as it shows in the blood if the toxins are building up. With dehydration the lab tests may show a decrease in kidney function but are reversible with hydration and called acute renal failure. All nephrotoxic (toxic to the kidneys) agents should be avoided in acute and chronic kidney failure, as continued use can cause permanent damage.

What are nephrotoxic agents?

AL More,
nephrotoxic agents include certain classes of medication such as "nsaids" (Ibuprophen like meds, ie: Motrin, Aleve,Celebrex, Indocin etc)(Tylenol is safe for the kidneys, however bad for the liver if there is any liver problems, should be avoided) some antibiotics ex bactrim, vancomycin (levels need to be kept in therapuetic range) etc.. Contrast for CT scans, MRI's, heart caths..
For true chronic renal failure,there is dietary restrictions such as potassium, fluid restrictions etc..