Went to see Dad on Saturday and he was sick with what I hope is a cold. He was running a slight fever and was really congested and hoarse. I called the nurse yesterday to see how he was doing and she said he was doing slightly better. He sounded better when I called him. I was just worried about the flu going around early this year, and I don't think he can get a shot as long as he is ill. Saw several others snuffling around the NH. Is anyone else's LO sick out there in the ALF's or NH's?

I think that I would ask for a chest xray my mom got pneumonia so easily.

I was thinking about it. He was still eating but his primary complaint was a sinus headache. I just let him lay back in recliner for most of the visit. I could tell he wasn't well. I will follow up today with his PCP. I was just wondering if anyone else's LO was unwell.

I know that where I work we have had some reportede cases of the H1N1 and I don't want to pass that along. I seldom get ill except for my digestive issues and, well, the fact that I'm crazy... I did wonder if this were the start of something bigger and what I would do if faced with this diagnosis.

Hence the reason I stayed away from visiting my mother in her new ALF this past weekend. I couldn't risk getting the residents there sick.

This is the time of year for colds. Hopefully it is just a cold.

Grandpa is in an NH. We've been fighting an ongoing battle with a C.Diff infection but I know grandpa had his flu shot last weekend.

Last year grandpa had a few colds. The docs did frequent chest xrays and kept a tight check on things to prevent pnuemonia

I hope your dad is feeling better soon!

Andrea

I am going through this exact thing right now with my mom too! She has been coughing for a week and when she does, you can hear the congestion. They were doing breathing treatments on her, but that hasn't helped at all. One of the nurses got a stethoscope and checked to see if she could hear anything, but said she didn't, even though she heard my mom cough.I'm going to insist that the NH has an x-ray done on her because I'm afraid she may get pheumonia.

She can get a flu shot. Ask the NH for a consent form so she can get it. I was told that is all that's needed.

Does your dad suffer from allergies? I ask because you're from Texas - and while I am not sure where your town is .. if you are in a warm enough location your dad could be feeling the impact of fall allergies. I am very allergic to bermuda grass and as the landscapers begin to cut back summer grass for winter lawn prep, I am misserable for about 6 weeks (as is my mom who has PPA and FTD). Headache, sinus pressure, can have a "wooly" chest in the morning and just a slight fever. Just another thought..

Bz

Yeah, I think that a lot of it is allergies. It is ragweed season in Texas and the recent rains we have had have made the stuff over six feet tall in places. I've been a little stuffy myself. I'm just paranoid, I guess, that with all this flu going around, and with the fact that he can't take all OTC meds, (his doctor did get my consent to give him some decongestant that will not interfere with his medications), I just don't like to see him this way. He's generally very healthy. I've never known him to get any sort of chest congestion.

This whole AD thing has me paranoid that any little thing can morph into something huge...

Hi,

My mom has a cold now and is coughing but a few months ago she was coughing and the NH said her cough was from her aspirating food. If your dad continues to have issues ask about a swallow test.

Hugs,

KK