What is the outlook for my aunt with Kidney disease?My Aunt is 94 living in assisted living. She recently has gone completely blind due to macular degeneration and has additional problem with her kidney. She has been on espogin for years having a shot once a month for anemia. Last week her creatine level is 2.6 and BUN was listed as higher than normal but I can't remember the number. She has alot of trouble with edema in legs and she said the doctor this is normal. Her legs were swollen so much they were red like a bad sun burn. I was concerned about an infection but was told this is normal. My Aunt is miserable and the doctor told us he cannot increase her water pill due to kidney problems. One of the nurses told me she is starting to fail and we should tell the doctor to just make her comfortable. But when I asked the doctor how long someone can go on like this he told me people live for many many years like this.
This is awful does anyone know what this sounds like. I told the nursing home my aunt want to die at home and my husband and I would like to take a leave so she can go home if she is failing. It seems like the assisted living is not really supporting us in this and doesn't want us to pull her out.
Does anyone know what signs I would see if she is failing from CHF or Kidney disease we can only get limited time off work on family leave for her care
Posted by Van Bo
This is not good at her age. The edema in the legs can be from Peripheral Vascular Disease, which comes from inactivity or resting, and not exercising, or getting the blood circulating. It is also water retention, and a partial gout. The red color, and often cracking is normal.
If renal failure, some cortisones should be taken, but they produce more water in the long run.
Bladder infection backs up through ureters into the kidneys. Again due to being bedridden.
Kidney function is obviously an issue and they are failing gradually, leading to glomerulornephritis, and she eventually may require dialysis, if the edema doesn't get her first, or move into her lungs, and chest cavity around the heart.
She should get B12 shots, and some nutritional boost, but not weight-producing. Also, I hope that all bloodwork has ruled out liver failure, hepatitis forms, and too much uric acid.
You ARE seeing sign of Kidney disease, glomerulonephritis. There is or was an infection at the kidneys which produced the damage, in addition to deterioration. She needs chemotherapy, same as cancer patients.
Posted by Da Bomb
Does your aunt want to go home with you? She will require alot of care. You are better off to have her stay where she is and visit
as much as possible, unless she can get home care to assist her.
Make sure she is getting up daily and keeps her legs elevated when she is sitting. It is important to keep her active.
There is no way to guess how long she may live. I suggest you do as the nurse suggests. Have had many yrs. experience with the sick elderly. good luck.
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