OT: I am worried about my father in law.

[jennyleigh1975]

My husband had to take my Father in law to the Emergency Room this past Thurs. night. he began feeling bad on Tues. He had body aches and fever. By Thurs. when we took him to the ER his fever was 104 and he was dehydrated and wasnt even lucid. He didnt even know who had taken him to the ER until they had hydrated him and given him some antibiotics. He was that out of it. Well, after the IV hydration and the antibiotics, they sent him home. He has medication he is taking and they also told him to take Motrin for his fever. He was diagnosed with Pneumonia. He is still not doing well at all. He is still "out of it" for lack of a better phrase. He's talking, but half of what he says makes no sense. Then, this morning, he's had blood in his stool, AND to top things off, he is an alcoholic. He doesnt think he has a problem, but he does. He has even started coming home from work early so he can get a drink, ect ........ His drinking has really gotten bad in the past year. He has been drinking this whole time he has been sick. We know he needs to go back to the ER, but we cant get him to. We may have to call the ambulance if he gets any worse. I just dont know what to do. I know this is getting serious though.

[crimgoddess]

Jenny-


Sounds like a serious situation. Do his doctors know about his alcohol problem? Because if it is as serious as you state, it may effect the course of treatment- antibiotics and alcohol don't really mix (I have been told that in many cases, alcohol can neutralize the effect of antibiotics). That, and it may not 'just' be pneumonia that's got him so sick.


If his fever is so high that he is not lucid, and thereis blood in his stool-he seriously needs to be back in the hospital. Does he have a family doctor? If you call them and tell them exactly what you have said here, they may consent to seeing him and admitting him to hospital if they deem necessary (that and your Father-in-law may be more open to og seeing them). If not, I seriously think you need to get him to a doctor or hospital using any means necessary.Even if it turns out that they send him back home with different antibiotics- at least you know you did your best.


Good luck with everything


*amber*

[jennyleigh1975]

He absolutely refuses to go back to the doctor. We have called the ER and of course, all they say is "bring him in" I talked to my mother in law a little while ago and see said that he was awake now and that he had eaten and taken his medicine. She also said that she has gotten rid of all of his alcohol. Hopefully that will help. We shall see .........