This week, I thought my mother will close her eyes forever. She got a bad case of shingles and a terrible nerve attacks in her head. She was literally going through living hell.

Her doctor is on vacation, so the replacement doctor came. Instead of getting better, my mother was getting worse; accompanied by excruciating pain. She didn’t eat, drink or sleep. She begged me to bring her to Switzerland. Euthanasia is allowed there. The nurses were snippy and impatient with me. When I asked them about having the doctor check on her again, they told me this is the natural course of this illness, and that all the patients suffer for at least 10 days.

Well, today I called another emergency doctor, and sent the medical list to a good doctor friend of mine. Both of them confirmed that my mother was getting a double overdose of medications! The pain medication caused her stomach aches and constant need to throw up! The doctor literally said, this dosage of medication would have been a sure killer.

He gave her a shot, canceled half the medication, and within a couple of hours, my mother was beginning to recover.

I am furious at the other doctor for not even taking the time to check my mother’s medication list. She almost killed my mom!! Tomorrow I am calling a lawyer, and want to see if I can sue this so called physician. My heart goes out to all those senior patients that don’t have family, to double check on how they are being treated. I hope through suing this doctor I will open up some eyes to malpractice going on in senior homes.

So sad this has happened.Shingles can be extremely painful as you describe.I had this and can confirm this personally.
Was she given antiviral in time to shorten ythe attack?
Yes
what do the elderly infirm people go through if we are not watchdogs.I found unacceptable practice where a decimal point was misread and five times the ammount was given to a loved one...they protested to no avail..and again it was a doctor friend who challenged...but everyone does not have that as backup..so I am on red alert when others give medication.
agency staff cause me the most concern where no affiliation exists and are paid by the hour..gone the next night
so when any family/friend is in a residence or ward I vist and stay around..
when a nurse is helful I show appreciation and know this is like barter...but its the loved one that matters.

MA, when you had shingles did you vomit from the medicine they gave you? How long did it take till you recovered? I have heard some people continue to have pain the rest of their lives. My mother complains of terrible shoulder pain as well. I think it's all connected in the nerve system.

No, she wasn't given any antiviral to shorten the attacks. They should have treated her as soon as the first sign of shingles appeared. They didn't.

Honestly, the only real good care is being cared by a loved one. And maybe that isn't even the case, since it is a task that can be overwhelming.

EW, I'm so sorry this was done to your mother. She must have been in agony to ask to go to Switzerland. I feel so bad for her. I have heard that shingles can lay dormant in the nervous system for decades, and then flare up, and sometimes cause permanent damage. Take care, Lynn

Omgosh, EW, that was horrible! I am still catching up with topics so I am not sure what other illness your mother had. But I agree, seniors and others are given too many meds. My own mom takes a bunch, but we have cut that down a little. Big hugs!!

Cindy

No vomiting but weals around an area following a certain nerve.on my trunk.These weals were two and half inches wide and went way around me.There was a pattern left of small red spots for a long time fading in time.
I whimpered with the pain.used calunda (marigold) ointment and a capsium cream..think that is from peppers.loose clothing no elastic..so watch if she is wearing a girdle.
depending on where the shingles is is important so observe.Nerves near the eyes and head would maybe make her vomit with the pain.

in times of stress shingles can reoccur.Think neuralgic pain and that is the nearest.
the antivirual must be given at onset.
she wont be out of the woods yet so take care that she is having best support.
people I know describe shingles as being as I tell here
I whimpered with the pain like a small puppy off and on

Oh MA, my heart goes out to you; thinking of the pain you've gone through. I think being old and suffering is just terrible. Here's my Mom already full of the 'normal' aches and pains, and then this. I so wish I could carry this pain for her. It's heart breaking to see an old frail person trembling from pain. Her nerve pain, on a scale from 0-10, is at times a 10.
Dear Lord, why?
Yes, Lynn, shingels is brutal.

There are foods which assist the healing process...google for naturopath cures.I believe these food heal the root problem always remembering chickenpox residue is the sourch of shingles.
In my fifties...I had mumps and shingles..both supposedly childhood illness.
Looking back I see my immune system was wonky...thanks to seeking and finding a naturopath and chiropractice I have journeyed to a balance that works.
what medications a person is on can influence naturopath help especially warfin...so a professional is best.herbal does not always mean safe...

Those who neglect to assist a resident in care are very good at grouping together in defence.Due I think to being practiced and proficiant at covering their backs..if they did the right thing then good enery would exist.
Wish I could chum you to the next visit...looking and sensing what is happening..

EW, my heart goes out to you and your mom. Shingles is extremely painful. I had it while in high school and let me tell ya, it hurts with every breath because the pain is so deep. But don't worry about catching it. It can spread on her body, but I don't believe it can spread to you.

You are absolutely right about the elderly and medical care. We've had similar instances with my FIL. That's why we stop in any hour of the day. The night he had to go to the emergency room because he had pnemonia, he'd already been given all his night time meds and it was way too early to have done so. I think they just put them all together so it was one less time they'd have to go in his room. Ross was furious because one of them is to calm him for sleep. No wonder he sleeps early in the night, then is awake later in the night. Now it all makes sense.

Also, had Ross not gone to visit that night, we wonder how his dad would have survived. Didn't anyone see how distressed his breathing was? To give them credit, they had done a chest x-ray earlier, but were waiting for the results. Meantime, he could hardly breathe. We'd given them an inhaler when he was admitted months ago, but it's no longer on file. Maybe it expired, but don't you think they'd order another one, or tell us to do so? And this is one of the best possible places he could be. We are usually most happy with the care, but there's nothing like a loved one hovering the elderly for their best care.

How's Mom today, and how are you?

EW...good grief...as if you don't have enough to deal with...now your precious Mom. I'm so sorry to hear about all this but thank the Lord she has you. I wish there was something I could do but hope my prayers will help. Take deep breaths and will you let us know what the attorney says? It makes you wonder how many people pass away at the hands of nursing homes and care givers.

MS...so sorry to hear about what you went through...my goodness...life can throw some really tough trials in our way, can't they?