When life gives you thrush, look for the robin!
Theme: The Burnout
Quick Take:
the perils of getting old and the joys of being feathered.
from spluttering to chirping - another week in Milly’s world.
a bit of a mouthful, a pain in the butt and a little red breast!
Dementia and old age have caused Milly a few problems this week, but a little robin brings us both some light when we're feeling a bit deflated.
It's funny how, when you're caring for someone in their nineties, the smallest things can become quite big events. A cough, difficulty swallowing, an upset tummy or an unexpected infection can suddenly take over your days. And just when you think things are settling down, something else seems to pop up.
This week has been a bit of a mixture of all those things.
The Swallow
As people reach a very old age, swallowing can become increasingly difficult. The muscles in the tongue and throat can weaken, making it harder to move food and drink safely towards the stomach rather than the airway. Add in a dry mouth, maybe caused by medication, difficulties chewing especially if teeth have been lost and eating and drinking can become quite a challenge.
Tick, tick, tick and tick for Milly!
Now add dementia into the mix and swallowing smoothly? Well, it ain't easy!
She regularly coughs, splutters, sneezes and struggles to catch her breath in amongst it all. Something that most of us take completely for granted can become a daily worry.
The last couple of weeks have been particularly difficult. Her cough worsened and, following medical assessment, she needed a course of antibiotics. Thankfully, she's picked up a bit this week, which is a relief.
But that brings me to another of the little complications that can come with antibiotics, particularly in older people.
The Thrush
When someone is very elderly and living with dementia, their body can be less resilient when faced with infections and medication. Antibiotics can also upset the natural balance of bacteria in the body, sometimes allowing thrush to develop.
And that's exactly what happened to Milly.
First came the upset tummy, then the thrush. Bloody hell, it's a nuisance! For both of us.
It's another discomfort for her to cope with, another thing to keep an eye on and another little addition to the already rather lengthy list of things that need managing.
Thankfully, our wonderful GP practice came to the rescue. I submitted an online request for an assessment and, within a few hours, they'd got back to me. A few hours after that, Milly had the appropriate medication.
Sometimes you really do appreciate the people who make caring just that little bit easier. A responsive GP practice is worth its weight in gold, especially when you're trying to manage the ups and downs of caring for someone at home.
The Robin
And then there's the robin.
Our little visitor. We call him Daddy, after my father, and he has become something of a welcome little companion. He pops by the window and, whenever he does, everything seems to pause for a moment.
Milly and I watch him come close, and for those few minutes the coughs, the medication, the worry and the endless round of caring all seem to fade into the background.
There's something rather lovely about it.
This week has brought us the Swallow, the Thrush and the Robin. Two have been a nuisance, but one has been an absolute joy.
And I'll take that little bit of joy wherever I can find it.