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But do take the advice of her doctor.
Perhaps they could test her as an outpatient? I’m not sure from your post if she lives in a private residence or is in a facility. I recently needed blood work for my aunt and asked her doctor to order HH so they could draw blood and other issues. She has had UTI tests through HH as well. So perhaps that is an option for your mom?
I have been in the ER and hospitalized twice during Covid. I felt very safe and all precautions were taken. Everyone including me wore masks. My husband was not allowed to go with me but I preferred that as I didn’t want him exposed to anything.
I was tested for Covid (negative) and your mom probably will be as well.
I think the main thing is find a way to get her the medical care she needs. It sounds like you have had plenty of experience with UTIs so you know they can be fatal.
If her doctor is aware of the frequent UTI can you contact the doctor and possibly get a prescription so you can care for this at home?
(I don't like to get up early, but I do now just to avoid all the people who are noncompliant and won't wear face masks.)
When her nurse arrives, she may be able to take a sample and deliver it to the doctor's lab; that way you can avoid going out. She could also get a script if Mom does have a UTI. (I've only had one and don't recall what antibiotic I might have been given).
Also, do you have cranberry juice? If not, get some and keep it on hand.
She also gets Mac Degeneration treatments 4x/year. The place is a long drive (not a lot of places do these, and it was in the area we had lived for years, but move to MC made it a long trip!) and requires we transport. The medical facility delayed her visit one month (April -> May) and then instituted strict protocols to enable them to continue necessary treatments.
For OP (or anyone else in similar situation), you are aware that she has UTIs often. I would recommend you purchase some OTC UTI test kits and check her on a regular basis - don't wait for the tell-tale signs, as it would already be running in her system. Also, those "signs" can change over time. Mom's first UTI after moving to MC resulted in severe sun-downing (she'd never had those before.) The next 2 showed up as night time bed wetting.
If you test her, maybe once/week or every other week, you could catch these sooner. Most likely she would need to have a real urine test done (culture is best) before Rx, but if doc is good/responsive, he could order Rx after you get positive test and also order a sample to test (hopefully they get sample before you start the meds!) This way the UTI would not get out of control and require a hospital or even ER visit/stay.
Even better would be to have her on a longer course of medication. One urologist told me that if UTIs were frequent, it would need maybe a 3-6 month course of antibiotics (in either case, be sure to include some good "biotics" in her food as antibiotics can mess up the digestive system!)
So, ask doc if you can do these regular test and get quick response if you detect a UTI. Best to nip it early and avoid the need for ER or hospital stay altogether, with or without worries about the virus! You don't mention dementia, but if she has this, the back and forth to ER/hospital can wreak havoc as well!
Now I certainly do understand that in your mother's case, it may be too late for those suggestions if she already has a U.T.I.
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