She had a heart valve put in 2010. Not sure if she got an infection or something else but it has some scar tissue on it and its not working very well. Somehow it wasn't caught. She experienced difficulty breathing recently and went to see the doc. They admitted her and found fluid in the lungs. She didn't show any signs of infection but come to find out her kidneys are not working well. One is shut down and the other is in bad shape. I guess a piece of the stuff on the valve broke lose and the kidneys picked it up. She is in her 80s and after her heart op in 2010 developed diabetes. She is a slight women, not heavy at all. Never was. She has always taken good care of herself. Doesn't smoke, has a glass of wine or 2 at dinner. Never ate processed food - big garden. I guess she had bad genes but an 80 year run is pretty good.
Doctors wanted her kidneys to straighten out before they go in to repair the valve but she is far to weak. They are not going to put her on dialysis. I guess there are a few other things now emerging. Not sure why but apparently she is too weak for it. My friend is talking to the doctors about options but it seems like the only one is Hospice.
Her husband who is also in his 80s has shown signs of dementia. His short term memory is fading. He has to be told repeatedly about his wife. He knows she is in the hospital and very bad but he keeps on asking when she is coming home. It is absolutely heartbreaking.
This is the death spiral
Its sad. Its taking a lot out of my friend.