My MIL has been in hospital coming up to 4 weeks now. She had a stent fitted around 1 week ago as the two feeding tubes they'd attempted failed. She is finally eating after almost 12 weeks without food, and is gaining weight. She had dropped to under 6 stone at one point.
Although her weight gain is positive her mobility has gone down hill. My MIL hasn't left her hospital bed in weeks, not to even use the toilet. We have been trying to get her to move more, even just sitting in her chair, but she hasn't been willing to.
Her legs have since swollen which is causing her some discomfort, she is also on oxygen as her haemoglobin levels keep dropping.
Nurses haven't really been doing anything to try and mobilise her, and it took until this weekend for a Doctor to actually say they need to get her moving.
I've taken in some massage balls for her to roll her feet on to try and help the circulation, but we feel a bit helpless.
Can anyone suggest how we might be able to motivate her more? We're concerned that if she continues this way she may never get home.
The chemo hasn't started either, which is why we're trying to get her stronger in the hope she can come home and she starts chemo in better health.
It really is difficult watching your loved one struggle so much and feeling like there's not much we can do to help.
