Concerned about elderly MIL in hospital with recently diagnosed High Grade Diffuse B Cell Lymphoma

Hello, grateful for some advice please - questions at end. Sorry for the long bit below. My elderly MIL (in her seventies) was previously fit and well and living fully independently up until March/April this year. My partner is her only child and we fortunately live next door to her, and always have had a close relationship, and been supporting her daily, and on hand to be around 24/7, if necessary. From around April to May she declined severely - lost a lot of weight - and her appetite, lost her mobility totally, and very fatigued etc. We had taken her to her GP and local hospital for tests etc, and they suspected some form of cancer. We eventually took her to A and E around a month ago, on the advice of 111 as we were so concerned by her deterioration, and wanted to help her and ensure she was safe. The hospital kept her in as an inpatient, and around a week or two after her admission, a firm diagnosis of High Grade B Cell Diffuse Lymphoma was made (NHL). She has been offered and she and my partner gave consent re: hospital recommendation of treatment - mini-R-CHOP - six cycles (including chemo) and started her first cycle on 11 June. We think she is in the right place and glad she is able to get continuing support in hospital.

The hospital are anticipating that she will be able to have the remaining five cycles as an outpatient from home. Obviously while she and we are impressed, thankful, appreciative for all the amazing Oncology, Haematological, medical treatment, diagnosis, tests, monitoring, and nursing care that have taken place, and are very grateful that the hospital have offered her treatment, simultaneously quite concerned about the lack of phone communication and contact in the last two or so weeks from ward doctors and consultants or anyone re: her condition, results of tests and changes in her health and condition, especially as she approaches what they consider to be the final stages as they look to prepare OT-wise prior to starting formal discharge planning.

Although they have called us into the hospital once or twice, in the first two or so weeks, to speak to consultants, and get updates and diagnosis changes at critical junctures, which was good, provided clear and concise comms on her medical progress and situation, in the last two weeks, it has been really difficult and challenging to get any phone updates from ward doctors or consultants at the hospital, and they seem to want ultimately her to go home as soon as possible, whether she is fully ready or not.

She really wants to come home, given she cannot see family at all because of lockdown, and we are concerned that her mental health is suffering and she is having to go through a lot when feeling quite isolated, it is sometimes difficult to reach her on her mobile phone, and she has had to go through a lot of physically challenging medical treatment and tests on her own separated from family in an unfamiliar environment, she wants to come home and see family again - her grandchildren, especially our adult daughter are very close to her and she is missing family terribly, and is getting quite emotional a lot when talking to us on the phone. We are trying to help her keep positive and reassure her that it wonā€™t be too long before she is able to come home, with support. She is happy for the hospital to talk to both of us, has asked them to use me as a comms central point of contact for the family, to help support and coord. We both speak to her everyday, to see how she is, try and support her and ensure she has everything she needs in hospital.

There have been some conflicting communications as she tstarts the OT stages to her discharge planning, for her to go home. They were saying she was medically fit to discharge, via the OT, yesterday but then yesterday afternoon her oxygen saturation levels dropped to 92 percent - the threshold for taking action is 95 percent, and her blood pressure dropped (she had high blood pressure before going to hospital) and she felt weak and dizzy, and yesterday afternoon she was on oxygen as a precaution, she has had x rays to check if she has blood clots, or fluid in the lung which could compress the bottom of the lung and potentially affect the overall lung functionality, as this sort of occurance has happened previously within the last week, or week and a half. Her condition has been fluctuating a bit recently, when have phoned for updates, and have not remained consistent, in terms of reviewing the effects of the chemotherapy. Yesterday afternoon she was put on antibiotics, as a measure to address any potential infection, as precaution, and also an anti-coagulant drug as precaution, to head off the possitiblity of clots in the lung. Obviously while this could possibly be an effect of the chemotherapy she is undergoing for her Lymphoma, they are not entirely sure, and carrying out these measures and checks as a precaution, which she and we are all very grateful and appreciative, and thank them for doing this. We were concerned yesterday as we only found out about the change in her condition and the fact she was again on oxygen by accident, and neither the ward nor doctor contacted us to update - had to phone the ward to follow up.

We are glad they are not pushing for immediate discharge, although yesterday they said she was judged medically fit for discharge - with the only things left to do working with the OT to ensure she had a bed ready at home, and work out aids re: a care package (for limited reenablement). They havenā€™t given us a clear indication of timings - it may only be a week or may be longer, another week perhaps. The picture seems to change based on which ward doctor sees her, and there is no ultimate consistency, and we are often hearing things second hand, and family including my partner, not feeling fully involved. At the start of this week they gave my MIL the impression re: sending her home tommorow on 26 June, but the first we heard about it was from my MIL on the phone - but we hadnā€™t heard from anyone, including care package or discharge, and the doctor was apparently supposed to call but had not. Had to phone the doctor to make sense. As it turned out that was premature, but it was quite confusing, and all we want to do is work with the relevant teams at the hospital, to give my MIL the best situation and support, and work with them and her to support her coming home, but needed notice to do that properly for her. My partner is worried that they will press her and us for her to go home sooner than she is ready safely (because of cost grounds, and clearing hospitals re: COVID19) but while the family can understand why she wants to come home, my partner wants her to be as well and stable as possible, and she understands this too and wants whatever medical care and situation is sensible, as the current care and monitoring she is receiving can only be accessed in Hospital, and my partner would only feel comfortable about her returning home, re: her stability in terms of how she has responded to the first cycle chemo has been reviewed thoroughly enough for her to be discharged home with assurances, otherwise she might have to go back if she has a early setback.

She is not fully mobile and physical therapists have not managed to make as much progress as they want with her, with walking with a frame, as she is weak and frail from lack of eating, and sometimes scared of falling, when walking with a frame. Dieticians are also working with her. The impression we were given by the Haemotology Department (and Haemotology Chemo Nurse experts) in the chemo treatment regime that she is getting, is that it takes at least three to four weeks to effectively monitor the effects of the first cycle. She is making progress, in terms of her condition, but possibly not quite as much as they initially anticipated. We are grateful for the OT and physical therapy work and support they have so far provided.

The OT dept have contacted us this week to start planning re: home aids and limited care package - Enablement care (lasts from 1 - 6 weeks) - they think from how she has been progressing that she may not require the full six weeks, but they said they would only fund the first five days. Looks like the LA would fund the other period - the first six weeks of enablement care should be free (sometimes shared between the NHS and LA) but the OT gave the impression that she may be charged by the LA for the remainder. Nothing has been said about NHS Continuing Health Care. While we agree that Enablement care would give her the best chance of best independence and health prospects, best mental health, environment and wellbeing at home, is what she and family want, as she waits for her treatment dates to come when we will take her to the hospital for chemo, we are worried that should longer term care be needed, the NHS will fail to mention NHS CHC, or ignore her rights to be assessed for this, for her to be able to remain at home, if they donā€™t want to pay - and try and push her over to the LA, who would make her pay for care which she may not be required to pay for as she potentially has priority health needs (and cancer is classed as both a health condition and a disability).

My questions are:
Is the lack of contact from the hospital acceptable, or the disjointed nature of comms?. If not, what can be done to improve this?
Do she and we have the right to challenge discharge, if felt that not medically safe or appropriate to discharge at the time stated, and short further continuation needed, or measures in place at home not covering her full health needs? If so, who should we contact about this to challenge, and get put right?
What are her rights both to enablement care and funding, and also NHS Continuing Care (and assessment)?
Grateful for any views and input, either from members of the Blood Cancer UK chat community or those relevant members and experts of Blood Cancer UK team themselves. We appreciate your help, support and advice. Many thanks.

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Just to add, my MIL is a fantastic person, and a real rock for all of us, who has been really strong, and worked tremendously on her recovery, and is really deserving. We just want to reciprocate and support her, to recognise all she has contribute and how great she is. Obviously she and we recognise how fortunate she is not only to get treatment, but to have had such great treatment and care, especially since treatment for so many cancer patients who really need it is currently on hold or postponed, and the uncertainty causing so much anxiety and other distress to so many, re this - we hope that this situation resolves for as many as possible, as quickly as possible, and people get the medical help, support and treatment they need. Itā€™s just that the above has caused us all quite a lot of distress and anxiety and just wanted some advice from others, to best support my MIL and partner (and family). Thanks.

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Hi @Furrypet, a great big welcome to our forum and I often think it is sometimes so much harder for the carers as they are so evolved emotionally, physically and practically and they are trying to make decisions for the best for another person. Your MIL is really lucky to have you all.
You ask questions at the end of your post and I do not have the medical know how to answer you, all I can go by is my experiences and learning for me over the last 16 yrs.
What I would say is firstly I presume your MIL is capable of making her own decisions and choices, although she is happy for your inputs.
I have found sometimes I have had to ring the clinicians and not wait for them to contact me, the NHS is hectic place.
I have heard it is thought to be best for people to be discharged as soon as possible because usually their home environment is thought to be usually psychologically better, better for someone to keep/improve muscle strength and there is less likelihood of getting other conditions. This is often with OT packages.
As for continuing care packages I believe perhaps you have to really say what you feel is needed. As you live next door it might be felt that you will be providing the care and your MIL might also feel happier to having you provide it than carers. it can be very difficult, as an example food and of course her eating will so important.
Perhaps a chat with the MIL would help to ensure you are all speaking with one voice.
I have definitely got more assertive over the years and I make sure I write down all my fears, thoughts, feelings, medical issues and practicalities to make sure I cover everything I want to with medical or social care people.
Of course this has also come at a time of Covid-19 which does not help.
We are here to support you and you can contact the wonderful Blood Cancer UK Support Services Team on 0808 2080 888 10am-7pm Monday-Friday and 10am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday or via email at support@bloodcancer.org.uk.
The other important thing is that you all take care of yourselves otherwise you cannot care for someone else.
Please keep posting.

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Welcome @Furrypet. I am glad you have found us during this worrying time. Firstly, I am pleased that your MIL got a diagnosis and is also having treatment. I had a hospital stay as the first coronavirus cases were being admitted to my local hospital, just before lockdown, for an emergency operation. Hospital was put in lockdown 4 days before the rest of the country. I know that initially they were juggling wards so that some were empty for coronavirus admissions, and they were also trying to get us home asap as our safety was uppermost.
I think that unless there is what doctors might call a major change they do not call. As the consultant does not make these calls it will be one of his team, hence speaking to different people. Does your MIL have a Clinical Nurse Specialist that you can speak to?
I know that having been a patient we sometimes only hang on to bits of information that we want to hear, like a discharge date, but maybe donā€™t ā€˜hearā€™ the conditions attached. The doctor might say "We hope to discharge you onā€¦, " but we donā€™t hear the ā€œWe hope toā€¦ā€ Does that make sense?
I think you would be within your rights to voice your concerns about whether discharge is safe, giving your reasons. I cannot help with rights to enablement care and funding though. I donā€™t know whether you might be able to apply for financial help through the DWP.
I wish you all well, and as @Erica has written, the support line is also there for you to chat to

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I definitely agree about calling the Hospital. You could start by calling the ward and asking to speak to the nurse in charge of her cars and then ask how to contact the OT. It is all too easy in hospitals today to want to discharge someone as soon as they can walk to the toilet. And of course it is important to get people home as soon as possible. Iā€™m not quite clear if you will be forming a bubble with her or if she has to be alone on discharge. Thatā€™s something to discuss as obviously there is a risk from any contact with someone who isnā€™t themselves shielding but equally there is at least a small risk in hospital though I know they are working hard to minimise that. Itā€™s great you want to be involved with her. And it is normal to do chemo as an outpatient. I do remember my own chemo and being quite weak at the beginning and after the first cycle despite being a young man (well in my 40s). For me at least as the cancer was treated I got stronger. I hope the same is true for your MIL (took me a while to realise what that stood for!). Definitely worth making sure she has some simple exercises to do as building up strength is really important. Itā€™s so nice that she has caring people like you to be involved in her care.

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Any update for us @Furrypet ? I really hope this is resolved by now.

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@Erica @Pisces56 @Adrian We hope youā€™re all doing okay? How are things?

@Furrypet How have you been doing?

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All ok here. Hubby been shopping today, and we are going to have a prosecco afternoon tea for a special treat. Had a long chat with a neighbour from our separate drives this morningā€¦even the rain didnā€™t stop us. Hope everyone else is ok

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Oooooww, @Pisces56, @SuBloodcancerUK, @Adrian and @Furrypet, @Pisces56 that prosecco afternoon tea sounds brilliant, you should send your husband shopping more often, even if perhaps he spends more. That chatting face to face (at a distance) with someone else, (no offence to my hubby) sounds really appealing, I think that is what I am missing the most. Plumber here at the moment so I am hold up elsewhere in the flat.

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G is very good at shopping, having fended for himself from 17, then looking after family when I was having treatment, and while I went into lockdown. He is more organised than I am, and always makes a list. I suggested he added strawberry preserve, clotted cream and scones to the list today. He probably spends less than I would, but we have croissants and chocolates in the house.
Hope the plumbing job is sorted and didnā€™t break the bank

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@Pisces56 goodness I am feeling very hungry after reading your message! haha Itā€™s so good to hear that you have so much support from G. Hope you have both been okay?

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