Hello, my mother is 77 and will be 78 in May. She is still mobile and mentally stable. She has horrid anxiety, but still can do all ADL by herself. My question is she coughs so bad at night. This has been going on for two years to the point it keeps her awake. She can't sleep but about two hours at night. She does not smoke. She went to the doctor and was cleared of any UTI but she is horrified at the thought of getting any tests (the doctor suggested a urologist and she kind of flipped).
I think she might have some sleep disorder. I will make suggestions folks. I love Mom a lot and am more fortunate than others that she can do a lot. She does get really bad back pain after being up about four hours though.
You may not be surprised to know that this nighttime cough thing isn't unusual in later years, and sometimes without a diagnosis, but you do want to rule out things that are treatable, like CHF which can come also with laying flat and some fluid problems. Is she at all SOB when walking distances now?
She does need to be diagnosed. You really cannot afford to get yourself all wound up in the whole "illness journey " of someone again, DoggieMom. And I would highly suggest that you rethink living with mom. This will lead to that, and it never ends, only worsens.
About her constant anxiety - anxiety is needless, unproductive suffering. Hope she'll agree to see her physician to get a RX for a anti-anxiety medication. Once this RX kicks in she should be more agreeable about medical testing.
I have cough variant asthma and before I was diagnosed, it would act up at night.
She's in need of medical attention, anxiety meds and a mental health professional at this point in her life. You can lead a horse to water.......
Is her lack of sleep from the cough ramping up her anxiety or causing it? Have you discussed anti anxiety meds with her doctors? Have you tried raising the head of her bed?
Have a serious talk with her doctor and discuss options.