My Aunt is 87 years old and is in the hospital with an infection. She is on a saline IV drip and has had no liquids or nutrition by mouth for 12 days. How long can she survive like this? Also, can there be damage to the brain due to lack of nutrition?
There are some good answers, but I feel details have been left out. The hospital will not let her have anything. For over a week all we have heard is that nutrition is not important and that all they were concerned about is getting rid of the infection. The saline drip has no nutrients and no dextrose; just salt and water. We have been allowed to give her tiny straws full of soda, but that's it, and not that often. Maybe two onces total in eight days. She has been hungry, & has indicated so, but there is nothing we can do without getting kicked out of the hospital. The doctor has to order nutrients for her, & he has not. We would love to be able to give her something. Also, though it has been touch and go, as far as we can tell she is not dying. She was always a strong woman before this. Stronger than me & I'm a young person. My concern is that she is starving & that this will affect her mind.
There are some good answers, but I feel details have been left out. The hospital will not let her have anything. For over a week all we have heard is that nutrition is not important and that all they were concerned about is getting rid of the infection. The saline drip has no nutrients and no dextrose; just salt and water. We have been allowed to give her tiny straws full of soda, but that's it, and not that often. Maybe two onces total in eight days. She has been hungry, & has indicated so, but there is nothing we can do without getting kicked out of the hospital. The doctor has to order nutrients for her, & he has not. We would love to be able to give her something. Also, though it has been touch and go, as far as we can tell she is not dying. She was always a strong woman before this. Stronger than me & I'm a young person. My concern is that she is starving & that this will affect her mind.