Guest guest Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Well it looks like mom is being well cared for and it seems she is comfortable right now. Still we will keep you and mom and your family on our prayer list.....keep the updates coming! Suzanne Re: My MomTo: BTVC-SCD > > Mom has been getting more and more fragile -- > after the Hurricane Gustav evacuation last > September, she basically came home and sat in her > La-Z-Boy, and refused to get out of it. Now she can't.> > I had gone over to take a belt I ordered with > handles on it to assist Dad in supporting her to the bathroom or > whatever.> Mom was pretty disconnected from reality, and > then started gasping so we threw her in car and got her to the > emergency room.> > They got her stabilized, and put her on a Bipap > which was the first cousin to mine to help regulate her breathing.> > My father was utterly exhausted, having had 3 > hours sleep a night for most of a week. (He > hadn't even had a shower or shaved: my usually > impeccable father looked downright scruffy.) I > threw Dad out to go get some rest.> > "I'll set my alarm for 4:30..." (this is around 9:30p)> > "Dad, the earliest any doctors are going to be > making rounds is after the nurses' shift change around 7a. You > need rest."> > "Oh. Well, I suppose I could get myself a Burger > King Breakfast Sandwich on the way up..." (see me > shudder at the thought, but the way things have > been going, that blasted BK fast food sandwich > was likely the best meal Dad has had with the > exception of the pork roast, and the grilled fish > I took over to him.) "...and they don't open until 7a...."> > "Good. Then the absolute EARLIEST I'll expect to > see you is 7:30." (He got there around 8:15, > having gotten a shower, and shaved, and looking > much more himself. He said he remembers coming > home -- and he was driving very carefully -- and > sitting down on the edge of the bed. He said he > remembers his head hitting the pillow. And that was it.)> > I was there all night -- got home around 9a, made > a whole BUNCH of phone calls, then crashed for a few hours.> > I'm probably not going to get much sleep tonight > or tomorrow. I need to talk to her attending > physician so I can discuss some of my concerns > with her -- Dad is apt to leave things out, or, > because he is so close to the situation, may not observe some things.> > Mom's blood work shows that she apparently had > another heart attack. Her sixth. Probability of > additional liver and kidney. They'll be testing for that tomorrow.> > We may have to look at some assisted living for > them -- which will be very difficult because Mom > gets really agitated if she doesn't have her "stuff."> > Dinner tonight: Beef & bok choy with a > garlic-ginger-mustard brown sauce. About 20 minutes to fix. > Recipe later.> > > > — Marilyn> New Orleans, Louisiana, USA> Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001> Darn Good SCD Cook> No Human Children> Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Marilyn, You have my empathy and sympathy for this situation with your Mom. Our family also had to deal with similar issues 3 years ago. It is very difficult emotionally but, it is hardest on the caretaker, your father. As you mentioned, it is taking it's toll on him as well. It was the same for my father as well. You are lucky that you live close--I lived 4 hours away and this made it harder on Dad. The nice thing about assisted living is that you get to bring your 'stuff' with you--they try to recreate the home environment as much as possible. My thoughts are with all of you tonight. Terry Re: My Mom Mom has been getting more and more fragile -- after the Hurricane Gustav evacuation last September, she basically came home and sat in her La-Z-Boy, and refused to get out of it. Now she can't.I had gone over to take a belt I ordered with handles on it to assist Dad in supporting her to the bathroom or whatever. Mom was pretty disconnected from reality, and then started gasping so we threw her in car and got her to the emergency room.They got her stabilized, and put her on a Bipap which was the first cousin to mine to help regulate her breathing. My father was utterly exhausted, having had 3 hours sleep a night for most of a week. (He hadn't even had a shower or shaved: my usually impeccable father looked downright scruffy.) I threw Dad out to go get some rest. "I'll set my alarm for 4:30..." (this is around 9:30p)"Dad, the earliest any doctors are going to be making rounds is after the nurses' shift change around 7a. You need rest.""Oh. Well, I suppose I could get myself a Burger King Breakfast Sandwich on the way up..." (see me shudder at the thought, but the way things have been going, that blasted BK fast food sandwich was likely the best meal Dad has had with the exception of the pork roast, and the grilled fish I took over to him.) "...and they don't open until 7a....""Good. Then the absolute EARLIEST I'll expect to see you is 7:30." (He got there around 8:15, having gotten a shower, and shaved, and looking much more himself. He said he remembers coming home -- and he was driving very carefully -- and sitting down on the edge of the bed. He said he remembers his head hitting the pillow. And that was it.)I was there all night -- got home around 9a, made a whole BUNCH of phone calls, then crashed for a few hours.I'm probably not going to get much sleep tonight or tomorrow. I need to talk to her attending physician so I can discuss some of my concerns with her -- Dad is apt to leave things out, or, because he is so close to the situation, may not observe some things.Mom's blood work shows that she apparently had another heart attack. Her sixth. Probability of additional liver and kidney. They'll be testing for that tomorrow.We may have to look at some assisted living for them -- which will be very difficult because Mom gets really agitated if she doesn't have her "stuff."Dinner tonight: Beef & bok choy with a garlic-ginger-mustard brown sauce. About 20 minutes to fix. Recipe later. - Marilyn New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001 Darn Good SCD Cook No Human Children Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Oh, my Marilyn! I do not see how you do it. I am so glad that you are on the SCDiet for energy!! I do hope that you will also take care of yourself. I am so sorry that your mother is not well. I hope that your father will be well. I took care of my mother and know what it is like for your. Blessings all around._________________________________________________Loving Care Gay Surgery '75, CD '94,SCD '97, No meds. '98 To: BTVC-SCD Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 8:46:39 PMSubject: Re: My Mom Mom has been getting more and more fragile -- after the Hurricane Gustav evacuation last September, she basically came home and sat in her La-Z-Boy, and refused to get out of it. Now she can't.I had gone over to take a belt I ordered with handles on it to assist Dad in supporting her to the bathroom or whatever. Mom was pretty disconnected from reality, and then started gasping so we threw her in car and got her to the emergency room.They got her stabilized, and put her on a Bipap which was the first cousin to mine to help regulate her breathing. My father was utterly exhausted, having had 3 hours sleep a night for most of a week. (He hadn't even had a shower or shaved: my usually impeccable father looked downright scruffy.) I threw Dad out to go get some rest. "I'll set my alarm for 4:30..." (this is around 9:30p)"Dad, the earliest any doctors are going to be making rounds is after the nurses' shift change around 7a. You need rest.""Oh. Well, I suppose I could get myself a Burger King Breakfast Sandwich on the way up..." (see me shudder at the thought, but the way things have been going, that blasted BK fast food sandwich was likely the best meal Dad has had with the exception of the pork roast, and the grilled fish I took over to him.) "...and they don't open until 7a....""Good. Then the absolute EARLIEST I'll expect to see you is 7:30." (He got there around 8:15, having gotten a shower, and shaved, and looking much more himself. He said he remembers coming home -- and he was driving very carefully -- and sitting down on the edge of the bed. He said he remembers his head hitting the pillow. And that was it.)I was there all night -- got home around 9a, made a whole BUNCH of phone calls, then crashed for a few hours.I'm probably not going to get much sleep tonight or tomorrow. I need to talk to her attending physician so I can discuss some of my concerns with her -- Dad is apt to leave things out, or, because he is so close to the situation, may not observe some things.Mom's blood work shows that she apparently had another heart attack. Her sixth. Probability of additional liver and kidney. They'll be testing for that tomorrow.We may have to look at some assisted living for them -- which will be very difficult because Mom gets really agitated if she doesn't have her "stuff."Dinner tonight: Beef & bok choy with a garlic-ginger-mustard brown sauce. About 20 minutes to fix. Recipe later. — Marilyn New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001 Darn Good SCD Cook No Human Children Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 We will have some tough decisions in the not-too-distant future Hi Marilyn, Had to make these same decisions for my mom and dad. It's never easy! I had a one year old and a two year old at the time and the whole situation broke my heart!! Do the best you can and follow your heart. I'll pray for you and write your name (including your husband and parents) in our church prayer book. Take care of yourself too! Pat Check all of your email inboxes from anywhere on the web. Try the new Email Toolbar now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 At 11:02 AM 4/27/2009, you wrote: This must be so difficult for all of you. My prayers are with you and your family. I hope you find peace and rest today:o) We all care very much, (and all), All prayers and good thoughts gratefully accepted. Last night was better. They'd put Mom on some Ambien when she left the hospital because it appears she may (in part) have something called Sundown Syndrome, where the person becomes very agitated at night. Well, if it's possible to have an anomalous reaction to a drug, Mom will have it -- and did. Hallucinations, agitation, disorientation. She literally screamed all night. And grabbed me, at one point and pulled me off balance, and now my hip is killing me. Dad and I decided to skip the Ambien last night, and although she was restless, waking every 10-15 minutes, she was not so disoriented, and she wasn't screaming or trying to catch the butterflies she insisted were in the room. What I need to think of right now is high-calorie finger food that doesn't have to be chewed much. She's not eating more than a couple hundred calories a day, and I'm sure that is part of her disorientation. Dinner last night: baked chicken and an avocado. Dinner tonight, cheese burgers and a salad. — Marilyn New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001 Darn Good SCD Cook No Human Children Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 At 06:37 PM 4/27/2009, you wrote: My step dad's father had sundowners. It can get pretty out of whack crazy. Does she get afraid of the dark or if she is alone? Yes, she's afraid on the dark -- can't turn the lights out when she's sleeping, and she keeps a flashlight where she can grab it. Alone is not an option. She panics when my Dad leaves the room to hit the necessary. All prayers and good thoughts gratefully accepted. — Marilyn New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001 Darn Good SCD Cook No Human Children Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 Marilyn, I have been where you are. My mother had dementia as well. She also experienced Sundowning-it's very common with dementia patients--I always kept a big picture book of gardening to distract her when she became agitated, as she had been a master gardener. Ambien is the WORST drug for her to have. It is only a sleeping agent and can cause hallucinations in non demented people. More preferable are the drugs in the Valium class, Ativan, Xanax--these are kinder, gentler anti- anxiety sedatives that may calm her down and help her sleep. In addition, I don't know what else she is taking, but Aricept may help some of the dementia. It takes some time to work. We gave my Mom Ensure for extra calories ( she liked the vanilla), if you aren't happy with the sugar, Glucerna is formulated for diabetics as a calorie/nutrition booster. For high calorie finger food--I don't know if Mom is on SCD, but if not, perhaps mashed avocado ( guac) with a little olive oil and salt and garlic that could be spread on soft, crustless bread that would basically disintegrate in her mouth, or roll shredded dark meat chix or turkey in egg and high calorie nut flour, like macadamia nuts and fry gently in bite sized pieces that she can pick up and pop in her mouth. I'm sorry you have to go through this. You have my prayers as well. Terry Re: Re: My Mom At 11:02 AM 4/27/2009, you wrote: This must be so difficult for all of you. My prayers are with you and your family. I hope you find peace and rest today:o)We all care very much, (and all),All prayers and good thoughts gratefully accepted.Last night was better. They'd put Mom on some Ambien when she left the hospital because it appears she may (in part) have something called Sundown Syndrome, where the person becomes very agitated at night. Well, if it's possible to have an anomalous reaction to a drug, Mom will have it -- and did. Hallucinations, agitation, disorientation. She literally screamed all night. And grabbed me, at one point and pulled me off balance, and now my hip is killing me. Dad and I decided to skip the Ambien last night, and although she was restless, waking every 10-15 minutes, she was not so disoriented, and she wasn't screaming or trying to catch the butterflies she insisted were in the room.What I need to think of right now is high-calorie finger food that doesn't have to be chewed much. She's not eating more than a couple hundred calories a day, and I'm sure that is part of her disorientation. Dinner last night: baked chicken and an avocado. Dinner tonight, cheese burgers and a salad. - Marilyn New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001 Darn Good SCD Cook No Human Children Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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