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Oh, those poor Ingalls girls...

luv

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thanks Doug. I'm not a big fan of the whole medical community at the moment.
I'm sorry you have to go through all this. Still praying for you guys.

I will direct all zombies toward whatever medical personnel has ed you off. Just say the word (and then stay out of the halls). Got your back, G. ;)
 

The Mom

Moderator
Premium Member
Betty, I'm so sorry that you are going through this. Once elderly family members get caught in the cogs of the medical machinery it's hard to extricate them. And then there is the constant stress of trying to decide what should be done, rather than what can be done.

Our hospitals are pretty good at keeping elderly people alive, but not so good at recognizing when it's time to start facilitating a dignified, comfortable death. Most people defer to them, when they should trust their own instincts. My father was ready to die a good two months before I finally said "Enough!" and had to threaten legal action before anyone would listen to me. I didn't let things get to that point when it was my mother's time to leave. We were both able to make a decision before she was incapable, and she was able to say her good-byes and die without pain or fear at home, with her beloved kitty nearby.

Sometimes, you get so caught up in "doing" that it's hard to step back and look at the big picture.
 

Nemo14

Well-Known Member
Thanks Marcia. It's been a long couple of days, and basically we don't know what is going on. They've changed her meds, given her salt pills and a blood transfusion, but they don't say much about the heart at all, other than that her sodium levels are low. Her cardiologist came into the room yesterday for(no word of a lie) about 5 seconds while she was in the bathroom. He said he'd go check her test results and come back. He never did, and meanwhile she's still out of breath any time she exerts herself at all. The nurses and volunteers have been wonderful (my mom was a volunteer there for 20+ years), but the doctors....
 

The Mom

Moderator
Premium Member
Sometimes, doctors get so busy looking at the "paperwork" that they forget to look at the patient. During my pregnancy, my paperwork looked terrible, but I looked and felt great (except for worrying because of what was written) - and did just fine, despite everything.

The same with my mom. In her last year, doctors decided to start treating conditions she had lived with, without feeling bad, for decades. Thereby making her feel worse, and putting her at risk for other problems.
 

Nemo14

Well-Known Member
Just a quick update - about an hour ago, the doctor came in and said she could go home. We're waiting for the nurses to disconnect everything and for all the paperwork, but she should be back at my brother's this afternoon. He said the fluid issue was most likely viral and is treating it with anti-inflammatories.
 

NYwdwfan

Well-Known Member
Just a quick update - about an hour ago, the doctor came in and said she could go home. We're waiting for the nurses to disconnect everything and for all the paperwork, but she should be back at my brother's this afternoon. He said the fluid issue was most likely viral and is treating it with anti-inflammatories.

Good to hear - maybe a change of scenery will do her good. Keep us posted. *more hugs*
 

Nemo14

Well-Known Member
sort of funny story:
This afternoon after we got Mom back to my brother's, she was fidgeting with the hospital bracelet on her wrist. The ensuing conversation went like this:
Mom(reading bracelet): This says I was admitted.
Me: Yes, mom you were admitted Monday night.
Mom: well, when did I come home?
Me: about an hour ago
Mom: Did they say I could leave?

Alzheimer's - gotta' love it!
 

Nemo14

Well-Known Member
Quick update: Mom is improving, although getting her to eat anything still remains a big challenge. My brother is alone with her right now while my sister-in-law is up in RI for her father's birthday, so Dave and I have been spending a lot of time helping out with her. She's still very confused, but that unfortunately will only get worse. She's been more feisty since she came home, which is probably a good sign.
Thanks for keeping her in your prayers.
 

luv

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Evenif "getting better" is a relative thing, I'm glad she's perking up a bit. :)

And I was all prepared to send the zombies.

Damn. ;)
 

Nemo14

Well-Known Member
Well, as I was getting my ball out from the cup thing, I apparently twisted my ankle (yes, that ankle). It's doing better now, but I had visions of the dreaded boot for a while there. I literally had to use my club for a cane to get back to the beginning, then they took me to the car in a wheelchair. I'm such a klutz!!!
 

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