Well, today we had a visit from the social worker. She seems to be a nice person... The reason she is here is to see what kind of services we qualify for and to start the procedures needed to receive them.
She said something about a widow's stipend from the Military since daddy was a war veteran. She also was talking about the flag received when daddy died, and I told her I didn't know about any flag. She said the Military sends a framed, folded flag when a veteran dies. She said she was going to ask about if one was issued and if not was going to get us one. So whoever has the framed medals make room for a flag! I don't need something else that needs to be dusted....
Anyway, she said there were services to help with the Boost drink. So if she qualifies (and the worker feels she does) we could be getting a weekly supply of Boost for Mom to drink. But you know what? Since we were told she doesn't have to eat in order to be well, she is eating everything I put in front of her. Talk about reverse psychology.
After a few nights of pain and crying, the medicine gotten this past Monday is starting to do it's job. Mom was able to get some good sleep last night and most of today has been mostly pain free. The "weeping" seems to be less also. Thank you drugs!!
Just finished typing that statement and she is moaning in her chair. I can't win...
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
An Afternoon with the Doctor
Whenever we go to the doctor's office, it is to see his PA. She is able to do just about everything the doctor does except hospital stuff and everything she does is reviewed by the doctor and approved. Anyway, when I called today to get an appointment with her, I was told her schedule was full, but I could see Dr. Gehan. Of course I said yes!
I was very impressed with out visit. We got into his office in an acceptable time and he spent almost an hour with us going over test results and giving me general information concerning the elderly.
We decided to bring Mom to the doctor because her back (not the wound) and leg just doesn't seem to be getting better, and we wanted to understand her condition and potential problems. She is having such a hard time walking. So painful...
Anyway, here's what I found out today. Mom's hip is riddled with arthritis and the bones in the hip joint are rubbing together. This condition will never get better. She will always be in pain when she walks and she will slowly wind down into being in a wheelchair when the pain gets too much. Because of her other issues, he does not recommend any kind of corrective surgery.
Her spine has a compression fracture and will most likely never get better. This also will hurt her when she walks. Another reason to end up in a wheelchair. He shared the medical procedures approved for this condition, but also said how research has shown it is an expensive procedure that does not hold up with time. He does not recommend it.
The doctor is giving us pain pills that will take the edge off the pain, but he said nothing will get rid of all the pain...He is not concerned that at her age she will become a drug addict and if she gets any relief from them she should take them.
I was concerned about her not eating and when I told him that she drinks several Boosts a day, he was satisfied with that. He let me know that many elderly people survivie on Boost alone, so when she wants to eat something, thats good, and when she doesn't want to eat, that's ok too. There is a pill to promote appitite, but the side effects could be blood clots and since she has a history of a blood clot he does not recommend that. But since he told me it was ok to just drink your food, I was able to be at peace about that. So now if she wants to eat, she will; when she doesn't want to eat, she will drink...ha ha!
The wound on her lower back is healing nicely so we will continue with the medicines and clinic visits.
The doctor gave us another pill. This one is for depression. I will try it out on her to see if she feels less "weepy". (I just might pop one in my mouth too, ha ha)
Mom argued that she was not depressed and when I said she cried often, she was very offended. I told her that we were with her doctor and he had to know her moods in order to help her. She said she was only depressed because she was not in her home with her doctor doing the things she does at her home.......When I told her I wished I could give her what she wanted, but that she had outlived the usefulness of her old home, the doctor strongly agreed that she was where she needed to be. I believe she selectively did not hear him.
So that was our day. The answers gotten to so many of our concerns was a relief to us, but the answers themselves are sorrowful. Mom is not going to get any better than what she is, and she is slowly (maybe faster than I like) going downhill. The aging process speeds up at this age. Harry and I will have to find peace with her condition and enjoy her for as long as the Lord gives us.
I was very impressed with out visit. We got into his office in an acceptable time and he spent almost an hour with us going over test results and giving me general information concerning the elderly.
We decided to bring Mom to the doctor because her back (not the wound) and leg just doesn't seem to be getting better, and we wanted to understand her condition and potential problems. She is having such a hard time walking. So painful...
Anyway, here's what I found out today. Mom's hip is riddled with arthritis and the bones in the hip joint are rubbing together. This condition will never get better. She will always be in pain when she walks and she will slowly wind down into being in a wheelchair when the pain gets too much. Because of her other issues, he does not recommend any kind of corrective surgery.
Her spine has a compression fracture and will most likely never get better. This also will hurt her when she walks. Another reason to end up in a wheelchair. He shared the medical procedures approved for this condition, but also said how research has shown it is an expensive procedure that does not hold up with time. He does not recommend it.
The doctor is giving us pain pills that will take the edge off the pain, but he said nothing will get rid of all the pain...He is not concerned that at her age she will become a drug addict and if she gets any relief from them she should take them.
I was concerned about her not eating and when I told him that she drinks several Boosts a day, he was satisfied with that. He let me know that many elderly people survivie on Boost alone, so when she wants to eat something, thats good, and when she doesn't want to eat, that's ok too. There is a pill to promote appitite, but the side effects could be blood clots and since she has a history of a blood clot he does not recommend that. But since he told me it was ok to just drink your food, I was able to be at peace about that. So now if she wants to eat, she will; when she doesn't want to eat, she will drink...ha ha!
The wound on her lower back is healing nicely so we will continue with the medicines and clinic visits.
The doctor gave us another pill. This one is for depression. I will try it out on her to see if she feels less "weepy". (I just might pop one in my mouth too, ha ha)
Mom argued that she was not depressed and when I said she cried often, she was very offended. I told her that we were with her doctor and he had to know her moods in order to help her. She said she was only depressed because she was not in her home with her doctor doing the things she does at her home.......When I told her I wished I could give her what she wanted, but that she had outlived the usefulness of her old home, the doctor strongly agreed that she was where she needed to be. I believe she selectively did not hear him.
So that was our day. The answers gotten to so many of our concerns was a relief to us, but the answers themselves are sorrowful. Mom is not going to get any better than what she is, and she is slowly (maybe faster than I like) going downhill. The aging process speeds up at this age. Harry and I will have to find peace with her condition and enjoy her for as long as the Lord gives us.
Monday, June 7, 2010
General Ramblings
There are so many thoughts running through my head, I wish they would slow down...
As the wound on Mom's back shrinks, as the medicine is stopping the infection that has had free reign in her body for who knows how long, as she has so many people doing for her, she is slowing down to a stop.
It takes forever just to walk from her chair to her bedroom. It's a major ordeal to get her into the car for doctor visits. She complains about her groin and the pain there when walking. Knowing she has a wheelchair for when we go out, she is angling for it to be brought into the house. I keep telling her that to give in and stop walking is to stop living and the next step is a nursing home...
She is eating enough to stay alive but wonders why she is always nauseated...I can't get her to understand her stomach is crying out for food!!! Of course, Sally has shared that stopping eating is part of the end process...
When asked if she is ready to stop trying to get better, she is appalled that I would even ask, so I have to remind her of her reluctance in doing the things needed to get well.
I have a monitor to listen for her when she is in her room. She does not know that it is there. When she is alone, she does not make a lot of noise, but when I am in the room, the noise and faces she makes just to turn over in bed is laughable. Almost like a small child "playing" her parent...
She calls me into the room to scratch her arm!!! The part that itches is under a sleeve covering the PICC line and she says she doesn't know where to scratch without pulling something. I can understand her reluctance to scratch what she can't see, but come on...to call me from another room just to scratch an arm??? I tell her to scratch till she hits something that hurts, then stop...
Gotta go. Doctors to see today. Getting into a car with faulty air conditioning with an old lady, a little girl, and an old man. Thank you Lord for another opportunity to call on Your name and trust that You will be the peace in my day, amen.
As the wound on Mom's back shrinks, as the medicine is stopping the infection that has had free reign in her body for who knows how long, as she has so many people doing for her, she is slowing down to a stop.
It takes forever just to walk from her chair to her bedroom. It's a major ordeal to get her into the car for doctor visits. She complains about her groin and the pain there when walking. Knowing she has a wheelchair for when we go out, she is angling for it to be brought into the house. I keep telling her that to give in and stop walking is to stop living and the next step is a nursing home...
She is eating enough to stay alive but wonders why she is always nauseated...I can't get her to understand her stomach is crying out for food!!! Of course, Sally has shared that stopping eating is part of the end process...
When asked if she is ready to stop trying to get better, she is appalled that I would even ask, so I have to remind her of her reluctance in doing the things needed to get well.
I have a monitor to listen for her when she is in her room. She does not know that it is there. When she is alone, she does not make a lot of noise, but when I am in the room, the noise and faces she makes just to turn over in bed is laughable. Almost like a small child "playing" her parent...
She calls me into the room to scratch her arm!!! The part that itches is under a sleeve covering the PICC line and she says she doesn't know where to scratch without pulling something. I can understand her reluctance to scratch what she can't see, but come on...to call me from another room just to scratch an arm??? I tell her to scratch till she hits something that hurts, then stop...
Gotta go. Doctors to see today. Getting into a car with faulty air conditioning with an old lady, a little girl, and an old man. Thank you Lord for another opportunity to call on Your name and trust that You will be the peace in my day, amen.
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