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Jeanette, it may be that the end is very near. Quite often someone has a last good hour or a last good day -- something called surging. My father surged on his last day of life and ate a big meal and relished his Ensure. After he finished eating, he started to die. I don't know what is in the future for your mother, but don't be surprised if she crosses to her life beyond soon. Surging can raise false hope that someone is getting better or concerns that the suffering will never end. I don't know, but it may be what you are seeing with your mother. If it is, be glad that she was able to enjoy some of the good things here on earth before it is time for her to leave. You're in my thoughts tonight.
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Hey all, I hope everyone is hanging onto their sanity.... mine us SURELY slipping away. When I think back to all mom and I have been through it seems like a different world. The anger stage, not wanting to leave the house, the shadowing, the threats, the escape artist, the SUNDOWNING, the marathon 36 hours of non stop pacing, the falling, the non eating of solid foods, the UTI's, the incontinence and and, what have I forgot to mention?...Oh, the repetitive questions over and over and over and over again..... through each and every phase we had to adjust and readjust dialing living and how we got by, this newest change is just frazzling... I have no fingernails left and the cuticles aren't far behind.

Near death for days, so much so her nurse and bathers gave me their private numbers as they didn't think mom would last through the weekend. Inaudible breathing, no food or water for 2 days, no body fluids, BP pressure was so low....half opened glazed eyes. Heck, I was using a tiny syringe to keep her at least somewhat hydrated... my brother staying the night with me so I'm not alone when she passes...

What did I get this morning?.... mom saying she was hungry. She proceeded to down 3 ensures, a cup of applesauce, cup of pudding and a small bit of soup. Has peed like a racehorse all day and very chatty. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful she didn't pass away but I can't help wonder why the Higher power lets this cruelty continue. Why? So I can suffer the guilt of hurting her every time I have to readjust her position or change her? So she can suffer the pain and indignity of me putting a suppository in her so I can cause more suffering? So she can be frightened at the thought of being moved or I have to feel bad for drugging her up so I can change her without her protesting in pain?

Makes me wonder if trying to keep her hydrated/nourished was the right thing to do. Am I too scared for my own selfish reasons (being all alone) to let her go peacefully?

Sorry for this post... this is what goes through my head most of the time...sucks!

I want to thank you for all your heartfelt messages to me and mom. I try and read most of them to her, letting her know that she is loved by many people, even those who have never met her or me, yet genuinely care.

She is a kind, gentle woman with angelic eyes who most certainly wouldn't want to suffer the atrocities of AD if she was aware of it.

Thoughts and prayers to all of you wonderful carer's.
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burley is the old man who rented my house for 2 years . hes been in virginia and didnt even know his daughter had moved out ( with my boot in her a** ) . hes just visiting indiana for a few days and sleeping here .
freq , thats the good thing about the web . if you dont like what your hearing just keep reading . the next website disputes every word of it .
burley isnt even checking in on his daughter while hes here . he must be as tired of her slackjoweled crap as i am . ( was )
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Captain, you are right about knowledge is power but there is one problem with the Internet is that there are too many websites with misinformation :( Back when one had to go to the Library, one could feel the information was correct because of the cost of putting something into print [printing, binding, marketing the books].
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Maybe we need a cross-stitch framed sampler above the toilet that says "FTT" instead of the "if you tinkle on the seat, be a sweetie wipe the seatie" or however that one goes.... Captain, who is Burley? Where exactly is he camping? Is he in a tent? (My back hurts thinking of tent camping....).
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im getting rather eccentric in my old age . id really like to sell my house and live in a manmade cave -- like a neanderthal . people can live fine without a lot of the modern stuff we enjoy . i do like the internet tho . knowlege is power , no question about it .
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Litldogtoo, I am too old to learn a whole new set of shorthand.... had my fill back in high school when shorthand was required for us gals :P And then I would need to teach my sig other what everything meant... for the longest time he thought laughing-out-loud was written MOL???

When I was a kid living at home my parents would flush the toilet, had to as we only had one bathroom the first 22 years. Growing up my parents each lived on a farm using the out-house. I read somewhere that children of the Great Depression that when they age sometimes resort back to how they were taught to conserve.
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burley is camping here tonight . im getting an education on the virginia moonshine business and of course burley is 84 so hes looking for someone to tell his life story to . its rather interesting really .
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I am on the "Do Not Call" list but note that political campaigns and calls from charities are allowed to come through. In the past week I have had a half dozen calls from different charities saying they will be in my neighborhood if I want to donate clothes, etc. Good heavens, like who has time to do that?
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@Freq Flyer - as you know, older people have no sense of smell. When you were living in the house as a kid, did they flush? They may be forgetting. I visited my mom in the NH a few months back and the woman in the next bed had just had an accident. The smell was just awful (they were cleaning it up) but she didn't smell anything!

As for texting....not only does texting NOT require full sentences, it doesn't even require full words! You Are is UR ... you need to get up to speed. What I did was tossed the 'smart phone' and got a regular old fashioned cell phone that I take with me when I go out. That's it. It's off other than that and the only number hospitals/doctors/nursing home uses in the home phone, second phone being the cell. It is not my primary number. After eight years of being interrupted by smart phones, I'm done. I know my 'kids' are so sick of technology that when they're home, they're done. Unless it's work related, which it often is, it's off.

Next up, we're going to have to put up with the constant noise of drones that deliver flying annoyingly close to our heads!
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@peggy - my mom's phone had a feature 'quiet' where you could set the phone on 'quiet' for up to twelve hours. I don't know if you want to do that because you may just need to get in touch with him while you're out.

That may be why he's answering the phone...thinking it's you.

There is a do not call government website where you can request no junk calls. It works. Also, if you have caller ID that should be helpful in figuring out who called.
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Jude, I do like your suggestion of writing him back with "deal with it" :)

I hate texting as my OCD kicks into over drive and every single word and punctuation has to be perfect. I could take me 10 minutes to type a short sentence :P Why can't I be like my boss who texts high speed, even though half the words are misspelled, and you need an interpreter to understand what he said.

Ah, the house smell... one time I offered a gift of professional house cleaning to my Mom.... oh my gosh, she was so offended, oops, I'll never do that again. Today I asked my Dad why don't they flush the toilet after use..... must be a throw back to the Great Depression not to waste water. Anyway, I told Dad that the whole house smells like a bathroom but they don't smell it because they are use to it. I am hoping my Dad will flush more often... Mom wouldn't hear the flush because she is almost deaf. Dad said he will call a plumber because the toilet are clogged.... ah hello, no wonder.
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When Mom said she was afraid of water I had no idea she meant bath water.
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My whine for the day...I have begged my husband not to answer the phone, and usually he doesn't. But sometimes when I'm out, like today, he does. He doesn't remember who called or why. Writes down some info which may or not be correct. He always says he'll stop answering the phone...but he doesn't stop. Does anyone else have the same problem? Help!
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i should read the fine print on ebay . my dam flyswatter is being shipped from china and wont be here till may 24 . i cant help but envision some cat swimming the pacific with a flyswatter between his teeth while his family is being held at gunpoint .
ill survive this somehow , ive been thru a lot worse .
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Susan - No need to explain the transportation issue. Out of 4 scheduled Logistic stretcher doctor appointments in two weeks only 1 was kept by Logistics. You can imagine what I went through to get her ready only to be told it was canceled. Then I had to turn around, call the physicians office and apologize for not only cancelling but for not giving 24 hours notice and by the way can I reschedule? I hate relying on others for transportation.
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FF as long as SO has not wet his pants you are golden!
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FF time to use one word text answers - preferably
and?
If you need to say more then
and you want me to do what precisely?
or
welcome to my world
or
deal with it

Dont they make a fuss - hell that really is the least of the problems

If the house smells and you cant afford contract cleaners use white vinegar - it does take a lot of smells out but for best home results use rug doctor because they also sell the right chemicals to clean deactivate and deodorize the carpet too, now sig other could od that and you could keep on top of it after hes done it! Sorted
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@Gershen - The doctor needs to be shown out the door and learn more about hospice and death. The last sense that goes from what I've heard is hearing.

Tell him/her under no uncertain circumstances that you do NOT appreciate his/her speaking to you like you're a moron which seems to be what he is thinking. You don't need a lesson, you need compassion.

HUGS.
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Just when I think it's safe, I get another call stating my mother is throwing stuff at people. They need permission to calm her down. I talked with her and she said she was 'playing'.
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This morning my sig other took my Dad for a haircut as my Dad had been grumbling it's been a while. We keep dragging out feet taking Dad because it's not just a pop in to the barber and out again. Dad usually isn't ready to go when I or sig other set a time to pick him up.

Anywho, I get a text from my sig other that Dad had wet his pants. I am sitting at my desk at my office thinking what does sig other want me to do about it??? Dad is 93, stuff like that is going to happen. Then sig other went on a texting tangent about how my parents house smells, they don't flush the toilets, etc. Finally texted to sig other I can't talk now, busy at work. Whew. I don't know who is the most trouble, my Dad or my sig other... [sigh].
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Jeanette, thanks for stopping in for an update. We're all thinking of you during what can only be described as the worst of times for you.

Got Mom to the hospital for her MRI and chest xray today - holy cow, what a major ordeal to travel now. And of course, it had to be raining, too. Getting up at 4am to make a 7:15am appointment coupled with all the rigamaroll of traveling with someone in a wheelchair and using oxygen makes for a very, very tired and cranky caregiver. I'd go into details on that, but it's too much to type. LOL I took today off from work (a rarity) but still have some catch-up to do for one client - but it's only a few hours worth of work. Expecting to hear back from doc's office today on the chest xray and tomorrow on the MRI.
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After reading posts I don't have time for my whine...maybe later. I still read posts but am usually distracted before I have time to post a message myself.

My heart goes out to you CM.

More people are thinking of you and your mother than you realize Gershun. Take care of yourself. Do ask the hospital director or someone about a pullout bed for you. Anytime I stay with my mother at the hospital I am supplied a pullout bed. Sometimes on the board is a phone number to call if you have any questions or comments. If there is a number, call it and ask if they have a pullout bed for you. p.s. - I would tell the doctor to keep his unwanted opinions to himself...it would be my stress reliever. Of course, I would not be using pleasant words.
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My 92 year old aunt passed away yesterday morning. She lived across the country from me my entire life and I never knew her well. Lol, when I was a kid and we'd visit every few years, she would look at me periodically with an expression on her face, as if she were thinking I was the most bizarre child she'd ever seen. And I'd think, "What!?! What did I do?!" I did ask my mother about it, and I think she just shrugged her shoulders.....
She was in a care facility for the past several years with dementia, but seemed to do very well up until then. Very talented, creative, and intelligent lady. Her kids (my retirement age cousins, I'm a bit younger) of course are very sad, but probably feel relief as well. They scrambled to get there before she died, and managed to do it. It gave them comfort, so that is a good thing. Truthfully, I doubt it matters to the one who is dying. It's terrible to guilt someone who is grieving over something like that.
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When my 97 year old Aunt died in her sleep during a nap, she wanted her daughters and grandaughter to leave and go for coffee. and come back in an hour. I think some people want to be alone when they actually pass over. My Aunt was always a very private person, so we believe she knew what was going to happen. My Dad passed on much in this way too, with family in the house but taking a nap alone in the bedroom in his new pajamas...He never wore those new pj's so I should have been suspicious when he put them on for a nap and when he took the nap in bed instead of on the couch as usual. Everyone is different. We should not feel bad if we were not there if it happens as maybe the loved one wanted it that way. Gershun, That awful doctor should know more about this process! He is one of the ones that I usually dismiss as an ill mannered FOOL in my dealings, and I would give him the cold shoulder from now on at best. CM same with those men that said you must be relieved. I know from experience the stupid things one often hears from people at a time like this and I am bracing for that kind of thing when my Mom passes on.
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I am thinking that sometimes we forget the person behind the person who is dying ^ sorry missed a bit
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Im not so sure we feel relief not in the same way some people understand it....none of us for example would say thank god thats over and then get on with our lives. Losing a loved one however much of a pain they were in life is still heartwrenching. I think what we feel is a gladness for them that their suffering is now over and thatthey are at peace once more and we should take comfort in that for watching your nearest and dearest in their final hours when they are really struggling is vile - I can't think of anything worse.

As I said when my Dad died I was heartbroken beyond belief and still am today 17 years on. He was my rock my anchor and I adored him but hated watching him die although I was with him.

I am thinking that sometimes we forget the person is dying and dont see that the person who changed our lives so drastically was so difficult to handle because of the dementia(s) or the stroke or whatever foul disease that person had - and the fact that they had no control of it or of any way to mask their anger frustrations and fears and in some cxases no ability to communicate it even if they wanted to.
So no....relief is not what I felt just a calmness and peace that came over me.
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Jeanette, reading your posts sent me back to when my mom was close to death's door. I remember posters here said that the way I described mom, it would be very soon. I panicked and texted all my siblings. I can handle changing gross pampers, mom throwing up on herself and all over the bed. I cannot, could not handle being with mom as her body started shutting down. I read your posts, and my heart starts beating so fast in fear. I'm so sorry. {{HUGS}}
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CM, I'm guilty of feeling relieved when mom passed away. It's just that mom started her dementia when I was age 23. The last 13 years of her life, she was bedridden, and spent years in vegetative state. She needed constant suctioning of her trache about every 15 minutes or else she would to death. Dad had his stroke and was becoming more and more demanding. He wanted me to do him first before mom. Of the 2, mom was more critical than him. It was a constant struggle with dad for me to put mom first.

However, I don't mind if another caregiver tells me that I must be relieved. I feel very angry if a non-caregiver said that to me. Because they truly did not know what I have gone through. My younger sister was so angry when someone told her that she must be 'relieved from the burden of mom." I kind of blinked at sis. I almost asked her, "What burden? You didn't do much for mom. You didn't change her pampers, suction her 24/7." I had to clench my teeth tight so that I wouldn't say those words to her. Yes, I was relieved that mom finally passed away.

CM, I understand why it would make you angry. I think, if I was in your shoes, I would be angry, too. I can tell from your posts that you really loved your mom. Of course, it's not a relief! {{HUGS}}
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Gershun, that doctor was very rude and very harsh with his handling of you and your mom's body. He should just remain in a field that does NOT deal with people because he's very awful it it. He even overstepped the doctor/patient boundary by guilting you about it being an 'honor' to be there at that time. That's full of b.s.

Once my siblings arrived from the states when mom was dying, I did my disappearing act. I don't handle death very well. When I was about age 12, my favorite nana died and we were forced to kiss her dead body goodbye. I already said my goodbyes, every night when I changed her pamper. She passed away in her sleep when I was at work. I do not regret not being here when she passed away - because she did it when all my siblings were on the porch, talking. She waited until she was alone. It's what she wanted, but it made my poor older sister feel so guilty that she wasn't there with mom at that time. I think you're doing great Gershun. And it's good that your family is there to somewhat help with the vigilance. {{{HUG}}}
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