This seems to be a question that is not asked enough or we think what we are feeling is not as important as what our loved one is going through. This job we have taken on is a tough one and there are days when I think my "stress rope" cannot be pulled any tighter. Then there are other times that make those bad days just a memory. Do you feel like banging your head against a wall one day? And then the next day your loved one is attentive and loving and comprehends whatever you say? There are some who keep those feelings bottled up within themselves; others take the time for outside resources and others who look at sites such as this for some understanding. I do better when I have someone else to bounce my feelings off of. Let's face it....we aren't superhuman and besides ourselves and perhaps a family to take care of we now have taken on the responsibility of another human who is incapable of taking care of themselves. Do you breeze through the care giving without a problem? If so, I would like to know how you do it, maybe you can offer some new ideas; do you have feelings of frustration and need to talk about those? Come and talk and know that you can speak freely and without judgement and without finger pointing.
I am caring for my mother-in-law and have been for about 1 1/2 years. She has moderate dementia and incontinence. Other than that she is very healthy. Sometimes that short amount of time feels like 10 years and I wonder how long I will be able to do this job. I get so very tired of hearing the same thing day in and day out, but I have to remind myself that to her, each time she sees me, she is offering new information. At times I have no problems communicating with her, but it seems like more and more she cannot retain a thought longer than 5 minutes. We have had to make signs for her so she will know what she can and cannot do. So far it's working, but for how long? Maybe I will have to end up making her a "Book of Do Nots". She is on memory drugs, which don't seem to make a difference. So why do I continue to dole them out to her? I guess I'm afraid of what might happen or how she might act without them. I might have to rent a boat or buy a helmet! Sometimes I see something in her that leads me to believe that she could get aggressive and what would be my reaction to that? At the end of each and every day, after she is tucked into bed, I breathe such a sigh of relief. The "inner beast" is quiet at last, or at least for a few hours.
Pull up a chair and visit........I would like to know how you are coping everyday..be it good or with handfuls of stress.
I slept so well, I woke up with stiff joints - specifically my neck. I had to do some quick stretches with lots of joints popping left and right (parts of my body) - shoulders, elbow, neck, etc... I just don't know if it's arthritis or osteo. I hope no bad headaches because I have a lot of shopping to do this afternoon - for the house. I got a whole list of things to buy. And darn it, an order I'm expecting came in to our Post office at 10am on Monday. No yellowslip. I had to go online to see when it arrived. So, like a previous order of mine, I printed the tracking number and the page that said it arrived at my PO. Last time this happened, the PO said if there's no yellow slip, then there's no pkg. I showed them the printed tracking info, it took him a long time to find my package. It was in the PO for almost a week - which would automatically be sent back if I hadn't insisted it was here. This has happened to me so many times - my orders sent back to the company. Thank goodness for tracking options!!!
Book - I hope that your shoulder and neck get better. Glad you did a have a good rest though. Yes, I love those tracking options too. A lot of time they will just leave the package here even when I am not home I hate that. take care of YOU!!!!
Did have a day of sight seeing and shopping today which was fun until I slipped on gravel on skinned my knee really bad :(. Going to see dad tomorrow morning though.
Lav - yep, my package was here. I showed the clerk my printout. She read it stating that it had arrived and was ready for pick up on the 7th. She took my printout and went to the back. Took her a while, but she came back with it. Yep, I definitely like these tracking options! I kept the Tylenol on my desk - just seeing it helped me to ignore my pain - that if it got so bad, I can take the pill. I didn't need to take it when I left work. Sometimes, it's really mind over matter. Just knowing that I have the option to take it or not.
Tex have you seen a neurologist for your neck? There is a lot they can do now.
By the way two two main types of arthritis osteo and rheumatic. I think yours is probably osteo as rheumatic is an auto immune disease.
Tex I wish I could have borrowed your husband mine basically ignored me after surgery. I was having to struggle with a walker and carry a cup of tea. My PCG told me Drs make very bad nurses I guess she had personal experience as she was married to one.
I spent hours googling Lipitor and COQ-10. I was reading Reader's Digest when an article was written by a doctor that does traditional treatments differently. For her patients, when she prescribes Statins (includes my Lipitor), she also said that it may drop the cholest by 50% (like mine did on the first 3 months), but it also has undesirable side effects (muscle weakness, fatigue, MEMORY problems, increase risk of other serious diseases like diabetes. So, she also recommends to her patients to take COQ-10.
So, I went and googled. I don't like what I'm reading about the Lipitor. And my doctor Increased my dosage!! I was going to take the lipitor today. I decided not to. I will take it every other day - since doc raised it from 10mg to 20mg. I could go and get a pill cutter and cut it in half, take one each day. Or I take it every other day.
I took the COQ-10, 50mg, tonight after dinner. No lipitor, just the COQ. Oh my, I got a sudden pounding headache that came out of nowhere. I think it might be the COQ. I will test it again tomorrow after dinner to see if I get same reactions.
Today, I actually got to work 2 minutes before opening hours. Most times, in the past 20 years, I always arrive 5-15 minutes Late. I moved up my alarm to 615am. Dad will only move when at his rate - and not mine. So, I need more time to change his pamper.
Lastnight, I went back to eating oatmeal at night. I added the walnuts and almonds. This morning, I had cleared up most of anything that was inside my intestines or whatever you call it.
Veronica, if I ever need to do any surgery regarding my nerves, I'm going off-island! I am not doing it here. I might come out of the hospital worse than when I went in. Later... time to do dad's....
This was one of our biggest problems with hospice patients. i can not count the number of manual evacuations I have performed. I guess you weren't about to ask your husband to do that. Don't worry about the neighbors they will think everything was for your mother, bless her narcisistic little cotton socks! Well now you know so add something like Metamucil till you are off the narcs. Sorry preaching to the choir again but when nurses become patients we take on a whole different personality
Tex.. the same thing happened to my son after his wreck.... so many broken bones.... it wasn't like he could get up and get some exercise...... no one told him and I was overwhelmed with taking care of him and working and it didn't occur to me they did not tell him anything before he left the hospital........ he was not a happy camper.....
It's awesome the things we share and learn on this site.....
My 1st surgery to take out complex ovarian cysts, my gyne prescribed for after my surgery some iron pills and stool softener. My 2nd surgery in Hawaii for a complete hyster and oosterectomy (??), I was given pain meds (which I didn't take - just my regular xtra strength Tylenol.) I couldn't do a bm @ the hosp. But the nurses said that they are more concerned with my urinating than the bm. I was released without a bm. Fortunately, being in Hawaii, I was eating unfamiliar food. So.. no problem with bm.
According to my doc, my cholest is NOT from food but from stress/family genetic. He kept repeating in my visits that eating the right food will NOT affect my cholest. Only Exercise can lower it. I have tried that. Fave sis got me a treadmill, I put in my bedroom. I think I'm allergic to exercising. I get so tired by 15min. And my upper thighs get soooooo itchy, it's as if the itch is from INSIDE or Under my skin. Scratching it feverishly does Not stop the itch - only lots of red marks, a few bleeding skin - and still so itchy. The itchiness eases off after 30 minutes quitting the treadmill. I get this itchiness when I'm shopping non-stop for hours. Someone mentioned maybe try changing my clothe soap. This clothe soap I use is the one that I found that does Not flare up my vaginal itchiness. I've tried others and this is the safe one so far. I can try again and see if I get the same results. Later.running late.
There is a choice, I can either sit around and get weaker and be an old woman in a wheelchair or I can put the effort in. Frankly I am not ready yet for the wheelchair although it is tempting at times.
High cholesterol can definitely be genetic but the wrong food does not help it either so follow Drs orders but mind your diet and exercise too. Stress does not help anyone feel in top form but that is only part of the picture. Be well. take care of the vaginal itching too it is probably thrush and that is easily treated these days with OTC meds if you don't want to see a Dr. Do not use any comercial feminine products or wipes on the area and use a mild soap like a baby soap to wash. Wash your clothes especially underwear with a mild soap. Hand wash if necessary, no bleach no fabric softener. End of instructions for the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HUGS