Posted on 05/04/2017 10:46:43 PM PDT by Yaelle
We’ll keep you in our prayers. Mrs. JimRed had a stroke in late March, but it was a very small one and she was back about 95% in a few weeks. It mostly affected her balance and coordination.
Guess what, the docs have put her on Coumadin. Sheesh. I do not have the medical rights, I only can maybe influence who does. I’ll add more prayers.
Mom is still talking up a storm. I love that tech helped your dad. My dad lost his ability to speak quite early in his Alzheimer’s. I have no idea if that app would have been useful to him at the start so he could have said what he wanted.
I appreciate your story so much. The psychology of people not willing to “re-categorize” a beloved, brilliant mom or dad as now a helpless large child who needs protection even if they still sound like they are competent is interesting. A LOT of people don’t want to believe it.
Maybe it was easier for me to switch my perception to they are large preschoolers because I did have a baby and preschooler through their decline.
I agree about the bed and chair alarms, except for the fact that I need to take 6-7 hours off at night and sleep. I will get sick if I don’t get minimum sleep. So when it comes time for night alarms it may come time for nighttime caregiver or even a memory unit. She’s still at home with me now,
We will see how she will change post stroke.
Wow, you were so YOUNG!!!
And yes, the frustration is upsetting to me. Her frustration we try to blunt with an antidepressant etc, and to keep the little kids out of the room she spends her time in. Sometimes she is in a Get off My Lawn mood. But my frustration at her makes me feel like a bad caregiver because she can’t help it. She fights everything and it gets weary. Or she chatters superficially while driving and I start to lose my mind. “There’s a white car! Oh, two white cars! Now three white cars! A red car!” I start to lose it. I wish I didn’t. Thanks for your advice. I’m trying!
I’m so sorry. I hope he has a good prognosis... I guess that depends on the cancer. Prayers up for your dad.
Thank you and thanks to everyone for these prayers. I’ll be with her for the day and I know all of your well wishes and prayers are going to help us both. I love my FReepers.
Wow, it sounds like you are living my life, though maybe worse because of your other job. I do have 4 kids, two don’t need me much, and mom. She is obese so there is no way I could dead lift. I’ve tried to get her to go on walks (shuffles) but it’s getting harder, and I tell her she will need to have a strong man carry her to the toilet if she doesn’t walk and she likes that idea, lol. She doesn’t want to go into a care place but it could come to that when she loses mobility.
This is a rough part of life. You are the peanut butter in the sandwich like I am (caring for the elderly and the kids).
May your surgery go well. Look long term. Once your heel recovers, your own mobility will be so much better. Maybe you can hire someone to help deadlifting your relative for a short while? Tough. I’m sorry and will say a prayer for your sitch.
Yes they do suspect a fib. Thanks so much, I am reading between the lines from you and some other experienced FReepers, and I get it. Our family just wants her to spend her last time down here in comfort and peace.
I heard my sibling told her last night “dad has other plans tonight so you can’t leave us tonight.” (Dads been gone for a year)
It sounds like you understand. Thanks for the reply.
A critical detail that you must know: was the stroke “ischemic” (a blood clot), or “hemorrhagic” (bleeding in the brain.)
Next, if the stroke was ischemic, she will likely have to start taking blood thinners. Lovenox among others, is a blood thinner. It is used to treat and prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). This is usually short term. It is an injection.
Then, if she is given Coumadin (Warfarin), for the long term, this does not break up clots, but prevents new clots from forming, as the body breaks down existing clots. It requires a weekly to monthly one-drop blood test, usually done at a “Coumadin clinic”.
The blood test is called either “PT-INR”, or just “INR”. Its normal range is from 2.2 to 3.2. Lower than 2.2 and clots may form. Higher than 3.2 and hemorrhage can result.
There are new pharmaceutical blood thinners, but I would strongly advise you to research them, as at least one of them is having a major class action suit against it.
Next up is the paperwork.
If she has a written “Do Not Resuscitate” or DNR order, make sure it is in order and that the local hospitals have a copy, along with her Medical Power of Attorney, any desired organ donation paperwork.
Also make sure she has a full Power of Attorney for her finances in case she is incapacitated. A written will is also very good to have.
You might do some preliminary research into insurance limits on hospital stays, and also home hospice.
I had a stroke in 2013. Got TPA within 3 hours, but had paralysis on the right side. Was in ICU for 3 days and rehab hospital for 19 days. Had different kinds of therapy 6 times a day, 6 days a week.
By the time I got out of the hospital, I was no longer a smoker, and was in a wheelchair. I could walk short distances with a walker that had a support for my arm because I could only lift my right hand about 3-4 inches.
Over the next 3 months, I had professional therapy twice a week and forced myself to do “theraputic” things at home. I did jig-saw puzzles for hours, forcing use of my right hand. I had to assist it with my left at first. I emptied the dishwasher. Started with only the top shelf, could stand in one spot that way. Again, forced myself to use my right hand. It could take me up to half a day to empty that sucker, but I got it done.
I played those stupid hidden object games on the computer. At first, could only do one board at a time. I would take a half hour to do that board and I’d be sweating like a beast when finished, but would get it done. The stroke was in my fine motor cortex, so this was much harder than it sounds!
I could operate a fork with my right hand by about July, then by August or September (stroke was in Feb), I tried sewing. I dropped about 90 percent of everything I picked up at first, but got better with time.
Today, if I get tired, I start dropping stuff and my right foot will drag. If I can’t see, I have no balance, so keep a flashlight always handy at night and brace myself in the shower when closing my eyes to rinse my face and hair. I still have the occasional issue swallowing and will choke. My typing isn’t up to my old standards, but it’s still getting better, too. The most lasting affect is the weight I gained (over 50 lbs). I’m fat. That’s what I’m working on now. I ride a stationary bike and walk on a treadmill to keep moving. My goal for this month is to walk and/or ride a total of 150 miles.
It completely changed our lives, I had a fairly high-paying job, which I still can’t do.
The thing that helped most was that I had excellent support. Hubby was absolutely faithful to “in sickness and in health”, he has been a rock.
What else can I share? You have my utmost sympathy! Tell your loved one to never give up.
Prayers up for you, your mom, and your family
Prayers for your mother.
Here’s to it having been a tight spot that pinched off a short time and then blew clear with the result the Alzheimer’s backs off! Prayers for you and Mom Yaelle.
This is just one article about the problem of aluminum and Alzheimers.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/03/22/aluminum-toxicity-alzheimers.aspx
There are protocols for detoxing heavy metals all over. Aluminum is a problem.
Which was my reaction to your first reply.
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For the next few weeks you should get your mom on hyper-baric oxygen treatments every day to accelerate healing.
Most osteopathic physicians have HBOT chambers these days.
HBOT also tends to give a bit of cognitive boost too.
Prayers up, of course. Glad to hear she’s doing well. The heart monitor is a good idea, IMHO. Even the most dedicated caregiver can’t be on a 24/7 watch.
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