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Just a note, in case you haven't read it elsewhere already: My next door neighbors' Adult Foster Care home burned down last night. Thank God that 8 people and the family dogs survived. My Mom almost moved there! The Caregiver of 6 told me, "O no, their meds were in that house!" But that's an easy fix. They lost everything. I sad for my friends. Please keep them in your prayers. Remember to be thankful for the good things God gave you today.
Carol
PS Jerome, congrats on earning some money. Hope all else is well. Take care.
I'm also eager to learn more about Chemotherapy and alternative treatments for Mom. I'm receiving mixed feedback and warning about it. Scary stuff!
Good news on the apartment, what a relief for you. Since you are her guardian, you will have the say so on her med consumption.
Seriously, my Mom is on a whole lot of meds for a variety of reasons. Thing is, she complains the headache ones don't help, the back pain ones don't either. From my observation, the Restless Legs ones make her move faster, and she's just getting started on anti-anxiety and anti-depressant ones. On top of that, she's got an inhaler for Emphysema and COPD. The oxygen does help for that, though. I am concerned about the narcotic pain [non] relievers she's on, and wonder why they keep prescribing. Mom is not open to help with dispensing, so I'm wondering why her Physician allows Tylenol #4 on top of #3, and an ER Physician prescribed Valium on top of those. She's on Fiorniol for headaches, etc. etc. etc... I hope this all changes, soon.
I didn't tell you all yet: Mom is moving from 200 miles away to an apartment just 1 mile from my house. That means, new Doctors, and closer monitoring by her closest family member, daughter, Guardian and Conservator (that's me). I am praying we find the right Geriatric Specialist for Mom who can meet her needs, and address my concerns. Also, we are prayerfully considering whether or not Mom will be starting Chemotherapy, or just enjoying the Lake by her new home. Mom is excited to be seeing her husband, who's in the Alzheimer's wing nearby. She hasn't seen him since Christmas. His meds have been adjusted, and he's much happier and content, so we're praying this is a good decision for both of them. Mom is already talking about having her lunches with him (and breakfasts and suppers, too, if possible). In fact, I envision the day they share the same room there. Anyway...you're the first to hear the news, here. Isn't that exciting???
I am looking forward to being able to monitor her meds better than from a distance. And I am looking forward to not having to make a 400 mile plus round trip journey each time Mom has a crisis. Any tips on talking to the Doctors about her medications? Thanks, all. And blessings on your situations, Naus and Jerome.
Jerome, you poor dear with the meds. I too, have to take a med, which is exactly the same size, shape and color as Dad's, and have been so tired I almost took his. That is scary, so now I changed my own schedule for taking the med, so this does not happen. Jerome, I love your sense of humor also.
When you find a good Doc who wants to help and has knowlege of your loved one's extended history - Stick with him. This stuff gets too complicated.
Thinking I was helpful, I entered mom in a NIH(National Institute of Health) Study for a medicine that would help Alzheimers. We took her off Aricept for 27 WEEKS! We lost a LOT of ground in that process. The medicine was Namenda, it was a double-blind study so you could not tell if you had placebo or the real thing. Didn't help.
BTW...If you are on any Alzheimer medicine please do not miss a day, or a dose.
When my mom went ballistic(anxiety) and this behavior began to manifest more frequently, say 6 times in two weeks. She began to beat on the windows while I was trying to drive-try to jump out of a moving car in city traffic. She would scream at the police, that I was kidnapping her and was out to kill her, beet red face. Thats when I took her to the emergency room and they gave her Risperidone (Risperdal EQ) for high anxiety. A very small dose that really helped.
She was on Zoloft which had an opposite effect which made her other conditions worse instead of calming her down.
Every time mom was in a nursing home, the doc who did most of his work by telephone, had a pet cocktail that he would try on the Alzheimer patients. It usually had her, and other patients practically comatose and drooling from the mouth.
I would recommend that you carefully replace one med with the other. Reducing one dosage and increasing the other over a couple weeks. Discuss this with your doc and work out a strategy you can agree upon. Now it may have a few hairy moments or not. It is best to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. If mom were not on any medication a few years ago, she would need a padded room, and have 'Rattlesnake Eyes'.
A funny story about meds. I had a habit of using two exact same salsa' bowls to hold and administer her meds and my vitamins. Well being in a hurry I walked into the kitchen grabbed a bowl and downed the contents. Looking down I noticed to my dismay that I had swallowed her meds. I called poison control and asked them if I needed to go to the emergency room to get my stomach pumped. The lady said " its ok, you may get nausious or a little sick, just to be on the safe side you may want to stay at home today" Well , I did stay at home and vomited untill I was dry heaving for a hour or so. Needless to say - I haven't done that again!
I hope this helps. Jerome.