When we finally got her settled the room she would be calling her own for the next six days the nurse commented on the fact that my mother (Mary) took very little medication for a person of her advanced age. She and I then went on to speak about how hard it must be for many elderly to manage and or afford their medications. She went on to say that many elderly get confused as do their family members just for the sheer numbers of medications the doctors are putting their loved ones on. And she wondered aloud if they really were all necessary. Little did I know I'd be asking myself that very question later that week.
When Mom was in Emergency they said she had bronchitis, they upgraded or should the term be downgraded her illness to pneumonia the next day. She's home now and doing well I'm happy to report. I'm staying with her at her house (which is located across the lawn from my house-the perks of country life) to keep an eye on her and to make sure she doesn't fall while getting up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night (steroids give her the jitters)
Those medications!! I hate to even count them but there's three inhalers and countless other pills for her lungs, antibiotics, anti nausea, anti stomach acid, congestion & cough not to mention her regular medication. They gave the woman a pill for everything! So many pills that she (and my mother is as sharp as a tack) couldn't manage them without help. I had the pharmacist jot me down a cheat sheet of what they were all for so I knew what the heck I was doing!! I wonder if they have a pill to help me understand all these pills :)
It's all good though, being roommates with my Mom is kinda fun. I get to give back a little bit of what I got my whole life; caring. I just wish I could win at a game of cards. Oh my goodness she's good at cards!!
Yikes! That's some serious medicine!
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes. Eat up this time with your mama! Even if she does whip you at cards ;-)
My mom will turn 84 in just a couple of weeks. She has oodles of medication she has to take and if there will be a compelling reason to move her to assisted living it will be because she is no longer capable of managing all those med's. It's a worry for me but so far, by God's grace she is able to do it all on her own. Hope your mom gets well soon!
ReplyDeleteGlad your mom is doing well!
ReplyDeleteSometimes they give medication to combat the side effects of medication and then another medication to combat the side effects of the side effect medication... and so on... and so on. And they all have side effects!
So glad to hear your mom is out of the hospital, Jen, and is able to recuperate in her own home with such a loving caregiver! Too cute about her being good at cards! I'm sure the time spent with her is treasured by you!
ReplyDeleteGosh, don't get me started on medicine. I type medical reports for a living and I just shudder when I type some elderly people's medicine list that goes over 20 pills a day (and they aren't pills taken just once daily, but sometimes two or three times daily). I understand the need for pills, but I often wonder when is enough enough when it comes to the sheer number of them. Hopefully some of your mom's meds will be tapered off as she starts feeling better and her lungs improve. I know hubby's parents were both on a long list of meds and after they passed, it was a shame to see how many duplicate prescriptions they had of pill bottles unopened; lots of insurance money "wasted" that shouldn't have been if the pharmacies and doctors were working together to make sure they had what they needed without duplication. Like I said.....don't get me started on medication........
hoping she makes a speedy recovery!
betty
Aww...sorry to hear this, but glad she's home. Home is the best place to recover. LOL! @your mom still whooping your butt at cards! Seriously, enjoy this time together & I pray for a speedy recovery. Maybe, just maybe you might get 1 win in while waiting for her to get well.
ReplyDeleteCard Alert!!!! I've actually won some games this week... And mom's getting better so things are looking up Sonya. Thanks for the prayers my friend.
DeleteI hope her health improves quickly, and what a blessing that you're there to help and that you WANT to help! You are a dear, sweet daughter.
ReplyDeleteYikes - I am scared to grow much older - but then I remember that I don't HAVE to do what they say! Sometimes I get so annoyed with the midical professionals - SOMETIMES - not always. But I do feel as if I am just a bundle of bones and muscles and they go right to some diagnosis and then cha-ching - take this prescription. I wish we had health care options that would allow for more time with the patient, more thorough consideration of the options. But I live in a dream world.....Glad your mom is better. My mother turned 90 last week and she is a model to me of strong living. I know she takes some medications but she is pretty on top of things. She has, however, become a much more regular visitor at her doctor's - as if she depends on him now in ways that she never did. That's one part of getting older that I don't want.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post!
Oh my goodness! Glad she is okay. Scary stuff! And that is a lot of pills. My 37 yr old husband's look very similar. The joys of having three autoimmune disorders.
ReplyDeleteWhat a big scare! I'm so sorry she was in the hospital, but glad she is home. What a turn of events when you are taking care of your parents. Big hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteIt really was! Thanks for the hugs. I'll be happy when she's better and things get back to normal around here!
DeleteI know exactly what you mean - my grandma hurt her arm, so spent a few months in a rehabilitation center and when she got out, she was on roughly 10 medications, though she'd only been on one when she went in - and none of them were for her arm! It's crazy how confusing trying to figure out what any of them are for or if they're really needed can be!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I just typed up this long response about taking meds and then my computer crashed. The gist was, make sure your mom eats yogurt with live active cultures to prevent her from getting another infection from antibiotic use.
ReplyDeleteAnd I wished her a speedy recovery.
Don't you hate when that happens!
DeleteI appreciate the advice many people have the same experience with infections and have cautioned me about getting yogurt into her as a precaution. Thanks Pamela.
--Give your mom a kiss from me. :))) X
ReplyDeleteA big one, smack on the lips!
DeleteSo glad to hear she's home. I hate seeing all those prescriptions. I always question whether or not they are necessary for anyone of any age. But, I guess we have them for a reason. Good call on talking with the pharmacist. I hope she recovers soon!
ReplyDeleteI questioned the doctor too who was not pleased with me. We can never be to careful right?
DeleteSorry your mum has been ill Jen but so glad she is home and in your care. My mum's name was also Mary and she was a card shark too. I have the two inhalers on the right of your photo. Do they have blister packs over there? We have them the pharmacy fills them with medication for each part of the day and days of the week and you just have to burst the plastic on the day and time for your pills. My hubby even has it for his. If you don't have them you can buy a dosette box with little compartments for the tablets and fill it yourself weekly for your mum.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm on antibiotics I always take a probiotic tablet (more tablets) to put healthy bacteria back in my system it stops me taking thrush.
Hope your mum continues to improve lucky she lives near you.
Hey Jen
ReplyDeleteYou and I seem to be in the same boat these days. My mom is still very unwell and we have yet another appointment tomorrow....but like you, I get great pleasure in being able to give back just a fraction of what she did for all of us kids----it seems to be the pattern.
Hope she feels much better real soon--take care
Thanks Kathleen Mom's doing much better and I send my love and prayers to you and mom as well.
Deleteoh yes..I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. I worked as an ICU nurse and one time as the drs were rounding at 8am I showed them in a cup the 22 pils I was going to give my patient...and that was just the morning! seeing so many was a revelation to all of them. but..the pills are effective and you will need to take ALL to the antibiotics, even when she starts feeling herself...that is when it gets hard because when people feel better they forget about those pills or they don't want to take them...have to keep a chart or everyone forgets. good luck Dr Jen! keep up the good work!!
ReplyDeleteShe finished her antibiotics today,now I have to get her to the regular doctor and sort out the rest.
DeleteHoping your Mom is feeling better <3
ReplyDeleteSo glad your mom is doing better. I manage the meds for my folks and it's certainly a challenge. My dad's on a lot of stuff. We prepare his box once a week, I double-check it and he's set for the week. Mom takes fewer pills, but has her own box of tablets. I tell you, the pharmacutical companies are making a mint!
ReplyDeleteI know about the "I wish I could win a ame of cards"! I had that with my grandma. I'm so happy she's home! I missed so much if your life while traveling. Thank goodness for the country life and you can be right there. But you would be anyway. Scott's dad has the same monumental pill issue (his young wife, 17 years younger) manages it for the family.
ReplyDelete