Mum has vascular and Alzheimer's mixed dementia. I have noticed over the last few weeks she seems to be getting frailer noticeably that is. This last week has been really noticeable and the doctor has been out. UTIs ruled out and no chest infection just her 'usual' headaches but she has had these for as long as I can remember so way over 20 years. She is finding it difficult now to pull up her depends (we have a different name but thats what I mean) and has just taken a tumble - not hurt just a tumble...but is this the start of a new phase?
Iron sheets.....I'll get right on that right after I wash the wall behind the dryer and lint roll the stairs.... In America sheet ironing is the first sign of oncoming OCD. One of our cousins has an Irish husband and his mother is batty over poly/cotton sheets. The cheapest ones there are because she doesn't have to iron them. I guess they are hard for her to get, so every time someone comes over here, they have to take back poly/cotton sheets, Craftsman tools, and Sharpie pens.
I did find a brand online that had a better sticky side and would come off a poly/cotton sheet. And I could order them by the steel shipping container! :-D
Oh my gosh, within a hour or so I had slowly slid down to almost flat position... what in the world..... now I know, it's the poly-cotton sheets !!! That's been bugging me the whole time :P
I firmly believe that every adult should have a recliner that fits their body well. I read in it and listen to music before I go to bed. And if I have leg cramps or a stuffed-up nose or something that is keeping me from sleeping flat, I sleep in it for a while.
One thing I learned here is WALK IN CLINIC. WOW, I never thought about that. When he is ill and I can't get an appt with the doc, we have a walk in clinic at the bottom of the hill from where we live. But, our doctor has never yet turned us down on a moments notice appt. He fits us in. We are so fortunate.
From the sounds of everyone's discussion, I am in for a long road. When my husband was ill for the last 10 years of his life, he was still very active. Too much so, but at least he had an interesting life. He did not become seriously ill until about three months before he died. Then WALLA, he was gone just like that. He was exceptional. He had every disease known to man since he was a child.
My Partner is getting a shot in his hip and two shots in his lower back next week. If the pain issues are resolved, my job will probably be much easier. As it stands now, he has had an inner ear disease for years. His balance is horrible. So, he is always a potential for falling. I don't hold him up as he walks to the toilet, but I put my hand in the base of his back tucked into his pants and that seems to give him balance walking forward. Maybe I should get one of those belts they use at the NH.
Since he could go on like this for many years by the sounds of it....(but they are discussing Hospice), I had better be budgeting the dollars tightly to make it the long haul. I was going to hire a housekeeper, but I have decided not to. That is a lot of money going out every week. We are what is called Middle America, we have too much to qualify for help and not enough to be considered rich.
Jude, how many years have you been doing this now? It sounds like Parkinson leads to many other illnesses. Well, it is another day and everyday is something else. You all amaze me with the care your give your loved ones. I thought I would be traveling at this stage of my life. But, my commitment and promise took center stage.
I was just thinking of a site I go to when I need some art and creative stimulation: jacquielawson.com -I've eliminated parts of the URL so it won't get eliminated.
Jacquie is soooo creative; I especially love the ones about the dog who has some interesting adventures. For anyone who hasn't seen her little videos, they're a miracle of instant relaxation.
. Well I have a lovely new PC -0 it's white because she chose the colour - didn't want a black one - lets not go there
So now all I have to do is google narcissistic moaning nagging old woman with headaches. nose aches oh and now her neck hurts and she can't hear me and ,,,and,,,and,,,,,,! and I will know the cure/////course I will have one of my special purple pills - (parma violets but she swears they work and Im not telling her what they are!)
When you mentioned purple pills I couldn't help thinking of the Rolling Stones song - Mother's Little Helper.
If you google Klondike bars and go to their site (I'd provide a link but it would likely be considered a commercial link and deleted), there's a lovely winter scene of softly falling snow. It's actually quite soothing and calming.
TIA's.
UTI's,
can all make legs weak, numb, cramping, and painful.
Klonopin makes things worse, may lead to more TIA's.
GERD and other GI issues can contribute to weakness and not being able to walk.
Vitamin D, magnesium has helped others. The magnesium also helps mood/anxiety.
Vitamin D, actually, has very little to no side effects, can make one feel better.
Sorry, cannot reference specific sources/articles at this time.
Just saw this question.
Jude, when and which states did you visit?
He later went to ER, yes, he had a bladder infection.
Ask if the health care team performed a dip-sstick ua, or
a real ua.
Hope you and Mom are doing better today.
Do your mom's docs talk at all about your mom going to a nursing home or other facility? Just curious if things work similarly as they do here.