@Maggie @Former-Member @Zoe7 @Shaz51 @Faith-and-Hope @Former-Member
Thanks for your recent messages, and my apologies for not responding sooner. I have been reading lately but rarely posting.
Well ... just on a week ago my parents took the opportunity to escape the nursing home. They checked themselves out of there and got a taxi back home. They waited until my brother was flat out with shearing on his farm and my sister was away for a long weekend, so there was nobody around to convince them of the benefits of staying. Even if they'd stayed until the Monday it would have been better. Services could have been arranged (eg visiting nurse, meals, cleaner, etc) then. And at least either my brother or sister would have been around to check on them every couple of days. But no ... they did a runner and didnt even notify the nursing home of their intentions. After speaking to my Mum on the phone she told me she was going home. So I promptly rang the manager and asked him if he was aware of that. Nobody was of course. So he spoke to them but was unable to convince them to stay. Independent old buggers!
I am really concerned about them. Despite them assuring me they are coping, I know in reality that they're not. Every day is a struggle just to get by. Something they simply do not need to do. But it is their choice in the end, and all I can do is to try my best to support their decision by ensuring they have a much support to live at home as is possible.
They saw their GP on Tuesday and home nursing has been set up starting next week, but only for 1 day per week. Not really enough when neither of them are safe to shower independently, and Dad has a bad cut on his toe and terrible circulation. I think the infection has cleared up, but it is a deep cut going into the 4th skin layer and it needs careful monitoring and dressing. Mum is meant to be Dads carer, but she simply isnt up to it. Neither physically nor mentally. Her mental decline is quite obvious in lots of respects.
My brother managed to get into town to visit them yesterday and I asked him to check their webster packs for the vital meds they are both meant to be taking. He took a photo and sent it to me. Gosh .. such a worry ... a haphazard very hit and miss affair. Many meds have not been taken, where as others have been taken twice and are taken days ahead of where they should be. Given that Dad is on blood thinners to prevent further clots and strokes, its really important that he gets the right dosage. Mum is on strong pain relief (opiates) which is restricted medicine, and she is popping them like they are candy. She has always been a bit of a pill popper. I know she is in pain from the current spinal fractures plus her ongoing rheumatoid arthritis, but you have to be so careful with these drugs. I also know that because she is no longer being well cared for as she was in the nursing home (where she was feeling so much better) that she is now needing to do things which she shouldnt be doing. And this is causing additional pain for her. So the medication issue is a major concern for the pair of them. But gosh ... what do you do, when they refuse propper care and insist they are doing fine on their own? But you know they're not!
Hubby is much the same as last time I reported here. Saw the neurologist again and the advice is to remain on the current dosage of parkinsons disease meds, and to remain patient. Meanwhile, he remains very frustrated and angry about his perceived lack of any improvement. He has been drinking more again, and becomes quite abusive at times. His mobility does not seem to be improving much, if at all. He can mostly walk about 20 meters, but very unsure and unsteady. His shakiness is fluctuating with the medication, which does seem to improve it. But it wears off after about 3-4 hours. Timing is pretty vital to maintain any function. Last night for example we had dinner and we had a lamb salad. I gave him a serrated steak cutter for the lamb, but he was really shaky last night. He lost his temper, threw the plate down along with the cuttlery and accused me of giving him the wrong cutlery. He wanted a smooth steak cutter, not the serrated one. Argh. My fault of course .. I should have known! So yeah .. he remains pretty volatile. I do wish he wouldnt drink so much, but he says its the only thing he has left now. Who am I to argue? The neurologist says we need to be patient, that it will take time to get the meds right and for it to have full effect. And we see him again in 2 months. Meanwhile its important that he exercise as much as possible. So once a week now, I take him in to an exercise physiologist where he is concentrating on balance and strengthening exercises.
I dont know whats happening with me. I'm getting maybe a few hours sleep most nights. But constantly worrying about one thing or another. This past week I have been getting really dizzy weird spells where my head just goes into a flighty spin. And it lasts maybe 20 seconds or so where it feels like my head is being thrown around and around. Then my vision slowly comes back into focus again. But it leaves me feeling quite strange and I feel kind of muzzy (is that a word?) in the head all the time now. I might have to see someone about it. Certainly I cannot afford not to be able to drive. Hubby cant.
I see my psychologist again in a couple of weeks. She has asked me to give some thought to doing another batch of EMDR therapy in the new year. I will give it some consideration between now and then.
Little Holly has had a sore leg this past week or so. I think she may be getting arthritis in her shoulder. She has always been a very active and lively little girl, so its highly likely that coming up 10yo, she may well be getting arthritis setting in. I hope it doesnt get too bad, but I will ask the vet about whether there is anything I can do in the natural remedy options.
Sherry 
