@utopia
Hey sweets, yep my physical symptom of anxiety is chest pain – once I have it, im not in a good place and find it hard to do anything. Fortunately, it does settle gradually, and thankfully it hasn’t been taking as long as it has in the past.
I rang up health dept today to see if I could legally look at mum’s chart (its not even the nurses and doctor’s handwritten notes – its just the meds which she is taking and her obs). But there are policies in place where visitors are not allowed to look at their folders – weird. If her chart was in her room, I could be sneaky about it but it’s outside the room which makes it a bit hard.
Thanks luv, yeah I spoke to a private geri psych. I just need to have options available for when she is discharged from where she is at now. I can’t put anything in place yet as we don’t have a conclusive diagnosis which im finding difficult but I need to just wait. At least im looking at options though. There are some public mental health facilities (and I don’t want to come across snobby or anything like that) but I don’t know if mum would improve, or whether she would actually decline. She is used to having consistent care with one doctor, etc, and she has always paid her private health cover so she has that option. By no means is she wealthy, but she has always made sure she has her private health cover. Even where she is at now, she has different doctors and nurses seeing her every day and it is very overwhelming for her. I had a chat with the psych where she is and told him I have contacted a geri psych who seems happy to see mum upon discharge. Just have to wait. I have told the psych, medical doctors and social worker that they are not to make any decisions regarding mum unless I am in the discussions. I’ll have the final say as to what happens upon mum being discharged. I just get frustrated feeling im out of the loop sometimes and im not used to it as I have taken care of all of mum’s stuff for so long. It is very scary handing it over to someone else.
I also contacted dept of health to see if I could access mum’s old records from early 90’s when she was in a mental health facility to see if there psychotic episodes back them. the hospital closed in 2004 and only kept records back to 1997. Interesting to know that public mental health facilities have to keep mental health records indefinitely (or I think it is 7 years after the person is deceased) but private mental health facilities dont fall under the same legislation. pffft! I do think the meds are working – she is on an anti-depressant and 2 anti-psychotics. We are hoping to get her off one of them. she hasn’t had any psychotic episodes of late which is good. I think one of the anti-psychotics she was on did not agree with her – that’s when she was getting quite manic and psychotic.
Her uti has cleared up. Psych thinks that her behaviours could still be attributable to delirium or onset of vascular dementia. Her cognitive function has declined, and I can see that. Her mri shows there are small ischaemic changes, ie small blood vessels in the brain have become blocked – this starves the brain of oxygen and brain cells die. this can lead to vascular dementia. Psych said he tried doing the MOCA test with mum today. She was too tired to do all of it but he said from what she did complete, she didn’t do well.
Ooh good on you for having a hot bath – so jealous! Haha you definitely need a bath in your house by the sounds of it. our shower and bath were combined (roman style) but it was hard for mum to get in and out of the shower cause the hob was quite high. My uncle knocked out some tiles so it was easier for mum, but in doing so, we have not bath left! Lol … aah well, gotta keep the mama happy (plus it is her house! Lol) do you go to the pools, in the hydrotherapy pool? Or the spa with the jets? Ooh, that be nice for ya!
Thanks luv, I am trying to look after myself. Not going to see mum tomorrow. My days consist of sleeping in cause im so tired in the morning, doing bits and pieces at home, seeing mum, coming home, having dinner, relaxing and crying myself to sleep. In the evening is when it all hits me. it’s a good release but draining. but it just creeps up on me and is overwhelming. im seeing counsellor tomorrow and going to support group on Friday. I have supports in place, ie counsellor, friends and online support. Im concerned im going to burn out soon too luv. I need to try and pull back a bit, and calm down with what is happening with mum. I cant control the situation.
I have a friend coming to see me tomorrow morning for a cuppa – she lives down south in Margaret river and is in perth for a few days. And another friend has invited me over for dinner on Friday night. It is nice to have things to look forward to, especially low key things atm. Stuff doing things that require a lot of energy lol!!! Too hard …
Hows things with you luv? and how is your mum? You been okay? How is your son? he been good? So many questions hehe
It is 10.45pm here, you’re probably snoozing away. I was in bed crying and thought I’d do something to distract my mind. So here I am! haha
Ooh, as for chocolate, I ate 8 roses chocolates tonight lol … but have eaten better the past couple of days. Bought some fruit from the shop yesterday 😊 see, me good girl hehe
Big hugs and kisses *mwah*
