Adventures With Mom

[dragnlaw]

It's like going to the doctor's and they'll say "Hello, how are you?"
I almost always answer with another question... "Is that a social question or a medical one?"
They usually answer "Social now, medical later"

 

[medtran49]

AND ... off we go ...

My cell phone rang about 9:30am today - I'm NOT an early riser, and Mom never calls me before 10am. This was a cause for alarm, and all without any coffee yet!
"Hello Mom"
I couldn't understand Mom, she was slurring so badly, what words she could get out.
That's been a huge "thing" that I've noticed lately.
Mom will have good days and then real bad ones.
She's not only slurring, but is having a heck of a time finding the words AT ALL!
I've been telling my DH this, but he doesn't spend as much time with Mom as I do.
So I put my phone on speaker so he could listen to her speech.
He said he couldn't understand her, at all!
I knew what she was talking about but all the same, it was extremely poor speech.
I've brought up to DH that I feel as though Mom has had multiple mini-strokes.
Whenever I ask after Mom's health, I get, "I'm fine!" with an attitude behind it, ya know.
It's like, "leave me alone" - I know darn well she's scared to death that I'll take to ER again and she'll be in the hospital again.

What do I expect, Mom's not a young chick anymore.

You NEED to call her doctor. She may be having TIAs, transient ischemic attacks, which are also known as mini strokes. She could also be having really low blood sugar episodes. Doesn't she live in assisted living? Can you call and have someone check on her? If nothing else, see if your phone has a voice recorder option so you can record her for later play back.

And next time she gives you push back, ask her if she'd like to be stuck in a body that won't respond to her, not be able to talk, feed herself, etc. I've had to do similar with Craig when he gets recalcitrant.

 

[Aunt Bea]

AND ... off we go ...

My cell phone rang about 9:30am today - I'm NOT an early riser, and Mom never calls me before 10am. This was a cause for alarm, and all without any coffee yet!
"Hello Mom"
I couldn't understand Mom, she was slurring so badly, what words she could get out.
That's been a huge "thing" that I've noticed lately.
Mom will have good days and then real bad ones.
She's not only slurring, but is having a heck of a time finding the words AT ALL!
I've been telling my DH this, but he doesn't spend as much time with Mom as I do.
So I put my phone on speaker so he could listen to her speech.
He said he couldn't understand her, at all!
I knew what she was talking about but all the same, it was extremely poor speech.
I've brought up to DH that I feel as though Mom has had multiple mini-strokes.
Whenever I ask after Mom's health, I get, "I'm fine!" with an attitude behind it, ya know.
It's like, "leave me alone" - I know darn well she's scared to death that I'll take to ER again and she'll be in the hospital again.

What do I expect, Mom's not a young chick anymore.

It may sound odd but the slurred speech and attitude can be a symptom of a UTI in older adults.

It became a common problem with a simple solution when my mother became uber old.

 

[Kaneohegirlinaz]

All good points folks and duly noted.

I will send a message to Mom's new PCP via the patient portal and advise her of my observations.

DH said that we will be going over to see Mom tomorrow, he agreed that I spend far more time with her and he hasn't seen a "good day" with her for a long time now.
I think I have a home test for UTI in my bathroom medicine chest.
Oh, and no, Mom lives in the independent side of the Senior Living Community, but if I need a "Welfare Check" they'd do it for me, I've done this in the past.

Here's another smart thing that I've been doing over the past three years of Mom living where she does, I make a point of visiting for awhile with all the folks who work at Mom's Senior Living Community.
They all know me by name and who my Mom is and what she does at most times.
Ya know, food bribery works wonders too wink wink
The director of the facility lived in Hawaii for a time and loves the local-style foods, so if I've made something like say Spam Musubi, I make sure to bring one for her.

The front desk receptionist has the exact same birthday as myself, can you believe that? So I take her my free Crumbl Cookie that I get for my birthday each year.

The "lunch lady" in the front dining room told me that she won't let Mom have dessert if she doesn't finish her meal She said Mom has no problems eating everything on her plate, "she's a good eater".
She is! If she likes what's in front of her, she'll gobble it right down, all of it. Especially when the bribe is Ice Cream in the end.

 

[caseydog]

It may sound odd but the slurred speech and attitude can be a symptom of a UTI in older adults.

Yes, we've seen that with both of my parents.

I had them check my mom for that when I saw that she was really confused. It was negative, so looks like something a lot worse is going on.

CD

 

[GinnyPNW]

All good points folks and duly noted.

I will send a message to Mom's new PCP via the patient portal and advise her of my observations.

DH said that we will be going over to see Mom tomorrow, he agreed that I spend far more time with her and he hasn't seen a "good day" with her for a long time now.
I think I have a home test for UTI in my bathroom medicine chest.
Oh, and no, Mom lives in the independent side of the Senior Living Community, but if I need a "Welfare Check" they'd do it for me, I've done this in the past.

Here's another smart thing that I've been doing over the past three years of Mom living where she does, I make a point of visiting for awhile with all the folks who work at Mom's Senior Living Community.
They all know me by name and who my Mom is and what she does at most times.
Ya know, food bribery works wonders too wink wink
The director of the facility lived in Hawaii for a time and loves the local-style foods, so if I've made something like say Spam Musubi, I make sure to bring one for her.

The front desk receptionist has the exact same birthday as myself, can you believe that? So I take her my free Crumbl Cookie that I get for my birthday each year.

The "lunch lady" in the front dining room told me that she won't let Mom have dessert if she doesn't finish her meal She said Mom has no problems eating everything on her plate, "she's a good eater".
She is! If she likes what's in front of her, she'll gobble it right down, all of it. Especially when the bribe is Ice Cream in the end.

I totally sympathize. I just spent the last few hours looking for the paperwork for MIL's Will, Advanced Directive, POA, etc. Called the attorney and asked if he had it? Fortunately, he said Fed Ex on 6/25/10...and I then looked for a Fed Ex package and FOUND IT. Happy dance on that. Not so happy dancing on needing it. Sigh..and hugs, K-Girl!