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Home > Middle of the Night ER Trip

Middle of the Night ER Trip

October 4th, 2007 at 07:47 pm

I'm pooped .... again... Seems to be my regular energy level these days.

Woke up to something during the early morning hours, finally came to, only to realize it was my mom calling for me! Gads, I don't think there is a feeling worse. Kids you expect it, parents, trust me, it comes as a shock.

I have no idea how long mom had been calling my name & I don't want to ask her. I just need to figure out another method of communication, and how to sleep with one ear & one eye open from now on.

Moms OK, I'm more than a little ticked at her. Seems the entire episode of shortness of breath, racing pulse, higher than the usual high blood pressure was brought about due to her just 'not taking some of her pills'. Some lame excuse about needing to wait til the ones I mail ordered came & she could be certain they were the right ones, and that she had enough. Pish Tosh. I'm now in charge of the meds. No need to go through this event again.

Her new supply was here over a week ago, we opened everything and went through them all (6 prescriptions). I have been stepping into her business as needed......rather than bulldoze my way in where she was still doing OK. Mistake on my part. I'll be more pro active from now on.

She is resting, meds are current and the treatment she got in the ER has made her feel downright perky. Almost disgusting, since I'm sooooo tired! And, I've got my first crochet class to teach this evening.... Since I'm supposed to keep an eye on her for the next 24 hours, I've called in #1 Grandson to sit with her for 3 hours this evening, just so we all feel better. I'm hoping for a shower and a bit of a nap prior to my class, or I'll not be able to make my brain tell my fingers what to do........let alone teach others!

I have worked for years in the health care field, in a nursing home situation.......but never truly understood the families side of things until lately. I do need to re evaluate everything here, in light of the medication situation. So much to do.....not alot of time to do it in.....and no real back up.

Grateful mom didn't have something really serious happen, and thankful for the wake up call for me........I will have to get busy figuring out what else I can/should be doing here.

11 Responses to “Middle of the Night ER Trip”

  1. Ima saver Says:
    1191525865

    glad she is doing ok now!

  2. miclason Says:
    1191526207

    Glad she's fine...it IS difficult when the roles of parent/child are reversed... Frown Have you thought about baby monitors??

  3. jodi Says:
    1191529681

    I was thinking the same thing! A baby monitor will let you hear what is going on in her room, or at least in the hallway otside her room if she wants a little more privacy. I don't know how my parents raised three kids in a two story house (their bedroom being downstairs) without one!
    I'm glad to hear that nothing serious is wrong. I have just, in the past few years, watched several families caring for their parents at home. It can be exhausting, rewarding, frustrating, and gratifying. I hope you have the resources available for help should you need them.

  4. nance Says:
    1191534497

    Been there, done that! My mom is in a nursing home now, but lived with us for a long time. You feel like you are constantly sleep deprived, and stressed. Just be glad that she is still active and able to lead a fairly normal life now, and call on family to "spell" you so you don't get too exhausted and burn out.

  5. contrary1 Says:
    1191535465

    Thanks for the prayers and good wishes for my mom. She is almost back to normal today, and feeling quite sheepish I do believe. Totally preventable this event was, so she is following directions to the letter!

    The baby monitor came to my mind too, although I've never had one, nor seen one in operation. Not sure if she would feel secure with it or invaded. Will explore this as an option.

    I'm sleeping with my door open from now on, that's for sure. Even the dog didn't hear her last night, as she couldn't get enough air in to make much of a sound come out. Also going to look into having a couple simple noisemaker something-or-others in areas of the house, that wouldn't require her to have the lung power. Whistles came to mind, but that wouldn't have worked too well last night either.

    The beach house will have me sleeping upstairs and her downstairs, so I do believe the monitor situation will be in effect over there.......and she'll just have to get used to it. I had thought of putting sort of an old fashioned bell pull at the bottom of my stairs, so she could get my attention without having to shout up the stairs........and she isn't to be dealing with stairs anyway with her knee......

    Not sure who this is going to be more difficult for; mom, her twin, or me. New things to learn for all of us, around every corner. I feel blessed we're all best friends, as well as mother/dtr/aunt.

  6. denisentexas Says:
    1191539426

    A few years ago my dad moved in with us. His health was poor and he was taking 16 prescriptions, most of which made him drowsy. After waking up once in the middle of the night to him calling me, I bought a baby monitor. It worked like a charm. I explained that he could just lie in bed and say my name and I'd hear him. That convinced him it was a good thing. By the way, I took charge of his diet, his meds, and everything else. Before long his blood sugar was great, his blood pressure was marvelous, and he was up walking around and trying to take care of himself. You don't have to be a nazi to take charge but if your mom needs some assistance, she needs it. Take control if you need to.

  7. denisentexas Says:
    1191539463

    Glad your mom is okay!

    A few years ago my dad moved in with us. His health was poor and he was taking 16 prescriptions, most of which made him drowsy. After waking up once in the middle of the night to him calling me, I bought a baby monitor. It worked like a charm. I explained that he could just lie in bed and say my name and I'd hear him. That convinced him it was a good thing. By the way, I took charge of his diet, his meds, and everything else. Before long his blood sugar was great, his blood pressure was marvelous, and he was up walking around and trying to take care of himself. You don't have to be a nazi to take charge but if your mom needs some assistance, she needs it. Take control if you need to.

  8. Carolina Bound Says:
    1191543906

    I am in much the same situation with my cousin. I live downstairs, and she is upstairs. When she needs me, she calls me on my cell phone. I think a baby monitor would not allow much privacy.

  9. boomeyers Says:
    1191554848

    I am sitting with my dad on Tuesdays and Thursdays now for my mom to get out and work part time. How close is the beach house to emergency medical care?

  10. contrary1 Says:
    1191562992

    boomeyers: The little town the beach house is in, actually has a fairly large fire & emergency dept. A huge big station, located approx 3 miles away, which is closer than the station is to my moms house currently.
    That station services a main highway in the area, so they are fairly busy with accident type situations, so it is an active dept. (I have read their minutes, and have relatives in this new area that serve as commissioners as well as vol. firemen) The hospital is a stretch however, closer to 30 miles I think it is.....but it would be all highway driving, with the aide car transporting, not me.
    Both mom & I realize this is a temporary situation with the beach house, enjoying it for the period of time it works for mom. When it isn't working so well......we'll do something different. She just really wants to be on the beach.
    The house is smaller, she would only be on one level. With just one step to get off the porch. No throw rugs to trip over, smaller rooms, no slick hardwood floors, the list goes on ........ I think it would be an easier do than the house we're currently in. Willing to give it a go.
    And, this recent situation was all brought on by the way mom was choosing to take meds some times, not the others......... But, I'm realistic enough to know, there will be a next time. Different details, but the same results. I'll just deal with what I'm given and be grateful for whatever time we get.

  11. JanH Says:
    1191614928

    Maybe you can just use a baby monitor at night. The one that DS uses picks up amazingly well. DIL only has to speak normally (his name) in the bedroom and he hears it through the monitor into the living room and can go help her with whatever she needs with the baby. I've never seen anything like it. I've heard of people taking them outside or into the garage and hearing everything quite well. Hopefully, your mom might feel good about you being able to hear her and not feel too invaded. Glad your mom is okay!

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