Slow dying

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry, OP.

It's very hard to compartmentalize when a loved one is suffering and depends on you for their wellbeing.

We have just started on this journey. In August, my erstwhile healthy 74 year old father went to hospital and it was revealed that actually he has a multitude of symptoms that point to a complex array of very bad stuff. We're still not sure what's causing what. Cancer is in the mix, but there's also cardiac insufficiency and possible tuberculosis. Or something else. We're not sure. Tests are ongoing.

Hang in there, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I’m sorry, OP. My parent, too, is very frail, in a wheelchair, and the activity of transferring from car to wheelchair for routine dr appointments will exhaust them for several days or cause back pain, which makes it harder to care for them.

In addition, due to their cognitive decline, they’ve taken to flipping off and sticking their tongue out at other drivers from the passenger seat, who are just driving along. I can’t stop them when I’m driving. I worry about road rage aimed at us.

So, if a little old lady sticks her tongue out or tries to flash you going down the road, it’s not you, it’s Alzheimer’s.

My mom has advanced dementia. I have phased out doctor's appointments, although she is seen regularly by an NP at her memory care. She has declined so much, so fast, and yet physically she could live for another decade.

This is my mom. She was placed in hospice because she was declining so much and falling so much but it seems she’s stabilized so she could be around for a very long time. Dementia really is the absolute worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m sorry, OP. My parent, too, is very frail, in a wheelchair, and the activity of transferring from car to wheelchair for routine dr appointments will exhaust them for several days or cause back pain, which makes it harder to care for them.

In addition, due to their cognitive decline, they’ve taken to flipping off and sticking their tongue out at other drivers from the passenger seat, who are just driving along. I can’t stop them when I’m driving. I worry about road rage aimed at us.

So, if a little old lady sticks her tongue out or tries to flash you going down the road, it’s not you, it’s Alzheimer’s.

My mom has advanced dementia. I have phased out doctor's appointments, although she is seen regularly by an NP at her memory care. She has declined so much, so fast, and yet physically she could live for another decade.

This is my mom. She was placed in hospice because she was declining so much and falling so much but it seems she’s stabilized so she could be around for a very long time. Dementia really is the absolute worst.

Full hospice? Make sure you've talked to her doctors about halting non-palliative medications and include instructions to refrain from treatment of infections except through pain management.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I’m sorry, OP. My parent, too, is very frail, in a wheelchair, and the activity of transferring from car to wheelchair for routine dr appointments will exhaust them for several days or cause back pain, which makes it harder to care for them.

In addition, due to their cognitive decline, they’ve taken to flipping off and sticking their tongue out at other drivers from the passenger seat, who are just driving along. I can’t stop them when I’m driving. I worry about road rage aimed at us.

So, if a little old lady sticks her tongue out or tries to flash you going down the road, it’s not you, it’s Alzheimer’s.

My mom has advanced dementia. I have phased out doctor's appointments, although she is seen regularly by an NP at her memory care. She has declined so much, so fast, and yet physically she could live for another decade.

Same here. I stopped worrying about getting my parent to the dentist. My sibling can handle that one, if they want, because I already do everything else.

OP