My mother has lived with us for 3 years now. She has her own apartment downstairs with a private entrance. She has severe hearing loss and hearing aids do not help much. She has a curvature in her spine, but was fine until she fell over 3 years ago and now does not trust her legs to hold her up. She has all but completely withdrawn from any interaction with the outside world. She will go to the grocery store weekly, but not much of anywhere else. My husband and I ask her continuously to go places with us, but she refuses. She uses her hearing as an excuse. She is afraid of everyone who comes to our house, and will leave the room if anyone comes over. She sets in the dark most times and does not talk to anyone except the dog. I'm an only child. I don't know what to do to help her. Should I try to contact her doctor and talk with them about how she chooses complete isolation?
Got off my lexapro today. Made me feel like I was pregnant with the nausea. I'd rather die than have that feeling. Am filling my Cymbalta prescription now. Hope something works.
Love, Marylynne
Love,
Cindi
Hugs
Cindi
Had an out of town guest arrive late last night, started my youngest son in drivers training classes this week too. I have to force myself to rest. Glad all of you are still going strong. I will be very busy tomorrow I will try to get back to you girls on Sunday if not Monday. Have a great weekend, oxoxo Judy
Marylynne, in answer to your question, my husband was diagnosed in 97 with prostate cancer, it was very bad and a fast moving kind, so they had to do a radical prostatectomy. He was very ill, and had problems for the next 9 years until his death. I took care of him and my mom for the last 3 of his life, and he was made miserable by my moms constant nagging to him. according to her, he could do nothing right. And in private, he would gripe to me about her, but yet, he wanted me to take care of her. Then of course, there is my son who is mentally ill. i had him too. I feel like my entire lifetime has been taking care of people, and i am so tired of it. I want to have freedom to do as i want without any one telling me what i have to do. I am very unhappy, because now, my mom is saying if my bf moves in, she will leave. well, good for her. where the hell is she going? and why hasnt she already left?
anyway, going to read some of the pstings you were talking about cindi, and see if they make me feel better. luv all of u, donna
I often wonder, if we all had one week of freedom, I mean real freedom. Not having to call and check on some one, Not have to be home for a certain time, Not have to go to the doctors, Not to worry what is happening at home, would we want to come back? I think not!!!
I use to think I was doing this out of the goodness of my heart. Now, I am doing it with a heavy heart. I pray for us all, Donna, Cindi, Judy and Peg.
Love, Marylynne
Marylynne, thanks for the words of encouragement. and you said something that really made me think. You are right, if i had a week away, i would never want to come back, it actually happened. I hired a lady to stay with my mom in february, while i and my friend went to nashville for 5 days. When it was time to come home, i dreaded it with every thread of my being. As i got nearer home, my stomach started getting in knots, and when we pulled in the driveway, i was almost afraid to come in, knowing the cold treatment i would get and how aggravated she was with me for leaving. like a child who has misbehaved, that is how i felt. This is wrong. A grown person should never feel that they have to slip around to do something for themselves. This afternoon, i had to go to the parts store, because the top radiator hose on my car had gone bad. I was gone for about an hour but, it takes time to figure this stuff out. then when i came back, the phone was ringing. It was my son and he just wanted to talk about his week, and right after he hung up, my girlfriend who lives 3 houses away, but yet i can never go to her house to visit, called and we talked quite a while. My mom came and stood in the hallway, just outside the door to my room, and listened. and every once in a while she would say, Oh? are you still on the phone? although she knew that i was, as she was standing right there.
Girls, i am not handling it anymore. just not doing well. my nerves are shot, and i am thinking seriously of nursing homes more and more. I am tired of the bs that i am going thru, my life is nearly over too, and i want to live while i can.
Marylynne, hon i have only touched bits of the tragedies that i have had in the last 10 years. The worst one of all was that my 14 year old grandson drowned, while visiting me at the lake. My son and husband were with him, and an undercurrent caught him and pulled him into a culvert, and he got hung up on brush and could not get out. my nightmares are of that. then, 2 months prior to my husbands death, i lost my only sibling, my younger brother, who i adored. when my husband died, due to lack of funds, i had to give up my house at the lake, sell most of my things, give up my new car, and move to my moms house.(away from my kids) when i finally got my money from the life insurance, i spent most of it remodeling her old house, which is now mine, as i borrowed money and bought her half, which she promptly gave to my sister in law, the princess. My mom thinks she is perfect though she does nothing, to help, never offers to take her anywhere, or anything, just comes by a couple of times a week for 30 min or so, and visits with her. So, yes, i am bitter, very much so. As i said, i am not handling it right now. hopefully prayer will help. I dont know what i would do without you ladies to whine to. i love you all, and pray that each of us can find some peace, some how. love, Donna
marier I wish I lived near you. You are just what I am looking for in New Orleans. Over here, before the Hurricane they had what we called Group Homes, where a caregiver, like yourself would take in 5 - 6 people with help and provide for the needs for about $2000 a month. We had my dad in one when he had his last stroke and broke his pelvis at the same time. He couldn't be moved, so we couldn't take him home and care for him. We only had him there for a month, but since the storm, there is no other alternatives, but nursing homes for him. I understand what you're saying about them losing their own strenth and independence, but when it comes down to 20 years of it, a person just gets emotionally drained. When all you have to look forward to for the day is going to the doctor it is hard to get up.
Donna, Love you honey, your personal tradgedies are too much for any one to endure. I think about running away and never coming back. Today, I had to go to a crawfish boil for my husbands company. What I had to do before I left, so I could go, was just not worth going. I feel like I am punished all of the time. If I go outside and talk to a friend, she follows me. If I'm gone too long, she wants to know why it took too long. My dad being totally disabled, is more easy to handle than her. I wake up every morning and vomit, because I don't want to get up and start my day. If I didn't have ya'll to talk to I don't know if I would make it through the day. I have lost 5 pounds in one week, from depression and look sickly. Hope I start feeling better soon. My friends say, I just have to suck it up and deal with it if I'm not going to happy either way.
You have through a lot. Losing your grandson, your brother, then your husband. Having to take care of your husband during his illness. Having your son who has a disability. I feel for you...for the tragedies you have had to endure, the pain, the loss. Yes, it awful losing my son and I will always live with that. You have some understanding because of losing your grandson. Having to be there for your son when he lost his child. I understand what you mean about not wanting to take care of anyone for once. I feel the same way. Although it does give me some joy to know that I am doing good by my parents and for them. I also mourn my loss of freedom. I have always longed to be free but before my daughter went off to college my dad was already living with me. My daughter said "Mom I feel bad for you cause you were looking forward to be free when I went off to college and now you are not free." Boy, is that right. I just hope my day will come when I will get to be free and enjoy my life. I hope I don't die before that happens..or die for that to happen. I'm also sorry about your son who is in prison. May he find healing and turn his life around. My son was addicted to Meth it turned out. He could not stay clean. It had started messing up his mind. He didn't see a way out so he ended his life. At least my sweet boy is in heaven now. No more pain.
Sometimes I tell my mother...what am I suppose to do never go anywhere or not have a life at all? She says no, I didn't say that. It makes her stop and think when I put it that way. Donna, you are doing your mother a favor by keeping her. You are trying to have a life where you can take care of her and yourself. If having your male friend live with you is going to make your life easier, better and help you through better then go for it. Mother is going to have to get use to it..or else she can choose to live somewhere else. Unless, she is allowed to dictate to you how it is going to be, what you can and can't do...all the while frustrating the hell out of you...and leaving you to exist only for her. You will resent her. You cannot control what choices she makes or what she does or threatens to do...you can only control what you do, what choices you make. Make the right ones for yourself while trying to help your mom too. If she doesn't allow you to help her unless you do it all her way..then you have some decisions to make...take care of you hun...
Cindi
Cindi
looks like you are going to be a godsend for some lucky people and their families. I think it is great what you are planning on doing. I am an LVN and use all my skills and more taking care of my parents. I have jokingly said to my husband that I am going to put a sign up stating senior care. You must of had nicer parents to take caregive. If you had some of our parents, namely Mothers I couldn't see you choosing to do it again. You see taking care of them is one thing but taking care of them while they abuse you is another. Some of us have very emotionally unhealthy mothers. I have a feeling they were that way before too maybe it just didn't show as much. You had a lot of good insight and info especially about the nursing homes. Good luck in your future endeavor. We need more people like you.
Cindi
Our mothers suffer grave emotional even mental problems and ladies, we suffer for it. They use it and take it out on us. What is that saying about we hurt the ones we love...or should it be..we hurt the ones that love us??? That would be us girls. OUr mothers hurt us and don't even see it. They are too busy suffering their own lives, emotions, conditions and they can't see what we give up and do for them and take from them all because we love them. Yes, we love them despite everything and so we hold on...and go on...God help all of us...mothers and daughters included...
Love and Hugs
Cindi
Great idea! You might just have an idea there! I do wish we lived closer! Maybe there are others...but god, what if we find people who have parents worse then ours!!! Wouldn't that be something...Hope you got a lot of flowers planted and that you are enjoying your time with your boyfriend.
Marylynne, hope you are doing okay hun...
Judy...girls I am worried about Judy she is having a real hard day...scares me when she says those things. I prayed for her and all of us..
As I write this posting a girlfriend of mine called and said another one of our girlfriends is in the hospital waiting for her mother to pass away. That puts in perspective for me that no matter what we feel or go through we are taking good care of our parents girls..and someday it will be final when they go and we are going to miss them greatly and be sad. This girlfriend's mother was in the same nursing home my dad was in. She turned 90 a few months ago...and has lived in that nursing home for 5 years. She has parkinsons and hasn't been herself the last 2 to 3 weeks..last night they had to take her to the hospital cause she is not eating or drinking and having difficulty breathing. She perked up a bit last night but today she is worse. They pulled out the Iv's etc..because she stated she didn't want any life prolongment. She is dying and my poor girlfriend has to sit and watch and wait. She has one daughter there with her..and the other one (who is very emotional) is driving in from 10 hours away. They (all 3 of them..mother and two daughters) are going to spend the night in the hospital. If the mother lives through tonight they will move her back to the nursing home and hospice will step in...until she passes..My heart is breaking for her. I am going to finish cooking dinner and am going with another girlfriend to the hospital to offer some support.
Read all of your postings. Girls, I don't only think our mothers are quadruplets and think we are too. Judy, I say the same things all the time about running into a tree or something... Sometimes I accidentally say it in conversation to one of my friends and then they think I'm going to commit suicide. Then I have to reassure them that I am o.k. The day I brought myself to the hospital, My 20 year old, who hates my guts, said Mom please don't do anything to yourself. I love you and I need you. I couldn't believe it.
Cindi, Girl everytime I read your postings, and the things you say, It sounds exactly like the things I think in my mind all of the time.
I love you girls,
Marylynne
Yesterday when I came home from church and grocery shopping, Mama and I started peeling potatos for dinner and with NO warning, she became verbally abusive then punched me in the left eye. I was terrified (that I'd lose sight). I grabbed my coat and purse and started for my car (to get to the hospital) and she yelled that I was to come back and finish making dinner. I ignored her and got to the hospital (my father came from his place and met me in the ER - he is very supportive, and it bothers him very badly that she does these things to me). After exam and Xrays I'm fine - just the bones around my eye are sore but no "black eye". Then I had to go back into the house to get my uniform shirt and pants to go to work. Mama accused ME of being violent, and I said she had punched me in the eye, and she said I was "lucky". I was depressed all thru my shift at work.
Someone loaned me a WONDERFUL book - I recommend it to all - I read it and took lots of notes while at my post today. It is from AARP and titled "Caring for your Parents" by Hugh Delehanty & Elinor Ginzler. It really explained Dementia and Alzheimers very well. It has tons of other info also.
Hopefully you are all seen or heard of it - if not, it is worth tracking down and reading.
love,
Peg
Judy hope you are feeling better and able to go on. Donna thinking about you too. Have a nice day with boyfriend helping?
I went to the hospital with my gf to see the other gf and her mom who is dying. Going to call her later to see how things are...My sister (I call her the other) is going to take my mother and father out to lunch today. Hallaleujah! Husband asked me to meet him for a quick lunch. I am gonna sneak out while they are gone and have some time for myself. Told mother to bring the housekey with her. Thing is...if sister learns that I used this time to have some fun, she is so mean that she won't like it that she helped me get out. Probably won't take parents out to lunch anymore or something, who knows...Have a wonderful day friends...the sun is shining and right now my heart feels light.
Love,
Cindi
I'm free to do what I want, any old time.........
I'm free to do what i want, any old time.......
Love, Marylynne
Today was a normal day. my mother bitched at me intermittently with acting terribly concerned...bf has stayed last 4 nights here with me. she is so furious. i did his laundry today and ironed his jeans and shirts. she was indignent.. i told her to get whatever she wanted ironed and i would do hers too. she seemed pleased, but, not for long. he and i went out for short while this evening, and while we were gone she called my son in and decided that my friend could no longer stay here. she doesnt care about my happiness, only about her own selfish hateful ugly self. yes, one of those days when i hate her. when i wish that she could just go on to the nursing home and leave me alone on my own. I told my friend about the discussion my mother had with my son, and he said, "well, i would never come between you and your family. " so, he said after tonight he would go back home and only see me when i could come to him. This is not what i want, but, i guess the way it will be. Yes, mother dear has ruined yet another relationship for me. The only way i will ever get away from this old witch is to die myself. She is a mean selfcentered woman. Marylynne, nice to get out, even if it means going to all the trouble and your hubby getting sick, at least he is better now. cindi, you are always cheerful sounding on here and the peacemaker, we love you for it. Peg your mom sounds as mean as mine. guess i will go for now. hope tomorrow is better. If not, i may go to look at nursing homes. love, donna
I would tell your Mom that if your boyfriend can't move in, that you will be looking into nursing homes. Tell her that you will be happy, even if the cost is her going in one. Look at them, get the prices and scare the living shit out of her. She is mean and hateful. I plan to do the same tomorrow, with my dad. My nerves are shot and can't handle being woke up and yelled at.
Love, Marylynne