My mom just turned 90 a month ago. She's been under hospice care since January. Has CHF, and a multitude of other chronic things. I am her sole caregiver 24 hours, my husband is here but not really 'here to care'. I have one gal that comes in 4 hours a day so i can at least go for an hour to the grocery store. My biggest frustration right now is that my mom constantly utters 'oh my god, oh my jesus'. CONSTANTLY. She was doing this for about a year before this but now since she's been in bed two months, it's constant. She wakes me two or three times a night sounding completely distraught and repeating 'oh my god' so desperately I feel like there's something drastic happening. I go in, nothing, she just looks at me blankly. Doesn't even realize most times that she's saying it. I have 7 siblings, 6 of which live at least 1500 miles away. Not one will come and be with her with me in her last days. And I'm sorry to say, Hospice is a joke. Since January seen the social worker (Worthless in my opinion and my eldest sister is a SW with Hospice in another state), seen her twice. Woohoo.
How do I ignore this constant 'oh my god'ing'. Do any of you experience this as well? I know it's anxiety on her end. The ativan helps a little. Except for this, she's quite lucid most of the time and it kills me to drug her up just to sleep. Hospice wants me to give her other stuff that will have her sleeping almost all the time.
I have cared for my mom 40 of my 49 years. She has been partially paralyzed since I was 9 years old. I'm exhausted and worn out. It's a daily rollercoaster of emotion for me and I'm just so tired. I absolutely do NOT wish her dead. I only wish and pray for peace for her and myself. She is tired and wants so to be with my dad and her mother and sister and brothers.
Mostly just venting here but I am curious to know if and how many of you go through the 'oh my god' desperate plea.
Take care...
Can hospice increase her Ativan? She doesn't have to be totally drugged out. There are doses that fall between "effective" and "doped up". If her moaning is a sign of anxiety and the moaning doesn't stop with the dose she's at now maybe an increase in dosage will help.
I didn't experience this with my dad but I have experienced it in my professional life and it can be annoying and emotionally taxing.
I guess I'm confused as to your comment "I'm a traditional Catholic. this is a good sign, that's how i read it. " What is a good sign?
And no, this isn't the biggest 'problem', just one of many that keeps me awake.
Pam, yes she is fearful. She has told me and everyone that she's afraid she will not get into Heaven. She is and always has been a very very devout Catholic and here is this frail, frightened woman thinking she will not get into Heaven. She's had last rites twice this year and no convincing from the Priest or chaplains or anyone is helping her to believe she's going to Heaven.
My dad didn't say hardly anything in the three weeks before he died. Although once in a while he would ask when the beer party was and he didn't even drink in the 46 years I knew him! He saw angels and family members all the time. My mom doesn't seem to be seeing anything that is calming or peaceful to her...Well, except for Joel Osteen. She loves his curly hair. She's not a big fan of Victoria anymore though.
Hoping not to insult anyone but I got the biggest kick out of these post!
Wishing you and your mother...peace!
I did start the habit of reciting prayers with her (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and especially the Guardian Angel Prayer at night) throughout the day and this seemed to be of great comfort to her. And I did notice, in the short time I had with her as her caregiver (little over a year), she seemed changed from being very agitated and unhappy to a calmer, sweeter personality, sans meds… maybe this is nostalgia on my part… but no, I think it happened. Can you take the time to recite prayers with her a few times a day, it might help? Good luck.
Since 5:30 pm yesterday no 'oh my gods'...at 5:30 as I was cleaning her up, she basically died for the second time. The first had happened about 4 weeks ago. Last night for about 3 minutes she was totally gone. She came back after my husband and i were speaking and telling her it was okay to 'go'...that dad is waiting for you...all that...but she came back. She wanted to call all my siblings...7 of them...and tell them goodbye. I checked on her around 4 this morning and she was like wide awake, smiled and said 'oh you're such a sweetheart'. I was covering her up as I always do at that time of morning. Now at 8 am she is awake again and smiling but as she sees me a huge grimace is on her face.
She remembers nothing of what happened this time or the last time.
Oh, and yes I do have classical music on for her all night.
I think I need to go to the doc today and get something for my heart.
Oh mylanta.
just a mindless behavior. As someone else suggested, music often helps soothe this type of behavior. Praying for you and your family.
So I'm just wondering if your mom has something that she thinks will keep her out of heaven that she's keeping to herself. Just a thought...I hope she can be more calm and peaceful and you also. It's got to drive you crazy.