Can I personally do anything about this?
I am only child now, Had to have knee replaced 3/14/16. Husband doesnot see what Im dealing with Mom fell 12/24/15 broke her hip. She had emergency surgery that night. Then she was placed in rehab afterwards. I was mopping her floor after working 3 nights & I heard a snap in my knee. I went to ER & found out I had to have my knee replaced. Scheduled date was March 14, 2016. I was using a cane and knee brace to hobble around until surgery. Mom came home for a few days & I was the one to be her caregiver along with this bad knee and all. Mom was home for 5 days when I had her rushed to Emergency room as her vitals were very low. She was then rushed to another hospital 54 miles away for emergency kidney treatment. The hospital did a CT scan & called for a family meeting. My brother has passed on & his boys came down to see mom while in hospital and be there for this meeting. We were told she had stage 4 brain bone cancer & did not have long to live. I got a hospital bed & got her home cleaned up.. She went to another rehab for awhile before coming to her home. I went over her medical records & her lab results looked like her numbers were consistent. So, I called her personal doctor. He checked into this matter and he found no such thing in her brain let alone cancer anywhere else. I was very thankful she did not have this cancer in her, but also very upset with this hospitals diagnosis. Can I personally do anything about this? What is the legal steps to proceed on a matter like this? After DC from rehab mom came home 2/12/16. then went back in hospital on 2/15 for pneumonia at our local hospital. She returned on 2/19/16. My nephew was there to help. But he refused to follow any kind of caregiving daily tasks like keep track of her vitals her intake & output . He told me if I wanted it done I better be here every day to do it, Then the Friday before my knee surgery my nephew takes off for a camping disc golf trip. Well, needless to say he was not back the morning of my surgery, 3/14/16. In fact he did not return in my moms car until that Thursday. Meaning my mom was left alone from Monday to Thursday. My husband did go check on her daily for a hour, I was unable to help out at all. I had my knee to get the pain under control and keep off of it for a few weeks. Well, my nephew had all kinds of excuses. He continued to help himself to my moms food, he was there in the mornings for about half a hour then he split in her car to go play disc golf. Returning in the evening expecting my mom to have dinner ready??? Then he would invite people over so he could do tattoos on them for a price. So, there was my poor mom basically ignored. I was furious. Then my mom was going to her money stash to get money for my nephew to go grocery shopping for her. Well, it looked like he had found it already as it was all gone. My mom never questioned him about it as I told her he told me that he saw where her stash was and left it at that. I told mom if he's questioned he will only accuse me of knowing since he cleverly told me about it. I started to try to hobble over to help my mom out since my nephew was never there. When mom asked him to help her with something he replied that he did not sign up for this??? Who ever signs up for things like this. As family were suppose to be there for those in need. Well, nephew finally was sent home by bus. Meaning more stress was on me again as between my rehab physical therapy appointments 3 times a week, my home exercises & keeping ice going in the machine to keep on my knee to prevent swelling & pain in knee & caring for mom. So when my husband was not in San Francisco working 3 days a week he was home & he had to fend for him self. As I was staying at moms because it was a little easier on my knee, etc. That ended up causing problems now in my marriage. Husband could not figure out why I could not find time to be home to cook & grocery shop & clean the house like I use to...plus he had issues in the sexual department. I tried to explain over & over to him. Things got worse I moved into moms in June. Things are still a stressed out mess. Husband is trying but he continues to blame me for every little ting he can think of. I can never do anything right. Mom is not doing what the DR. asks her to do, poor diet, not exercising & she has wounds on legs. I returned to work in August, 3nites/12 hr shifts. Mom quit driving. So, I get off work & get mom & go to Drs. 2 x a week & home after so i can sleep 5 hours. When off I sleep & take mom shopping & maybe see husband. He says I'm being more considerate to his feelings. But my priorities are not focused on him. Were separated. Mom is my priority. I have no life. I have no closet so I use spot in moms & coat closet. Mom wastes space. I consolidated things& made room for my stuff. I am told not to hang up my things.I need to feel like I belong. I've been so stressed & work is my positive outlet. Mom sent Birthday card to everyone but she forgot mine. That hurt being all I've done. I need advice please.
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1. What are mom's resources, and what are her needs? It sounds as though living alone is no longer an option. Does she need a senior apartment, or assisted living? You sit down with her and explain that her 'indepence" can't come at the price of your health.
2. Talk to your husband with a therapist or marriage counselor. See if you can or want rescue your relationship.
Take care of yourself. Your mom has a need of a higher level of care than you can provide.
What has happened, instead, is that you have taken over responsibility for her welfare even though - with a demanding job, a husband and recently your own health difficulties - you're not able to provide for it. It isn't your job to take care of your mother. It isn't your nephew's job, either. It's your *mother's* job to make sensible, responsible decisions for herself.
After a year of this - excuse me - sh*tstorm I am not surprised and I do not blame you for feeling sore, angry, unappreciated, heartbroken and despairing. I feel heartbroken for you, and the birthday slap in the face was particularly harsh.
But get some perspective - and I agree with BB that speaking to a counsellor or therapist would be a big help with this.
E.g. The fact that you were mopping up after your mother when your knee went - ouch - does not make it your mother's fault. It just feels a lot like it!
The fact that your nephew looks to you like a scheming, conniving, grasping little so-and-so... well, he's gone now. Good. But don't also continue to blame him for being no help.
Your husband... well, I feel for you that you felt under pressure with the "hey little girl change your clothes fix your makeup" shtick; because let's be honest a really bad knee and unbelievable stress are not exactly great for the libido. But, on the other hand, he did put in a reasonable effort back there, no? Your marriage must be under terrible stress because the whole family is, but it doesn't sound irretrievable and he doesn't sound like a selfish monster.
You have a lot of thinking to do, and then some practical planning. It's a question of priorities, delegation and resources. If you like mind-mapping, do a mind map. What needs to be done, whose problem is it, and what resources are required? What you want matters at least as much as what anyone else wants. Please come back and say more, and please don't feel you're on your own. Hugs.
When my dad fell, got fluid around his lung, got pneumonia etc. and was in Independent living, the HH nurse there said as she was showing me how to give the breathing treatments, said "if he was in assisted living, this would all be done for him there. You need to consider that. It was my own doctor who told me when I was a emotional mess, that it was time for him to be in AL. I'm not saying your mom needs AL, but now is the time for her, with your guidance and perhaps her doctor's help, to determine her next step. You deserve a life! But do not make your mom feel she can depend only on you...as sometimes we caregivers want to wear that "hero cape" as another person here said. NO! Take it OFF and do what is realistic. You must get balance in your life in all aspects because right now it has spiraled out of control. We are here...please let us know what happens. It can get better!
So sorry for the mess...truly, it never rains but it pours!
You need to place mom, as hard as that seems, or find her 24/7 in home care. She sounds like a demanding, difficult person, to boot. Doesn't she see how hard things are for you right now??
First, you have to take care of yourself!! Move back home and work on things with hubby--I have a husband that sounds just like yours. He really doesn't "get" how hard running a home is!! Throw caregiving for someone else in that, and he falls apart with anger. We have been on the verge of splitting many times, when I have to put someone (besides him!) in first place.
I wouldn't pursue the hospital's wrong dx...that would just add more stress.
Start talking to mom and letting her know you can't continue the level of care you are providing. Period. She will have to adapt. That sounds harsh, but I am continually amazed at the entitled attitude some of our elders have about who owes them what....she needs care waaaay beyond what a tattoo artist/con man can provide, and also beyond what you can provide. YOU won't heal if you keep this up.
Please self-preserve!
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