Gets what others have. Attention! She is 91. I want her to see a Neurologist, to find out what we're dealing with. And she is adamant about not going. I can get her there. But it's not easy. I have to get angry, just a big hateful conflict. Is this what I need to do. She has memory problems.Short and long term. bad choices. She cant't live alone anymore.My Brother has taken over Finances. And I am staying with her and doing her needs. Which are also conflict,
Strangely enough, her hypochondria ended when her doctor retired. We had to get a new doctor who she didn't like as much. She told me that her old doctor had made her feel safe and cared for. I guess that nice feeling she got with him is what created the symptom searching she did.
When the hypochrondria was at its worst, I had to put my foot down about the doctor appointments. It was ridiculous going to 2-3 appointments a week, only to hear that nothing was wrong or that her own behavior was causing the problem. She thought I was the bad guy for not wanting to take her to the doctor so much, so I had to deal with a lot of anger. It wasn't pleasant to have your mother so angry and saying "You don't care if I die." I wouldn't want to go through those years ever again.
Old age is a troubling time. We watch our spouses die and realize that we too are old and fading. It is like being stuck in limbo, not really wanting to live but not wanting to die, either. The people who handle aging well are those that are dedicated to living. I have my fingers crossed that I will be counted in those numbers.