No More Rheumatologist!
By Mom on Jan 18, 2010 | In News, In real life | Send feedback »
Well, auntie told me yesterday she is not going back to the rheumatologist. I was so happy to hear her say those words. I was really concerned she would want to go back to that doctor. They almost killed her, so that got to her and she realized they weren't watching out for her best interest.
There is no way they should have missed the signs something bad was happening to her. We were at the rheumatologist and the regular doctor the Monday before she went into the hospital. If you look up the symptoms for methotrexate toxicity, it defines hers to a T. It makes me wonder about the whole lot of them.
Thankfully, she is do so much better. She went and got her hair done on Friday, so that made her feel even better. I am going to go see her later. Hubby went over this morning to check on her and she was doing just fine. He did a few things for her and she was good to go.![]()
Auntie's Home!!!
By Mom on Jan 7, 2010 | In News, Background, In real life | Send feedback »
I was finally able to bring my aunt home from the hospital/rehab yesterday. She was so glad to gewt out of that place. She didn't mind it as bad as the last time she was there, but there's no place like home. She also looked a 100 times better than she did when we go her out of the hospital in October.
I have a new list of medications to memorize now. A lot of them are still the same, but some have been modified. It all basically boiled down to they were killing her with the medications she was taking. I am trying to figure out what course of action I should suggest to her because she is more even tempered than I am.
She knows she needs to switch rheumatologists, but I doubt she will. Thanks to this doctor, she has to wear a nitro patch and requires oxygen at night. They only have her on one rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug right now. I have been so mad I can't see straight.
The up side is she is doing remarkably well. Her voice is back, the wound on her belly is healed, and the double vision is gone. All of these things were caused by methotrexate, which she has been on for years. She also has a twinkle back in her eyes. It is so good to hear her laugh again and not sound so hopeless. I was very worried about her.
Well, I just figured I would put in an update for anyone who may be following this blog.
Auntie Has Pneumonia
By Mom on Dec 23, 2009 | In News, In real life | Send feedback »
My frustration with the medical community is growing rapidly. My aunt is recovering from her initial issues that landed her in the hospital. Unfortunately, now she has pneumonia. I talked to her this evening and she still sounded better than she has in weeks, but she still needs some recovery time. I feel the doctors should have seen this coming and been able to lessen the damage.
They did a bone marrow aspiration on her yesterday and they said it showed improvement. Her EKG and some blood work have come back normal too. The last time we went to the doctor was last Monday and she saw the physician’s assistant. I think he may have missed something, but she probably isn’t easy to diagnose. She tends to tell the whole laundry list of health problems, instead of the issues pertaining to this visit.
Oh well, she likes her doctors. I don’t have to like them, but I will make sure they do right by her.
Auntie Update
By Mom on Dec 7, 2009 | In News, In real life | Send feedback »
Well, I'm not quite sure where we are at this point with my elderly ward. She went to the dr last week and they said her sinuses were draining and they put her on antibiotics. She finished those on Friday and she still isn't better. She actually seems worse. I have been so busy over the past week, I haven't noticed some issues. Mind you, I will do anything she asks, but she has to ask because I'm not a mind reader.
She has passed me around to other in need and I haven't complained, but yesterday she told her friend something that pissed me off. She told her I am taking over her life. Her friend told her she was full of it and she said she was just kidding. I guess my sense of humor is gone because I didn't find it funny.I have done things for her I never expected to do for someone who didn't raise me or some other closer relationship.
I enjoy the time I spend with her and she is fun to be around when she is feeling well. She won't go back to the dr until her appt. on Thur. I called them today and told them her latest status. Keeping my fingers crossed, but starting to lose more feeling.
Better go for now, my computer is junk and I have to restore it.
Doctor's Office Tomorrow
By Mom on Nov 29, 2009 | In News, In real life | Send feedback »
Well, I am going to try and make my aunt a dr. appointment tomorrow. She is going back downhill and I am not going to let that happen. She has a sore throat and she is hoarse. She has been trying to be more independent over the past couple of weeks and I think it has taken its toll.
She has always been a very independent woman and she has hated to lose that feeling. I am doing my best to make sure she keeps it. She has been getting herself cleaned up and has been changing her nightgown or getting dressed, if we have plans. I think She has more trouble than she was willing to admit and let some needs unattended. I am trying to repair the damage that has been done already.
I have been running around in circle since all this began, but it has been worse over the past few weeks. Taking care of one woman full time is hard enough, but trying to help two other is almost impossible. I am running myself ragged and wonder how much I have left.