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Post by Rokia on Nov 29, 2021 21:47:53 GMT
Hi all!
I know I've been gone forever - though JD and I still talk every week as time permits.
Since my last post here I became basically full-time caretaker for my parents. My mom had Alzheimer's and, at the end, had developed bladder cancer. She passed away last hear on August 1 (from Alzheimer's, not Covid). My dad is still ticking, though his eyesight is getting progessively worse and it makes him more cranky sometimes. Still, I'm so glad he's still here with me.
I have not, as yet, come down with the pernicious bug known as COVID. I have my first two vaccinations and am due for my booster around December 1.
I still live in the same place.
I started reposting Lola's stories again today. I'll try to get them all up in the next few months.
Miss you all!
--Rokia
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Post by Shane on Nov 30, 2021 22:15:01 GMT
Hi Rokia. Good to hear from you again.
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Post by josie on Dec 1, 2021 7:19:46 GMT
Hey! Welcome back!  |
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Post by mamabear on Dec 4, 2021 21:38:00 GMT
Well hello there! Good to hear from you again! It seems you and I have found ourselves in similar situations, becoming caretakers of parents and having one pass away. My mom has not been well for over a year and a half, but for the last year it's been getting worse. I thought for a long time it was dementia, until recently when she randomly asked me if I heard those voices, too. There were, of course, no voices. Since her religious beliefs prohibit the use of doctors, instead I dug up my husband's old psychology textbook, found some other great resources online, and began to study up on schizophrenia. As it turns out, her symptoms that I thought were of dementia actually track more closely with schizophrenia. Of course, I'm not an expert, but I'm learning more every day and becoming more convinced that's what it is.
Anyway, my dad had cut his hours at work and was learning how to be a caretaker, with my help. But then he passed away in May (COVID, not Alzheimer's). His lungs were already really bad from the days in his youth when he used to paint cars (and, thinking himself impervious, didn't use the proper safety equipment and didn't always ventilate his work space well). They just couldn't hold up against the virus.
Anyway, it's good to hear from you, hope you can make it back again soon!
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Post by Rokia on Dec 28, 2021 5:06:43 GMT
It sounds like you're doing all you can for your mom - keep up the good work. I can imagine how hard it would be to work with a parent with schizophrenia whom you can't medicate. My mom definitely had dementia/alzheimer's - no voices, her memory just starting failing her. Thankfully she was mostly non-combative (unless we were bathing her, then you realized she was still pretty strong!).
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Post by mamabear on Jan 3, 2022 18:07:49 GMT
Yeah, that was what threw me at first, thinking it was dementia. Because she still knew who everyone was, and still had excellent memory; though at times she wouldn't answer when you asked if she remembered something and I always thought it was because she'd forgotten. Turns out, she just hadn't heard what we said over thr voices screaming in her head. It definitely isn't easy, she resists EVERYTHING necessary for care: bathing, eating, toileting, you name it. She can also get violent at times, and my brother is beginning to consider transferring her to an institution, despite her beliefs. We both hate to do it, but sometimes taking care of her is just downright dangerous and I know the real her would want her loved ones to be safe above all. He can't do it until the process of granting him conservatorship is complete, though.
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