Awakenings
It's not the dramatic transformation after her first hospitalization three years ago, but I think Mom is feeling better. She is griping about her nurses and lamenting the state of the union, so to speak.
After her heart attack the changes in her attitude were more dramatic. Not knowing what to expect, we took her home after three full weeks in the hospital. She was like a zombie, going through the motions, but not functioning on her own. She only left her chair to get up to use the restroom. She couldn't feed Tinker, her dog, and she didn't have an appetite either. Most times, we had to wake her to force her to eat a little.
At the end of my aunt's two week stay, we went to lunch, leaving Mom alone for the first time in nearly 5 weeks to discuss what to do. I knew if she conintued in that state she would not be able to live on her own. She could not take care of herself, much less Tinker.
After doing some research on the web, I learned about the devestating affects some medicines had on seniors. Given my mother had not taken anything stronger than over the counter medicine for headaches for years and now she had a tray full of different medications, I knew then that it could be one or a combination of medicines.
It didn't take me long to find the culprit - Toprol. A drug classified as a beta blocker, her doctors insisted that she needed it to regulate her heart. After arguing with the nurse over the phone, I paid an unannounced visit to the doctor in person. He finally conceded there might be another drug with fewer side effects that they could try.
When he removed her from the drug, she was hospitalized again because that caused a negative reaction in her breathing. But 24 hours later, she was sitting up in her hospital bed eager for me to accompany her on walks down the hall so she could start regaining her mobility. Her eyes were bright and yes, she was discussion politics again - a sure sign she was back.
I was reminded of the movie "Awakenings," where zombie-like patients returned for a brief visit to the real world.
But Mom stayed.
Now I accompany her on every doctor visit. When she's hospitalized, I insist on knowing if her medications are being changed or new ones are being introduced. I research the possible conseequences of each one.
And I wonder how many people are sitting in assisted living or nursing homes because their system couldn't cope with their medications.
This time, the turn around hasn't been as dramatic of an awakening, but I can tell she is feeling better than she was on Monday.
After her heart attack the changes in her attitude were more dramatic. Not knowing what to expect, we took her home after three full weeks in the hospital. She was like a zombie, going through the motions, but not functioning on her own. She only left her chair to get up to use the restroom. She couldn't feed Tinker, her dog, and she didn't have an appetite either. Most times, we had to wake her to force her to eat a little.
At the end of my aunt's two week stay, we went to lunch, leaving Mom alone for the first time in nearly 5 weeks to discuss what to do. I knew if she conintued in that state she would not be able to live on her own. She could not take care of herself, much less Tinker.
After doing some research on the web, I learned about the devestating affects some medicines had on seniors. Given my mother had not taken anything stronger than over the counter medicine for headaches for years and now she had a tray full of different medications, I knew then that it could be one or a combination of medicines.
It didn't take me long to find the culprit - Toprol. A drug classified as a beta blocker, her doctors insisted that she needed it to regulate her heart. After arguing with the nurse over the phone, I paid an unannounced visit to the doctor in person. He finally conceded there might be another drug with fewer side effects that they could try.
When he removed her from the drug, she was hospitalized again because that caused a negative reaction in her breathing. But 24 hours later, she was sitting up in her hospital bed eager for me to accompany her on walks down the hall so she could start regaining her mobility. Her eyes were bright and yes, she was discussion politics again - a sure sign she was back.
I was reminded of the movie "Awakenings," where zombie-like patients returned for a brief visit to the real world.
But Mom stayed.
Now I accompany her on every doctor visit. When she's hospitalized, I insist on knowing if her medications are being changed or new ones are being introduced. I research the possible conseequences of each one.
And I wonder how many people are sitting in assisted living or nursing homes because their system couldn't cope with their medications.
This time, the turn around hasn't been as dramatic of an awakening, but I can tell she is feeling better than she was on Monday.
posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 5:09 AM
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