My Mum may lose her foot...

[Mahnarch]

This is....a hard subject for me - so, I'm going to try to lighten it up using my Pirate persona.


As some of you know, my mother broke her heel on July 4, 2009.

Her healing looked good until she broke her tibia in September, when she fell from her crutches while using the potty.

After 5 specialist visits with several X-rays and a pending CT Scan, me Mum may be losin' 'er foot an' gittin' 'er'self a peg leg!


***

In all seriousness, though, her Osteoperosis is so bad that they can't operate to fuse her heel bone to the rest of her foot because she has "the bones of a 90 year old." (she's only 52).


My mother is legally disabled - and she's my responsabilty.
I've never had 'Power of Attorney' before.

It's both embarrassing (because store workers think "I" am the walfare recipient) and cumbersome (because I have to show up to hearings and represent her while she sits at home).

If I can figure out an avatar for her, I'll post it, when I can.

[Demona]

I hope that doesn't happen! There must be some way to fix it. I'm no doctor, but unless it becomes seriously infected, can't it be put in a cast and left alone? On the other thing, who cares what the store workers think, they don't know you. What are the hearings you go to?

[Phil]

I don't have the words. My wife's uncle recently lost his leg due to gangrene and severe diapbetic conditions. This is following a long slew of health issues. He was a police officer until about age 48 he had a severe stroke. That happened in 1991. He remained on the police active roster until 1994 but he did not serve as a police officer after the summer of 1991.

Some of the medication may have caused or added to the diabetic condition but this came on rather suddenly.

I don't know what to say for Mahnarch's mother other than we shall say some prayers and hopefully that will not end up being the case.

[fartinggurl]

I hope your mother does not lose her foot, Mahnarch. You and your mom are in my thoughts.

[Beangirl]

So sorry, Pirate. all my best to you and your Mum. When I was young and selfish. I drank too much and passed out on my right leg. 8 hours later my dad found me and my lower leg had swelled to twice its normal size. I could not walk and the pain was unbearable. What I had done was cut off the circulation in my lower leg causing my nerves and muscles to die. Dr.s did many surgeries to save my leg. Nerves grow back but very slowly. it took two years of "finger in a light socket" pain before the nerves grew back. I begged to have an amputation. I was in pain and could not sleep. My dad talked me out of that and we got a second opinion from a Orthopedic Specialist. I have my leg and other than withered muscles I am fine. I hope your Mum will be too.

[Classicblast]

I'm sorry Mahnarch. I will also have you and your mom in thoughts and prayers. There are things you can do to circulate flow of blood but they don't always work.

[Mahnarch]

Jan 20, 2010 6:55:15 GMT -5 Demona said:

I hope that doesn't happen! There must be some way to fix it. I'm no doctor, but unless it becomes seriously infected, can't it be put in a cast and left alone? On the other thing, who cares what the store workers think, they don't know you. What are the hearings you go to?

We're still waiting on the CT scan - and I'm with you (so is she).

There's no way to "fix" it - as she's been on a strict diet with both Calcium and Vitamin D (1000mg/day).

Her foot was in a brace for over 4 months - and the specialist told her to get up, slowly, and start using it.

.....she CAN stand up - but, she can't "take a step".

Which the Doc finds good news.
(It's like: You were shot but, you're still breathing.....kind-a-like)


As far as the stores:

You realize how small Zeeland is..

If/when I fart I get 14 phone calls asking if "it" was me!!!

47 out of 13 times....... it was me!!! ;D


***

Phil: Thanks for the hopes and prayers, man.

I may not be a religious man but, I'm/we're not against religious activities, either.

Knowing that others are thinking and hoping for her/our health helps us a ton.

Morality is as morality does.
("Stupid is as stupid does" [Forest Gump] - only...backwards) ;D

Thank you.



Next Tuesday (1/26) is Mum's CT scan - 8 in the AM - and, after that, we'll have to schedule a bone density test.

From what I can tell from her X-rays (and I'm no doctor).... it doesn't look good.


***

Beangirl:

I'm...not really sure how to respond to......that.


Did you fall asleep hanging from a rafter in a barn to have your leg do that?



Classic:

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

I'm afraid that genetics plays a big part in my mums' predicament (minus the 1ft fall on 6/4/09).


My maternal grandmother died in '72 from complications from a broken hip at the age of 38.


***

Stepping back from reality:

I believe that 2010 is the last year of my mothers' life.

She's sleeping 16+ hours a day, now and she's eating less than once a day.


Her mind seems to be going, also.

-She keeps thinking that her sister is sleeping in her (Mum's) room (my Aunt lives in Montana).
-She keeps thinking that my dad visited "last night" - when we haven't seen him since September.
-She keeps calling my dogs Rocky and Jasper (Jack and Russell, respectfully) - and my dogs keep telling me they think that she's crazy.

-...she keeps seeing ghosts.....


.......yeah.... ghosts.

[This house was built in 1953 and, as far as I know, no one has ever died here]

[Demona]

Jan 21, 2010 3:30:24 GMT -5 Mahnarch said:

Jan 20, 2010 6:55:15 GMT -5 Demona said:

I hope that doesn't happen! There must be some way to fix it. I'm no doctor, but unless it becomes seriously infected, can't it be put in a cast and left alone? On the other thing, who cares what the store workers think, they don't know you. What are the hearings you go to?

We're still waiting on the CT scan - and I'm with you (so is she).

There's no way to "fix" it - as she's been on a strict diet with both Calcium and Vitamin D (1000mg/day).

Her foot was in a brace for over 4 months - and the specialist told her to get up, slowly, and start using it.

.....she CAN stand up - but, she can't "take a step".

Which the Doc finds good news.
(It's like: You were shot but, you're still breathing.....kind-a-like)


As far as the stores:

You realize how small Zeeland is..

If/when I fart I get 14 phone calls asking if "it" was me!!!

47 out of 13 times....... it was me!!! ;D


***

Phil: Thanks for the hopes and prayers, man.

I may not be a religious man but, I'm/we're not against religious activities, either.

Knowing that others are thinking and hoping for her/our health helps us a ton.

Morality is as morality does.
("Stupid is as stupid does" [Forest Gump] - only...backwards) ;D

Thank you.



Next Tuesday (1/26) is Mum's CT scan - 8 in the AM - and, after that, we'll have to schedule a bone density test.

From what I can tell from her X-rays (and I'm no doctor).... it doesn't look good.


***

Beangirl:

I'm...not really sure how to respond to......that.


Did you fall asleep hanging from a rafter in a barn to have your leg do that?



Classic:

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

I'm afraid that genetics plays a big part in my mums' predicament (minus the 1ft fall on 7/4/09).


My maternal grandmother died in '72 from complications from a broken hip at the age of 38.


***

Stepping back from reality:

I believe that 2010 is the last year of my mothers' life.

She's sleeping 16+ hours a day, now and she's eating less than once a day.


Her mind seems to be going, also.

-She keeps thinking that her sister is sleeping in her (Mum's) room (my Aunt lives in Montana).
-She keeps thinking that my dad visited "last night" - when we haven't seen him since September.
-She keeps calling my dogs Rocky and Jasper (Jack and Russell, respectfully) - and my dogs keep telling me they think that she's crazy.

-...she keeps seeing ghosts.....


.......yeah.... ghosts.

[This house was built in 1953 and, as far as I know, no one has ever died here]

I realize how small the town is, but dude, it ain't that small! Though if you had farted and gotten calls about it, that would be hysterical!

I don't know what to say about the other thing you just posted, except talk to the doctors as well. If she's on medicine or a certain diet like you said, the hallucinations and sleeping all day may be a result. She's only 52 and shouldn't die at that age, it's not right. I have my fingers crossed that it doesn't come down to that.

[Phil]

I see the situation is quite sad altogether. I hope you are not right about your mother being near death. 52 is just too young. Heck I'm 38 now.

I wish I knew more of what to say but I don't right now. Other than to try to be positive.

[fartinggurl]

Jan 21, 2010 14:42:07 GMT -5 Phil said:

I see the situation is quite sad altogether. I hope you are not right about your mother being near death. 52 is just too young. Heck I'm 38 now.

I wish I knew more of what to say but I don't right now. Other than to try to be positive.

I'm at a loss for words, myself. Like Phil said, try to be positive, and I also hope that this year is not the last for your mother. Like I said before, you and your mother are in my thoughts.

[Beangirl]

A Barn!!! A Barn in Los Angeles??? Are you nuts! Naw, I was fat as a pig from all that vodka I was drinking and I passed out on the kitchen floor with my full body weight on my right leg. OUCH! . I was 25 years old at the time so being young helped.

[Mahnarch]

With the prospect of having her foot cut off: my mum has suddenly doubled in her effort to start walking.
(I'm secretly wondering if the Doctor was trying to scare her into walking, since she was taking such a "blah" view about it before (I've caught her standing up more often than before).


I think she's fighting a losing battle but, meh, what'ya'do?

The CT will tell us a bunch more after next Tuesday.

[Blastgirl]

I'm so sorry to read of this. Hopefully you're right the motivation is there now to keep the foot. Losing a limb is such a terrible thing. I know people live long and well without some of their parts but its better not to have to do that.

[Classicblast]

Therapy works. Don't ever underestimate it. Push her through it and have her push herself through it its never easy but it has good results I've seen it play out that way hundreds of times.

[dannyboy]

I don't really know what hasn't already been said but I agree with the panel that therapy is a good start and hopefully you keep your mom and she keeps her leg.

[Mahnarch]

We missed the CT Scan appointment today because my Ma was flipping out, really bad this morning.
She was certain that "a guy with black hair" (same guy, over and over, lately) had snuck into the house and kidnapped "the girls" (we have no girls).

It took me 2 hours to get her dressed - making us an hour late.


I got her settled down. Thought she was fine until, around 8PM tonight my sister calls my cell phone.

-First, my mum called my uncle in Ludington.
He can't understand a word she's saying, her mumbling was so bad and was ranting irrelevantly.

-Uncle called my sister (and my aunts and cousins).

-My sister called Ma and couldn't understand a word she said.

-My sister called me and asked what was going on.


From what my sister told me, it sounded like Ma had a stroke.

I ended my run as quickly as I could as my sister raced toward my house (where Ma lives).


After a few hours in the hospital, it turns out that Ma accidentally OD'd on her medication because she didn't read the bottle or the clock right.

It was supposed to be 1/2 pill every four hours.
She took 2 pills in 4 hours.

...without food.



She doesn't remember calling my Uncle.

When she called my sister she was trying to say that she (Ma) had her bags packed and was ready to go to her (Sis) house to watch the kids (Niece and Nephew) for the weekend (today is Tuesday).

There were no plans for this.
My mum can't walk.


When my sister got to my house she found Ma barely conscious but, attentive - if you call it that.


Later, she (Sis) also found Mum's "packed bag".


She'd packed:

-Her hair brush.
-A bottle of aspirin.
-A single Depends diaper.
-A bottle opener.
-Two kleenex.
-and a ball point pen.



Ma's home, now. Sleeping.

I'm chopping up her meds and controlling her intake (opposed to her self-regulation, before).

My sister is planing on coming over every other day to stay with her while I'm at work (She's first shift, I'm second).


My sister had to see our mother completely naked for the first time, tonight, to help her clean herself up before going to the hospital.


....If I haven't stated it before, let me do it now;

The day you have to see your own parent naked is a day that will change you forever.

It happened to me a few weeks ago.
I saw the immediate change in my sister tonight.

[Beangirl]

"The day you have to see your own parent naked is a day that will change you forever. " Oh, I am so sorry Pirate. Really I am. I have not told this memory in a long time. My Mom was home from the hospital after her cancer surgery. I was 18 years old and was helping take care of her as best I could. She was to take her first shower since her surgery. I was in our living room when I heard her scream. I run in and there she is stark naked, scars all over from surgeries, soaking wet and crying. "Baby! look what the did too me" I grabbed her an hugged her and told her "You are my Mommy and you are beautiful" You are right. It changes you forever and then some.

[Classicblast]

It looks as if she is having troubles in a lot of ways. Perhaps these imagines responsibilities like watching kids and packing suitcases--even thought the contents she packed are not what you would take on a trip she is looking to be needed. Perhaps in a way trying to overcome these difficult times.

This could be a form of rebuttal. She must sometimes be able to walk for this to happen though.