Monday, May 10, 2010

Dueling Nurses

After looking at my mom for a while yesterday, seeing she couldn't get out of bed, sit up, or even keep her eyes open, I determined it was impossible for her to visit the doctor. Therefore, I called the office this morning and told them someone would have to go out to see her. The nurse practitioner with whom she had an appt. is going to go see her, and sent out a nurse in advance to check out the situation. Meanwhile, all kinds of home health nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists were already attending to her.
The nurses all say my mother's blood pressure is climbing steadily, and she is in immanent danger of a stroke. Frankly, I pray that if she has one, it won't do a halfway job, leaving her even more impaired than she is at present. How awful to have to pray for that!

6 comments:

Lou said...

You are right--she can't go out to another appointment. And wishing for her a release from all this is a loving wish, Robbi.

Robbi N. said...

I suppose. It's a sad thing though.

liz said...

oh gosh Robbi, I am so sorry. I really thought she was recovering. It didn't occur to me that although everything was back in place from the technical perspective, the trauma on that frail little body would put all the pressure on her heart to keep her going. Lou couldn't have said it better. My wish is that she stays as comfortable as possible and out of pain. Can there be consolation in her not knowing what is happening to her?

marly said...

Robbi, here I give you my little two cents of sense--

On the wishing and hoping and praying front: when I was watching that long, terrible decline that is PSP, I always found that the simplest thing would involve a longing for the right thing to happen, for the best thing possible in the circumstances to occur. Then one doesn't have that strange feeling of guilt for not wanting suffering and the anxious back-and-forth to go on and on and on. Also, one lets go of some of the moment-by-moment anxiety about what is happening--because such a wish or prayer ultimately acknowledges that we don't know what is best but that there is a best and something that can be hoped-for.

Good cheer, despite all.

Robbi N. said...

Absolutely Marly. That is exactly right. The best thing under the circumstances ought to happen, whatever that is, and I don't claim to have the wisdom to know what that is.

Robbi N. said...

Liz,
I too was fooled into thinking she would continue improving, that she would spring out of bed like a much younger person and resume her life. I don't think that's happening. She is finished with her old life, I think, as sad as that is.