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jsharr

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1 hour ago, jsharr said:

Recently, mom has been very tired and out of breath and was diagnosed with A fib and a bad heart valve.  

She had a TAVR procedure on Tuesday of last week.  Dr. was okay with the pulse and BP so she had an external heart monitor installed and was sent home.  I was with her on Wed and Thurs day and she was getting around okay but was still very easily tired.    

I was at a Scout camp this weekend and missed a call and text from mom as my phone was silenced.   She started feeling bad on Friday night and ended up at the ER.  They thought is was medicine related and sent her home.  Saturday eveng she started really feeling bad and had a friend take her to the ER and this time they transported her back to the hospital in Tyler.   At some point, either during a walk or a trip to the bathroom, he passed out.  They got her revived and ran a CT scan and an EKG.  They found out she flatlined for about 20 seconds at least once.

She had a temporary pacemaker installed last night and has been admitted to the ICU.

She is currently in the OR having a permanent pacemaker installed and will stay in hospital for a day or two and then be released to a rehab facility for a week or two.  My brother is with her today and was there yesterday.  I will take over tomorrow or Wed as needed.

When she gets home, we are going to make sure that she has a home health aide / maid / housekeeper of some sort to help with laundry, cleaning, errands, etc. as we cannot have an 80 year old lady that is starting to pass out behind the wheel.

I started this conversation with mom last week about getting some help and my brother has reinforced this.   

Keep a good thought for Doris.  She is the glue that has held our small family together for over 60 years.  

"I started this conversation with mom last week about getting some help and my brother has reinforced this."

You're a great son!  Sounds like uour mom needs a little persuasion about things.  My mother was like that.  If yours is like that, be patient but stay resolute about the major things.

My mom. when dying of lung cancer, would get upset when I told her to so some things.  For example, I'd get off work, stop at Panera Bread and get each of their 4 soups to go.  I'd tell mom I was going to stay until I saw her eat one of them - Johns Hopkins Hospital had told us the leading cause of lung cancer death was malnutrition.  But mom would snap, "I'm YOUR mother.  I'll tell YOU when I'm going to eat soup."

So I had to learn to speak gently and tiptoe around ordering things but stick to my guns when it was important stuff like that.

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Prayers for you mom and your family. 

6 hours ago, jsharr said:

When she gets home, we are going to make sure that she has a home health aide / maid / housekeeper of some sort to help with laundry, cleaning, errands, etc.

The fist time we had help for my dad... he got upset and more or less told the help to leave.

Now he know he needs help, and there is someone there in his home 24X7.  

The transition to including help can be difficult... 

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7 hours ago, MickinMD said:

My mom. when dying of lung cancer, would get upset when I told her to so some things.  For example, I'd get off work, stop at Panera Bread and get each of their 4 soups to go.  I'd tell mom I was going to stay until I saw her eat one of them - Johns Hopkins Hospital had told us the leading cause of lung cancer death was malnutrition.  But mom would snap, "I'm YOUR mother.  I'll tell YOU when I'm going to eat soup."

So I had to learn to speak gently and tiptoe around ordering things but stick to my guns when it was important stuff like that.

:flirtyeyess:  :DYes, a gentle approach like my mother. :rolleyes: Last autumn, was the first time she ate plain yogurt..to deal with constipation.  It did help. She is 89 yrs.  She generally does follow medical direction...which is actually very good compared to other folks. She FINALLY is using 3-legged canes around home.. she has several all over the house for convenience. 

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9 hours ago, jsharr said:

She had a temporary pacemaker installed last night and has been admitted to the ICU.

She is currently in the OR having a permanent pacemaker installed and will stay in hospital for a day or two and then be released to a rehab facility for a week or two.  My brother is with her today and was there yesterday.  I will take over tomorrow or Wed as needed.

When she gets home, we are going to make sure that she has a home health aide / maid / housekeeper of some sort to help with laundry, cleaning, errands, etc. as we cannot have an 80 year old lady that is starting to pass out behind the wheel.

I started this conversation with mom last week about getting some help and my brother has reinforced this.   

Keep a good thought for Doris.  She is the glue that has held our small family together for over 60 years.  

My mother had her heart pacemaker installed inside  her about 3 years ago and on blood thinner. Sister-doctor says if she falls it will be practically catastrophic.

So glad you and brother had a plan for her already.

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26 minutes ago, jsharr said:

They suspect issue is with he BP medication 

Never an exact science under "normal" circumstances, so it probably just takes a little extra time to get it dialed in considering the surgery and pacemaker stuff.

27 minutes ago, jsharr said:

I am speaking to her in all caps!

Toss in some exclamation points and a few emojis!!!!! :happyanim:

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8 minutes ago, Razors Edge said:

Never an exact science under "normal" circumstances, so it probably just takes a little extra time to get it dialed in considering the surgery and pacemaker stuff.

Toss in some exclamation points and a few emojis!!!!! :happyanim:

Eggplant 🍆?  

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1 hour ago, jsharr said:

Mom is doing great.  Been up and walking some.  Has approval from the valve doctor and the hospital doctor for transfer to rehab today.  BP is improving.  I will get numbers from the nurse.  She is completely off BP meds.  Will update once I know more.

Great to hear!  Keep being the BEST SON ON EARTH (minus the eggplant emojis) and with time & support, she'll recover & we'll all celebrate. :cheerleader:

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2 hours ago, jsharr said:

Mom is doing great.  Been up and walking some.  Has approval from the valve doctor and the hospital doctor for transfer to rehab today.  BP is improving.  I will get numbers from the nurse.  She is completely off BP meds.  Will update once I know more.

Wonderful news!  Keep us posted when you can

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1 minute ago, Kzoo said:

This for sure.

She is fully bought in.  Called her this AM on the way to the office and she sounded tired.  Poor night of sleep (she sleeps in a recliner at home, not a bed) and she had weird dreams.  But she called me at lunch time after her first session with the occupational therapist and was much more upbeat.   Told me again how glad she is that she was able to get into this rehab.   She was resting, but looking forward to her afternoon session that started around 2 pm

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