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Virgil

Wondering About Mom

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by
Virgil
, 12-10-2007 at 03:47 PM (1870 Views)
This may be a ramble, I don't know. Some have asked how mama's doing. I'm not sure. After taking her to the emergency room and going through all that (see two blogs earlier) I thought she might be on the road to recovery. When she finished out the antibiotics she did feel better. But in a day or two she started complaining of headaches, which she's had for weeks now, and not be able to sleep, and pain in her sinuses. Ok, my cold developed into sinuitis and needed some medication, so perhaps her bronchitis evolved into sinusitis. I took her to the doctor Saturday, and he said her sinuses were slightly swollen and bronchitis is gone. Ok, so he procribes another antibiotic especially for sinuses and a nasal spray. She seemed better yesterday. But today she's still complaining of headaches and not being able to sleep. She's not sleeping at all. She feels terrible. I'm beginning to suspect that her problem is the pain killer that she's taking for her hip. She was dependent on it to sleep and it's an opiate I believe. She's now been on it since early September. I'm beginning to suspect her body is craving more and having withdrawls. I hope I'm wrong, but then what is the problem? Tomorrow is her orthopedist appointment where we will probably decide to get a hip replacement. I'll have to bring it up there.
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  1. Niamh's Avatar
    Your poor mam Virg. You could be quite right about the painkiller, esp if its an opiate. I had to take and opiate called tramadol before and never again! (turned out i'm allergic, and had overdose effect on my body). With opiates you should be weened off them, and your body will have withdrawl symtoms. Maybe it would be a good idea to speak to the family doctor about it and tell him/her your worries.
  2. 's Avatar
    Virge, I think you're right about the withdrawal, those pain killers are wicked. My ex-girlfriend was an RN and worked in geriatric nursing and rehab facility. She used to tell me wild stories how her patients were heavily addicted to pain killers and would throw fits when the doctor took them off. Some would go on "strike," refusing to take their meds or even eat! Some fought to get out of the bed knowing they couldn't walk and ended up with broken bones. Anyway, I'm digressing. I hope your mom feels better, thanks for keeping the blog going.
  3. applepie's Avatar
    Both you and your mom are still in my prayers Virgil. I hope that things will start to get better soon, and hopefully a complete replacement will help you Mum to become pain free soon. Take Care ~Meg~
  4. kiz_paws's Avatar
    Wow, that is really too bad. Yes, I would definitely discuss your feelings with the doctor, because all is not well with your mother -- she needs sleep to feel better, and the whole thing is a viscious circle. Then with her hip and the pain, etc., sounds like you guys need lots of moral support. Well you have it here, Virgil. Best wishes to your mom and to you and the family, and please let us know how things are going. Kizzo
  5. Countess's Avatar
    I'm sorry Virgil. I hope that's not the case but it very well might be. See if she qualifies for Trazudone. It's a non-addictive anti-depressant with no side effects other than it knocks you out. I mean, it really knocks you out solid. It would knock and elephant out. But aside from that, consult a doctor. If she is going through withdrawal, they might want to take her down slowly.
  6. mtpspur's Avatar
    Hopefully you'll get good counsel from the doctor. My sister keeps an eye on my mother. I keep hoping all is well with yours but I confess a reluctance to ask sometimes becasue I'm afraid of bad news--this is a reflection of my own fears re my own mother and I assure you I feel silly projecting like that. Bottom line it's good to know she is under your care and you are keeping a watchful eye out.

    While we are at it--any more news on the adoption?? I need to start of flow chart of litnetters and what stage of life they are in and who's doing what where etc.
  7. Virgil's Avatar
    Thanks all. She seemed a little better last night when I stopped by. I don't know if she got any sleep last night. At least let me say I don't think there is anything life threatening going on here. That is at least some consolation. Today is the orthopedist and the big decision.
  8. 's Avatar
    Virgil, you need to get advice from a doctor. It could be the painkillers, but it could also be as straight forward as an infection. If your Mum has suffered recent trauma and illness her immune system has probably taken a bit of a battering, and if she's had an infection even if she's had antibiotics it might not clear it first time, or it's possible that she's not been given the most effective antibiotic (some infections can be resistent to certain types, depends on the person and the type of bacteria causing the infection). I've suffered quite badly in the past with urinary infections and when I get an infection sometimes it can repeat 4 or 5 times before it fully clears up - now when I go to the GP with an infection he gives me a three month course of antibiotics for preventative purposes. If your Mum has sinusitis this would explain the headaches and inability to sleep, it can take a few days for antibiotics to have an effect, but if nothing is changing your Mum at least needs to go back to the doctor - he will be able to take some swabs which will confirm whether her sinuses are still infected, and if so the best treatment, or that it's not an infection in which case you can investigate the other possibility. I really hope she's feeling better soon, and perhaps then you too can get a good nights sleep.