My 80-year-old mother suffers from multiple health issues, but OCPD is her most serious condition. How do I deal with this?

Mar 6, 2010

Do you mean COPD? ( chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?

arose4yu

Mar 7, 2010

My father has COPD. He was officially diagnosed last year even though he's been dealing with asthma for years. Just like Congestive Heart Failure and other diseases that are technically "fatal", COPD can be managed and your mom can live the rest of her days as comfortable as possible. Make sure you talk to her doctor and see what treatments are available for your mom. Our dad uses Advair, a Nebulizer and is on oxygen therapy ( he also has Congestive Heart Failure).

He's very fragile and can get sick really easily so our main goal is to make sure his lungs are as healthy as possible. He does breathing exercises, takes his meds and on occasion he needs prednisone to open up his airways....

livingon2wheels

Mar 7, 2010

Hi there Arose,

No Mom has Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder which is quite a different thing than COPD. Your comment about your father being fragile, applies to mom too. As it stands she uses oxygen around the clock, she tires easily and sleeps a lot. We have hopes for her becoming less symptomatic as far as CHF goes, but the real problem is the OCPD and the associated depression that goes with it. If she was not afflicted by OCPD and depression, I think she would adjust to the constraints of CHF without much trouble...but that is wishing for something that just isnt so. Anyway, I appreciate your remarks. I wish you luck with your father.

Tom

anonymous11306

Mar 8, 2010

Tom,

What medicine is she taking for her OCPD and depression? Is she being seen on a regular basis by a competent psychiatrist who is kept informed about how her medications are doing? Is she seeing a therapist?

Has the doctor been willing to talk with you to share what you need to know? Is there a Mental Health Association in your county and a NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, in your county or state? If so they will have some information to help you. Anytime a family member is in a close relationship like you are with another family who has a personality disorder, it is strongly adviced that a person such as yourself have a therapist to help you survive and have some tools to deal with the challenges of all this.

Helpful Answer (3)

Char123

Mar 8, 2010

I'm interested in all you find out good luck

N1K2R3

Mar 8, 2010

The same way you deal with anyone who has Obsessive-Compulsive.......it's a condition that can be treated with PSYCOTHERAPY and some medication. It's not fatal, and it's not overwhelming unless you let it get to you.
P.S. Her age is not a factor.