This seems to be a question that is not asked enough or we think what we are feeling is not as important as what our loved one is going through. This job we have taken on is a tough one and there are days when I think my "stress rope" cannot be pulled any tighter. Then there are other times that make those bad days just a memory. Do you feel like banging your head against a wall one day? And then the next day your loved one is attentive and loving and comprehends whatever you say? There are some who keep those feelings bottled up within themselves; others take the time for outside resources and others who look at sites such as this for some understanding. I do better when I have someone else to bounce my feelings off of. Let's face it....we aren't superhuman and besides ourselves and perhaps a family to take care of we now have taken on the responsibility of another human who is incapable of taking care of themselves. Do you breeze through the care giving without a problem? If so, I would like to know how you do it, maybe you can offer some new ideas; do you have feelings of frustration and need to talk about those? Come and talk and know that you can speak freely and without judgement and without finger pointing.
I am caring for my mother-in-law and have been for about 1 1/2 years. She has moderate dementia and incontinence. Other than that she is very healthy. Sometimes that short amount of time feels like 10 years and I wonder how long I will be able to do this job. I get so very tired of hearing the same thing day in and day out, but I have to remind myself that to her, each time she sees me, she is offering new information. At times I have no problems communicating with her, but it seems like more and more she cannot retain a thought longer than 5 minutes. We have had to make signs for her so she will know what she can and cannot do. So far it's working, but for how long? Maybe I will have to end up making her a "Book of Do Nots". She is on memory drugs, which don't seem to make a difference. So why do I continue to dole them out to her? I guess I'm afraid of what might happen or how she might act without them. I might have to rent a boat or buy a helmet! Sometimes I see something in her that leads me to believe that she could get aggressive and what would be my reaction to that? At the end of each and every day, after she is tucked into bed, I breathe such a sigh of relief. The "inner beast" is quiet at last, or at least for a few hours.
Pull up a chair and visit........I would like to know how you are coping everyday..be it good or with handfuls of stress.
I have the Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Spray that was prescribed Nov. of last year. I only used it for a week or two and then put it away. Well, I just read the instructions. I was suppose to clean the nasal applicator by pulling it out and washing it. I didn't do it. And that was several months ago. There is no refill. So, I'm hoping to stop by the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist if I should still use it even though I didn't do a proper cleaning. Or should I throw it away.
I was hoping that my body would tolerate the ACV (apple cider vinegar.) I just took 2/3 cups of water and 2 tsp of ACV after dinner. That was 90 minutes ago. My upper lip is tingling. I just looked in the mirror. I'm getting rashes on it. Soooo no more ACV home remedy for me. Tonight is the final dosage.
57twin, I need to solve the sinus head problem because my flight from Tokyo Japan to Chicago is about 13 hours - NonStop, over the water. Can you imagine having severe head/ear pain for that long? I'm not even flying yet, and I had a severe pain in my right ear today with a loud tinnitus screaming high pitched. I'm seriously thinking of just going to Urgent Care tomorrow after work. Hopefully my body doesn't have an adverse reaction to whatever they prescribe.
FYI, with the nasal massaging, I've been able to keep the sinus headaches away. Too bad those massages don't relieve the sinus head pressures.
Our livingroom air con's vents need cleaning. I took a look and it's really thick with dust. Another To-do list for tomorrow....along with scrubbing the bathroom walls as much as I can reach, maybe use my neck brace because looking up will cause severe pain on my neck. So many things to do. Call the plumber to fix the toilet before I leave - I don't want to leave $1,000.00 of emergency money for oldest sis. If I get the plumbing done, I can pay it now. Leave $500 emergency money with oldest sis. And anything more, she can ask fave sis for money.
I need to google and make sure that my headache Rx med is not illegal in Japan. I'd hate to be arrested while transiting because I didn't research if it's illegal there. So many things to do, with so little time....
Well, the nasal massages I did before bedtime...every time I got up, several times to use the restroom (drinking lots of water), I felt the sinus draining down my throat. Time to get up and change dad's pampers.
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Still struggling with my sinus/headaches. Ha! After reading that about 93% (?) of sinus sufferers were suffering from migraines and not sinus headaches, I took an Excedrin Migraine. Took about an hour before it kicked in. Face is still getting stuffed up. Nose is very very sensitive. Painful to touch. Sigh... I'm still determined to fight this au natural..no antibiotics. Anyway, my previous doctor said that my body is getting resistant to antibiotics. It seems I will be needing more and more (stronger and stronger) for it to work. I think it's my immune system that is getting compromised from constant stress between work, oldest sis, dad, and odd caregiver....
Sorry.. folks..been getting lousy headaches daily. Really bad ones. Can't tell if sinus or migraine or both...
It's bothering me.
Austin, you had a baaad experience. I'm so very sorry what you and your family went through.
As I've said on this thread before, my time with my dad was so much better, as much as it can be when a loved one is dying.
I hoping there is a lesson to be learned here for people that read this site. If there are reviews to be read about the hospice services available, do check them out. I know I was in no frame of mind to do that when we got my dad's diagnosis. A friend referred me to the one we went with for dad's care.
It was a Catholic-based non-profit, though they respect all religions. We are Lutheran and it made no difference in our experience. They made sure we had all the family support we needed with a Lutheran pastor and counseling, that was even kind of 'unwanted' at times I just wanted to be alone. They respected that.
My dad was at a point toward the end where the hospice house was the only answer and that is 24/7 care. Medicare picked up the first 10 days. No need for aides in the home where it wouldn't have worked anyway with the way their home was set up.
If one is not satisfied with the was their chosen hospice is operating in the first couple of days, I advise them to change programs.
I'm thankful I did not have that situation.
As yo say equipment can be obtained with a Drs prescription through Medicare but I don't believe it is entirely free as it is through hospice. Hospice nurses should also be experienced in pain and anxiety treatments which are so very important at the end of life. Another benefit is the availability of an RN 24/7both to help with problems and a s reassurance for the caregivers. all in all your experience was not good but others have been more satisfied. it just depends on the hospice.
Lastnight, I did the 1 C warm water with 2 TBS ACV + 1 TBS honey. I sipped it until done. I didn't really feel any difference with my sinus.
This morning, I was running late. I need to do the ACV drink twice a day. So, I quickly did the 1C water and 2 TBS ACV, warmed it 30secs in micro. Drank it down so fast because I'm late. Wham! Ow! That just burned my throat while going down, and then the 'fume' flared right back up to my head. Oooh... Something cleared in my left side of the head that I have NOT felt any sinus pain/pressure there. Throughout the day, something felt like it was 'popping' in my head. My face still felt squishy with liquid inside. ...
Uhm... I also started getting tingling lips. No! No! I'm not allergic to ACV, am I? I'm using the Mother's unfiltered ACV. Maybe I'm allergic to something that's floating in there? So, I stopped by the grocery store after work and bought the Filtered ACV. I took the same dosage like this morning. No dramatic effects like the morning dose. I guess that Mother's ACV is very potent. I'm really hoping I'm not allergic to the filtered ACV... I do get large bumps on my upper thigh if I drink 1 small box of apple juice a day. Let's see....
It seems a lot of people here on island are having sinus infection. Very breezy, rainy, and mango season. My boss' own got worse - in severe pain - he had to go to the clinic yesterday. I'm sooooo glad that I've been self-massaging my face, drinking lots of water and now trying the ACV to control my sinus/pressures. Too bad that I cannot use the Unfiltered Mother's ACV. That is so potent!
Heard dads voice on the breeze and smiled once again
Saw Granpops and granma sat on the bench in the park
Smiling and happy together
My aunts and uncles were all there too
Even my cousin hes the lawyer dressed in blue
There was laughter and singing and food and wine
They were all happy together
I walked in the ward and saw mum today
Shed been with dad all night she says
Hed been there right in the ward that and called
She was happy once more
I left the ward in tears today
For soon she will realise she is still alive
And she wont be with Dad which is her eternal wish
And I cant help her
You have to call hospice. They didnt help me ,I canceled them. I like my moms doctor and dont want to payout of pocket for him. To me they were a nuisance coming when they wanted and not being there when you really need them. I think if mom was dying i would have them for meds to die at home but not until then.
I did some googling. In order to conquer these sinus infections/problems, I need to find the cause.
1. Bathroom still has mold way up top near the ceiling. I cannot reach it - being short, under 5 feet tall.
2. I'm going to start decluttering my bedroom, stop hoarding stuff since it's gathering dust and silverfish.
3. Neti pot
4. I may need to find out if I'm allergic to gluten, processed sugar, starches, chocolates, caffeine, dairy, etc... Gees, I might as well just starve to death. It rules out practically everything!
The sinus massages work. BUT, I still feel my head is stuffed up. My ears are ringing, and sounds comes and goes. I went to Kmart and another mall, and the hand air dryer was soooo loud, my ear was hurting so badly. This sinus head pressure is either dulling sounds or amplifying it. It's strange to walk around with clear nasal passages yet my head feels so stuffed up. Weird.
So, I googled again. I have done this several times for the past year or 2. I just need to refresh my memory. I never realized that some people found the Mothers Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) had not helped their sinus or made it worse. When they used the Regular ACV, it worked against their sinus -problems. So, I'm going to try it. I also learned that I was doing it wrong. I was using cold water from the fridge. I should have been using Warm Water! My goal now is to try to release my head pressure using ACV, water and honey. (I need the honey hoping it won't make my GERD/Acid Reflux flare too badly.)
Sheryl, my dad used to know my nieces’ names. These nieces babysit him every Saturday from 830am – 300pm. He calls one niece Debbie (not her name). It’s funny because her former boss also has Alzheimer. Like her grandpa, her boss also called her …Debbie! She’s so used to my dad calling her Debbie, that she also automatically responds to that name at her work. Lately, my dad’s been forgetting my name. He would ask me in frustration, “What’s your name?” When I tell him, he says that he used to remember my name but now he has problem with his (then he points to his brain.)
Gawoman, I know what you mean about being alone when someone dies. I was like when mom was dying. I should have stayed home but I fled to work and let my siblings from the mainland take over watching mom. They were the ones who ended up speaking to the police Unfortunately, there was a time discrepancy between when anyone last saw her alive, when older sis thought she died, and when they called 911. Older sis knew she died but was so scared, she didn't call 911. Instead, she spent about 10 minutes trying to warm up mom's cold body.