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Perturbed, The caregivers on here taught me the difference between helping and rescuing. Learning a lot more by reading on narcissists, there is even a thread on how to help someone with a parent (mother) who is a narcissist.

In addition to your mother and family (not an accusation) having issues with Rx drugs and addiction, this may be what is going on, and you may be the victim of their lies instead of the person to be helping. You can look into this and the family dynamics, and save yourself.

Living across the street from brothers with issues concerning jail due to drug abuse can put ypu in danger. Want to start by assuring your safety? Locking doors, windows, protecting self from identity theft?

How did you come to be living across the street?

My sympathies.
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Both my parents would hallucinate like crazy after a couple of days on morphine. A dr explained to me that certain pain killers are processed easier than others - some by the kidneys and some by the liver etc. In people with poor kidney or liver functions/disease the pain medication can be so poorly processed that it builds up to become like a mega dose - thus the hallucinations. As it happens oxycodone is one pain medication that is easily processes - many elderly folks will do better
on that vs morphine or codeine - which is processed by the body as morphine.
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My mom had hallucinations coming off vicodin
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i can be sincere too if necessary . i dont think opiates such as norco could cause hallucinations . more like a UTI and / or very late stage dementia . you oughta get on the other side of that vent and con her into seeing her doc . almost as good -- put a bowl in the toilet and capture her urine then take it to the doc .
my late aunt got on a two week kick telling me she wasnt sure exactly how old she was but it was definately over 300 . ( UTI )
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I know this is serious, but I have to admit I chuckled a little at Captain's post. Thanks for the chuckle Captain. Rainmom, I think it could be Norco or at least that is what it sounded like she called it. Sendme2help/Blannie, logically your suggestions make perfect sense, but the rest of me wonders how/if I can do that? I have thought that this could possibly be addiction related. But, at the same time, her mother had dementia. So, then I ask myself if I would be abandoning her in her time of need. I do know that there is not much I can do if she doesn't want my help though. It is just hard (I'm sure you guys understand what I mean). Thank you again for listening/suggesting/offering a shoulder to cry on. It really means so much to me. Hugs to all of you and please know that I am here for you too if you ever need anything.
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Yeah, your mom's behavior with her meds isn't normal and would indicate major addiction issues. Sendme2help has some good suggestions. You can't help mom unless she wants help. So maybe back off for a while? If she calls you for help, insist she go to the doctor.
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Check the nearest backpack.
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Captain, Are you sure that Meth would not explain the vent talking?
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What you have described is addiction behaviors. Hers are serious.
1) Stop going over there at all.
2) When you see her passed out on the lawn, call 911. Do not pick her up or rescue her. They cannot help her unless they see her in that condition. She may be admitted to a rehab.
3) In the meantime, inform her doctor and pharmacist in writing that she is abusing her meds, taking too many, sharing them with her addict son (prescription drug diversion); and they will be held responsible.
4) Or, just let her live her life the way she has chosen, because
5) NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED.
6) PLAN TO MOVE IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL WITH HELPING HER.

PEACE.
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theres only one possible explanation for a talking vent -- shrooms ..
her supplyer wont be hard to find . hes probably been wearing the same bell bottomed jeans since 1977 . probably rides a bicycle ..
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Norco? That is basically Vicodin. My mother use to abuse oxycodone- same thing - I could always tell when she'd get a new refill - slurred speech, vague gazes, unable to converse. Only once in the several years of abuse did she actually hallucinate - thought that a tall man was lerking around her apartment. Do not underestimate what a UTI can do. My father had an undiagnosed UTI when he was admitted to rehab. He called me asking for me to come pick him up - in Corvallis which is two hours away from Portland, where he was. Dad thought he was in my old college town, staying in my old sorority. He believed all the nurses were my sorority sisters and instead of their uniforms he thought they were all in lingerie! Much later when dad was well he told me he still found it hard to believe that it hadn't happened- that he had never been at my sorority. Dad said it was that real!
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Thank you GardenArtist. I will look for that right now. :-)
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blannie...She will not let me see her medication and only tells me some of what she is on. I know she takes blood pressure medication (not sure the names), Wellbutrin, Albuterol(sp?), and she used to take two different pain medications (I think one of them was furinol (sp?) with codeine (for migraines) and the other was narco (sp?)(had hip replacement in 2011, says it still hurts)). I have called her out a few times on those because she would take most of them the week that she got them and would have slurred speech etc. So, she started telling me that she no longer gets them, although I am pretty sure that she does (still has slurred speech at the beginning and end of the month). She was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis and is supposed to be going to a doctor for that in a few weeks. They gave her some sort of medication for that, but she did not tell me the name. It is difficult to sneak a peek, as she is always with me when I am there. I have looked around here and there when in the bathroom and kitchen, but have not found any medication other than OTC stuff. I believe she may keep all of her medicine in her purse which never leaves her side. She even puts it under her side of the bed when she is sleeping. We had an argument just today about going to the doctor. I begged her. I told her I just wanted to make sure that she was not having a bad reaction to her medication and/or that she was not having potassium issues again. She got angry with me and said that I need to mind my own business. She said she just had blood work done and that I could call the doctor and ask them if I didn't believe her (although I am pretty sure she has not had any done because she was complaining about her doctor not doing blood work just last month). She won't go anywhere with me anymore (that stopped over a year ago, she always has excuses), so it will be hard to "trick" her into going to the doctor. However, I will still try to use some of the many great suggestions made here and see if they work. Thank you all again for your help and suggestions. :-)
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Perturbed, if your mother doesn't have the Medicare and You 2016 booklet, call Medicare and order it. It will provide basic explanation on how Medicare works, services that are covered and those that are not.

A visit to an internist or PCP would likely be covered, so neither you nor your mother should have to worry about a large out of pocket expense. I think your mother is (a) just using cost as an excuse not to go and/or (b) may suspect something's wrong with her and is afraid to find out.

I agree with others; she needs to see a doctor to confirm she doesn't have a UTI, to do blood work to determine residue levels of the pain pills, and determine if she has any other issues that would be reflected through blood work.
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Is she afraid of the cost or what they'll find? Can you find out what pills she's taking (if she's taking pills)?
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uuuu Blannie, good points ! ! !

M88
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My mom is on Medicare. I have offered to pay for the visit, but she still won't go. Thank you all for the suggestions/answers provided so far. I do appreciate all of this help and will keep you updated.
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Depending on your mom's doctors (and how competent they seem) I would either take her for a full medical work-up or take her to the Emergency Room and report what she's experiencing. You can tell your mom you're worried that she has an infection, which is true. An untreated urinary tract infection could be causing this (possibly).

But I think if she's had problems with pain pill addictions in the past, it's a greater likelihood that she's abusing prescription medications or is having a bad reaction to some medication she's taking. If that's a possibility, I wouldn't take her to the doctor who is prescribing those to her - he or she is obviously not monitoring your mom well. If that's her regular doctor, I'd take her to the ER and have them do a full work up and toxicology screen, if they will do that.

I'm almost your mom's age and her behavior is NOT anything near normal or normal aging. She's got something major going on that needs immediate attention. Good luck and please come back and keep us posted on what you do. We learn from each other.
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Your mother is younger than the average AD patient, I would guess. But it's not unheard of a person her age or younger, to be afflicted, unfortunately. She needs to see a doctor as soon as possible. Sounds like anti-anxiety meds would help but a doctor would need to prescribe. You said she can't afford to go, what about Medicare ?- she qualified at 65. Or Medicaid?
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Perturbed...............

Just take your mom in to the MD. Does she need a referral from the PCP to see a Psychiatrist or not? If yes, get it. If not, get doctors names from PCP as far as where he/she would recommend you take mom.

Don't ask her, don't beg her, just take her when the day comes. Take her in, (sorry, it is like kidnapping), but there is no other alternative (in my book).

You may say it is YOUR doctor's appointment and you NEED her to accompany you.......................... w h a t e v e r.

You need professional help. What you describe is highly unusual, and pretty scary. Who knows what else is going on INSIDE the house............the fact that your brother found out about the "vent" conversation was purely accidental. She needs an evaluation..............
To the ones that know "LEGALESE", can perturbed get a Baker Act on her mom???

M 8 8
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Thank you Xinabess. You are right... it is brutal.
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Oh I'm so sorry. I don't have any advice for this situation, unfortunately, but my heart goes out to you. This stuff with our parents is just brutal.
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Thank you for your response Geewiz. Thank you for taking the time to listen and offer suggestions. I truly appreciate it.
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There are many possibilities and others on this site have related experiences. Urinary Track infections (UTI) can cause behavior like this. So can dehydration. Help her increase her intake (especially cranberry juice) and that could help IF this is the problem. Hypo thyroidism causes behavioral changes when it is not addressed. 67 is YOUNG for routine memory issues. Add what you have described and it appears there is something truly wrong. Depending upon how gullible she is, you may tell her she has to have her annual exam or her medical insurance won't cover her. (Is she on Medicare, annual exams are no charge to the patient. ) Can you make an appointment and then take her out to lunch and then just stop at the medical office? I'd hate to see her go down this road if it is something that is easily treated. Keep us posted.
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