Need help!!!

[Charley123]

I've been away from our forum for a while as I have been helping to take care of my mother.  She had a nasty fall and was in rehab and is now home.  I'm leaving again in a few hours to help her for another few weeks, but will take my computer with me this time.  I've missed the loving contact from all of you.  All of my MS testing is on hold and I am back on anxiety meds.  Silly me, I thought I was done with all that.  My mother has never been an easy person to be with (that's an understatement), and in addition to all of her medical problems (MS, COPD, etc.) she has dementia.  It is really getting bad.  My sister and I will be overseeing her 24/7 care and it's a huge and very difficult job.  I'm sure many of you can relate to it.  So, I was really interested in seeing questions come up around dementia and symptom relating to physical or psychiatric conditions.  My mother has probably had a combination of real and not so real diseases all her life.  We've never known what was real or not until the physical symptoms became obvious.  
I can understand that some of her symptoms were probably just MS doing it's thing, but there were other times that we think that she was 'faking it'.  No proof one way or the other from the medical community.  She's 92 and has had MS since she was about 40.  My sister has MS and I'm pretty sure, as are the 2 new docs that I've seen lately, that I have it as well.  So, here we are, 2 sisters with MS taking care of a wild woman with MS.  There is some definite material here for a book or a comedy show.  I need your support!  This is getting really nutty!!  Thanks in advance, Charley.

[sllowe]

Hi Charley,

My gosh, do you have your hands full.  I hope your weeks to come go smootly.  I'm sure this will be mentally and physically taxing for you.  Please do take many breaks for yourself.  

Please call on someone if you find it's too much.

As for us, we are just a click away from you!

Keep us posted,
(((supportive hugs)))
Shell

[Fluffysmom]

Its so good to see you!  I'm glad you'll have your computer with you now, 'cause you need to be in touch with us and we need to know that you're OK and to be able to give you hugs.

I think a support group, like Care for Caregivers, is a great idea.  There is also the possibility of having a respite caregiver step in when you and your sister need a break.

You need to be able to take care of yourself, too.  When things are all back on a relatively even keel, you can do a one woman show about your experiences; kind of like Julia Sweeney's show about her experience with cancer, both with her brother (who died) and herself.  Its good to be able to laugh and cry and share things with others.  OK, you can write a book if you're not the actor-type.

Remember, we're all here with you!

Hugs,

Kathy

[doni54]

Hi Charlie!

Glad you're back and taking your computer with you this time.  You need a support group right now.  I've also been caretaker for a parent with heart disease /COPD/ dimentia, and it is really a tough job.

Sorry you've had to put your search for a dx on hold, but it's understandable.

Take care of yourself and come on here often so we can take care of you while you take care of your mom!!

Hugs
doni

[saveone]

We haven't met but I can relate to taking care of an ailing/dying parent.  There is nothing easy about it even without the complications you mentioned.  

Wishing you the strength to see you through, terry

[wonko]

{{{{{(((((Charley)))))}}}}}

I'm glad you can take your computer with you this time, and that your mentality seems positive!  Do you get along well with your sister?  It sounds good that the two of you are sharing the care of your mother.  

I don't have any great words of wisdom or advice, just wishing you well and sending lots of gentle hugs your way!  Check in and let us know how you are getting along.