I’ve off the computer for a while because of the carpal tunnel. It seems to be slowly getting better. I am doing acupuncture with a Chinese doctor and it seems to be helping. I also wrap my hands up and put a splint on to sleep at night. That way I don’t bend my wrists and hurt myself more. Because of this I haven’t had the burning pain at night anymore. I’ve also quit cleaning the house. I’ve gotten a cleaning lady because I discovered that simple things like sweeping hurt a lot, not at the moment, but a few hours later. Anyway, so much for me…
Mum is stable. So far no new health problems and I hope it stays this way for a while. I think the Calogen has helped a lot. She is back to eating more solid foods and under her own steam. We help out at the end to clean up the plate, but most of the meal she is eating by herself. It’s amazing how she bounces back! She is terribly confused all the time – sees people who aren’t there, imagines she has appointments she has to get to etc., but I’ve gotten used to this. It used to get me down a lot but now I’m resigned that that’s the way she is now and it won’t get better.
I am thinking of setting up an apartment for mum in my annex. It’s very nice, well set up. This is due to the fact that we are getting very tired of having aids under foot 24\7. You feel like the house isn’t yours. I can’t watch the news, for example, because when I sit down to watch, the aid starts talking loudly to mum. So I get up and leave. It’s a small thing, but you feel like you have no rights, not even to sit on your own sofa. Anyway, I am thinking of setting up an apartment for her so we’re in the same yard as it were, but with a little space to breathe.
I still haven’t gotten around to getting the phonoaudiologist to check mum, simply for a lack of time to fit in an appointment. Her geriatrician wants to have a diagnosis on how well she is swallowing since that is a big problem for Parkinson patients. I must set this appointment up soon.
Hi Dilys! I’m so glad to hear from you. I’m glad the carpal tunnel is better.
I understand about the lack of privacy. It’s tiring to feel like you can’t just “be” in your house. It sounds like the annex is a terrific compromise–your mum is close and you have your house back.
How is your daughter?
Dilys,
I can identify with the lack of privacy completely. We decided to build my mom a house right next door to us about 5 years ago now. She and I both wanted her close by. I know that she would rather live with me full-time, but we thought it would be best for my husband and I to have some “space”. The two houses usually function as one big one. It works very well when someone other than myself is caregiving for Mom, except that she feels a bit isolated from me and would prefer to be with me all the time. It can also get confusing to know at which house I’ve left things. My normal schedule at this point is to be with Mom 5 nights a week, and all weekend. I miss my own bed, and feel at times like I’m living out of a suitcase! We’re still working on that issue.
Even with the two houses, we feel like we have little privacy. I can only imagine what it’s like with both your mom and her aide in your home. I hope the apartment works out well for all of you.