Update on overdosed mom...

18 years ago

Hi everyone!

I had a moment and thought I'd update you all on mom's progress. For those who didn't catch my previous posts, my mom OD'd on alcohol last weekend before going into rehab and ended up in the ER w/ a blood/alcohol level of .500.

She's doing REALLY well! I've been talking to her every other day and she's pretty somber and deep thinking. The program is awesome and for about 10 hours a day she attends classes, group, therapy, AA classes, etc. It's a 31 day course and even my stepdad (the enabler) has to attend. The doctor was astounded that none of her internal organs are damaged and she's losing water weight like crazy! They run all sorts of tests since they have a small nurses station there.

I know it's an eye-opener for her; her roomate has gone into convulsions a couple of times during her detox and one fellow patient even told my mom to "stop dressing up, you're in rehab!" ROTFL! That's because she wears her big jewelery and rhinestone encrusted belt buckles. She's digging into her books and meetings- hopefully it'll stick. I'm flying out in a couple of weeks to attend some classes and be there for her graduation ceremony. I'm so thankful that once she's been in, she's a life member and can continue maintenance there. :) YAY!

So thank you, KT for being there for us. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers! I don't post much lately, but I do read every day and know I can count on you when I need a leg-up. (((KT)))

Blessings,

Haley

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Comments (22)

luckygardnr
18 years ago
Great news Haley! I'm so glad she's doing better!
anettemartinrn
18 years ago
so glad the news is good. take care of yourself as well.

anette
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Was looking to see if there was an update and hoping things are going better today. As I scanned recent replies and thought about you saying she was off Oxy, something else occurred to me. Absolutely continue to press on your concerns (and I would make sure they are looking for any signs of a brain bleed or any other continued internal bleeding), but consider that her body may be responding to pain an injury. If the pain is too great, her body may be muffling all kinds of stimulation or tuning out to a certain degree as a coping mechanism. If everything else is checking out okay, it's something to think about. Being a bit druggy or having some side effects might be worth it if that seems like a possibility. I've not has as serious an injury as your mom's, but I've had a couple of very painful ones and have a chronic (nearly 30 year) source of pain I've had to learn to manage. Part of getting a handle on it was understanding that my body was responding to an injury where there were not nerve endings to signal pain. Learning that systemic reaction help start explaining and unlocking things for me. Whatever helps, I just hope your mom is on the mend.
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My mothers hearing loss was profound. $30,000 worth of hearing aids later, still profound. I think sometimes staff would have trouble determining what might be mild dementia and confusing that with her just not hearing them. I could communicate with her fine - but she could read my lips. Maybe a daughter thing. But DH had begun always carrying a legal pad and somewhat heavy felt tip to his visits. He would write her notes all afternoon and she delighted in it and in the attention. Silly things. But he could really make her laugh and she enjoyed her time with him so much. In fact, it got so when we visited, he would walk into her senior apartment first, and I'd hear an immediate clear 'Hi Axxxx!' If I'd walk in first, it would be 'Where's Axxxx!' ;) All good signs even if you'd like recovery to be faster. It's all good. And, you are blessed. (((hugs))) OT but I edited. A paragraph repeated itself? I did not type that twice. Thanks, Houzz....
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The day at the beach got scrapped due to cloudy skies. I spent the morning on the phone with mom's new doctors who really don't know what the overall plan is. Dr. "send-her-home" is one of the doctors on the new team. She is in a double on a regular floor. We miss the attention of the ICU but nothing else. Mom no longer has her feeding tube in her nose. Before you get all excited, my mom is the one who decided it was time to be free of it. (she pulled it out.) She has had restraints on her hands since almost day one, and I think this happened during the changeover late last night to the new room. I asked them if they had been planning on removing it today (they hadn't) and were they allowing a 90 year old with confirmed delirium to make medical decisions? My guess is it was late and no one wanted to wake a dr. In any event, she did pass the swallow test and is now eating very soft foods (soft eggs and basically pureed veggies.) She doesn't like them, but knows she has to eat to avoid a stomach feeding tube. They also showed up with a percussive vest (think a thumping and pounding boa constrictor) to help with her lung issues. She has four broken ribs. The vest shouldn't be within 100 miles of her. We've started the process for rehab facilities. Anyone have any experience with The Upper East Side Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in NYC? We can't wait to get her out of Yale. To end on a positive note, I did go with DH and our other houseguest (not Dad) to a winery for a tasting and charcuterie board. It was fabulous. Now we're off to dinner--just the three of us. Oh, and my "steal-the-spotlight" pup is doing just fine. Stitches out in 12 days. Jo
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I've said this before, but the last few years of my parents' lives were the hardest thing I'd ever experienced. Maybe that means I've lived a charmed life? Aging eventually gets all of us, so maybe it's not all that uncommon for us to find ourselves "in charge" of our own parents. I don't know. I just know that the work involved in trying to manage my own parents in that situation was the most emotionally draining of my life. It just goes on and on and on because everything changes constantly - and you get some plan put together and then it all falls apart again. Rinse and repeat. You expressed this so well. I'm just beginning to discover the truth of what you wrote, although it's been unfolding for over a year now. And it can feel like it hits - when it hits - all of a freakin' sudden, which leaves you very little time to get your feet underneath you. You just have to instantly get up, go, and do the things that must be done. I'm beginning to understand the old saying, "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger." But sometimes it feels like it just might come close to killing you in the process, doesn't it!
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susan_on
18 years ago
I was wondering how things were going. Glad to see that she has made so much progress.
gadgets
18 years ago
I wish your mom continued success. This can't be an easy thing to do and will take a lifetime of commitment (one day at a time) on her part.

Shirley
FlamingO in AR
18 years ago
Excellent news, Haley, I hope she keeps up the good work! I'm so happy for you, you sound so relieved. You're a good daughter, kiddo. I hope she's proud of you and the great mom that you are.
lydia1959
18 years ago
Glad to hear the good news Haley. I wish your Mom continued success!
angela_nor_calif
18 years ago
That great news Haley.
heather_on
18 years ago
I'm so glad for you and your mom. Praying that she stays with the program once she is out.
Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
18 years ago
Glad to hear this. Hopefully, she will stay in the program. Weight loss was incentive for Main Man's Daughter.

Gayle
mamatoad
18 years ago
That's great news, Haley! I hope she will continue to do well. Bettye
jannie
18 years ago
Glad she is working hard and doing well!
Pieonear
18 years ago
Great news! I was just wondering about her over the weekend.
summer_tx
18 years ago
This is such good news Haley. It's refreshing to hear that she's doing so well and actually accepting the treatment. I know you are taking long sighs of relief. Blessings to her and you too!
glenda_al
18 years ago
Continued special thoughts for your mom!
caflowerluver
18 years ago
I wish your mom continued success. I hope she stays with the program. I have a brother who is an alcoholic so know how hard it is.
Clare
grinch_gut
18 years ago
I truly pray it sticks for her and for all of you!! Stacy
donna_oh
18 years ago
Prayers for your moms continued success!

Donna (^_^)
msmarion
18 years ago
Continued prayers for her recovery.
sharon_fl
18 years ago
Great news Haley. I am so happy she's where she'll get all the help available to her-and with family encouragement-she should conquer this.
Kathsgrdn
18 years ago
I'm glad she made it into rehab. I hope she continues with the program.
bunny_lover
18 years ago
That is good news!
gardenspice
18 years ago
Haley, I'm happy to hear she is doing so well in rehab.
I say if dressing up every day works for her - go for it!
I'm sure that your support is a big help to her, as this will likely be the hardest thing she has ever done.
Sending best thoughts!
GardenSpice

Update on overdosed mom...

Comments (22)

luckygardnr

anettemartinrn

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