KareninDixie
New member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2014
- Messages
- 4
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Country
- US
- State
- GA
- City
- Loganville
Hi all. My mother, age 72, was diagnosed with ALS about a year ago, after several years of tests that showed nothing. It started with a knee replacement surgery that she had. About six-months post-op, her right foot started dropping, and she could not control it. Her doctors initially thought it was related to diabetes, but eventually moved on to neurological testing. Because she exhibited no pain, they didn't think it was ALS. Still, it took about 3 years before they got the right diagnosis, after attempting chemotherapy and gammaglobulin treatments to no avail. I am the eldest child of five, and I'm ashamed to say that I've been avoiding going to see her. Not on purpose, I was getting physically ill. I didn't associate the two until last week. My mother is my hero, and has been for my whole life. She is the one who made me who I am, and stood by me no matter what. She is the one who told me I could do anything, and instilled that belief into my heart and mind. Watching her slip awaylike this is breaking my heart. I know this is not about me. I finally melted down last week. I had been trying to control an uncontrollable situation by blocking it out. It's not that I never went over there, it's that I didn't go as often as I could have. That wall tumbled when I had a panic attack last week (coincidentally, my father, and two sisters broke down the same day). I'm spending time with her now. Dad is on the verge of a complete breakdown, and refuses to take the Ativan his doctor has prescribed. Without it, he is not sleeping and is deteriorating rapidly. I have an appointment this week to see if my doctor will help me with something short term, while I get a grip on the realities of our situation. Her doctors want to put in a feeding tube this Friday, and have warned us that with her breathing issues, she may not make it through the surgery, although it is supposed to be a relatively simple procedure. How can I support my family through this? I've always been the leader, the one in control, and I just don't know what to do this time. What is the best way to help Dad? Any suggestions on how to get him to take his medicine? Is anyone else out there in a similar situation, and could offer some advice? Thank you so much to anyone who has the time to respond. I'll be leaving work shortly and heading over to her house.