I'm Scared.

I'm Scared. :frown1:

I'm scared. Daddy hasn't been doing well this week at all. He has Parkinson's and his symptoms seem to have intensified lately. On Wednesday when they came back from the senior center he couldn't get himself out of the car by himself. That's only happend once or twice before, but it was last winter when he first came home from the hospital. His sudden weakness and inability to stand up from a sitting position is odd. It scares me, it terrifies mommy.

Mom has been helping him in and out of bed for months now. We had the master bath re-done in May to accomodate him.

Today after he came from the center he was still hungry, so mom fixed him a ham and cheese sandwich and gave him some water and a slice of poundcake. I keep telling her not to give him sweets cause he's diabetic, but she doesn't listen to me. He lost 21 pounds during the 3 weeks he was in the hospital and rehab center back in January. Mom has been trying to fatten him back up ever since.

After he ate, he was cold, because I had the a/c set to a frigid 77. He went outside on his own power using his cane; and sat on the deck to soak up the warmth. This is normal for him in the summer. When mom checked on him an hour later he was napping. She noticed dad had changed into his swim trunks before he went outside. She put on her swimsuit and was gonna try to get him to do some movement exercises in the shallow end. But then the phone started ringing, and she put in a load of laundry. I was finishing up painting the trim in the bathroom. Long story short, the next time she happend by the kitchen door he was calling for her in a low hoarse voice. Apparently he had tried to get up and couldn't! Mom immediately came and got me and said, 'he needs help getting up.' Daddy claimed to have called both of us for almost an hour and was scared he would have to spend the night out there. Mom said no way was it an hour. But the truth is one of the symptoms he has been having trouble with is talking loudly or even in a normal voice. He thinks he is speaking in his rich bass like he did years ago, but really it's almost a whisper and his voice trails off at the end of sentences. Lately, I have to lean across the table to hear him say grace at dinner and it's not that big a kitchen table.

I had to literally pull him out of the chair today. It's just one of those plastic resin patio chairs, but we put a super thick pillow in it, so it's not so low and he can get up by himself. Once we got him to his feet, he started to sway and said, "I'm falling." Mom said no you're not and put his cane in his hand. I ran to the bedroom for his rollator. I wasn't gone a full 2 minutes and in that time he almost fell over and took my mom with him. :frown1: I had to literally reach down and lift his feet so he could move, even with the rollator. It was scary . . . for all of us. We were able to get him into the bedroom and helped him to lie down. He looked so weak and a little grey. He went to sleep almost immediately.

There is no cure for Parkinson's. There are treatments, but they don't seem to be working well with my dad; maybe because he is 81 now. Or maybe because he refused various treatments when they were first offered 3 years ago; because he thought the Lord would heal him.

Mom came into my room around 2:00 AM and I could tell she'd been crying because her eyes were red, and watery. I hugged her and said it would be okay, but we both know it won't be.

Comments

Oh my... I know that must have been frightening.Did you check to make sure he wasnt or hadnt had a mini stroke?
 
Dear....i am sorry for your fathers stage of life and death, we all will face some similar event....as there is a time for all seasons....be strong and know....it is all part of the GREAT PLAN.
 
naughty;bt17554 said:
Oh my... I know that must have been frightening.Did you check to make sure he wasnt or hadnt had a mini stroke?
I have to laugh; :biggrin1: because he has had 3 CAT scans and 2 MRI's since February. Everytime mom and I notice something that seems off or possibly stroke like we trot him over to the doctor. :rolleyes: Each time everything was normal. :redface: I know he thinks we are nuts, or maybe just two hyperharpies with whom he is stuck living. :tongue:
 
I know you're scared and exhausted, but you've got some energy on reserve somewhere. I know it. I don't think you lied to your mom either. It is going to be okay. It's hard now but it will be alright. Just try to keep making sure that you're both there and are being as strong as you can be for him...for all of you. Big hug to you, P.
 
Big hug to you NJ for supporting Dad with your intense energy and positive attitude.
Get your RAZR3 swapped out so you will always be in touch with your folks.
 
Thank you 8060, I know you are a caregiver too and know full well the stresses and joys of the job.

crossy;bt17564 said:
Big hug to you NJ for supporting Dad with your intense energy and positive attitude.
Get your RAZR3 swapped out so you will always be in touch with your folks.
I finally broke down and called this afternoon. they will send me a new RAZR by Monday.:rolleyes: I'm thinking about getting the new Blackberry Curve though. It has a track pad rather than a trackball.

I live with my folks now, so I am in constant contact with them. :tongue: The cell phone is so I can keep in touch with my friends all over the country and keep some semblance of sanity.:smile:
 
I know this sounds crazy but my cousins all started showing
symptoms of Parkinsons in their 20's. It has progressedin it's miserable fashion in all of them.
It has yet to hit us {my brothers and sister} thankfully.
At this time my cousin Cedric and Derrick where told by thier doctors to consume a bottle of beer which actually helped to lessen the symptoms. I don't suggest your father who is diabetic do this but perhaps you could ask a doctor about this if all else isn't working P.
Though he is probably on too many other drugs to combine them with alcohol.
Best Wishes to you all.
C.B.:saevil:
 
cigarbabe;bt17591 said:
I know this sounds crazy but my cousins all started showing
cigarbabe;bt17591 said:
symptoms of Parkinsons in their 20's. It has progressed in it's miserable fashion in all of them.
It has yet to hit us {my brothers and sister} thankfully.
At this time my cousin Cedric and Derrick where told by thier doctors to consume a bottle of beer which actually helped to lessen the symptoms. I don't suggest your father who is diabetic do this but perhaps you could ask a doctor about this if all else isn't working P.
Though he is probably on too many other drugs to combine them with alcohol.
Best Wishes to you all.
C.B.:saevil:
I don't think it's crazy at all. :no: It seems that many younger people are being stricken by this wretched, degenerative disease. I see a lot of books at Borders are aimed at people under 40 with Parkinson's, than people in their 80's like my dad.

I saw an article somewhere on the net about alcohol benefitting some Parkinson's symptoms a few months ago. I meant to ask my dads neurologist about that. I will make a note to ask him when he goes next week.
 

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