h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

No, not me. Not all that fast anyway. It's my mother in law. She hasn't been really healthy for a good two years now. She has had various operations on various body parts.
So far she's got a net which lifts her bladder, a (mini) computer and shunt in her head and a pacemaker for her heart.

Next up: another heart op, called an 'Ablation' to stop her heart from fibrillating. It's not a huge op: a catheter will be inserted into the Vena saphena magna in her groin (under a local anaesthetic) and from there to her heart where they'll do the ablation.
Still, my mil is really scared and now I go there nearly each day and spend several hours with her, trying to support her and calm her down.

Right now I'm on my way there again to accompany her to the .
She is confused and keeps calling because she can't remember what we had agreed on etc. She called just now to tell me that she has a doctor's appointment at 4pm today. I told her that I was on my way to her.
It's certainly not easy, and my husband was at the end of his tether already last night and hung up the phone on her; then brought me the phone and told me to call her.

Takes deep breath.

Aww.. The poor love must be terrified


lil xx

She´s lucky to have you near her ( and your husband even more!)

Old people become very vulnerable in these situations, and behave like children, so we have to behave like patient loving parents. We own it to them.




/aside

I´ve read peacemaker instead of pacemaker...

Best wishes to both of you.

I hope you don't have to wait too long for this procedure to happen, I can understand your MIL's anxiety.

It's all very sad when the days come that we have to start taking care of our parents.

I know this feeling; it makes me feel lucky I only have to do the bloodrunsevery week (although this week we have an extra appointment with a to have her ears checked). I made that appointment last Wednesday, wrote it on her calendar, then she rang me Thursday to say she had made an appointment with the to have her ears checked and could I take her?

Thanks all. My mil was fine today, which was very nice for a change. Now that she's talked with her practitioner (who actually listens to her and is empathic) she feels a lot better. The specialist doctor she saw in hospital last Thursday (where her practitioner had referred her to) has the wrong profession imo. She didn't disguise the fact that she thought my mil was wasting her (doctor's) time.

Your MIL sounds like one heck of a lady to go through all that. It must be stressful for your and your husband, though it sounds as if you are coping better than he is.it is hard going.

Hope all goes well with the next op.



Websailor

Sending good vibes, and a bucket full of patience x

Thanks Webbie and Bea.

I can certainly need the patience, it's not always easy. But I often manage to make her laugh, which is good.

I sure hope the procedure is successful. I'd be scared, too.

Me too, Hpy, which is maybe why I am as patient as I can be. I've only had very few ops in my life, but if they hadn't sedated me before the anaesthetics, I'd have hopped off that bed and .

strength comes in many formsB'El

and mine is heading over to you via thought

Thank you, prof.

my mil is a fine woman, and if I can give her some support, I'm happy to do it.

Hope all goes well,luv.

your most welcome sweetheartthoughts have powerand my friends will always have mine

I really hope she belongs to the 70% which are successful, so that she can start living again and we can do all the fun things like going to museums etc.

Bel. Not been around here much. RL being a pain, and it being quiet when I do get here.

I really can feel for you and am pleased, and I'm sure she's grateful, that you are there. Having seen my Grandmother after a number of operations I can empathise, and with my Mum's mental and physical deterioration, only send special understanding , and .

I hope all goes well.

MMF

Thank you.

Give yourself a rest from your stress.

Thanks Bel.

I feel for both you, K and the boys. I'm sending my best wishes your way.

And I'll be fine. You know I'll bounce back. Always do!!!!



MMF