Hi All,
May I ask for some advice?
Mum was diagnosed with VAD about two years ago and has recently experienced a significant decline in her mental and physical health. Now I think I know why:
This morning Mum went on a sort of social outing to some gardens in our local area (with her neighbour) and probably against my conscience, I went round to "sort some stuff out". I took away two bags of rotting food and rescued a bill or two. Fair enough, or not - depending on your point of view. I know this is wrong but if I didn't do it, flies and goodness knows what would descend.
Anyhooooo...the main issue. Mum takes about 12 different tablets which have been prescribed in a blister pack (brilliant invention). She swears blind that she takes them every day without fail. She's not telling the truth.
Today I discover TWO pristine blister packs (the first delivered on June 6th, and one a week after). Not a single tablet has been taken. Not one. These tablets keep my Mum alive - a thyroxin tablet, betablockers to keep her heart rate stable, a controlled dose of aspirin to prevent a stroke (she refuses warfarin), an anti-depressant, etc etc.
Even last night she was telling me that she cuts the dose in half as it's such a pain in the proverbial to take so many pills in the morning. Is she lying, or is she just going through some sort of fantasy?
I drove over to the pharmacist to let him know of my concerns - anxiety was etched all over my face. I don't want her to die simply from not taking the medication that keeps her alive - I'm sorry, but her life is worth more than that, surely. He was great. He calmed me down and has promised to visit her next week for "a chat" about the medication and its importance.
What do I do? Should I tell her that I know that she's not been taking her drugs (I don't need to tell her that I've seen them "in secret"), should I speak to her GP (he knows what's going on), should I share it with my sisters and brother or should I just simply let her get ill and die - indeed, is she doing this on purpose? My feeling is that she is deliberately not taking her tablets. She's had enough of life.
It's hideous.
What do you think, good folks in here?
Susan
May I ask for some advice?
Mum was diagnosed with VAD about two years ago and has recently experienced a significant decline in her mental and physical health. Now I think I know why:
This morning Mum went on a sort of social outing to some gardens in our local area (with her neighbour) and probably against my conscience, I went round to "sort some stuff out". I took away two bags of rotting food and rescued a bill or two. Fair enough, or not - depending on your point of view. I know this is wrong but if I didn't do it, flies and goodness knows what would descend.
Anyhooooo...the main issue. Mum takes about 12 different tablets which have been prescribed in a blister pack (brilliant invention). She swears blind that she takes them every day without fail. She's not telling the truth.
Today I discover TWO pristine blister packs (the first delivered on June 6th, and one a week after). Not a single tablet has been taken. Not one. These tablets keep my Mum alive - a thyroxin tablet, betablockers to keep her heart rate stable, a controlled dose of aspirin to prevent a stroke (she refuses warfarin), an anti-depressant, etc etc.
Even last night she was telling me that she cuts the dose in half as it's such a pain in the proverbial to take so many pills in the morning. Is she lying, or is she just going through some sort of fantasy?
I drove over to the pharmacist to let him know of my concerns - anxiety was etched all over my face. I don't want her to die simply from not taking the medication that keeps her alive - I'm sorry, but her life is worth more than that, surely. He was great. He calmed me down and has promised to visit her next week for "a chat" about the medication and its importance.
What do I do? Should I tell her that I know that she's not been taking her drugs (I don't need to tell her that I've seen them "in secret"), should I speak to her GP (he knows what's going on), should I share it with my sisters and brother or should I just simply let her get ill and die - indeed, is she doing this on purpose? My feeling is that she is deliberately not taking her tablets. She's had enough of life.
It's hideous.
What do you think, good folks in here?
Susan