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The care givers thread

Floridian

Active member
Veteran
I have been caring for my mom close to two years now and its been a real difficult scene.I have been super close to her all my life and have been one of the lucky ones I know.I did a 50 day stint in the county hotel and my brother filled in for me.She had problems with pain then but nohting like it is now.I used to be able to maintain a grow at my home a mile away by leaving a few hours a day 2 or 3 times a week but those days are history and really I can care less.Her pain is so bad now I really have a tough time with it.It fuckin sucks I never knew arthritis and bursidus could be so debilitating but it is.She was up at 5 this morning asking for a couple pain pills.I give her 2 10 mil Percocet 3 times a day but it does not seem to help her one bit.Its just so fuckin hard seeing her in pain every single day and not really being able to do anything about it.She is supposed to take 1 every 4 hours but lately has been asking for 2.What am I supposed to do say no?I worry about all the acetaminophen and her liver but what the fuck..Her doctor does not want to give her anything stronger thanks to our esteemed attorney general Pam Bondy but that's another story.I feel helpless to do anything so I called a pain Mgmt. clinic and got her an appointment.This is dangerous for me with my previous history but she is more important than my petty problem and I don't feel I have much choice.My situation is so hard in more ways than one.I know seeing her in pain on a daily basis is more than I can deal with.Man everything just fuckin sucks anymore I know I am a whiner that needs to suck it up and be strong,knowing a doing are two different things though.Her pain is fuckin killing me that I know its in my face daily and I feel helpless to do anything about it.I have an appt. for a pain mgmt. clinic hopefully they can help/Her cortisone doctor and primary doctor says there is nothing that they can really do at this point.Her cort. doc suggested pain mgmt.No matter how difficult this will be with my previous history I have to do something about it.Its all I can do to keep my hands off her perks talk about feeling like a true fuckin loser.Her organs and blood are good so my biggest fear is her becoming bedridden the last few years of her life.She will be 86 next week and I promised myself and her that she would die in the house like her mother did.I am going to keep that promise no matter what.We have always been super close maybe too much so to be mentally healthy but I am a mamas boy period lol.Me and Elvis.I need to suck it up and be stronger I know its just so fuckin hard man.I love her so much and to see her in this much pain on a daily basis is eating me all up inside.I feel helpless to really do anything about it.I guess I was hoping there were others going through what I am experiencing how selfish is that?I truly don't wish that on anyone and really hope this thread gets no responses saying as much.I am sure there are others caring for a loved one though.I have to be stronger I am a 57 year old fuckin man I need to start acting as such.Thanks for letting me whine and ramble on I just need to do something what I don't really know.
 

GainGreene

Member
Hey brother I feel your pain. I helped to care for my grandmother whom was same age as your mother. She had Alzheimer's dementia and suffered a stroke or two and was living alone. It's truly a eye opener to see the matriarch in such shape and man that disease makes one angry and semi bipolar at times. I had to help bathe/dress her, never thought I would have to do that. Getting old sucks... you start out in this world being cared for and most go out similar to a baby at mind.

Is their anyway you can produce herbs again and make some edibles which may reduce some pain instead of the pain pills? Stay strong buddy anyone in your position knows the pain of seeing our loved ones suffer. Best of luck on keeping mom comfy.
 

Floridian

Active member
Veteran
Wow man alzheimers must truly suck I don'tknow from experience but of course everyone knows that has to be the worst.I keep telling myself in 5 or 6 years I will have appreciated this time together I hope you feel this about your grandmother,when its happening though its hard to imagine it to be true.I really cant do any growing right now although my mom is real liberal about it.I gave her some cannabutter about 7 years ago and she threw up lol.Nothing like overdosing mama on THC I always say.
 

Floridian

Active member
Veteran
Things have got worse in a short time its really getting to me watching her pain get steadily worse as time goes on.Wish I could try some cannabis products on her.I cant even smoke for a year much less grow...We were watching viceland last night and now I know what a dab is.Probably be better than the oxy she has been taking.Its like she is immune to it.Any dabbers or butterers out there?I sure could use some help with her.Wish the Cali cannabutter girl was still around.
 

Green Squall

Well-known member
Your doing a good thing man. I saw the toll care giving took on my mom and aunt the last couple years of my grandmothers life. It's definitely not easy. She went from perfectly healthy to having a stroke/dementia/parkinsons in a very short amount of time. They cared for her at home as long as they could.

Towards the end she needed 24 hour care and they just couldn't afford a private nurse. It sucks the average person can't afford one. It's so so so expensive. At this point the only choice was to move her to an end of life nursing home. She literally died within an hour of admission, with my mom and aunt in the room with her. It was so sad but in a way I'm glad it happened that way.
 

soserthc1

Active member
Try to make her as comfortable as possible
Be thankful for the time you had many don't get 86 yrs (lost mine at 53)
Sometimes being a man is are only choice
 

Phaeton

Speed of Dark
Veteran
I am on the other end, my daughter and her significant other take care of me. They spend close to ten hours a day here, a lot of it is taking care of the garden, I cannot.

The morphine is of limited use for old folk pain. I use an oil extract (75 mg) with each morphine tablet (10 mg).
The extract more than doubles the effectiveness, without the THC it took 20 mg morphine for the same effect.
All folks are different but opiates are notorious for being nonfunctional for arthritis and nerve pain. The alternates left me too groggy to communicate, I would rather be in discomfort.

And regardless of how much she speaks, what you are doing is appreciated. Us old folk know how helpless we are, sometimes I feel guilty using up so much time that does not belong to me even though I could not survive without it.

I spent time in the county hotel also when young, some bad folks in there but most were just guys with bad luck rather than evil intent. All had moms and some lost theirs while inside, worse luck but it happens, that is when accepting a shoulder helps.
 

Floridian

Active member
Veteran
Phaeton thanks so much for your response,I think its even more important to hear from folks on the receiving end.I am sure you did a lot of giving when it was needed.So what are the options?She has arthritis in both knees and one shoulder and is constantly hurting.The 10 milligram percocet is surprisingly totally ineffective except to help her to sleep which she does too much of.She says when she sleeps at least she is not in pain.This eats me up inside.I try to get her out to the casino which she used to love,but everyday its always maybe I will feel better tomorrow.She just cannot tolerate all of the pain.I wish I could buy edibles which are literally down the street.Its real difficult to even get her to see a doctor.It looks like a pain management clinic is her only option.She has an appointment Feb 9th.At this point I do not care if she gets strung out like a research monkey,I just want to ease her pain.If not opiods then what?
 

kelly1376

Member
What all medications is she taking now? Is she taking prednisone? How about an anti-inflammatory? There are a lot of natural meds that can greatly help, but you have to attack via different mechanisms of action.
 

Floridian

Active member
Veteran
She is taking prednisone and an antidepressant called atorvastin that her primary doc insists will help.I googled it but I don't see how.She also takes steroids in those little time paks every month or so.Docs are trying to help but nothing really seems to.Thanks bro.
 

kelly1376

Member
wobenzyme & fish oil are great for any arthritis related pain. Fish oil is more powerful than NSAIDs without the damaging effect on the stomach but you have to take enough, at least 6 x 1 gram pills. Turmeric will enhance the effectiveness of cortisone and also help temper inflammation.

Ice alternated with heat is also effective. If possible get her moving. Swimming would be ideal, even just sitting in the water. The worst thing in the world for arthritis is sitting around in a stale environment and not moving. Even something as simple as taking a shower can greatly help pain.
 
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