Monday, October 26, 2009

Plugging Along

I have refrained from posting this last week for 2 reasons.
1. I wanted those who wanted to read Grandpa's obituary to not have to wade through several posts to find the one on Grandpa.
2. Grandma has managed to keep all 4 of us continually moving.
We allowed it for several days as we tried to assess how Grandpa's passing would affect Grandma. But as we began to see patterns and were able to figure things out, we have had to make several changes. Tonight the changes seem to be successful. But it has been a hell of a week. Grandma is aware on some level that Lee is gone. BUT, she is mostly mad at him and sometimes she flat out forgets he is gone. Mostly, everything is about her, just as it was before he passed. We allowed her demanding and needy behavior for several days because we didn't want her to come totally unglued, but eventually it was clear she really doesn't care.
She is in terminal restlessness for sure, BUT it has been going on for weeks and she is on a heavy duty does of meds as it is. So, then you have to go back to her spiritual issues.
Guess what??? Still no progress there. As far as I know, there is no deep, dark secret in her background. All this drama is based on spoiled, stubbornness.
This week I have gradually upped What we call the "BUTT KICKER" to 2 pills 4 times each day. That is allowing her to focus and to enjoy tv once again. Otherwise, she is trying to be in motion constantly and isn't happy to keep herself occupied at all. She is insistent that someone be with her at all times and she will not be gracious and do things like share the tv or accept that you have to make dinner.
Last night, because I was getting low on pills, I had given her one dose during the middle of the day instead of 2. By 6pm, she was insisting there was a conspiracy against her and trying to push her own wheel chair. So I was down at the drug store upon opening to pick up the meds this morning. She has had the proper dosages all day and for the moment things are going well.
We shall see how tomorrow goes.
Her body is growing tired. However, I am bracing for a long, rough end. Something is very wrong in this situation and no one can fix this but her. She shows absolutely no signs of working through things.
While Matt and I do not want to have to accept this. It is the reality and unless something major happens, it will just continue to be Hell.
So to get our sanity back, we have done what we can to regain control of the situation. Removing custody of the remote control from her has helped a lot. Insisting she doesn't get to control what lights are on, what shows are watched and when she is going to the bathroom (by the half hour) at all times is helping. Tonight I am going to sleep in her bed in her room which she refuses to sleep in and keep the baby monitor on. She will stay in her chair in the living room. I am sure she will not like it one bit, but it will probably help my mental health a lot.
She is not releasing and preparing to move on. So, it will have to be up to us to do it.

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