Well, have I got a story for you. On Wed. I had Granny Nanny come over so I could start cooking for Thanksgiving. I didn't have alot to do, since it was just the kids. But since I was hurting, I figured I'd get done much faster if I wasn't interrupted by Mom constently.

Laura came over around 9:30, and mom and I were having coffee. Mom really enjoys her having coffee with us, so of course she sat down. About 10 minutes later, Laura had said that it felt warm in the house, and did I have the heat up. Her and I have the same comfort level where heat is concerned, and if anything it was actually cool.

She looked a bit pale, but I really didn't think much of it. I asked her if she would like a t-shirt, as she had on a long sleeve blouse, she said yes. I went upstairs, got the t-shirt, came down, and she's not sitting in the chair.

I run to the bathroom, didn't even knock, thank God, and she's leaning against the counter. She was so pale, and basically unresponsive. I slapped her face a few times, called her name, grabbed the ammonia inhaler that I keep in there, and down she went. Thank God she's so light, as I had to guide her down to the floor and there we both sat. She was out like a light.

Mom was on the phone with my brother, and my granddaughter was here. I yelled to granddaughter to call 911, but she couldn't get mom to understand to get off the phone. I told her grab the phone, tell my brother emergency, and call 911.

Of course by that time, Laura had come to. She of course did not know what happen. I put a cold towel on her, and made her sit on the bathroom floor with me for awhile. I got her up, made her lay down with her feet up, and she slept for two hours.

Mom was so funny, covering her with a blanket and asking so many times what happen, what happen to Laura. Is she going to be okay?

This has happened twice before, but not at my house. She did inform me about it, and did ask the doctor if it could be from a new medication she was taking, but he said no. He did tell her if it happened again, she is to let him know. She does have various medical problems that I was aware of, one being MS, but she is so strong, and so active that you would never know.

So I had a nice heart to heart with her. I told her that she has to find out what's causing this passing out, or I won't be able to leave her alone with Mom anymore. She said she will. So for now, I can only have her here if I am home, which for now works out ok, since I haven't been going out much lately. I still have her come as this way she entertains mom while I get wash and other things done.

And to add to that, in the afternoon, Mom also had a small episode. Laura ran upstairs and caught her just in time. (she snuck up there and neither one of us realized she did) Laura got mom to the bed, got the inhaler and the paper bag, and we stopped her from passing out. (by the way, that paper bag works pretty good)

Of course my girls got a big kick out of all of this, the brats! They said it could only happen to me having to take care of the caregiver.

Laura felt really bad, and embarrased, but I told her no big deal, that I was just glad it happened here and not in the car when she was driving as she could have killed someone. Harsh, yes, did that on purpose to make her realize she needs to find out what the heck is going on.

So now my dilema is that when I have my surgery in Jan., I might have to have a backup. Just what I need, to get someone new started with Mom. Nice recoup I'll have huh?

Well, that's it, thats my tale of woe. And stop laughing you hear!! Seems like just writing this and thinking about it again has gotten a chuckle out of me again. You have to find some humor in a situation like this, or I will surely go CRAZY!!

Jackie

Well although I already know the story, as I was reading this I got this picture in my head.
I see mom sitting in her chair watching TV and this whole slew of granny nannies passed out all over the house with a caption over your head Jackie, saying "boy I'm glad I brought help in".

Oh my God, that is so very funny. Can anybody do a picture of that for me? That is just so funny.

Leave it to you Lori to think of that!! Cute, real cute!!

jackie

[align=center][font=Comic Sans MS]JACKIE JUMPS TO SAVE "NIPPING NANNY"
[/font][/align]



[align=center][/align][align=center][font=Comic Sans MS]Nanny Enjoying Thanksgiving[/font][/align]




[align=center][/align]
[align=center][font=Comic Sans MS]"Whoa, Wally, I'm headin' south!!!"[/font][/align]






[align=center][/align]
[align=center][font=Comic Sans MS]"Jackie, Jackie! Upright me, honey, upright me!!!"[/font][/align]

Oh Joyce, so very very funny. Hubby and I laughed our heads off. Where the heck did you get that. I just loved it.


Thanks for putting more humor in this for me.

Jackie

Made it up just for you, Jackie. Clip art and all. I'm glad you got a laugh out of it. By the way, did you "upright" Nanny yet?

Joyce

Joyce,
You made that up? Oh gosh, you are good.

Nanny's uprighted alright, and she better stay that way, or Nanny's going to be downright out of a job!!

Thanks again.

Jackie

Jackie,
Guess you could have a "granny nanny nanny" while you recoup.
With everyone passed out, there wouldn't be much work to do to keep an eye on them.

I will get a volunteer this Wed. It will be my first experience with a male volunteer. I haven't met him yet, but the aide said she has met him and he is very nice. We'll have to see how Bill responds to him.

Oh Jackie, this could only happen to you, I swear. I'll tell you that for a while I had this happen to me (years ago) where I would be sitting there just fine and then suddenly I would feel very warm, I had a buzzing in my brain and everything felt very far away. I didn't actually pass out, but I came really close. I was not drinking enough water it turns out. I do agree that she has to find out what is causing this before you can leave her alone, but I think since you've said this she will probably go to the doctor and start working on what is wrong.

A Granny nanny nanny, so very funny! Could you see that? Maybe I could get a big strong handsome male aid Joyce, then they'd all just gawk at him all day. Of course then they'd be swooning, and who knows what the heck would happen then.


Judy, how did you find out it was something as simple as not drinking enough water. I know Granny nanny drinks it regularly, here anyhow. She does have an appt. with the doctor today actually. I think she got the hint when I told her that I would never be able to leave her alone with Mom, and that she had better see a doctor, and soon. She needs this job, and although I'm good to her, and her to us, she knows I am a tough cookie too, and I won't put Mom in harms way.

God I hope it's something that can be fixed, cause I have to tell you, starting over with someone is not something I will be looking forward to. It took me this long to have Mom actually ask where she is when she's not here. Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Jackie

Jackie, I almost passed out just reading this so, yeah, I think it IS contagious!

Your luck sounds about like mine. Earlier this year was the first time I've hired outside help. I can only afford her about one day a month-six weeks, but she's great with Mom and with me.

It was her third time here when I actually left the house to do some errands. Our old house is on piers and it shifts in the seasons so the front door was stuck, wouldn't open. An old friend we hadn't seen in a long time dropped by, knocking, banging, trying to open the door, "It's me. Let me in. What the..." SCARED her to death! Mom's upset at all the noise. She's trying to calm down Mom plus somebody's breaking in!? He came to the locked garage door, but jiggled it open. She's already dialed 9-1...until he explained who he was--with his hands up!

Later, the neighbor came over wanting to borrow a ladder. Again, she was dealing with Mom and the knocking. If Mom is up too long, she will have passing out spells. You guessed it. AND started throwing up! Of course, I hadn't shown her where I keep the vomit pan. I no longer have small trash cans around since the silverware started disappearing.

So, I come home and as soon as I turn down the street, I saw him. One of my cats had gotten run over. I came busting in the house, crying, oh, the cat, the cat! She's almost in tears herself, holding vomit rags. Neither of us realizing what the heck was going on! I'm telling you, it was a sight!

I'm just glad she had the nerve to came back! At least now we can laugh about it, and do often!

Hope all goes well with you and yours.

sames u,

I'm still laughing my you know what off after reading your response. As I'm reading, I'm trying to picture all this in my mind, and the picture was horrifying. After that, I surely would have run away from home!!

Ok, have you ever found out why your mom passes out? I've look up so many things on fainting (syncope) and mom seems to do it with many things. She does have orthostatic hypotension, when she stands up from a sitting position, her blood pressure drops, but she's also fainted or almost fainted on the toilet, urinating, or pooing (no strain) and after eating, or even just sitting for awhile.

We tried not giving her her very low dosage of blood pressure medication for a few days to see if she really needs it, but her blood pressure goes up much too high. I've tried making her sit for awhile after she eats, having her stand for a few seconds after sitting, everything that the sites suggest. Sometime they work, sometimes they don't. I am now experimenting on "not" giving her her BP medication and aspirin right after she eats.

They said " sometimes changing the dosing schedule might be enough, exp. a medication for high blood pressure could possibly be taken at a time other than with meals to avoid adding to the low blood pressure that often develops in older adults after eating." So I'll be trying that today. Usually right after mom eats her first meal, I give her her meds. I'm going to try waiting an hour after she eats to see if it may make a difference.

I also give her an inhalent for her breathing. What I give her is a spray of serevent, and a spray of flovent which is equal to the one of, gosh, I forgot the name of it now, but her insurance wouldn't pay for the one. I notice when I give it to her in the afternoon, or late morning, that she gets weepy and not herself. So I started today in the morning after she sits awhile and has some coffee.

I just now gave it to her, and so far, so good.

Also, just a few hints. I have these ammonia inhalants that are great. I have one in the bathroom that mom uses, plus one down here in the powder room. I have them taped to the mirror. Plus I keep the box of them in the kitchen. I purchased them at Osco. They were $5.62 for 12 of them. Osco did not have them in stock, but ordered me a box and had them for me the next day. They are really great to stop a fainting episode. They don't always work, but it's sure worth the try.

Also, I have found out that mom starts realizing when she is about to have a fainting episode, and really starts to panic. I've been keeping a paper lunch bag around and make her breathe in and out of it about 5 times. I then stop for a few seconds, and make her do it again. Seems to help alliviate the fainting most times. You might want to try it. Also, per the sites I have read to get their feet up as soon as you can before the episode, above the heart. It's not always possible to do of course, but I make sure I do it right after the fainting or almost fainting.

Someone on the forum here suggested support stockings, which I have not yet been able to go out and get. I doubt very much that mom will agree to wear them, but I plan on trying. You may want to see about that also.

If you have any ideas for me, I'll take whatever you have. Google fainting, and you should see what they have on there. The sites are very informative.

Jackie

Holey Schmoley, Sameasu! What a picture! I think I would
have passed out--you must be one strong woman!
(Welcome, by the way)
Carol