I had a hard time figuring out what was wrong. it is getting increasingly difficult for her to express herself, over the phone, find the right words, etc, but "SHINGLES" I heard! I asked if she had seen her Doctor, and she said "No" but then again, she could have...forgotten...She said she thinks she is taking a 'pill' for it...Needless to say, I went into panic-angry mode, but I think you'll will be proud of me, for how I handled it, from 1,200 miles away!

My Sister, the Doctor, and I are still not speakng. We had a few...kind..words, around my Birthday, (about every year, we do, but only then) but that was about it, before I learned she stole Mom's painting! She also has POA of Mom's Healthcare AND "Nomination of Conservatorship,"of the person, I.E. Mom's Body, if and when she needs it, so much for that idea, but she ever tried to take off with Mom, and haul her to New Mexico, I would fight her hard, in court!

So, leaving a paper-trail, or an E-Mail trail, just as good these days. I wrote to dear sweet Eva Subject Line "Mom Has Shingles?" and asked her all about it, was pretty sure she hadn't seen a doctor, and I was NOT alright with any of it! I also (he he he) CC'd a copy to Mom's Attorney, and said Sister! Boy, did everyone get RIGHT back to me! Mom's attorney said "This is serious, and your Mom must be seen by a Doctor immediately!" My Sister gave me the completely emotionless blow, by blow, Dr's speak, about what they had done about it, what medication she was on, the latin terms, whatever!! I could tell she was flustered because she misspelled words, and NEVER does that. But still very chilly, scary chilly, well, you know, I think there is something terribly wrong wth her. In fact I am tempted to ask a Judge, or anyone for that matter, to ask her to say "I Love My Mother" She could if she were a good liar, but that is not really her forte'

In any case, if any of you are still going through sibling HELL, this is a good scare tactic. I have done it before for politics, or something that I thought would get their eye, like CC to The Chief Of Police, or a State Senator, if it is a State run operation.

I am so sorry that you have sibling hell to deal with. It seems that this is the norm instead of the exception. I like how you handled the situation but have a feeling it may have made your sister even more angry. Just a thought. Where are you in the whole birth order thing. I am a first born so if necessary I throw my first born weight around and just tell them how things are going to be. They don't always like it but there are some perks to having this position. By the same token I have a younger sister that doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut and puts all kinds of ideas in mom's head that I then have to deal with after she is gone.

Mom has had shingles and I know it can be very painful and last quite awhile so don't let your guard down on this item.

Hope everything works out for you and your mom.

Linda.

My oh my. Daddy's had 'em, too, and Linda's right, they are
very painful and that pain can linger a long, long time.
Best of luck with this, Sky. I can't imagine trying to help
from so far away, but if anyone can do it, you can!
Carol

Thanks You Guys! The good news is, that it is a mild case, and they did catch it early, and have her on some kind of anti-viral meds. BUT she didn't ever see the Doctor, so this was diagnosed by my Sis, over the phone, and also by Mom's Nurse Eva, who you know that I trust, and adore. Mom has tylanol for the pain, but something stronger too, but hasn't needed it. She said she can sleep through the night, and thinks it is going away, so all is good.

I just hate that my sister never thinks anything is important enough to 'stress' over? Even when my Mom needed an MRI, to rule out a brain anurisym (spelling) I asked Sister #1 if Mom had one, would she need brain surgery? She answered, with one word "Possibly" and said she would 'answer her phone' from the Doctor's office! Oh, I wouldn't want her to break into a sweat over anything! GRRRRRRR! That is when I literally drove 1,200 miles, through the snow, to be there with her!

Linda, unfortunately Sister #1 is the first-born, I'm the baby @ 53!

Sky,

Boy, that was sneaky the CC, but what a good idea. I've never had the shingles but my Mom did many years ago, and my youngest daughter did when she was 18yrs old. Very painful indeed!

Keep up with her on this, it can last forever.

jackie

Thanks Jackie. Of course, I will the best I can, since I can not 'see' them. Mom was never much for complaining, and still isn't, but has become more honest (like a child?) and if she is uncomfortable, in pain, or can not sleep, she will tell me. Or she will say something like "I've been better?" and I'll open the dialog, with "So, what is different?" Or "What is wrong?"

BSG,

I also had a "mild" case of shingles and I well remember the pain.........I used to sit at the computer, trying to distract myself (even after taking vicodin) and having tears roll down my cheeks because it still hurt so much. Tylenol would NOT have helped AT ALL. (BTW, I have a high tolerance level for pain.) So, if mom is NOT in a lot of pain, you have much to be thankful for. They say if the pain is not gone in a month, it could last a long time. Mine actually went away one month to the day..... so I was a lucky one. You and mom remain in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank You Karenlee. Eva, Mom's nurse says it is a really mild case, and praise God! I am sure she has seen other patients with this, and KNOWS it could be much worse.