Another Hospital Stay for Mom

When I heard my mom refused dental treatment a couple of months ago, I wondered when it would catch up with her. Three weeks ago, I was at the hospital myself for a routine appointment when her nursing home notified me they’d sent her to another hospital because her face was swollen on one side, and they were afraid it might be Bell’s palsy. I went through with my appointment and rushed to the other hospital to see my mom without getting my meds from the hospital pharmacy.

She had a slight temperature earlier in the day. She took an X-ray. The doctor said it was an infection related to her dental problems. The hospital chose to keep her there for a few days to make sure her condition was stable before dental treatment. She had previously told her psychiatrist she was afraid of the pain. I’m not sure why she agreed to treatment this time. There were two possible factors: she was at another hospital this time, and I was with her. She had two root tip extractions. We made an appointment for a tooth extraction in two months or so.

She was released from the hospital once the dental work was complete. She started refusing to take her meds once she was back in her nursing home. Never a dull moment. Now she takes her meds with pineapple juice or yogurt. I was behind on sleep while she was hospitalized. Once she was released, I came down with a mild cold and a light cough, which I kept under control by taking Chinese herbal medicine. One of the ladies selling me herbal medicine was surprised to see me a few days in a row. She asked if the medicine was working, and I said yes.

We had a dinner with some relatives over the New Year. She seems less aware of the presence of others beyond her immediate family. She’s been having more delusions and hearing voices more often lately. She thought one of her sisters was in a van and she made a random comment about people from Wuhan. When I questioned her about some of her delusions, she snapped at me for not being able to hear the voices that were so obvious to her. I’m telling myself to be patient and enjoy my time with her while I can.