Hello everyone,

Did you think I had packed my bags and left town? I must admit it was tempting.
Anyway, there was one ECT treatment, and I noticed no negative side effects,
but I decided I wanted to hold off for a while. The ordeal of transporting
Mother (through tropical storm Frances I might add) to the hospital, having her
wait five hours on a gurney thing in a tiny room, really upset her to no end.
That was worse than the treatment. So, I asked them to cancel the next appt
until I could talk with the psychiatrist. It took him five days to phone me. He
said he was very disappointed that I had stopped the treatments. I told him I
hadn't stopped them, I had postponed them. I brought up the topic of sending
her to the psychiatric hospital for medication evaluation to which he replied
that he knew as much about medications as they did. I just don't like this man.
So, he said he would call and reduce the Depakote. As often happens fate
stepped in before he could call. Mom fell from her wheelchair onto the very
hard floor. Face first. I was called and met her at the ER. What an ordeal that
was for her. Poor thing. They had her on a backboard, she was scared, hurting
and began to cry several times. I mananged to calm her, but I finally marched
out and asked the nurse if Mom could have something for pain. She said they
didn't like to give pain meds when there was an injury to the head. To which I
replied that I was afraid then that I couldn't keep Mother quiet much longer.
It worked. In less than 5 minutes the nurse was back with a Darvocet. It seemed
to ease Mom's pain and help her relax. So, after 5 more hours, we returned to
the nursing home and Mother slept the rest of the day. She had severe bruising
and swelling to the entire right side of her face. A small cut in the middle of
her forehead and one over her right eye. Neither required stitches. She also
broke her left index finger for which they could do nothing but bandage it to
the finger next to it. She had one minor skin tear on her right wrist and a
very serious one on the top of her right hand. The nurse said she could see
ligaments. As a result of all this the ECTs are a forgotten thing. For now
anyway. Mom sleeps a lot. Has been in bed since she fell on Tuesday. When she's
awake she's quite coherent and can answer questions. But, she has her moments
of confusion too. At least the crying has stopped. I've begun to go twice a day
to feed her since she can't use her hands. I'd rather do it myself than leave
it to the staff. Mom was in her room alone when she fell and was having
problems sitting up straight because of the meds. She shouldn't have been alone
in my opinion. I heard from an aide yesterday who works at this home and at the
home I had originally tried to get Mom in that the other home takes better care
of the patients. I know they have a better doctor, but I'm not sure about the
psychiatrist. With my luck it's the same one. Anyway, it's just a thought at
present. Thanks if you've made it through this. At least for now things are
quiet. As soon as Mom is more healed from her fall, I'll start back questioning
the meds again. I have a new sense of independence. After all, I'm the one who
makes the decisions for my mother, not the dr.

Becky