How to Cure the Bad Week Blues.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

*** OMG I totally forgot to include the worst thing that happened to me this week! My Visa Number got stolen and someone in the UK took a very expensive trip to Spain. After hours of haggling on the phone about it they finally sorted it out. But Sheesh. The thief could have at least taken me with him!!!***

 

Ok, I'm sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but I am feeling pretty low at the moment and need some DK love. This has been The. Worst. Week. Ever.

 

It all started with that last minute trip to Washington DC for work. The last minuteyness of the trip made it really challenging to prepare both work wise and doodle wise (those who followed the forum will remember my self inflicted drama over who to leave my doodle with). It was a stressful couple of days of intense meetings with a group of my colleagues who didn't really want me there to begin with but my boss insisted I go (I don't even want to start with the office politics, but at least it wasn't personal, it was more to do with my function). The others spent the whole trip bad talking my colleauges and my boss and I felt like I had to defend them. So unprofessional! Apart from feeling like an outcast the whole time, all these random things went wrong: My alarm didn't go off; I lost my cell phone; I got blisters from my high heels; and I caught a cold. All I wanted was to come home and hug my doodle. 

 

When I got back the cold meant I couldn't sleep, so I was soo tired, but I had sooo much work to do that I had to suck it up and go in anyway. Guess who got stuck writing the report from the trip to washington even though she wasn't supposed to be there? yep, on top of catching up on all my crazy work. Then, one of my co-workers stiffed me on her portion of the work so I had to pick up her slack.

 

Yesterday I had a bit of a tiff with my boss and I had to bring work home with me and as a result I missed my tennis class and my poor furbabies didn't get any attention.

 

Today I got an email stating that I was 'unseccessful' in the hiring process for the promotion that I thought I was a shoe-in for. I can't even begin to express my disappointment here. Apparantly I didn't adequately demonstrate that I have netoworking skills. Give me a break! I should have told them about my DK network.

 

Other random crummyness:

-All my attempts to self-medicate have gone awry: the shopping was great until I saw the bill; the ice cream I bought was bad (yes, there is bad ice cream - chocolate peanut butter by hagen daz. too salty!); I can't lay under the covers and feel sorry for myself because my doodle is hyper and I have to throw the ball or else she will harass the kitty.

-I've been busy/away so Sophie hasn't been getting enough exercise so she's been waking up at 5am, ready to go. Less sleep for me.

-I accidentally deleted my DRC account and had to sign up all over again.

-The friend who is staying with me just happily announced that she will be staying all summer (kill me now).

-I found out an ex-boyfriend got engaged.

-I stubbed my toe.

-The forcast is calling for rain all week-end.

 

AND, the icing on the sh!tty cake? I figured out that my poor doodle has giardia again (!!!BLEEP!!!). Another $80 vet bill and a few more weeks of rice and ground beef. My doggie play date this evening is cancelled. I was nearly in tears by the time I left the office today, only to find myself walking home in a thunderstorm.

 

I swear you can't make this stuff up.

 

I'd love to hear about what others do to recover from a bad week. Not even my lovely doodle and sweet kitty are able to jolt me out of my funk tonight. Usually taking my doodle to the dog park perks me right up, but it's raining and she can't go given the giardia anyway. At least my nighbour is stopping by with a bottle of wine which will certainly help.  ... oh wait, never mind. she just sent a text to cancel.

 

I'm sure there's a bright side somewhere. I just need someone to point it out to me...

[Bonnie and Kona]

Dear Sherri,

My dad was diagnosed a year and a half ago also, but he was sent to a geriatric psychiatrist by his internist. He is on an anti-psychotic which has stopped all forms of violence. Mom is still having trouble facing reality. They live in their own home and the psychiatrist insists they need in-home help or need to move to an assisted care facility. They refuse. When I tried to step in by supporting the doctor's recommendation I was rejected completely. I was traveling 2000 miles to visit them once a month for the first year. I have cut that back to every three months because I was just causing more stress.

It sounds like Nancy's mom is in a different condition due to her accident and medication as opposed to chronic dementia from actual brain damage. My dad's damage is in his frontal lobe so it isn't considered Alzheimer's. I am so glad to hear that your mother is being cared for by an appropriate physician. My parents have told me they "hate" Dad's geriatric psychiatrist. He has done nothing but incredible care for Dad's condition. sigh. This is a sad time.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Nancy, I'm so so sorry you are going through this. I agree with everyone else, fight fight fight! My mom was diagnosed with dimentia a year and a half ago. Unfortunately I haven't had a great relationship with her in years... well, never actually. I tried getting involved a few times, took a week off and went to help my dad, but all my fighting seemed to make it worse. I insisted she receive psychiatric care, doctors said no, she needs a geriatric specialist, I wrote emails, made calls, etc. my brother consulted a lawyer but didn't really follow through because he was too busy with his own family. My dad insisted on sticking with what the doctors said, and was in denial about the whole thing for a long time. She started exhibiting a lot of the same behaviours you describe, and it just wouldn't stop. My dad couldn't care for her anymore and she had to go to a long term care facility indefinitely. For my own sanity I eventually had to step back and let my dad handle things his way. Very recently when things got out of control (violent tantrums etc) the doctor that looks after her (who only visits her once a month and never calls my dad) finally decided to get psychiatric help. For the last month she's been on new medication and things have been improving. I even spoke to her on the phone the other day and she was quite lucid. I should have stuck to my guns, I was the only one who believed she needed psychiatric care, but the battle was too hard and my relationship with my mom too damaged. Make sure you consult many doctors, do your own online research, and fight and fight and fight. AND, if nothing else, Trust Your Instincts!

 

This was by far the saddest and hardest thing I ever dealt with, and I don't even have much of a relationship with my mom. I can't even image how you must feel. It sounds like you are very close. I think you are blessed to have a strong bond with her. Don't forget to take care of yourself!!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Nancy - it could be her confusion is from the anesthesia. My Dad has 3 back surgeries and after each other his confusion was very scary. It did go away but it did take time. The hospital canNOT discharge her in this condition! If you have to go to the Hospital Administrator and threaten with a lawsuit if something happens to her!  If you have to get loud - do it! The rehab is not equipped to take care of her the way she needs (they probably would send her back to the hospital). You will be amazed how quickly they will listen if you get loud. I had to when my husband was in the hospital and had gotten vile nursing care - the nurse never looked to see that his MD ordered life saving meds - it took her 12 hours to look at his chart and she only did when I actually yelled at her. You have to do what you have to do to save the life of a family member!

I own a home health care agency - if you have any questions about that call me. You have my #.

I am saying prayers for Mom and you both!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks, F. they took her off all pain meds as I understand it, but now I will double check what she has in that IV.  I can't believe they would move her when she is so unstable.  I will get on it first thing in the morning!  Doodlekisses friends rule!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Oh Nancy how awful. Threaten them  if they try to move her before she is stabilized. She needs to have all levels normalized and they need to titrate her meds carefully at her age. A consultaion liaison psychiatric consult may be in order. These physicians know about the kind of acute dementia of your mom has.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Sherri, I am so glad that you took some time for yourself and had some relaxation and fun.  Everyone needs to remember to do this as soon as they can after a 'break in the trauma drama.'  My mom is much worse today and I am beside myself with worry about her future.  Last night she had a major break with reality and became violent, hostile and aggressive.  She pulled out her IV and tried to get up. They moved her to a 4-bed room with an attendant.  They never called me at all and the doctor came by and ordered her to be moved to rehab - huh??? Her oxygen levels and potassium level are seriously out of whack and apparently her meds were too  much for her brain.  They say she will improve in a week or so - I may not live that long if they actually move her to a place without an attendant because her new 24 hour attendant will be me.....

[Leslie and Halas]

Sorry about your terrible.  It sounds like you've gotten some great advice.  Think positive.

 

And Nancy, sorry about your mom.  I hope she recovers soon.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Oh, and Lisa, I'm so sorry abot your friend. Reality check in deed. I have been sweating the small stuff, and am all caught up in myself and over reacting to things. I do belive everything happens for a reason, and am going to sit down tonight and write a lits of all the good things that happened last week and all the things that are wonderful in life (like doodles)!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! (and for the reality check, so sorry about your mom Nancy!). I did a lot of the things suggested, like lying around in my pj's and takin' it easy. Last night I went out to a comedy show and nice meal with my good friends. I laughed so hard I couldn't take it any more.

So, Pity Party is officially over and 'Operation Life is Awesome' is in full swing. Step one: get my apartment spick and span. Step two: Get some exercise. Step Three: attend rib festival for dinner tonight (YUM). Step four: start seriously looking for a new job. Step 5: ask my house guest to pay rent if she wants to stay all summer.

 

The sun is out again. I can't wait to go out for a jog.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Nancy I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I have experienced all this with my mother in the past and it is heartbreaking. So soon after she got Sunny too. But confusion following such trauma and anesthesia is frequent and hopefully transient. My mom was convinced she was in a plane when in the hospital once. And then I sprinted down the hall one time because I heard her screaming that she was being kidnapped. I hope your mom has a speedy recovery and you all get back to normal soon. She is lucky to have such a caring daughter.