My mother's short-term memory isn't for shit anymore. During yesterday's less-than-an-hour-long conversation, she gave me two more very clear examples:
1) I helped her out by picking up a picture frame for her to give as a gift. I mentioned how remarkably odd the photo that came in the frame was. Black and white, it was two musicians with greased-back hair, horns of some sort, posing in a 1940s bandstand setting. I mean, this was very retro, very WWII. I asked my mom if she recognized the musicians. Dorsey Brothers, perhaps? She said, no, they looked to her like "Frankie Valli and the Jersey Boys." She was serious. I reminded her that The Four Seasons were from the 1960s, not the 1940s. She certainly knows this -- she lived through it! She said nothing and just seemed confused.
2) Changing the subject to something merrier, I told her how beautiful the wedding invitation I just received was. I explained how my friend's initial was intertwined with his intended. My mom said, "What's her name again?" I told her -- no big deal. It's an unusual name, after all. The bride was born in Lithuania. My mom said, "That's a funny name. Where is she from?" Now, my mother and I have discussed the bride-to-be's family countless times over the last three years because I am so ambivalent about her. She helped her parents and some aunts and uncles come over from Europe and they speak NO English, which has put restrictions on where my friend, the groom-to-be, can live and work. (If it's a city that doesn't have a big Lithuanian community, his beloved vetoes it because her parents and aunts and uncles couldn't live comfortably there. And she can't be too far away from her family because, due to the language issue, they are so dependent on her.) MY MOM KNOWS THIS! We have been talking about it for years!
My mother is going to the doctor in a few weeks. She simply has to discuss this with him! I must be careful not to condescend or sound like I'm scolding her. She acts like she doesn't realize how much she forgets, but I'm not sure it's not scaring and embarrassing her. But her doctor has to be aware of this problem. My mom is on antibiotics and inhalers and blood thinners … this could simply be drug interaction and easily remedied.
It is hard to keep repeating yourself, but it's even worse to have that thought in your head, that this is just the beginning of the end.
ReplyDeleteJust a couple of suggestions, check with the pharmacist about all the meds that she is on, there are interactions that can occur. Plus, if your mom has more than one doctor, then they don't always know what the other is prescribing and there is too much out there for a doctor to know all the meds. There are doctors who specialize in geriatrics with a back ground in pharmacology.
Also, there is a test that the doctor can give your mom to determine memory loss. Good luck and I hope somebody goes with her to the doctors. Welcome to the sandwich generation....
yeah, I concur; it MAY be nothing more than a reaction to the meds she's on, but it could also be something more serious. The best way to find out, it to discuss it with the doc.
ReplyDeleteI know tho, that I'm only 41, and *I* have these lil' memory gliches my own self, so maybe its just forgetfulness??! I hope.
(((hugs))) to you both.