vonSanta 0 #1 December 27, 2003 Talking about my grandmother - mother's mother. She's 80 now and kinda pissed off about "not being able to play tennis anymore". yeah, she's that kinda lady. Haven't had any serious health issues before. She's losing her hearing now ("and the bloody hear apparatus is not set up correctly ) but worst of all, she's starting to suffer badly from arthritis. She distrusts pills. And doctors (probably because my father is one and she really really doesn't like him at all). And "hospitals are places were old people die". Can't argue with the last one. Plus "what if I go to the doc and whatever is hurting turns out to be something BAD?" - that's another argument. She's also one of the people who if she's supposed to take 1 pill every day for a month, will stop doing so if the pain goes away. She's very stubborn but oh so dear to me, and in the last two years the deterioration of her ability to walk, her complaints about pain (she never complained before), her beginning to slump forward slightly (cannot recall the medical term) has been very visible. She's still got all her marbles and sense of humour but has begun to isolate herself because "I cannot go out when I walk a little unsteady!" or "with this hearing aid? What will people think? They'll think I'm OLD!". She lost her husband at age 40-something, so she's used to being on her own - however my mother lives very close, as do I and one of my older brothers. Anyway, despite the pain, she won't see a doc. I've offered to go with her - once I even called to set up an appointment and turned up at her place but to no avail. She's scared stiff about the idea of going to the doc and the possibility of finding out that there's something serious wrong - no amount of reason can sway her - logical thinking (i.e if something is seriously wrong, her absence from the doc will only make it worse). This fear, or phobia, is so great she'll endure pain that clearly is horrible from time to time. We do what we can, but she needs to see a doc. Anyone got any good arguments, ideas that I could try out? She's tough as steel, yet she complains about pain nearly every time I visit her and that's very unusual. Her mother lived to 90-something, and I definitely want some pain relief for her Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #2 December 27, 2003 well... call her doctor and ask for suggestions. this is what my dad did to his aunt: call the doctor. explain what's going on to the doctor, and make an appointment for her. go over to her place unannounced, tell her you're going out to lunch. once she's in the car and you're driving, tell her you're going out to lunch...right after her doctor's appointment. boy was my great-aunt pissed... for about an hour. when she found out that the cough that was bothering her wasn't a major problem (was just bronchitis and easily fixed with antibiotics) she was quite relieved, and all was forgiven, and a nice lunch was had by all. best of luck!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jessd 0 #3 December 27, 2003 My Grandfather is the same way. He is 80 also. A few years ago he had a brain tumor removed. The surgery caused some nerve damage (which was a big concern going into the surgery) and he has a hard time moving his left hand. Ever since he will not go to the doctor's. He never even went back for physical therapy like he was supposed to. My whole family and I have tried to get him to go and have made appointments and everything. He just refuses - very stubborn. So, we all just kind of eased up a little and nicely told him not to complain all the time if he was not going to try and do something to help himself. It may seem a little cold but, I would do anything to help him if I could, unfortunately he is not willing to let anyone help him. "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away..." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
