Stamina When Emergencies Arise

[Guest guest]

Hello All:

I find myself faced with the biggest challenge that I could have

imagined since being diagnosed with degenerative arthritis and

fibromyalgia.

A little back story: My husband and I moved here last June to help my 80

year old mother care for my 88 year old father, who is incredibly frail

and suffers from chronic lymphocytic lymphoma. We now live 5 minutes

from my parents.

All was going well until 10 days ago, when my mother (who has always

enjoyed excellent health and is the most active 80 year old I've ever

seen) called me in the early morning saying that she couldn't " catch her

breath " . I alerted my brother, who lives about 3 blocks from my parents

to get over there right away and I jumped in my car and broke all known

traffic laws getting to her.

We bundled her and my dad into the car and off we went to emergency.

After 7 hours and a barrage of tests the hospital doctors announced that

they had found pulmonary embolisms in both my mom's lungs (blood clots)

and admitted her to the hospital to begin an aggressive treatment of

blood thinners. Stunned, shocked and terrified, we all sat by until

they released her two days later with a strict regimen of at home

injections, pills, a new diet and instructions to take it very, very

very easy.

My brother and I have been switching off staying overnight every other

night and doing all the shopping, housework, laundry, etc.; as well as

caring for my dad and the yard and their two cats. No problem, I’m

happy to do it and am glad that I am here to help in any way I can.

Just one problem. We are now 10 days into this and my fibro and the

arthritis in my hands, wrists, feet and ankles are reacting violently as

of yesterday.

I've got the flu-like symptoms, the " phantom fever " , the fibro fog, the

incredible pain in my extremities which pain killers are having a tough

time breaking through and I have got to be there for my mom and dad.

It's not negotiable. I’m falling apart, physically and emotionally.

I'm just venting here, of course, but if anyone has any words of wisdom

or advice, I sure could use it. If ever I needed all my strength and

stamina, it's now. My body is failing me terribly. I can't just call my

brother and say, hey, I feel bad today, take over for me. That's just

not fair. I’m terrified that I’m losing my mom and don't have the

strength to get her through this. So scared.

Gentle hugs to all

Chelsea