Dashes and potential mad dashes...

[fenchurch]

Remember how I had to do a last minute dash to Idaho Falls a few years ago because my grandmother kept falling and wouldn't go see a doctor, so I drove all night to take her to the ER... and it turned out to be the early stages of paralysis for which she eventually had surgery? Well, it's not exactly the same, but my uncle did the honors this time of driving to Idaho to take her to the ER. Apparently, she started having stomach pains a week and a half ago... my dad told her to try taking Mylanta and to call her doctor. She did the latter, and her doctor told her to try taking Mylanta and call back if it didn't help. Flash forward a week and my dad finds out that the problem has actually been getting worse, but she still hasn't called her doctor back. She told him that she would call her doctor... and Thursday when my dad tried calling again, she didn't answer. So, he called my aunt who called my grandmother's next door neighbor and she found out that my grandmother is in enough pain that she doesn't want to get out of bed. Lovely. I started looking into the possibility of once again driving to Idaho Falls to make her go to the ER (my dad and my aunt aren't able to take time off work to do it)

My uncle down in SLC was finally able to drive up to Idaho Falls this morning and found that my grandmother hasn't really left her bed in several days, to the point where the dog she absolutely dotes on hasn't been fed since Thursday. When he asked why she didn't press the button on her emergency medical thingy (the one Rackham and I are paying for and that she said she definitely wants to keep "just in case something bad happens"), she said she didn't want to be a bother to anyone. *headdesk*

So, my uncle made her go to the ER where they discovered she has a highly elevated white blood cell count and diagnosed her with having an intestinal blockage (keep in mind, this has been going on for a week and a half already). They gave her some medication, told her to take it and go home... then if things don't clear up within two hours to come back in, with the clear implication that there's probably going to be surgery involved at that point. Thankfully, my uncle is going to be able to stay with her at least until tomorrow... because I strongly suspect that if she were left to her own devices, she wouldn't go back in even if the problem persisted. If she does have to have surgery, I may end up needing to get to Idaho Falls, anyway, since it's likely she'll need someone around for at least a few days afterward, and I'm the likeliest candidate in our family.

The sad thing is that I already see some of that sort of behavior in myself... wanting to wait out a problem in case it will just go away, with the phrase "don't want to be a bother" echoing somewhere in the back of my brain. Even being aware of it doesn't seem to help.

In other news, I'm up to walking about four miles a day now as part of my exercise routine... so when my mom and I were looking at meeting up somewhere to spend a weekend of mother/daughter time as well as getting her laptop back to her (it had gotten pretty badly virus infected, so she brought it to us to get it cleaned off), I took a look around for 5K runs/walks that might be happening somewhere between us. And now I've officially signed up for my very first 5K!! The Indian Summer 5K and Half-Marathon in the Tri-cities, Washington! I'm pretty excited! My mom thought we'd probably even be able to do the Half-Marathon, but that seems a bit daunting to me. So, a 5K to start... and yeah, we'll just be walking it. I have never been able to run and likely never will be (I have one leg significantly longer than the other and it throws my gait off). Plus, new t-shirt!!

All of that is assuming, of course, that I don't end up having to make that trip to Idaho Falls...

Comments

[pmgoose.livejournal.com]

Wow, I am praying for your grandma.

Congrats on signing up for your first 5K!!! :) I can't run either. My ankles are in bad shape. I have to stick to walking. No jumping or running.

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Go you! I do about two miles a day with the dog and thought I was doing pretty well, but you're...wow. And I have my fingers crossed for your grandmother.

[mistraltoes.livejournal.com]

I hope you tell your grandma that this is what the emergency medical thingy is for, and that its more bother to worry that she won't use it than it is to check on her if she does use it. As for yourself, the solution I use is to immediately set a time limit for how long you'll put up with symptoms before you'll check with an expert--and then stick to it.

Congratulations on the exercise and the weight loss! I'm always so glad to hear when somebody is successful at that sort of thing.

[corellian-sugar.livejournal.com]

Congrats on signing up for your first 5K! They can be addictive! I'd be doing two of them this month if I could get the time off. As such, I had to choose between Race for the Cure and Memory Walk. I chose Memory Walk, since they don't get nearly as much support, plus the walk is more interesting: upgrades, river side walk, nice parks. :)

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about your grandmother. Can you nag her to use the emergency button because if she doesn't she IS being a bother?? Will send good thoughts her way.

[rosiewook.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry your grandmother was stubborn about things. (The "not wanting to bother anyone" thing happens in my family all the time.)

But the thing is that it's very easy for seniors to have blockages and bleeds. Her doctor should have been more firm with her.

I'm glad your uncle was able to stay with her.

Good luck!

[http://users.livejournal.com/opalescence_/]

Your poor grandmother! I'm glad she is getting the medical attention now.

And congratulations on this wonderful commitment you continue to make yourself with eating right and exercising! It's wonderful to read about!

[ayinhara.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to read about your grandmother's health issues. She must really have felt horrible if she didn't even feed her dog.

You are a great example to all of us in your ability to lose weight and exercise. Congratulations.

[zotel.livejournal.com]

I have been to the doctor for me exactly twice in 17 years. Once was poison ivy, the other was stomach issue that had gone away. I'm sure my judgement is a bit fuzzy on it too...

[jerusha]

*hugs*

[tomte.livejournal.com]

Aw man. Best to your grandma and hoping she feels much better soon.

As far as your tendency to "wait out" a medical issue because you don't want to bother anyone, I gots two words for ya: Jim Henson. He'd probably still be alive today if he'd gotten timely medical treatment. I suspect he also didn't realize how many people loved him and would be affected by his death.

So, um, DON'T DO THAT, ok? :)