Day #12 > WEDNESDAY 4th NOVEMBER
Morning walk with Mum – all good, except the daily ‘where’s your collar Mum?’ routine. No dizziness & Mum’s as sharp as a pin – which is a joy to see.
Once back from our work I discuss Mum’s meds with Bob, as she has not had her daytime anti-depressants for the previous two days; it gets heated because I say I have noticed a huge improvement in Mum’s mood & cognitive ability during the last couple of days, but he hasn’t. I voice that without the alcohol in her body she clearly doesn’t need anti-depressants as she’s simply not depressed! Bob eventually acknowledges that Mum does not appear to be depressed, & says he’ll choose which of her drugs he’ll reduce – self-medicating again – but I call him out on it. He doesn’t like it but has nowhere to go as he’s not a qualified doc or pharmacist & begrudgingly agrees Mum has definitely improved over the last couple of days.
Eventually, he says that I should choose! Ha. Sigh. I am a time-served designer & photographer – not a doctor on any level!
I mention that he has not suggested contacting the doc for clarification – sigh – but I have pre-empted that & have, & the doc confirms that zero meds are indeed the goal, but she should cut down gradually rather than stop completely – although no mention is made of which drug to stop first. Bob checks Dr. Google & selects drug A to stop; I read the recommendations & discover drug B is prescribed as an addition to drug A if it isnt performing well on its own, so I suggest stopping drug B. Bob disagrees so I ping off a message to the doc to be referee, but whilst we wait for a response Bob dispenses Mum half of drug A & full drug B.
The doc replies very quickly that drug B should be stopped; Continue with a sole A for a week; then half A next week then cease completely. Sigh. Well, at least we are getting somewhere, even with this temporary Bob blip.
The rest of the day passes without incident – but Mum is noticeably more concerned about moving house than previously. Maybe drug A & B mix do have something to do with all? Let’s keep an eye on it.
No further problems today – which is a pleasure! – & after dinner we endure Groundhog Day, which is Jeopardy followed by a very bias news programme before I head off to bed as soon as I can get away with . . .
