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  • The Member Stories section of our site is a place where members can submit the stories of their experiences as a person living with dysautonomia.  We also link to member stories that have appeared in our newsletter.  Please note that Member Stories are not edited by DINET and the views and beliefs expressed in the articles are strictly the views of the member.   Please note that the stories submitted are reviewed for content and should follow the guidelines of the site.  We do our best to publish each story submitted,  but publication is at DINET's discretion. If you would like to submit your story, please write to webmaster@dinet.org - include "member story" in the subject line. 

Member Stories

Pistol
Story by Susanne Rimm
“ I am always so dizzy!”
That was the beginning. My doctor shrugged his shoulders and said: “ We will keep an eye on that.” I knew something was off but really had nothing to report, I just knew I wasn’t right. I kept feeling like I was going to pass out. One day, I was home alone with my 4-year-old daughter, and I had to lie down on the floor knowing I was going to faint, heart racing, shaking. “ If Mommy goes to sleep on the floor dial 911,” I told my daughter and pointed to the numbers on the phone.  But I recovered.  A week later it happened. I was already wearing a heart monitor because of my complaints about having weird heartbeats. I was at work, a nurse at a cardiac unit, walking down the hall, heart racing and pounding, feeling like my heart was going to explode. When my knees got weak, I leaned against the wall …. when I opened my eyes I was on the floor, panic and noises and activity around me. 168/110, heart rate 160 – that was what they said. Minutes later I was in the ER, admitted and scheduled for a stress test in the morning. The heart monitor showed Tachycardia 160’s for 3 hours prior to the faint.
Read Susanne's full story in the Feb 2019 edition of Dysautonomia News
Goldstec
Isabelle is a young, creative entrepreneur but that wasn’t always her plan. She excelled at tennis as a preteen and hoped to pursue it as a full-time career. This seemed possible until an episode of heat stroke during a tennis match caused her heart rate to be sustained around 180 beats per minute for several days thereafter. She knew something was wrong having been a relatively healthy young woman prior to the episode. However, the doctors in the emergency room she visited told her that her symptoms were “all in her head,” and they dismissed her heart rate as a byproduct of being an anxious, preteen girl.
Read the rest of Isabelle's story in the Feb 2019 edition of Dysautonomia News
Pistol
Amber and Hannah's story written by Susanne Rimm 

 
NOTE from Susanne Rimm, DINET:
The passing of two Heroes
Sadly I have to update this story with the heartbreaking news that both Amber and Hannah passed away in 2021. Amber died on July 22, 2021 from the results of sepsis, and Hannah preceded her in death a few months before from complications of cancer. They both will remain an inspiration to all who were lucky enough to know about them. 
Rest in peace, friends. You WILL be missed! 
**********************************************************
When Amber met Hannah the connection was instant. Living with many chronic conditions, including POTS and NCS, she certainly needs a good companion. Since she is unable to be upright without fainting she uses a wheel chair to get around but still – she can faint several times a day.  Colorado, her 10 year old black Labrador Retriever, could sense her syncopal episodes before she did and would alert her and others by licking her hands and face. Unaware in the beginning of what he was doing Amber and her family failed to nurture the behavior and eventually Colorado stopped alerting. After learning more about Amber’s condition - and the ability of service dogs to aid in alerting - they recognized his ability and learned to encourage the natural instincts that are found in some dogs.
Colorado was getting older and showed this by slowing down, much to the concern of Amber and her family. That is why in 2015 the decision was made to add another dog to the family, hopefully one that would follow in Colorado’s footsteps. Amber contacted one of two large breed dog recues in her area, and even went to look online, but had a hard time finding the right match. In the end she received a phone call about a possible match – and that was Hannah. Amber feels that this was the answer to her prayers.
And so she met Hannah, a Great Dane. She was only 14 weeks old and had been taken to the shelter by her previous owner, whose circumstances had changed and was no longer able to accommodate such a large dog. But her size was not a problem for Amber and her family, since on the 5 acre property that houses 3 horses and several goats the dog would have lots of room to stretch her long, muscular legs. There are really no special breeds that are more suited to service duties – it is the dog’s disposition that qualifies it for the job. Great Danes are truly gentle giants, with a great ability for social connections and the need to give and receive love – to which her goat friends can attest. Originally bred to hunt boars in Germany they make wonderful pets and easily find their role within their “pack”. They also grow out of the puppy stage much faster than other large dogs, which makes training easier.
Using her intelligence and compassion she began quickly to pick up on the changes of Ambers heart rate and disposition, and naturally became attuned to Ambers needs. She also learned by mimicking Colorado’s behaviors - both alerting and general obedience. Although not very interested in getting
attention by licking ( Colorado’s way of communication ) she found her own way to be heard. When Amber becomes tachycardic or close to fainting the dog will act antsy, restless, distressed – she will pace around and show her concern. Amber used to have just a few seconds before she passed out – with Hannah’s alert she now has up to 3 minutes and can prepare others to avoid injuries.
Amber states that the biggest service of Hannah’s is that she now can take showers safely. She does this in a shower chair to which she is secured and needs the assistance of her twin sister. Before Hannah she fell over in her shower chair many times, therefore she switched to just sitting in the tub, but minor injuries continued to occur. After hitting her head and obtaining a concussion while showering, which culminated in the need for a pacemaker, it became obvious showers were not possible in this manner. But with Hannah at her side this is no longer an issue – the large dog leans in and keeps the chair from toppling over. Her height and long neck give her the ability to reach and alert in the shower, while still allowing Amber’s twin space to assist with the shower.
Hannah keeps Amber safe in many ways, not only by sensing her episodes. When Amber is home alone Hannah will make sure she does not get out-of-bed when symptomatic and stays by her side when out- of-bed.. If she is not within sight of Amber she comes immediately when called to check on her. She sleeps with Amber in her hospital bed to assure she is safe while sleeping. If Amber is not home and the dog is without her, she mopes and whines, refuses food and waits for her return. To Hannah, Amber is the most important Being in the world and without her she is incomplete. 
But she has a lot of fun, too. Since Amber is not able to take her on walks Hannah frolicks around on the property, herding goats and annoying the horses. Once she got too close to the boss mare ( who is not as patient as her ) and after a mild kick she now keeps a respectful distance. This is obviously a sign of her superior intelligence and ability to learn fast!!!! She loves treats of chicken and hot dogs and she can enjoy a good scratch from anyone who is willing to give one. She needs to work and paces longingly around the house when she is bored, looking for something to do, even if it’s just annoying the smaller dog. 
Today she is Ambers main support dog since – sadly – Colorado passed away 3 months ago. She has learned well and is classified as an owner trained cardiac alert dog, with full protection under the ADA ( Americans with Disabilities Act ) service dog laws. She can legally go anywhere Amber goes – whether this is shopping, doctor appointments or even public transportation. The one place Amber does not usually take her along is the hospital. Due to her many medical conditions she frequently is admitted to the hospital and Hannah has to stay behind. Not because she couldn’t be with her but because Amber is not able to provide for Hannah’s needs and would need another person there to take care of the dog. No doubt this is to the dogs dismay and often results in a chewed up pair of shoes. 
The connection between Amber and Hannah is a beautiful thing, with both of them supporting each other. Their love for and understanding of each other are present in every moment they are together. Hannah is the perfect example of how a support dog can enrich the life of the owner and that – with basic understanding of training a dog – it is possible to raise up your own support dog, as long as the dog has the right disposition and there is a mutual respect. 
When asked to describe her dog with one word Amber does not hesitate: Loyalty.
edriscoll

Savannah's Story

By edriscoll, in Member Stories,

Interview by Chelsea Goldstein for Dysautonomia Information Network
Hi! My name is Savannah and I am 26 years old. I have Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). I also have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Gastroparesis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Vocal Cord Dysfunction, and dermatographia. I love to read, paint, knit, color, sing, and pretty much anything else that could be a creative outlet. 
I accomplished my dream of becoming a nurse, but dysautonomia took that from me. I’m currently an LPN, and I hope for a cure one day so that I can become an RN in labor and delivery. Until then, I work on fulfilling my dream of helping others by spreading awareness of my conditions. 

At left:  Savannah smiling with the bicep pose
When were you diagnosed with dysautonomia?
I was 21, and it took a little over a year to be diagnosed with dysautonomia because I was sent on a wild goose chase of visiting different doctors, multiple tests, and random symptoms. The diagnosis was relatively quick once I was finally sent to neurology – I believe it was less than a week. 
Did you have any early signs of dysautonomia before you were diagnosed?
I’ve had symptoms my entire life, especially dizziness, headaches, fatigue, blacking out, palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath. It definitely got worse after I graduated college and started my nursing job.

Did you experience any barriers during your diagnostic process? 
Yes. My symptoms were always associated with being a dramatic teenage girl. When they got worse after college, doctors didn’t believe me, my boss didn’t believe me, and it even got to the point where my family was questioning whether it was all in my head. Getting my diagnosis was such a relief because even I was starting to believe that maybe I WAS “going crazy.” I started to think that maybe it was anxiety and depression that was causing my symptoms, BUT I fought and fought and I’m so glad that I stuck with my gut. 
What were your initial reactions when you were diagnosed? 
I had never heard of dysautonomia before, even being a nurse. I was confused, but so relieved I had a diagnosis to finally make sense of everything I was going through!

At right: Savannah lying down with her legs elevated
What else would you like to share about your diagnostic process? 
It is SO important to trust your gut. Your body will let you know that something is wrong, and don’t take no for an answer. You must be your own advocate sometimes, and it is important to remember that no one knows your body better than you do! Write down your symptoms and keep a log of everything you can. It will come in handy. 

At left: Savannah in a hospital bed
What do you do to manage your dysautonomia on a daily basis?
I now see an electrophysiologist who helps manage my symptoms, and they prescribed propranolol (a beta blocker) that helps control my heart rate. I also receive saline infusions twice a week and it helps some! With my gastroparesis I can’t drink plain water, so the infusions help both the POTS and gastroparesis. I also have increased my salt intake, try to take everything slow, rest when I need to (including napping because I absolutely crash in the afternoons), avoid eating big meals, and try to avoid things that may possibly trigger fainting episodes. Even still, I’m not always lucky enough to avoid them.
What is the most difficult aspect of living with dysautonomia?
Probably the unknown. You never know what is going to happen next with your symptoms, and you must try your best to be as well prepared as possible. 

Has living with dysautonomia changed your perspective in any way?
Absolutely. I don’t take anything for granted now, and I make sure to take time to appreciate all the little things. “Stop and smell the roses” has a new meaning and approach for me. My good days are fantastic, although few and far between, and I take my time to just enjoy doing anything. Getting out of the house now is a big “to do” and before it felt like a chore. 

At right: Savannah resting with her cat
Have you learned anything else from living with dysautonomia?
To expect the unexpected. When you’re healthy and you don't have to worry about what tomorrow brings in terms of your health, you don't necessarily feel like there is going to be anything unexpected. When you are living with a chronic illness you must remember that just because you had a good day today, it doesn't mean that you are going to have another good day tomorrow. 
If you could give fellow Spoonies one piece of advice, what would it be?
You must be an advocate for yourself. It's always great to have supportive family and friends but you must be willing to stand up for yourself and your health to get the results, diagnoses, medications, therapies, and anything else you may need to be able to function. This will be a never-ending fight and you must be prepared to be a warrior and fight for yourself!
Remember that you are worth fighting for. Have patience, you’ll need it. Try to stay positive. It’s okay to have days when you break down, but the next day stand back up (slowly, because dysautonomia!) and face the day with a new outlook and attitude. We got dys! Encourage people to learn. Spread awareness. Most importantly, take things one day at a time and don’t be afraid to ask for help! 

At left:  Savannah showing her port
If you could change one thing about the way people perceive dysautonomia, disability, and other chronic health conditions, what would it be?
I wish that others would be willing to learn more about chronic health conditions and disabilities. I also wish that they would take a minute to think about if the circumstances were different -  what if they were the ones suffering from the same things that we do? It really is a battle and I don't think that people understand how much we fight. 
Do you have a favorite quote, song, movie, or book that has helped you? 
“You have been assigned this mountain so you can show others it can be moved.” 
“Dying is easy, young man, living is harder.” -Hamilton. I have never heard truer words!
edriscoll
Research is crucial to helping us further our understanding of POTS and other forms of dysautonomia and to identify ways to prevent or cure these conditions.  That's why DINET is parterning with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and the University of Pittsburgh on their MyPaTH Story Booth Project.  The project aims to help researchers better understand the dysautonomia patient experience with illness, coping and the healthcare system.  
Why did DINET choose this project?  DINET has been collecting and sharing the stories of our patients and caregivers for over a decade.  Our shared experiences make an enormous impact on other patients, especially newly diagnosed people or people sharing new or worsening symptoms. There is enormous comfort in learning that you are not alone. 
One of the most common experiences specific to POTS and dysautonomia patients is the difficulty in getting a diagnosis, finding a physician that believes you, understands you and even knows something about the disorder.  The other commonality is the invisible illness aspect.  We just look so good while feeling so bad.  This can lead to a lot of misunderstandings with family and friends and sometimes a lack of support.  Our member stories and forum give DINET members a chance to share those stories with each other, but it does not give us a direct platform to share with the medical community and researchers - Story Booth does!
Participating is simple.
You must be 18 or older You must be able to read and speak English There is a pre-interview survey, a post-interview survey and one 20 minute interview about your experiences.  The phone interview is audio-recorded by the Story Booth team.  The entire process takes about 45 minutes. What to Expect:  
A MyPaTH Story Booth interview includes a one-on-one conversation with you after you complete a brief questionnaire that asks basic demographic questions such as; your age, gender, education, etc.   The conversation will last up to 20 minutes and will be audio-recorded.
You will be asked to tell a story related to your experiences as a patient (your illness or interactions with the health care system for example) or your experience as a caregiver.
A MyPaTH Story Booth member will explain the process to you and review the consent form.  They will go over the extensive security used to guard your information, and answer any questions that you have about the project or the process.  They will remind you not to use any identifying information (your name, a doctor's name, the name of a hospital, etc)  Each recorded interview is checked through and any identifying information that is accidentally used, will be "bleeped" out before the interview is added to the database.  
Ready to share your story?  Contact mystory@pitt.edu  or call 412-864-3025  Want to ask a DINET volunteer a few questions before getting started?  Contact webmaster@dinet.org
This is an IRB approved research project.
6-14-2017 MyPaTH Poster.pdf
 
 
 
 
edriscoll
DINET member name:  Jessica van Woerkom
Jessica's hometown:  Tucson, AZ
Diagnosis:  Generalized dysautonomia (not related to POTS, MCAD)
Website:  Van Woerkom Studios  http://www.jessicavanwoerkom.com 
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/vandubstudios/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/vandubstudiosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicavanwoerkom/
Jessica's story...
I was officially diagnosed with dysautonomia in 2017 after 4 years of suffering from extreme symptoms. Symptoms severe enough that I was bedridden for 6 months during that time.  I presented with classic symptoms that began after I had a bad case of the flu. Before that, I was healthy, energetic and athletic.
I have generalized dysautonomia; dysautonomia that is not associated with POTS or MCAD.  Shortly after first becoming ill, I was properly diagnosed with unilateral vestibular hypofunction, UVH*.  For two years my doctors attributed some symptoms to UVH and wrote off the rest of my symptoms to hysteria.  They didn’t take my symptoms seriously for far too long. I am still undergoing testing to determine what is triggering my episodes but I finally have a team of good doctors on my side and I am beginning to feel better.
I have spent so much time feeling unwell and unable to maintain the active lifestyle that I used to have.  I turned to my artwork because I can do most of it in bed or while sitting in my studio. Also, I have been able to work on much larger projects that involve a massive amount of prep work and time. I work primarily with found or recycled items for two reasons. 1: that's what I can afford. 2: as a culture, we throw away too many items that are perfectly suited for other uses if we just took the time. In this way, it feels like the way the healthcare community treats people with dysautonomia, too easy and eager to throw away the patient instead of looking for the cause of the problem.
 
 
This piece, called “Shifted” is a good example of a piece that may have been difficult for me to do if I didn’t have so much time to fill.  This piece took a year and I was able to put the individual elements together from my couch. This piece is inspired by the idea that you may have the same day, every day and feel like it’s a wasted life (nothing accomplished or experienced).  Until you look at the overall composition, the whole (of your life). It really is a beautiful thing even if each piece of it looks unremarkably the same to you.  Shifted was presented at the 2015 Tucson Sculpture Festival.
I just finished the red, black and white piece at right. This piece is about how everything breaks down over time, and how that division can feel detrimental.  But like the previous piece,, when you look at the whole event there can be beauty in it.
 
This is a piece that I am currently working on (silver & black image at left).  It is about trying to fill the center of my cells with beauty. Made from recycled receipt cartridges that have been cut into pieces and cast with resin on the center. I am not finished with it yet but would like it to be very large. Like a ceiling feature that undulates overhead like a soft blanket.
Editor’s note about Jessica:  Jessica was interviewed by the Sonaran Arts Network.  The interview discusses Jessica’s choices in materials and how she creates her work.  There are some great photos and very interesting descriptions of her designs. 
 
Sonaran Interview:
https://www.sonoranartsnetwork.net/jessica-van-woerkom.html
 
A wonderful thought for all of us in the dysautonomia community who feel discarded or less useful than we once were. Thank you, Jessica, for the reminder.
If you would like to see more of Jessica's work, including architectural design work such as the SuperAdobe Earth Bag Home she designed, please visit her website.

 
*UVH is defined as a malfunction of the vestibular system in the ear causing the balance system to malfunction, source: http://www.neuropt.org/docs/vsig-english-pt-fact-sheets/unilateral-vestibular-hypofunction.pdf?sfvrsn=2
edriscoll
DINET member name:  Sierraboo214
Sierra's hometown:  Tracy,  CA
Diagnosis: POTS,  Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, PTSD, Gastroparesis, Immunodeficiency 
Website:  https://www.instagram.com/chigos_closet/
Sierra's pillows for patients project:  https://www.gofundme.com/portpatientpillows
In Sierra's words....
I suffer from POTS (stage 3 dysautonomia), mast cell activation syndrome, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, PTSD, and immunodeficiency.  I currently model and do animal photography.   I love to sing and act, but my newest project is making free port pillows for port-a-cath patients. I send them all over the world and get donations to keep the project going.
I have a service dog named  Chigo.  I do animal photography as well as studying animal psychology in the hopes of one day opening an animal rescue.
I love to help people. I started making port pillows to give to patients for free because I understand the need.  I have been using social media to distribute them to people and I have been collecting donations to cover the costs.  It helps me cope with my own illnesses because it makes me feel like I really have a purpose.
 

Missy M
DINET member name:  Nadèche Hanique
Nadèche's hometown:  Brabant Province, Holland, Southern Netherlands
Diagnosis: EDS, POTS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happymailforfighters/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happymailforfighters/
Click here to read this profile in Nadeche's native language, Dutch
What inspires Nadèche's work, in her own words...
I have eds, so I’ve been showing symptoms my whole life and was diagnosed when I was 11 years old. I got diagnosed with POTS when I was 19 years old, I am 21 now.
For years I wanted to start my own card project, but I didn’t know how to start etc. Last year I made an Instagram account and I found out that there were other people with chronic illnesses having their own projects to support others and that ’s when I realized I should at least try it.
So I posted a message on Instagram asking if anyone was interested in receiving a personalized card. I got so many requests in such a short amount of time, so I made a different account just for my project and it has been growing ever since! I’ve always wanted to help and support others.  And I can do this work from my own bed, so it works very well for me personally too.   Making others smile, makes me smile! I know from my own experience that it is not always easy to live with chronic illnesses, so I wanted to make the fight for others a little bit easier by supporting them and send them some happy mail to encourage them to keep fighting. I also want to make them feel less alone.
I started Happy Mail for Fighters on the 29th of June 2017. So I’ve been doing this for almost a year now and I hope to continue this project for many years to come!
Nadèche on family and life.....
I’m the only one in my family who has these illnesses. I’m very close with my family and they always support me and help me and I’m very thankful for that! I’m also really thankful that my parents and sister help me with my project. Writing is very difficult for me so my sister writes the addresses on the envelopes and my mom brings the cards to the post office because my chronic fatigue makes it difficult to go to the post office etc. I got diagnosed when I was 11 and I got help from a medical psychologist. She helped me so much and I was so thankful! That’s when I realized that that’s what I want to do in life:  helping others. It has been my dream ever since to become a medical psychologist and I study psychology now. Hopefully, I can help others cope with their illnesses and show them that life is still beautiful and you can still achieve things and follow your dreams.

 
 
edriscoll
DINET member name:  Nadèche Hanique
Nadèche's hometown:  Brabant Province, Holland, Southern Netherlands
Diagnosis: EDS, POTS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happymailforfighters/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happymailforfighters/
Wat inspireert werk Nadèche's , in haar eigen woorden ...
Ik heb EDS, dus ik heb met symptomen mijn hele leven en werd gediagnosticeerd toen ik 11 jaar oud was. Ik werd gediagnosticeerd met POTS toen ik 19 jaar oud was, ik ben 21 nu.
Al jaren wilde ik mijn eigen kaart project te beginnen, maar ik wist niet hoe te beginnen enz. Vorig jaar heb ik een Instagram-account gemaakt en kwam ik erachter dat er andere mensen met chronische aandoeningen die hun eigen projecten om anderen te steunen en dat is toen ik besefte dat zou ik in ieder geval proberen.
Dus ik een bericht op Instagram de vraag of iedereen die geïnteresseerd is in het ontvangen van een gepersonaliseerde kaart was. Ik heb zo veel verzoeken in zo'n korte tijd, dus maakte ik een andere account alleen voor mijn project en het is sindsdien steeds groter! Ik heb altijd al om te helpen en te ondersteunen anderen. En ik kan dit werk doen vanuit mijn eigen bed, dus het werkt heel goed voor mij persoonlijk ook. Het maken van anderen lachen, makes me smile! Ik weet uit eigen ervaring dat het niet altijd gemakkelijk is om te leven met chronische ziekten, dus ik wilde de strijd voor anderen een beetje makkelijker te maken door hen te ondersteunen en stuur ze sommige blij mail hen aan te moedigen om te blijven vechten. Ik wil ook hen minder alleen voelen.
Ik begon Gelukkig Mail for Fighters op 29 juni 2017 Dus ik heb dit al bijna een jaar en ik hoop dat dit project voor de komende jaren voort te zetten!
Nadèche op familie en het leven .....
Ik ben de enige in mijn familie die heeft deze ziekten. Ik ben heel dicht bij mijn familie en ze steunen me altijd en me te helpen en ik ben erg dankbaar voor! Ik ben ook erg dankbaar dat mijn ouders en zus me helpen met mijn project. Schrijven is heel moeilijk voor mij dus mijn zus schrijft de adressen op de enveloppen en mijn moeder brengt de kaarten naar het postkantoor omdat mijn chronische vermoeidheid maakt het moeilijk om naar het postkantoor etc. Ik werd gediagnosticeerd toen ik 11 was en ik kreeg hulp van een medisch psycholoog. Ze hielp me zo veel en ik was zo dankbaar! Dat is toen ik me realiseerde dat dat is wat ik wil doen in het leven: het helpen van anderen. Het is mijn droom sinds om een medisch psycholoog en ik studeer psychologie nu. Hopelijk kan ik anderen helpen omgaan met hun ziekte en laten zien dat het leven nog steeds mooi en je kunt nog steeds dingen te bereiken en volg je dromen.

edriscoll
Editor's note:  Below is a story submitted by a member for our site.  If you would like to share your story of the caregiving experience, please email webmaster@dinet.org
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Rose's Story
I have been a caregiver and I have had caregiving for myself.  The experience from both sides has required effective communication. 
When I was younger, my mom developed crippling Rheumatoid Arthritis and terminal lung cancer.  I was the closest to my mom both emotionally and physically so it was a natural fit for my role as caregiver to grow with her illness and her need for help.  My mother was a fiercely proud and independent woman.  She was ahead of her time when it came to teaching herself how to use power tools and to build and fix things around our house.  Growing up in the 60's, women her age still wore dresses in public, never pants, and men still took care of the "heavy" work.  My mother wore her dresses alright, but I remember her doing that while she swung a sledgehammer and took down a wall in an upstair's bedroom.  So when she started to lose the use of her hands and have trouble walking, she was angry.  She skipped all the other parts of adjusting to chronic illness and stuck herself on the anger step and wouldn't let go.  Her independence, pride and now anger, made her a very difficult patient to care for.  She was angry at herself when she needed help and angry with me for offering it.  My patience and empathy were tried on a daily basis. I'm not proud looking back on this, but I have to admit that there were times when I would yell at her for being so ungrateful and even threaten her from time to time that I would leave if she really didn't want my help.  I was hurt that no matter what I did, she seemed not to like it.  I'd work all day to cook a meal I knew she loved and she would refuse to eat more than a bite when suppertime came.  I started to really resent her attitude, the amount of work I had to do, and above all, the terrible treatment I felt she was giving me without any good reason.  
After a particularly bad day together, my mom's friend stopped by to see her and could see that I was on the edge of tears.  I explained to her what was going on and what I was feeling.  After about 15 minutes of listening to me complain, she spoke up.  She asked why I was doing this and I said: "she's my mom".  She said "so?  You do have a sister?  She has sisters herself?  There are options.  So, why are YOU doing this?"  I said "I love her.  She's my best friend and I want her to feel good. I want our relationship to be like it was"  She said "So does she but that's impossible isn't it?  She's not the same and can't be to you what she was before.  She needs you to help her find her way to live in this body - the one she has now.  You keep trying to "help her" by trying to find ways for her to do what she did before.  Maybe if you tried to help her find ways to do new things that she CAN do, she would be happier.  She would have some independence again."  I was stunned because I had no idea I was doing that until she said it to me.
From that day until the day my mom died, we did things differently.  We adjusted as we needed to and realigned activities as we went.  Instead of my spending the day cooking her favorite meal and placing it in front of her.  We cooked together. I handled the knives or the things that required dexterity that she didn't have, but I gave the other things that she could still do.  I bought her a high stool so she could reach the sink again comfortably.  My mom's other passion was gardening.  So instead of doing the gardens for her.  I started bringing her outside and getting her comfortable at the potting bench.  She did all the potting.  She prepped all the bulbs.  She was happy again because she felt useful, she had pride in her work and she had independence.  We went from my caring for her to our caring for each other again. 
When I became ill 25 years later and required caregivers of my own on and off.  I sat my husband and my daughter down and told them this story.  We are able to skip the angry days (mostly) and bad temperament  They are able to help me in the ways I really needed help.  And we are able to care for each other the way a family should.
I hope my story can help patients find the ways to communicate to their caregivers what will help them most and I hope it will help caregivers find the ways to listen and be able to help each patient adjust to their new life.                                           
                                                                    
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