My Mom is having a pacemaker put in this week. She has been on Coumadin because she has atrial fibrillation and TIAs so her doc had to take her off the Coumadin before the procedure. So I have to give her an injection twice a day for a blood thinner. I haven't been in nursing since '99. It sure was weird to give my mom a shot. First of all I wasn't even sure I could do it but it was like they say about riding a bike. Once you do it, you can't forget. But I'll be glad when I'm just a daughter again and not a nurse.

Hi Doydie, I'm sorry to hear that your Mom isn't doing well. I hope the pacemaker helps. I have a neighbor, who had to get a pacemaker, in her 50s, and it helped her a lot. I think her heart beat was too slow?

I'm glad your nursing skills came in handie, but I know what you mean, it's like the Doc treating his Mom. Not a good feeling.

Hugs,

Thoughts and prayers for an uncomplicated procedure and healing for her. I had a friend who was working as charge nurse in a nursing home on third shift till her 85th birthday (three nights a week). She finally had to stop because the arthritis in her fingers was making it difficult to draw up morning insulins. Nope! I don't ever think you lose it!

Mom has in her living will that she doesn't want any more surgeries. She is not considering this a surgery because her heart rate is so low, we know that it will give her some quality of life but not necessarily quantity. But she also has carotid Doppler studies scheduled for next week. So today I had to talk to her that by having this test done next week, it may give her info that she may have to be asked to act on. If she does have considerable blockage, she may be asked to have surgery or stent. So does she want to have to test done. It's tough getting old. Especially when your brain is alert. I am her Power of attorney for health care.

Sounds a lot like the caliber of conversation I was having with David's mom in the Spring of 2001 after she broke her hip. One episode lead to another. One test indicated the need for another. One med reacted causing the need for another. We could not get a lot of direction from the docs treating her because each felt that the area s/he was treating was fixable. Together as a package, the problems looked too big to allow her to recover to her previous level of independence.

We ultimately rewrote her living will bulleting the various problems that had been identified and stated , in writing, what she was or was not willing to have done for them. It was a very difficult time for the family and I feel for you.

I will say, she did not recover from all of the procedures and was in a great deal of pain when urgent measures were taken that she'd verbalized not wanting but it was not in writing. When things finally went on paper and were witnessed, her level of comfort became prime for the staff and her last 3 days were very comfortable and full of quality time with those she loved.

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I think she wants to go ahead with the carotid US. Her PCP is on vacation and she doesn't want to discuss this with anyone else. She has a wonderful home health nurse and the retirement home that she lives in just loves her dearly. So she will be taken care of when she gets out of the hospital.

I guess part of the problem is me. I was a cardiac nurse and I will want to be watching the telemetry, etc. I know what sick sinus syndrome is and what it can do.

I think I would probably find it easier to give someone else a shot than myself. Or maybe not. Glad you were there for your mom and I'm sure your nursing background is really helpful for her with all these medical concerns.

Glad you're there for her.