Hi - My first post on this board. My mother is 84 and has had 4 heart attacks. She is on heart medication and in December 2016 was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. She took the diabetes diagnosis very seriously, lost weight and her blood levels are doing well - however she moans constantly about how the medication is making her depressed and she is obsessed with the worry of soiling herself (which she blames on the medicine).
She is on her third pacemaker and two weeks ago she went for a check up. She was told that two of the wires were not working in her pacemaker, she was given a new inhaler and an appointment for early October. I asked how many wires are there in a pacemaker? Can they fix or will she get a new one? She never asks any questions. At the end of the conversation she told me she had stopped taking her diabetes medication and reduced her heart medication by half because 'taking 9 tablets a day is bloody ridiculous and I've had enough'. So now she is on 2 heart pills a day and vitamin D (her deficiency was very low) although I suspect she is lying about taking the vitamin D.
I begged her to start taking the prescribed amount of heatt medication if only till the pacemaker appointment in October but she said 'Stop getting at me, you're always getting at me' and then the tears (a life long habit for her whenever she wants to end a conversation). I asked her to let the GP know, if she has another heart attack then they can treat her properly knowing she has halved her medication. I offered to call them but she said 'no'.
I rang the GP. I am not on her 'confidentiality' list which they were quick to point out but the receptionist was sympathetic. I said I know you can't tell me anything can you make a note of the call and add what I have said to her file. The receptionist said she would leave a note for mum's temporary GP (her regular one is on holiday) and he would possibly ring her the next day. It doesn't look like anyone has called - have they forgotten? Have they decided against it? It is not urgent?
I don't know what to do next. I am in another country, but I was their for two weeks at the beginning of July and my nexr trip is not until December but we have regular phone contact. I have a single brother who is living with her at the moment but his new job starts in September and he will then visit weekends. He is good with all the practical stuff like taking her shopping etc but he is very much 'It's her choice, she's 84, let her do what she wants' on anything else.
It's just so frustrating, I don't know what to do next.