things change

[seldear]

Things change so fast. Blink of an eye and you don't realise.

My mum had a mini-stroke this afternoon. Doesn't remember that I came around this morning, doesn't remember the garden she planted yesterday and today, doesn't even remember the big holiday we're going on in May next year.

Physically, she's fine. But there are things she can't remember: events, things, the prime minister, the party she's having on Monday.

People she has no trouble with - my sisters and I, my stepdad, my uncle, her boss.

She's having trouble remembering what happened to her - she's asked my stepdad what happened to make him worried about her three times so far. We're taking her to the hospital now.

eta 10:45pm: Back home from hospital. They did a barrage of tests, but no updates yet. Mum's short-term memory's still gone - she didn't remember that we came with her to the hospital, so after we came back from a couple of hours in the waiting room, she was surprised to see us. They'll keep mum in overnight for observation and we'll go back in tomorrow.

Thanks for the prayers and thoughts and well-wishes.

Comments

[kittenmorag.livejournal.com]

Holy shit. My thoughts are with you guys <3

=^..^=

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon! Very much not a relaxing weekend! :)

[b36.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that's happened to your Mum, Sel.

My thoughts are with you and your family.

[amenirdis.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, I am so sorry! I hope it gets better. *big hugs*

[sleekuk.livejournal.com]

Oh no :( I pray the effects are short-lived and she recovers fully.

[sjhw-tolerance.livejournal.com]

You're doing the right thing by taking her to the hospital. They can figure out exactly what happened and get her the treatment she needs to minimize the impace of what's happened and hoepfully prevent anything else in the future.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

It doesn't look like it was anything other than stress right now. She's going back in for an MRI and EEG later this week, and she has the week off to destress.

And, yeah, our family has no fear of hospitals. (Plus: thank God for public health!)

[jo-siris.livejournal.com]

Oh hon *hugs you*

I am so sorry to hear this. I hope the memory loss is a temporary thing, i have heard that happen, so fingers crossed.

I'll be thinking of you both xx

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Thanks, hon. It looks like the memory loss was temporary, for which we're very grateful. And she's going back in for a few tests later this week, but otherwise things should be okay.

[cailetr.livejournal.com]

*hugs*
I'm glad it was a small one and that she is physically OK. Hopefully she'll get her memory back and if not she knows who you guys are and it sounds like she knows important stuff. If it happens again make sure and take her as soon as possible, the sooner she gets seen the better. I'll be praying for you guys

[pixiesio.livejournal.com]

{{{{{{{{{{{huggles}}}}}}}}}}}}}

You're in my thoughts, hon.

[marag.livejournal.com]

Oh no, I'm so sorry :( I hope she makes a full recovery.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

It's looking good right now. She's got her memory back, except for those six hours when she couldn't remember stuff. And she's back home, and going to be relaxing this week. And probably fielding a lot of calls from concerned friends. :)

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

Definitely doing the right thing in getting her to the hospital quickly. That's an imperative when anyone has any sort of stroke.

Will keep you, your family, and especially your mum in my prayers.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Rob. *hugs*

It's kind of interesting that both you and Sue have mentioned getting her to the hospital quickly. We'd never consider doing anything else otherwise. Is that an Australian health system vs American health system issue, do you think? Or a 'scary doctors' thing?

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

I think, more than anything else, that it's because many people don't realise just how much of a difference getting someone to the hospital quickly can make. For example, if you can get someone suffering a stroke to a hospital inside a couple of hours, there's a very high probability that any damage can be reversed.

And yes, I think that growing up in Aus with public health care, there isn't quite the same fear of hospitals, especially that we're both from middle class parts of Sydney. So that definitely worked out well. Some people have some strange ideas though.

And as said previously, so glad she's so much better.

[yamadara.livejournal.com]

Hope everything turns out okay with your mom.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Thanks, R.

It's better - she's got her memory back. Now they're just going to check if there was any obvious cause that might have contributed.

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. Hope everything turns out. Keeping you and your family in my prayers.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Thank you! We appreciate your prayers very much.

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

So glad to read about her continued improvement. Take care of yourself too, dear!

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Looks like we're out of the woods, so...yay!

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

Sending good health vibes.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Thank you! They worked!

[wlykyoti.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I hope everything works out ok with your mom. It's not always easy (and I probably don't need to tell you) but be patient with her memory issues. It can get frustrating to others when she asks questions she should know the answers to.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was the hardest part - the same questions over and over. How do you have a conversation when someone can't remember the starting point?

That was probably the scariest part for me: would I ever be able to have a conversation with my mother again that I hadn't had before? And when we go over things that she should know (like the fact that I dropped by that morning to help with the garden before realising there was nothing for me to do and going home) will it stress her out to realise that something happened that she doesnt' remember?

*hugs* Thanks.

[wlykyoti.livejournal.com]

It is hard & scary. It's part of my daily life. It's emotional torture to my already warped psyche.
I'm really happy to hear she's come out of it & hope the tests turn up nothing.

[madjm.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry, Sel! How scary. I'll be praying for you all.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon. Prayer is always appreciated!

[purple-cube.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry :( Hope things look better soon xx

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Thanks! They are heading back for Normal, so, we're very relieved and glad.

[skandrae.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear that! Keeping you and yours in my thoughts.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I hope they find out what's going on and fast. *hugs*

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Well, we still don't know what happened (although she's going in for more tests) but she's got her memory back and seems all okay, so that's definitely something!

[amilyn.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Thinking of you all. Keep us updated and take care of yourself.

Love you.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Thanks, hon. Things are looking much better now.

[lavidaessueno.livejournal.com]

my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I hope she recovers quickly and fully.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It looks like it was a temporary thing. She's got her memory back, and now we're just trying to keep an eye out to make sure it doesn't happen again...

[angelsasha.livejournal.com]

Oh Sel, I'm so sorry to hear that! *big hugs* Lots of love and positive thoughts to you and your family.

[anr]

*HUGS*

If you need anything, just gimme a shout, okay?