OT: my mother just had temporary paralysis due to low hemoglobin counts - Not a Stroke(UPDATED)

Simpelton said:

My one regret right now is that I can't do anything really to support the family myself in Dad's absence. Unfortunately I'm not employed right now and my prospects aren't great. I'm 40, only an Associate's Degree, struggle with depression and obesity and am on the autism spectrum, so while I'm intelligent and reasonably articulate, "hireable" is not the first word one might use to describe me. Neither is "self-confident."

Basically I feel like I've spent the last 15 years stuck in neutral and I don't really know what I can do about it. So I do what I can to help around the house, mostly with the cooking. My parents are superheroes taking care of me and my older brother for as long as they have, I don't like being dependent on their generosity but I just can't get any traction.

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Life is stressful for sure but there are things you can do right now that takes zero effort! I’m also 40 if that means anything. Battling my own demons too.

1. Only drink water, lots of it, no juice or soda. Drink a full glass before you eat.

2. Wear your best clothes everyday. you will look more confident. Dress what you want to become. You will gain confidence from positive affirmation.

3. Groom yourself. Go to Chinatown for a $10 haircut.

4. Eat less than 2000 calories a day. 2 meals. Eat one meal at 11am and another at 6pm. No processed foods, pizzas etc. Home prepared foods preferable cos less butter, salt and sugar.

5. Reduce clutter. Throw or recycle one thing you don’t need every day or every trash day.

6. Do 20 push-ups a day. Run around the block. Weigh yourself everyday to motivate yourself.

7. No electronics in your bedroom. If you absolutely have to, turn off blue filter/night mode/True Tone.

8. Meditate 5-10mins a day. Look for gratitude in life.

9. Find affirmation. Join a group. Read. Watch positive YouTube vids.

10. Try a job that is outside your field especially if it is in a positive environment. Libraries, music schools, community centers etc. these lead to other things.

So there's news.

Apparently, the doctors think the bleeding has stopped on its own. They can't find the source of the bleeding. Being religious and knowing that a lot of people said a lot of prayers, I have an alternative explanation, but....

They sent a colonoscopy from below and a throat scan from above, trying to find the site that was bleeding, and came up empty. Mom made jokes about them wanting to tie a knot in the middle. She really isn't enjoying the process of the hospital trying to find the original source of the problem and wants to come home. I'm looking forward to going and bringing her home, maybe as early as tomorrow.

Could have been much, much worse.

BTW -- my dad has a philosophy he's had since 17 years ago when Mom survives cancer, that he still reminds us of at times.

Ever since Mom beat cancer, he tells her "happy Bonus Day" when they wake up in the morning. As in, another day that they didn't necessarily have to get to spend together. Ever since, every day is a Bonus Day.

I've always liked the idea because it's so infectiously optimistic and just... grateful. It's worth remembering that every day isn't a day God had to give you.

It seems like the Bonus Day train is still rolling. Thank God.

she's home safe!

Thanks for those who wished her well. Mom is now out of the hospital. The problem seems to have been a baby aspirin that Mom was taking for some other issue began to do damage to her GI tract, which can happen with Aspirin.

She's up and walking with a walker frame, or with a shopping cart to lean on. We and some of our Church friends moved her bed downstairs in the living room but she hasn't given up on the stairs yet, just for now it's safer for her to sleep downstairs.

So yeah, getting settled back in at home now. Let the bonus days continue!

Fantastic!!!

nabwong said:

Life is stressful for sure but there are things you can do right now that takes zero effort! ....

10. Try a job that is outside your field especially if it is in a positive environment. Libraries, music schools, community centers etc. these lead to other things.

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I’ll add, consider volunteering at something. It gets you productively engaged, and can lead to a paying job. When I was a youngster my mother volunteered at the local library. Over the years she took some courses at night, got her degree in library science and ended up not only working there, but retiring as the director of the library. Some luck but just doing what you can as well as you can do it can lead to opportunities.