My mother-in-law - The art of learning to not give a fuck.

[Malcolm]

Because it'll be better when you get back?

[GORDON]

Because it'll be better when you get back?

Because maybe my tolerance and patience will have replenished if I don't have to see her every day, for a while.

[Malcolm]

Yeah, but then those ten minutes will elapse and shit's back to where it is now.

[GORDON]

Yeah, but then those ten minutes will elapse and shit's back to where it is now.

The compost pile gets bigger every day. SOon it will be big enough to conceal a body.

[Alhazad]

I've been reading about elder abuse for related reasons. Ohio law: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2919.21

(A) No person shall abandon, or fail to provide adequate support to:

[...]

(3) The person's aged or infirm parent or adoptive parent, who from lack of ability and means is unable to provide adequately for the parent's own support.

[...]

(G)

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of nonsupport of dependents, a misdemeanor of the first degree. [...]

Of course, it's rarely enforced... but there it is. Kicking her out is a misdemeanor. At least for your wife.

[GORDON]

Yeah, good times.

She takes her meds when she feels like it, rarely takes her insulin any more, and I'm pretty sure she sneaks out to the candy store daily for her ice cream fix. We got some of her family members to gang up on her the other day, and she started checking her blood sugar again, "It's fine, I feel fine." The last 2 nights her blood sugar has been 248, and 241. It is supposed to be about 90. It was 90 back when she was following my orders.

I figure when her feet get cut off she will be easier to take care of overall, or when she goes off the deep end... like she has in the past... I'll have her put in the mental ward, AGAIN.

She also still lies about the dumbest things, daily. I really don't care any more. I will always do what needs to be done for her every day, but I am not going to argue when she says no.

[GORDON]

Blood sugar tonight: 365.

She goan die.

[GORDON]

Oh, and have I mentioned she stopped waking up M-W-F to go to the YMCA to work out with the other old ladies? SInce school started she would need to get up a whole hour earlier, and that was her line. "It will mess up my whole day."

Obviously, she doesn't do anything all day.... but I gave her like 5 "last chances," and she wont get out of bed, so I cancelled her membership. No point in paying for what she wont use.

[Malcolm]

She go to the doc anymore? 365? Christ on a crutch.

[GORDON]

She go to the doc anymore? 365? Christ on a crutch.

Yes, she was seeing her doctor every 3 months, for checkups. And every time the doctor would tell my MIL that she needs to take her insulin EVERY DAY, and my MIL would just nod and smile. Then that night I would tell her it is time to take her insulin, and my MIL says, "No my blood sugar isn't high, I only take it when it is high." Which is wrong. And I will no longer fight with her, so she's fucked.

Here's a kick in the crotch: her doc is moving away with her husband, he got another job somewhere else.

I have no idea how to find a doctor for an old woman, and I don't know how to explain to this new doctor that she is a liar and isn't going to follow his/her directions, and really she is a waste of his/her time. But I am going to need to get her meds refilled soon, and I've got to find a doctor.

[Malcolm]

If her readings keep at super-350 levels, she'll be in a hospital bed in a few months ... if that. Finding a doc or meds is moot. Wait a sec, what's the unit of measurement -- 365 what? Milligrams per decilitre?

[GORDON]

365 blood sugars.

I have no idea what unit of measurement her test strips use. Doc told me it should be sub-90, so I know 200+ is high.

[Malcolm]

365 blood sugars.

I have no idea what unit of measurement her test strips use. Doc told me it should be sub-90, so I know 200+ is high.

Unless you have some imported, commie, European tests, it's probably milligrams of glucose per decilitre of blood. Normal levels are between 80 and 110, varying a bit by individual. If you've got type II, you always want to keep it in the 75-90 range. That's pre-eating. Anything above 125 is considered hyperglycemic. 365 is a fucking Kessel Run off the chart. I'm completely serious about her fate if she maintains that level consistently. It's not going to be the feet or her mind, they won't have time to wither; it'll be a series of strokes and/or heart attacks, and it will occur relatively rapidly.

[GORDON]

I'll be sure to keep everyone informed.

[GORDON]

I did some googling and couldn't find a nice little summary... if one of you can find a page our two about what happens to you with unchecked diabetes, with pics if possible, I will print it out and give it to her, just so she can't say she wasn't warned.

[Malcolm]

Wikipedia type II mellitus diabetes and hyperglycemia. I've been in chemically induced insulin comas where they pumped me with a horse syringe of glucose, so I've got a vague idea what it feels like to be spiked. I can't fathom what it takes to acclimatize and accept it.

if one of you can find a page our two about what happens to you with unchecked diabetes, with pics if possible...

Seriously, at her levels, she's on the fast track to dead-ville and this is her last set of holidays. Her blood vessels are going to shrink, her kidneys will shut down, she'll drop weight (because her body will have completely forgotten how to make energy except by cannibalizing existing fat), get excessively thirsty and pissy (in a couple ways), she'll start losing sensation in her fingers and toes, she'll go blind, and then her heart will fail.

[Alhazad]

I have no idea how to find a doctor for an old woman, and I don't know how to explain to this new doctor that she is a liar and isn't going to follow his/her directions, and really she is a waste of his/her time. But I am going to need to get her meds refilled soon, and I've got to find a doctor.

Find out what insurance coverage she's stealing from her ex-husband and then contact an elder care center for help in locating a doctor in that plan who has experience with dementia and narcissistic personality disorder. That'd be my recommendation.

http://aging.ohio.gov/resources/areaagenciesonaging/

[GORDON]

Thanks for the advice, and good memory.

[TPRJones]

Don't forget to get a copy of her medical records before her doctor runs off.

[GORDON]

Me: I saw your blood sugar was 369 last night.
MIL: yeah, whatever I told her. I don't remember.
Me: with blood sugar that high you have about a couple months to live. This will be your last christmas.
MIL: *looks at me in shock* No it wont, it has been higher than that before.
Me: When?
MIL: Before.
Me: It has been high the last 3 days when we made you start checking again.
MIL: No it hasn't last night was the first time.
Me: *deep breath* I am not trying to make you angry, I am just telling you facts. A human can not survive long with blood sugar this high. I just want you to know the consequences for sneaking all the cookies and ice cream.
MIL: Well my doctor says it is ok if i have ice cream every once in a while.

*long pause*

Me: You've been warned. Do what you want.
MIL: I will.