Letter to Dr. S-- re: Gmom
I take better care of my lj posts than I do of my word docs or my loose papers. I'm posting the text of a letter we will be mailing to Gmom's doctor next Tuesday. If anyone finds & reads it, please feel free to make suggestions for corrections and/or remind me of concerns I forgot to list.
October 4th, 2005
Dear Dr. S-- & B--,
My mother, Gmom, has another appointment to meet with Dr. S-- on October 21st at 1:00 pm. As these appointments tend to be a little hectic, I’m writing this note to let you know that the family has a few questions.
As far as we can tell, Gmom seems to be recovering nicely from the physical effects of the stroke she suffered in August. We believe that Gmom is suffering from depression and/or anxiety and we understand that she is resistant to taking any medication for that condition. She has not been following Dr. S--’s advice to journal, read self-help books or seek a therapist. She continues to refuse to take the restless leg syndrome medication that was prescribed. We were unable to find a fish oil supplement that she thinks acceptable.
She feels she doesn’t see well enough to write and read and she doesn’t believe such activities would be particularly helpful anyway. She feels that her family members aren’t really qualified to suggest a good psychologist. She is resistant to take any medications -natural or pharmaceutical- beyond aspirin, plavix and coreg. (She takes one coreg tablet in the late morning.) The fish oil capsules, in particular, are too large for her to swallow - she fears she will choke. She is no longer complaining of discomfort after taking the coreg.
On some days she seems okay but most often she seems angry, anxious, restless and scattered. She hates to be alone but she doesn’t really enjoy company either. Often she seems to have trouble sitting still. Nothing holds her interest - not television, not grandchildren, not puzzles, not being read to; all these things used to be enjoyable for her. She wants to go for frequent walks but she doesn’t walk far, doesn’t stay out very long and complains about any inclement weather or condition (too hot, too cold, too wet, to bright, etc). She wants to go for car rides but becomes uncomfortable in the seat and tires within 30 minutes. She hates to do even simple food preparation. She doesn’t like to change her clothing and seems unconcerned with her appearance. She doesn’t want to see or speak to anyone outside of immediate family and health care workers.
We have been brainstorming about how to help her but we feel that we don’t have much credibility with her in these matters. We understand that she doesn’t always follow Dr. S--’s instructions either, but we feel that Gmom is more accepting of her authority. With all that in mind, we are wondering if Dr. S-- could address the following issues:
1) Could Dr. S-- provide a referral to a specific counselor?
2) Should Gmom be increasing her dosage of coreg?
3) How important is it that Gmom begin taking the lipitor that was recommended?
4) If she is supposed to take lipitor, can we get a letter that recommends “lipitor” NOT the alternative that Medicaid allows (zocor)? (She has a fear of it because she has heard about too many bad reactions in people she knows.)
5) Has Gmom's thyroid function been tested recently? (One of her daughters has had hyperthyroidism (Grave’s Disease) in the past and recognizes some of the restlessness that Gmom is demonstrating.
6) How much danger is there of Gmom choking? (She complains that crying, getting nervous, swallowing medication and eating certain foods makes her choke.)
7) In Dr. S--’s opinion, is Gmom physically healthy enough to tend to her personal care needs? (For example: basic snack/meal preparation, grooming herself, dressing, light housekeeping.)
8) How much of the physical therapy is still required? Will there be much more improvement in her physical stroke symptoms?
9) Would the “Silver Sneakers Program” (see enclosure) be an appropriate substitution or addition? (Is Gmom healthy enough for this program?)
Thank you for the time, energy and effort you have put into the care of our mother. We appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.
Sincerely,
The Family
October 4th, 2005
Dear Dr. S-- & B--,
My mother, Gmom, has another appointment to meet with Dr. S-- on October 21st at 1:00 pm. As these appointments tend to be a little hectic, I’m writing this note to let you know that the family has a few questions.
As far as we can tell, Gmom seems to be recovering nicely from the physical effects of the stroke she suffered in August. We believe that Gmom is suffering from depression and/or anxiety and we understand that she is resistant to taking any medication for that condition. She has not been following Dr. S--’s advice to journal, read self-help books or seek a therapist. She continues to refuse to take the restless leg syndrome medication that was prescribed. We were unable to find a fish oil supplement that she thinks acceptable.
She feels she doesn’t see well enough to write and read and she doesn’t believe such activities would be particularly helpful anyway. She feels that her family members aren’t really qualified to suggest a good psychologist. She is resistant to take any medications -natural or pharmaceutical- beyond aspirin, plavix and coreg. (She takes one coreg tablet in the late morning.) The fish oil capsules, in particular, are too large for her to swallow - she fears she will choke. She is no longer complaining of discomfort after taking the coreg.
On some days she seems okay but most often she seems angry, anxious, restless and scattered. She hates to be alone but she doesn’t really enjoy company either. Often she seems to have trouble sitting still. Nothing holds her interest - not television, not grandchildren, not puzzles, not being read to; all these things used to be enjoyable for her. She wants to go for frequent walks but she doesn’t walk far, doesn’t stay out very long and complains about any inclement weather or condition (too hot, too cold, too wet, to bright, etc). She wants to go for car rides but becomes uncomfortable in the seat and tires within 30 minutes. She hates to do even simple food preparation. She doesn’t like to change her clothing and seems unconcerned with her appearance. She doesn’t want to see or speak to anyone outside of immediate family and health care workers.
We have been brainstorming about how to help her but we feel that we don’t have much credibility with her in these matters. We understand that she doesn’t always follow Dr. S--’s instructions either, but we feel that Gmom is more accepting of her authority. With all that in mind, we are wondering if Dr. S-- could address the following issues:
1) Could Dr. S-- provide a referral to a specific counselor?
2) Should Gmom be increasing her dosage of coreg?
3) How important is it that Gmom begin taking the lipitor that was recommended?
4) If she is supposed to take lipitor, can we get a letter that recommends “lipitor” NOT the alternative that Medicaid allows (zocor)? (She has a fear of it because she has heard about too many bad reactions in people she knows.)
5) Has Gmom's thyroid function been tested recently? (One of her daughters has had hyperthyroidism (Grave’s Disease) in the past and recognizes some of the restlessness that Gmom is demonstrating.
6) How much danger is there of Gmom choking? (She complains that crying, getting nervous, swallowing medication and eating certain foods makes her choke.)
7) In Dr. S--’s opinion, is Gmom physically healthy enough to tend to her personal care needs? (For example: basic snack/meal preparation, grooming herself, dressing, light housekeeping.)
8) How much of the physical therapy is still required? Will there be much more improvement in her physical stroke symptoms?
9) Would the “Silver Sneakers Program” (see enclosure) be an appropriate substitution or addition? (Is Gmom healthy enough for this program?)
Thank you for the time, energy and effort you have put into the care of our mother. We appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.
Sincerely,
The Family