The Age of Anxiety

Yesterday was rough.  Mom had another fall Tuesday night, and when the visiting nurse examined her yesterday, she said the knee was swollen, even taking osteoarthritis into account.  I phoned her doctor, who sent his PA on a housecall.  She gave Mom a choice between going to the ER, having an x ray there or having a portable xray done at the house.  Mom chose the latter, because the former would have meant getting home by Ambulette if she was not admitted to the hospital. 

Anyhow, Xray man or woman is coming in the 'early afternoon' which I hope doesn't turn into 'the cool cool cool of the evening'. The wait will probably be like waiting for any repair or delivery, only the outcome of this visit determines whether or not Mom needs further medical treatment for her swollen knee.  She might have a hairline fracture, but I'm hoping it won't be too bad, because she is able to put weight on her knee. 

And that leads me to the main topic:  her anxiety.  It is so strong, that she will not raise her rear out of the wheelchair when she is able to do so. the scene is always the same:  I count to three, take her under the arm, ask her to lift and she just sits there and says " I can't".   Let's be rational:  if I had two falls while transferring from a wheelchair to a chair, I'd be nervous, too.  Perhaps her eyesight is a factor, too.  On the other hand, she woke me three times the other night ( does that make me like the Apostles in the Garden, sleeping while Jesus suffers?)  because she was 'lonely'.  Mom is getting plenty of attention while refusing to move, and I do think it's a major part of her dynamic. 

Oh well.  I better dry my hair, walk the dog, and pick up a half gallon of milk.  Should be fun this afternoon-hope the xray tech isn't phobic about dogs.