Tuesday Morning

Poor Eileen...what a fiasco!! I am sorry Richard is in ICU.

If I were you I would let his mother know there isn't anything else you can do for Richard. You need to let his family take over. They need to know he has to be out of his apartment at the end of the month. You can't help with any of that. Time to let someone else take charge of Richard. They may send him to rehab if they find drugs that he has taken more then he should.

I will send some prayers for both of you.

I feel bad that he is in bad enough shape to be in ICU!!! You just can't handle all this. It is stressing you out. You are trying to do too many things at once. You will be the one crashing next! He needs some serious help. 

Sorry...this is just my opinion. I am worried about you.

Love you...HUGS....connie d

Oh, I know he needs help. I told him to get some. I implored him to get some. I gave him names and numbers of doctors. But I can't call the doctors myself. And he got so sick he's in the ICU now. I told him he'd be in the hospital if he didn't take care of himself. I feel like a psychic. As my chiro says, "Men ... can't live with them, can't shoot them." 

I told his mom ... but she's in her 80s and lives in Georgia. Don't know if his brothers would help; I gather he's rather estranged from some of his family. I've done as much as I can. 

Eileen....don't be so hard on yourself.

YOU have done all you can. The rest is up to him now.

Love you sista....HUGS....connie d

Eileen, you HAVE done a lot for Richard -- as much as you can.  Perhaps you can talk to his nurse at the hospital as Trish suggested.  That's a great idea.  He does need an intervention.  The hospital's discharge planning folks can help put things in place for him. 

Cindy P.

Hi Eileen,

When you visit Richard, see if you can talk to the nurse.  Unless he has signed a release form, they technically don't have  to tell you anything, but you can inform them of his need to be on medication.  If he's clinically depressed, and not medicated, it could definitely lead to his lack of self-care.  Ask if he could get a psychiatric evaluation.  He may need to be hospitalized.  If he is, the social worker assigned to him would be responsible could help him resolve some of his needs, like finding referrals to affordabl housing, and getting paperwork filled out for Medicaid, and other funding, if he qualifies.  

I'm praying for him.

Love you, 

Trish

Thanks everyone. I'm doing what I can for him. If I don't, he has no one.

You are definitely earning Brownie Points with your helping Richard.  If he does move into your place at end of month, you will just have to nag nag and nag some more. You'll definitely have a closer eye on him, but as an alcoholic it will be next to impossible for you to straughten him out. Let's hope the hospital Social Worker will be able to provide connections to professionals who can help him.

I feel for you as you are in pain so often and need to take care of yourself.  Looking after someone like Richard is challenging but more so as you are chronically tired and in pain and holding down a frustrating job...Whatever you chose to do, do it with the help and advice of the hospital Social Worker.  Sending my best vibes to you.

hugs, Jennifer