for release July 20, 2001
The Sandwich Generation . . . Helping Your Aging Parents
by Carol Abaya, M.A.
Are you juggling doing errands for your aging parents, your children, yourself and working at the same time? Are you tired, stressed out and upset that your once vibrant parent is now frail and needy?
Do you feel alone? Rest assured you are not alone! The Sandwich Generation is dedicated to the 50 million Americans who may have elder/parent care concerns and/or responsibilities.
FATIGUE
Question: My father, 76, gets very dizzy after he eats. He almost passed out the other day. He's scared, and I'm worried. His doctor says nothing is wrong. Please help.
Answer: Yes, you need help, and your father may need another doctor! An issue last year of the "Annals of Internal Medicine" and a Mayo Clinic newsletter just recently discussed this problem. Studies found that older people may be at risk for fainting or falling after eating due to a drop in blood pressure. Most prone to this are people who take medication for hypertension.
Talk to your father's doctor, and try to zero in on the problem. Look at medicines taken. Also, test for low blood sugar. Low blood sugar can cause dizziness both before and after eating.
The Mayo Clinic recommends that you eat slowly, rest for a while after eating, and avoid getting up quickly.
If the problem doesn't ease, get a new doctor and have your father get a complete geriatric workup.
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Question: My mother, 77, gets up several times during the night. She's been complaining that she gets dizzy. Now she's afraid to get up, and wets the bed.
Answer: Your mother should try two things. First, she should get up slower and sit on the edge of the bed a minute before getting out of bed. Second, she can keep a glass of juice on the night table and take a few sips. Low blood sugar can cause dizziness. And if these don't work, wearing a nighttime special under garment, like Depends, can prevent the bed from getting wet.
* * *
Question: I'm 69, and my eyes twitch every day. The eye doctor says my eyes are fine. But I'm bothered and get distracted from work.
Answer: Fatigue and stress can cause eye twitching. You're still working (congratulations) and perhaps job stress is the cause.
Years ago, a friend of mine had a very bad eye twitching problem. Then he left his job, and the twitching stopped completely. Several months later, he went to have lunch with former colleagues. He said as soon as he walked into the building, his eyes started twitching.
So, evaluate your lifestyle, work environment and stress levels. Stress - and fatigue - do strange things to the body. Perhaps you need to make some changes.
* * *
Question: My mother's doctor says her gall bladder has to come out. She doesn't want to have surgery, even though she suffers painful attacks from time to time. How can we get her to agree?
Answer: Before anyone undergoes non-emergency surgery, you should
· ask a lot of questions
· get a second opinion
· discuss alternative treatments and procedures
· understand the risks of the surgery - having it - or
not having it
· understand how the surgery can help/improve your health
· understand possible negative ramifications of not having
the surgery
In your mother's case, aside from the To Do's noted above, talk to her
about her feelings and real reasons for not wanting the surgery. Fear and
even temporary loss of control can be factors.
* * *
Do you have a question? Send it in. Although letters cannot be answered individually, appropriate letters will be answered in this column whenever possible. Letters may be edited. Send letters to Ms. Carol Abaya, c/o Name\Address of YOUR newspaper (or mail direct to her at PO Box 132,Wickatunk, NJ 07765-0132) or e-mail her at SandwchGen@aol.com.
Carol Abaya is an international-award-winning journalist and creator of the unique magazine The Sandwich Generation: You & Your Aging Parents.
NOTES TO EDITORS: text = 485 words; other material = 160 words
We would appreciate it if you would include the
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©2001 by Globe Syndicate, all rights reserved.