Hi, and thank you for responding so quickly. My sister has been in the hospital for 5 days now and is wanting to go home, because she is in too much pain at night. They switched her from hydrocodone pills to a liquid form which is not as strong, evidently. She can no longer get up and around, because her muscles are too weak. I feel that with taking the opioids all that did for her was make her stay in bed and wait for the next dose. The hospital staff wants her to go to rehab, but she wants to go home. I think it's so she can get her hands on a stronger dose. She is 77. So what were some alternatives for you and how are you able to deal with the pain? My sister used to do water aerobics M-F and would get out and do things. She fought taking any kind of drug for years and now seems to have just given up. Her daughter, my niece, wants her to go to rehab, but my sister is fighting it. The hospital can't make her go only suggest it. Due to covid I can't even go visit her and try to reason with her and she's not talking on the phone at all. My niece calls me for advice, but I need some suggestions of alternate means to help her with the pain, but also come off the opioids. I welcome any suggestions or ideas. Thanks
there is a post at the top of the General forum with all my best advice for managing fibro. If your sister will do any of this it may very well help.
You are in a terrible position, though, not being able to talk to her, and that's very hard. If your niece can influence her, then I suggest she read that post and start by at least making sure what your sister eats is healthy. Maybe she can get her up and walking just a little bit, or doing the other things.
It's very sad that she seems to have given up. I would suggest that if she is going home, the stronger opiates be removed from her home so that she cannot self-dose or overdose, as it sounds as though that is a strong possibility.
It's understandable that a person would reach the give-up stage, but there's no need to do that. there are many ways to manage fibro and the pain and still have a life well worth living. Would she be willing to talk to a psychotherapist on the phone? Maybe that would help, I don't know. Therapists vary greatly and a good one would be helpful but a not good one could cause more harm.
One thing I would say is not to try to force her into anything, and especially not to try to use shame, guilt, or pressure to get her to do something for herself. that usually only makes a person more resistant and depressed. But she needs to know that if she doesn't start walking and doing the things that will help her, she will only get worse.
If she has decided life is not worth living, and continues to be resistant to all efforts to help her you really cannot do much. Your niece can give it her best shot, and I would suggest she be persistent and encouraging, but if your sister won't try anything even after weeks or months of trying to help her, there's a point at which you both may just have to let it go. this is very sad and I feel for you. Let us know if we can help in any way.
