Hi-I have a huge prayer request this morning....I have mentioned my mom in the past and her bipolar schizophrenia. We had thought that eliminating wheat from her diet had been controlling her paranoia and other issues since she had quit her medications 6 months ago, but, apparently, it just takes that long for effects of the meds to wear off-or-she's become much better at hiding some of the symptoms. Last night, she called ranting about 'they' are after her again and 'they' have put chemicals in her home, which has always been the story when she's off her meds. She truly believes people are after her and trying to poison her by putting chemicals in her ductwork, drain lines, etc. I reminded her that we had talked about this when she went off her meds and that no one was after her (the people who she thinks it is are actually all dead now), but, as usual, when I told her this wasn't actually happening, she hung up the phone and refused to answer when we called again later. Maybe I'm hard-hearted, but I didn't drive the 15 miles to go make sure she was ok, as I'm really tired of dealing with her problems. I totally understand why my dad drank-who can you talk to? No one helps. The county can only force the meds if she states or implies harm to herself or others. And, she has never, ever, willingly taken the meds. Dad struggled with her the entire 27 years they were married.

I simply don't know what to do. I feel like the bad daughter. I do care about her, but, when someone won't get the help they need, I've learned (through al-anon) that, sometimes, you just have to stay away. I also have to protect the emotional health of my sons-they DO NOT need to hear any more of her rants.

Please pray that she will hear God telling her that she must comply with medical treatment. She has attempted suicide at least 4 times in my lifetime, so that is always a concern as well.

Thank you, my dear friends, for letting me vent a bit-I know it's only God's and the Spirit's intervention that will fix this situation.

A while back I asked for prayer for my brother who is fighting both lung cancer and brain tumours. This weekend he was admitted to the hospital and is now in ICU. He has double pneumonia. He is a tiny bit better this a.m. but is still on oxygen and antibiotics. Please pray for him and especially his wife and children. This is harder on them than it is on him. He is a believer and ready to go. He's only 49 and I guess I'm not ready to let him go yet. God's will be done.

Thanks!

Wilma-Prayers for your brother and you and the family. God can heal!

Prayers going up for Ronni and Wilma.

If I could ask again for prayers - I turned out to be allergic to the medicine my doctor gave me and have had to go off of it. My breathing is still better than it was, but I'm wheezy today and scared I'm going to get sick again. I will be calling my doctor in a few minutes to discuss what went wrong.

Thanks, God bless you.

Dee-Prayers for you, too. Sure hope the docs can figure this out quickly-you've been dealing with this way too long

WILMA ~ prayers continuing for your brother and his family at this time ...

RONNI ~ prayers going up for your mother; we had a friend that was in the same situation. He is now on meds permanently and doing well. Sadly, it took a bad episode to get him on meds; his behaviour escalated until he was put in the hospital where he was assessed properly and put on meds that finally helped him. PS -- Ronni, do you not have a community access support organization in your nearest city? They may have something similar in your state. We have this and are now getting some help for DH and I.

DEE ~ still sending up prayers that your doctor can find meds that don't cause allergies; and you feel better soon.

PRAYER REQUEST ~ I would appreciate prayers for my DH and myself. We are getting some help for him through "community access" and he will be getting an assessment soon (the doctor/nurses & support workers will assess DH to find the most appropriate meds & other treatments that will help him best). Please pray that he won't panic and will get the help he needs (so far, he is agreeing to it all). It will make the world of difference for him and me, esp while getting my chemo treatments. It is nice to get some help finally; and I am grateful. I just pray that it all works out in a positive way for DH especially; because we want him to be well & as contented as he can be.

Gotta go -- dinner is ready ... thanks everyone ...

Rosebud-

Prayers going up for you and your husband. I hope that the Community Access thing works out.

Prayers still going up for all concerns.I just don't seem to get here as much as I would like to but know that I think of you all the time and send good thoughts and prayers

Rosebud-I'm not sure what you mean by community access organization, unless that's the same as our county health department? The biggest problem in this situation is mom, herself. She only complied with the meds before because they had been court-ordered after she threatened the police chief and he had her committed. The only way she could get out of the hospital was to agree to take the meds and they had the county nurse come to her home every month to give her a shot. As soon as she found out the court order had expired, she told the nurse not to come back and went off the meds. That was 6 months ago and, apparently, it takes almost that long for the meds to 'wear off.' She's now back into her full-blown paranoia state. We can do nothing to force any medication unless she shows that she could cause harm to herself or someone else, which she's usually very careful about. She's learned from the past about how far she can go and still keep out of 'trouble' and the hospitals. God's intervention is the only thing that will make her see what she's doing to herself and everyone around her by not complying with going back on the meds.

I do have another request---my sister will be having a surgery tomorrow to repair a torn meniscus in her hip joint. It's a same-day surgery, but she'll have quite a bit of therapy afterward to get back to walking without crutches. She's used to being much more active, plus her youngest son will graduate high school next month and they're trying to get ready for that, as well as moving from the Chicago area to Phoenix as soon as she's healed from the surgery. She's a believer, but she's a little stressed right now and worried about how long it will take for her to be back to normal after the surgery.

Thanks a bunch! God bless. Prayers for all

Prayers for all.

Ronni - Praying for your situation with your Mom and for the Lord to give you wisdom in what to do for her.

Wilma - Praying for a speedy recovery for your brother.

Dee - Praying docs find a med that works for you that you'll not have allergic reaction to.

Rosebud - Continued prayers for you and your family.

I don't check in here or post everytime I do check, but always continue praying for all.

Prayers offered for Ronni's sister, that her surgery go well and her healing be swift.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers - so far so good on my breathing. I was quite scared that I would revert right back to being sick because I had to stop the medicine after just a few days, but it seems perhaps I was on it long enough because although I'm slightly wheezy I can still take full deep breaths which is a huge blessing! Boy you don't think much about the blessings of being able to breathe, until you can't.

RONNI ~ YES, it's a group of health care workers that show you what services are available to us to help both DH and me. This group includes doctors, nurses, social workers, specialists, and other health care providers. A nurse came to our home and did a preliminary assessment; he then made a recommendation to his contact team for DH and I.

We received a call already for tomorrow in the nearest city hospital -- they have arranged for a full assessment for DH, plus he has a bad chest flu which will also be addressed at the same time. Like myself, they suspect that DH may have another condition for which different meds would help him better than the ones he is presently taking.

I am grateful that these services are available here. Once they fulfill their goals, DH will come home feeling much better and more functional; and I can get rest and heal while taking my chemo in a less stressful environment. It's a win-win situation for us both.

^Prayers^ are going up for everyone and their needs. We all sure understand what everyone is going through here. GOD has brought us together to pray for and encourage each other through all these issues. Thanks for your prayers ...

Prayers going up for all here.

My brother is doing much better. He is still on oxygen but doctors think he might be able to be moved out of ICU within the next day or two. He is stubborn and is impatiently waiting to get better. That's a good sign! Thank you all so much for your prayers. I know he feels them!

THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS FOR DH & I ~ the trip to the city hospital went well and DH was willing to go; they admitted him right away to start the tests for the assessment period which usually takes about 2 weeks. Then they will look for the best meds and treatments for him.

I called him tonight and he seemed in good spirits, and that is a great relief to me as I was concerned about that. There are lots of people there to socialize with, and daily activities to do that we could never provide for him here. I know that boredom can cause his condition to worsen. I was so glad that he is OK.

Sometimes you worry whether you are doing the right thing; but we all felt it was the best thing to do for both DH and me at this point. Everyone was stressed here, even DH -- from not being in familiar surroundings and not enough sleep and other health issues as well. They are testing to make sure he doesn't have pneumonia as well (I think they did that this afternoon).

WILMA ~ glad to hear that your brother is doing better and in a fighting mode. We want to see him well and back home again as soon as possible.

We did some errands before coming home; and I found both my sister and I a nice spring coat today for 40 % off. My legs are a bit sore from lots of walking the last two days. Now I will rest them up for the rest of the week. We have to take DH some more clothes and his razor tomorrow as well.

We pray that he will actually enjoy himself there; and that the Health Team will be able to help him while he is there. PRAIZE GOD -- that is answered prayer from all of us here. My sister will be having surgery next week or as soon as the anesthesiologist is picked for her surgery (if one is necessary). She has to go for the pre-lim next Monday. She is a bit anxious of course, but we are praying that all goes well without any problems.

^PRAYERS^ continue for you and yours ...