How can I get my mom to try natural alternatives to her multiple medications?
I recently bought some D-mannose, a natural supplement that has great reviews for helping to control urinary tract infections (uti's) -- for my mom. She tried it once and said it seemed to help. But her next uti, she went back to taking antibiotics, saying they always work. She doesn't like being "pushed" to do anything, so I didn't say anything about the negative effects of the antibiotics.
This has happened with other "organic" suggestions my sister and I have given her regarding her health. But our alternatives (probiotics, vitamin C, D, filtered water) get abandoned for multiple medications, many of which we feel have been given to treat the side effects of the other medications.
She's currently taking meds for blood pressure, uti's, acid reflux, shingles, atrial fib, and coumadin for blood thinning. She also has head tremors, neuropathy, and knee swelling which she doesn't take meds for. She's 83 and still gets around well; does her own cooking, cleaning, driving, and slot machine stuffing.
But she drinks too much coffee and eats too many sweets and rarely drinks water. And, as I mentioned, is stubborn about doing what she wants to do.
Has anyone else had any success in getting a stubborn mom to try, and continue to use, natural alternatives?
Carol
I have the same issues with my Mom. I get her on a good, healthy regimen then after a few weeks it just goes out the window. Before she moved here she had so many problems with constipation. I finally convinced her that adding ground flax seed to her food would "prevent" the problem. But she still thinks of it as a "medicine" and only uses it when she knows she is having problems.
They are from that generation that goes to doctors as if they were gurus. Unfortunately, most docs only know two avenues: pills and surgery.
I stock Mom's fridge with small bottles of cranberry juice (and other juices.) It is difficult to get her to drink more fluids. (btw, WHAT was your Mom's doc thinking by telling her that more fluid contributes to leg swelling??? the exact opposite is true.)
I also like probiotics...I prefer the ones that are refrigerated like Primadophilus or Metaflora.
I know what you are going through. I get so frustrated when my Mom whines about a condition, I help her find a solution, then she goes back to her old ways. I guess we could shrug our shoulders and say that it is "their choice." However, their bad habits become problems WE have to deal with. So I keep trying to keep her as healthy as possible. Now I just need to concentrate on my own health!!
good luck
Also unfortunately, her small-town doc is one of those who just wants to prescribe a pill for everything and won't hear anything about alternatives. "And where did you get your medical degree?" he said to me when Mom told him I had suggested to her that she needed to drink a lot more water, which would help her uti problems. He said, no, that'll just make your knee swell up more (a completely wrong premise). He's a schmuck.
When I moved home with the idea of helping out my parents, I had visions of getting them on a healthy nutrition plan and improving all their problems. But at 88 and 83, they have no interest in changing their ways. So I fix what I eat and mom fixes their heavily salted and sugar-finished meals. And when something goes wrong, they go to the doctor and get another pill. Oh, well.
Bridget
Just ask questions, can you have the doctor tell her to take the medicine, make her think that they are a prescription from her doctor?
Blessings,
Bridget