Augh, Steph. Can you call the hospital?

Also, you are not the worst daughter on the planet. You're a wonderful daughter with lots of crazy stuff going on at the same time.

Okay, he answered the cell phone, and he sounds to me like he normally sounds when he's taken too many painkillers -- really slow speech and kind of addled and repeating things. I can't actually tell how he is. I don't think he's in critical condition right now, but what if I'm wrong?

Can Tim or even better someone else (ideally on that side of town) run by the hospital and scope things out?

I second both suggestions. Call the hospital to find out his status, and see if Tim or someone else can go and check things out in person. You will be able to relax more and enjoy your shower if someone trusted lays eyes on your dad.

Also, I'm sorry for the complications. You are great daughter. My mom went into the hospital for Bobby's graduation, and it was easier to focus on the local events when I had other people checking on her and giving me updates.

We live about 20-30 minutes west of the hospital. My Dad's siblings live about 30-40 minutes east of the hospital, and aren't in great health (that said, if it were critical, they'd be there).

I'm it. For all practical purposes short of him literally being in the process of dying, I'm his support system. Which is hard and unfair and sucks, but it is what it is.

I'm going to have to go out there after the shower and see what's going on.

I had hoped it was low blood sugar, but he says that the pharmacist at his work checked his blood sugar and BP yesterday and they were normal, and that the EMTs checked both this morning and they were normal.

He recently (past month or so) had a dose of a medication he takes for diabetic nerve pain increased to about triple what it was. He says that for the first time in years, the pain is gone. But I think -- it's an antiepileptic medication used off-label for neuropathic pain, successfully -- that it has the unfortunate side effects of dizziness, confusion, etc.

If that's all this is, I will be so fucking grateful. Although it SUCKS BALLS that something that finally got Dad's pain under control (it's pretty bad when unmedicated) has such severe side effects he can't take that dose.

I am going to lose my fucking mind, okay?

Okay, Tim is going to go to the hospital, and I gave him a list of all of Dad's medications, along with the dose change for the one for his nerve pain, and a list of known side effects of that medication.

And I am still in a bathrobe and have to be at the shower in 25 minutes, so I'd better let my aunt know I'll be a little late.

Someone better hand me a fucking mimosa as soon as I walk in that place.

Tep, I hope the shower is lovely and that your Dad gets a good answer soon that is easy but doesn't interfere with actually relieving his pain. I'm glad Tim is going. That's the great thing about committed partners, you can, in a way, be in two places at once.

Teppy, I hope you were able to have a lovely time at your shower. Much ~ma to your dad.

sending all the ma~~ your way

Lots of dad~ma coming your way, tep. And I hope you managed to have a good time at your shower.