I'm sorry to hear that, Zenkitty. The healthcare situation in this country is beyond fucked up. There was a "confessional" recently from an insurance company PR apologizing for lying about the Canadian system being terrible during the creation of Obamacare. It's like too little, too late, dude.

Also how is your kid 13??

I don't know, meara, but it was on his birthday cake, so it must be true.

Also, yay puppy!

Watching the RNC crap and all I can think is super spreader event. And they deserve it.

Cashmere and Laura, I offer commiseration on the Oh My God, Families front. And Laura, I'm glad Skinner is okay!

Hec, it sounds like JZ and her brothers are catching a little bit of a break on the house, so that's a relief for all of you.

My brother went to my dad's follow-up doctor appointment this morning, and his clinical knowledge was an enormous help. When my brother related what kind of behavior he had witnessed from Dad, and the things Dad told him (like auditory hallucinations and thinking the hallucinations are real), apparently the doctor reacted with huge cartoon character eyes. Dad hadn't really explained it very well at his appointment 2 weeks ago (and also, it seems things have gotten worse in the past 2 weeks).

There's a strong chance this is all caused by the Zoloft (as it turns out, the doctor absolutely had NOT ruled that out as a cause, and Dad misunderstood her). But he can't just stop it cold turkey, so the upshot of the appointment is that Dad's doctor referred him to a geriatric neuropsychiatrist, which is exactly who he needs to see.

My brother and SiL are headed back to Colorado tomorrow, so I will absolutely go with Dad to the appointment with the geriatric neuropsychiatrist. This immediate situation needs to be resolved before I take a gigantic step back from caretaking, and that's fine. Or, it's not *fine*, but it is what it is. I can do this. I have support and a really good therapist.

My brother said he'll help me sort everything out with the Council on Aging and possibly a medical advocate, because he can do a lot of research and make a lot of calls from Colorado. And I really, really appreciate that.

So the next step is that I'll call Dad tomorrow and see if he made an appointment with the geriatric neuropsychiatrist. And, you know, get through this.

And I'm a little bourbon-drunk right now. God bless Wild Turkey 101.

Good luck, Teppy! I hope it's figured out soon and is a side effect or something easily fixable.

And I'm a little bourbon-drunk right now. God bless Wild Turkey 101.

I support this. And I'm glad that your dad's doctor seems to be more on the ball than you thought. Health ~ma to you and the family.

Teppy, that sounds like a lot of progress, and I'm glad your brother was able to help a bit.

as it turns out, the doctor absolutely had NOT ruled that out as a cause, and Dad misunderstood her

I was hoping that was the situation. Hooray for your brother, and the doc, and bourbon! Hang in there. You can get through this part and you don't have to keep carrying your dad yourself forever

Glad to hear there are at least some steps in the right direction happening, Steph!

I know I only met your brother for a hot second years ago, Teppy, but he struck me as so big and strong and good- hearted... I'm glad he's on your team.

Going to bed happy because of the art saving firefighter, not to mention good news about health care plans in Teppytown. Yay on competent helpful siblings.

I used to think it would have been so cool to be a teenager in the Sixties so I could be grooving at the love ins, marches and protests, but now I don't like those things all that much.