Just need to talk to my friends (200)

Mint

Good morning

Ron prayers that you will feel better soon.

HB hope things work out for the best

David1946

Good morning all, if you've been following my story you know I have dementia and am waiting to got totheVeterans home in Boston I got the final application on line and someone is coming to my house in a couple of weeks to asses me so I maybe in the Veterans home by tbe first of the year. Then last week I fell and broke my ankle. To add to my story I broke a tooth and I am having my tooth pulled today and have an implant put in. To add to my confusion I was supposed to see the orthopedic dr today that got changed to Wednesday. So you can imagine how f—ing confused my mind is right now. Also my wife is confused and now we are trying to get the VNA to help give me a shower. I hope that this it for awhile.

Caro_Lynne

Checking in with my porch friends. I will catch up on your posts when I can. I miss him so so much! I'm letting myself grieve and cry. I've been without healthy, normal him for 2-1/2 years but now I'm truly alone 💔

Thanks for your support xo

Lorita

Marie, your crochet pieces are beautiful. Lots of hours of work there.

David, how far is the veterans home from where you live? I agree with Eagle, I bet your wife does mind taking you places.Good luck with all your appointments

I have found a show I've been enjoying the past few days. It's Morning Joe in MSNBC. Joe gets so excited about things.

Pretty day here, cool morning warmer, almost hot afternoons. Both sets of cows have been upset and bawling this morning. They hear a truck and think someone is coming to feed. Ours are standing by the fence and the others have gone up to their feeding area, then back down here and are now waiting around. Sometimes I wish I hadn't sold them but feeding is hard. Guess no one does things exactly like we would.

RON, hope things get better for you very soon.

CaroLynn, I understand how hard it is. I lost Charles almost ten years ago and I still cry and miss him. I dream of him often and that helps for a little while. This month has been hard because we always enjoyed a trip to NW Arkansas in October. Many memories.

jfkoc

Ron…when you feel bad post! We have pretty good viral medical care on the porch…lol

David…Please do not short change your wife. She may not mind driving you at all and once you are in the VA your trip will likely be limited. Have you thought of using an Uber?

HB…gold stars sent for your chart.

Iris L.

I'm back from my trip but I came home with a very bad VIRUS. I took two COVID tests which were negative, also tests for influenza A and B were negative. But this is a strong virus because I never had so much coughing or such thick sputum ( sorry if TMI). I've spent three days in bed, I still feel sick. I'll post more when I feel better.

Iris

Lorita

Iris, glad you're home but sorry you're so ill. Could it be RSV? Take care, rest and drink lots of fluids. . Listen at me telling a doctor what to do. Sorry.

David1946

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/226239#Comment_226239

Lorita,the Veterans home is less than one hour away. I know she is willing to take me anywhere I want to go but I feel guilty about asking her.

My primary care gave me a recommendation letter for the Veterans. That makes me one step closer.

Mint

Good evening

Caro-Lynne glad to see you on the porch. ((( It is ok to sit on the porch and cry.)))

lol Lorita I went up to pediatrics one day and there set a physician asking the nurses how to treat her child's earache. In fairness to her she was not a pediatrician. I just thought it was cute.

Iris hope you get to feeling better.

Ron notice your chair is empty. Hope you felt a little better today.

ronald71111

Still In the hospital! Changed my iv medicine again and even though I'm still having problems, I believe it's better. Never have been in a hospital this long, unless it was for surgery. Also, noticed with my evening meal my hand is shaking. Wonder if this healthy diet they make me eat has my blood sugar low.

Ron

BethL

Get well soon, Ron. I'm so sorry that you are so sick.

Lorita

Take care, Ron. Hope you're better soon.

JeriLynn66

Ron, Caro Lynne, HB, Iris: thinking of you this morning.

Mint

Good morning

harshedbuzz

Good morning to the early risers.

Loveskitties— The work on those blankets is truly art. The Paw Patrol, especially, made me smile.

David— It seems odd that the Senior Transportation van doesn't have the capacity to work for those with mobility issues. Perhaps they have an ADA-compliant van. Or consider Uber/GoGoGrandparent. The latter uses Uber/Lyft but it's a concierge service that is easier for seniors to manage. I know from a friend whose mom lives in suburban Boston it does operate in your area.

Carolynn— This is such a sad period for you. It's such a difficult transition.

Iris— I know we're on opposite sides of the country, but that sounds very like the virus DS and I had last month. I tested negative for COVID and Flu A/B, too. I suspect it's the one that landed mom in the hospital, too. She was also negative for flu, COVID and RSV. My cough is still, umm, productive. The nurse yesterday told me mom's cough was the most violent she'd ever heard. Yikes.

Ron— I'm so sorry. You and mom have very similar issues. She's been hospitalized since the 13th with pneumonia. She did 2 different antibiotics, IV steroids, breathing treatments every 4 hours. They tried, and failed, twice to wean her off the IV meds and onto oral. She's finally in all oral medications, done the antibiotics but still on a nebulizer treatment every 4 hours and on 40mg prednisone for now. BTW, your hand shaking is likely the result of the steroids you're being given. YMMV, but I find anything above 40mg/day or delivered IV really gets mom's hands rattling. I've had to cut her food and transfer her soup into a Styrofoam cup because the bowl of the spoon was empty by the time it got to her mouth.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________-

I failed miserably at getting a short rehab stay. On one hand, though, I think she's less likely to contract COVID at home and I think her cat is the best medicine for her.

I did put my foot down about the ambulation. She had a wonderful nurse yesterday who was very empathetic to how I was feeling. She talked to me about what the PT report offered. I sense she didn't like the discharge plan much either. I countered that I was not comfortable assuming responsibility for a patient who has not demonstrated the ability to walk. She hooked mom up to portable O2 and we did a circuit around the unit which is greater in distance than what she'll need to do at home. She did pretty well. I think we'll be OK.

The nurse did agree with me about the ridiculousness of the PT report including mom's need for "supervision of family" as a mobility aid. I just shook my head. There is no family, just Harshed B. Discharge is supposed to be today. I'm catching up on laundry so I can pack for my stay at her house. I've got to food shop for her house and bring some supplies from here— shower chair, wedge pillow, laptop. I want them to supply portable O2 (I have big tanks at her house and one on my car) and a rolling walker.

I'm going to need to rent a car. DH and I share one and DS's is in the shop awaiting a new clutch. I can't leave DS and DH without wheels and I'll need the car. Ugh.

And because I like to make life interesting, I set mom up with a telehealth visit with her psychiatrist. The doc rescheduled her 6 weeks out and she's overdue. I can do this from the hospital but will need a somewhat private place. Ugh again.

Maybe her roomie will be gone today. She was supposed to be discharged yesterday. She's been there 2 days with a concussion after a fall. She's a character— older than mom and something of a social activist. She seems to have hearing loss and ran Zoom meetings with the boards of 2 different Quake Meeting committees. She was focused, organized and articulate (and loud) during the meetings. Between family and friends called. She used the phone's speaker mode and was a whole different animal. With friends she adopted a kind of whiny little-old-lady voice. I had to laugh. I felt bad for her, though, dealing with mom's cough which is loud and kind of TMI.

Wish me luck today.
HB

David1946

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/226332#Comment_226332

The vans do have lift on them my problem is I have to walk down my driveway about 150 ft to the van and the driver is not allowed to help me and with snow coming it almost be impossible for me to get down the driveway. Also my wife is afraid that I might fall again (I fall quite often).

Also I just got the final application for the Veterans home (which is a long term care facility) so I maybe moving there by the first of the year.

Lorita

Morning. Sun is up and it will be about 90 today. Summer and drought still holding on. HB, how lucky your mother is to have you as he advocate. So important to have someone to speak up for you when you really can't. I went through this with my daddy and my mother while I was still working and then làter with Charles. Not always easy but necessary to see the care they need and deserve.

Ron, hope you are better this morning. Let us hear from you if you feel like it.

Iris, also hope you are better today. How awful to come back from your trip and be so ill. Feel better soon.

jfkoc

up and walking out the door…later

Mint

Ok I'm going to mention this. I thought about mentioning it earlier but decided against it. Think it is time. All I am doing is mentioning it as I have very little to no experience with this, Pertussis/whooping cough. It is being seen by Dr Griffin an infectious disease doctor out of NYC that i listen to every Saturday morning on TWIV. He mentioned it a bit last Saturday. The only experience I have is as I have mentioned before with an infant less than 30 days old who came to ER and we had to intubate, ventilate and transport to a children's hospital, not good . Children in household had not had vaccines.

Dr Griffin mentioned last week that it is a nasty disease and that it can take a while to get over it. I believe he said the cough can last as long as 3 months. I’ll start paying closer attention to what he says. I read just a little bit on it. Said it is easily spread and mucus is thick and stringy. Just something to think about. Many physicians may not have seen it so may not be on their radar screen.

There can be a bit of MRSA, Cdiff etc. on rehab units too HB. They are sort of a petri dish as people there are usually pretty sick and have often been sick for awhile. HB Im sorry you have been placed in this position. Know a little bit about the stress that is involved. You can always call a squad and go back to ER if things go sideways at home.

ronald71111

I just got home! I was told not to get out and about until at the least Monday. I was sent home with prednisone 20mg and levofloxacin 500mg.

Ron

Lorita

Happy for you, Ron. No place like home. Hey you veel.more relaxed already. It is hot here and probably is there, too, so stay in. Will someone look in on you? Keep your phone with you and rest, rest, rest. Don't forget fluids and be sure to eat. Keep us informed.

JeriLynn66

Ron I was thinking about you as we ate supper. I fixed a pot of brunswick stew and some cornbread and thought, if Ron was nearby I sure would take him some for his supper. Hope being home helps quicken your recovery time. Stay in and rest. Drink lots of fluid to loosen that mucous. Take care.

Lorita

Iris, how are you feeling today? Hope you're better. Please let us know.

We were 20 degrees above normal temp today, set a record and will again this week. There are 30 of our 77 counties under burn bans. Always a scary time of year. Maybe a little rain by Halloween. It's been a terrible summer. Pastures look like they do in winter. At least the grasshoppers are gone!

BethL

Mint, is the DPT vaccine not effective in keeping a person from getting pertussis? Or is it that people aren't good about keeping up with the vaccine?

HB, I too am sorry you are placed in this position. Take care. I know you'll take care of Mom, but be sure to also to take care of yourself.

Ron, so glad you are home!

Beth

David1946

Today was the first time that I went out since I broke my ankle. It felt funny with the boot on my foot. Because of my boot my wife will not let me get my rollar of the car when we went out to lunch at the local Tech school which put on lunches for seniors a couple times a year. And because of my broken ankle she doesn't want me to go to my exerciasses (I know that she is looking for me) she is afraid that I may fall again and end up in a nursing home.

I believe I told you that I am on the waiting list for the local Veterans Home (which is a long term health care facility), well I have received the final application and I could be there by the first of the year.

Please keep me in your prayers that I am accepted.

jfkoc

David, I think you need to be using a walker all of the time for now. Do they have chair exercises? What instruction did the Dr give you?

Mint

Beth it is but it has been a long time since I had it. Im not sure if still effective or not. Saw something about taking it every 10 years. I take tetanus every 10 years but not sure anything else was in it. Maybe my doctor will know. Saw something else about you were ok unless outbreak in your area. At work i would say i prefer a preemptive strike when i was dealing with a patient. Too late after it has broke out is how i see it lol. Maybe Dr Griffin will mention it someday. Going to try and remember to ask my doctor. Could ask the pharmacist too. They actually are the ones who keep me more up to date and ask me about if I have had this or that vaccine.

David prayers that things will work out for you.

David1946

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/226369#Comment_226369

Jfkoc,I have been using a rollator since I was determined to have Dementia about one year ago. I can't see me not using one. I will see the orthopedic doctor tomorrow then I will know what he wants me to do.

If you remember I had a broken tooth and last Wednesday went to have the dentist look at it and it was determined I needed an implant and when I came home and fell and broke my ankle and went to the ER. So between a broken tooth and my broken ankle my mind and my wife's mind we are going crazy so this is why my wife is overprotective when it comes to my using my rollator all the time and not going to exercise classes she is afraid I will fall again. And this is why we are hoping that I get accepted into the VETERANS HOME so my wife won't have to worry about my well-being.

Mint

good morning

ronald71111

Good morning front porch friends! Blue Bell ice cream after homemade vegetable soup 🍲 last night was great. Last 5 days everything i ate had no sugar or salt. I'll be good, but had to splurge a little!

Ron