Just need to talk to my friends (191)

@ronald71111 said:

"I don't understand her medicine not being able to transfer to another pharmacy unless it's because of what it is. I know from past experence that medicine can be transfered by the pharmacy. I have had a medicine transfered by the pharmacy themselves!"

Not all medications can be transferred. Morphine is Schedule II narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act. These prescriptions can be challenging to get filled. My son with ASD/ADHD/GAD takes Vyvanse which, along with other stimulants, is a Schedule II medication as well. With the uptick in diagnoses in COVID-times with people trying to work or attend school with distraction, more folks are taking these meds and there's a chronic shortage.

The psychiatric practice where mom, DS and my niece are seen has a full time employee who spends the day processing these prescriptions which means reaching out to individual pharmacies to find out what doses they have on hand, then cobbling together the available strengths to make up the appropriate dose (DS takes 60mg-- this month it's a 20/40 combo; last month was 30/30) and pushing through the insurance company to get a pre-authorization and override numbers for those doses and hopefully getting it all done before the pharmacy sells out of what they have on hand. The great irony of this is that DS chose this medication with his doctor because it was specifically created to circumvent recreational use/abuse.

HB

Ron, the ENT doctor told me that the main thing is not to eat anything for three hours before bedtime. Also elevating the head of the bed helps.

Iris

Ron, I have had the same problem for at least fifty years. For me too, it seems a bit worse now, although I am not bothered as much as you are. Perhaps stress makes it worse.

We have beautiful weather here too in southern California.

Iris

It paid off me calling and leaving the speech therapist a message. She called back and I have a appointment with her Wednesday to complete part of the test. If I remember correctly when they discovered the achalasia I saw her for a couple of test and then she set up the appointment with radiologists for swallowing test. She did give me some new information I didn't know. When I take my medicine take it with warm water, I always kept spring water in refrigerator and drank it.

They are going to start closing one lane of the interstate I travel to VA on. Going to do a complete redo on the interstate that was built in the 60s and had just been patched over the years. Guess I'll probably take the old highway through Shreveport and stay off the interstate.

Ron

Just saw this recipe for Chicken, Tortellini Soup from the Pioneer Woman; sounds really good and one can use a rotisserie chicken along with the fresh veggies and garlic. One thing I would suggest; if using tortellini, use the small ones. The regular size ones get "flabby: when put in a soup and worse when re-heating. I have to start using parmesan rinds; I have never done that and I imagine it really does make things much more umami.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/soup-pioneer-woman-comfort-food-180000277.html

J. P.S. (I'm hungry)

I ate my share of watermelon this summer. Meant to tell you, Loretta, when I was at one of the farmstand this summer they had a sign that said orange watermelon’s. They were all gone so I didn’t get to try it, maybe next year. I’ve never seen an orange watermelon in the store. Found out that one of the farm stand I’m going to this year stays open all year round.

made an apple cake today and glazed it with butter, maple syrup and powder sugar mixture.The cake was so soft and it tasted like a maple frosted apple donut. It’s a keeper.

Met my sister‘s new dog today. It’s a rescue dog a Bernie poodle. It was really sweet and it has the prettiest coat in. It was so soft.

So hope each one of you can get a good nights rest.

Ron, I always take my meds with water, sometimes with applesauce.

Lorita, parenteral nutrition via intravenous infusion has been done for years. I don't know why this cannot be done for Sarah. I will ask my brother about this, he is a dietician.

The weather is getting cooler, today there is still a heavy marine layer of clouds even at this time, 1:45 pm, this usually clears by 11 am. I will have to get my fall jackets ready.

I feel bad today, I had an appointment that I thought was scheduled for noon, but it actually was for 10 am! I have to be more diligent about checking my calendar!

Iris

Hi everyone, we finally got a little rain and a much cooler weather. My son who is 28 wants to move home and save money. I am not thrilled with having his two cats but his mom is delighted. Between caring for my parents and my wife I am having a lot of anxiety. I am going to doctor next week because my BP is elevated too. It might be time for a anti depressant. There are days that I am a bundle of nerves. On the positive side i have been getting better at giving my worries to the Lord. I hope you all have a good weekend and God bless you all.

Judith believe there are tiny, mini and standard bernedoodles. He is a mini, weigh 25-50 pounds and 18-22 inches tall. I’m tired tonight Judith but not exhausted, sleep good.

Scott I’m so very sorry about your burden. I have issues with anxiety too with my mother. Like you I’m better at leaving it with God some days than others. I put too much pressure on myself and you probably do too. You have way more to deal with than I do. My mom is the only one I’m having to deal with now and can be overwhelming if I don’t keep my thoughts controlled. Hope you are able to find some help.

Eagle that is good advice. Wearing it some but should probably wear it more than I do. Have mainly been wearing where I can’t maintain my distance as you should, so crowded situations.

Yes I used fresh apples Lorita. Will attach recipe in case anyone would like to try it. If you try it cake batter very thick. Just keep stirring apples in til evenly mixed.

Jo and others looking for longer tops, have you tried searching on tunic? I primarily buy tunic length tops. I find them on Talbots, Lands end and LL Bean. I need petite proportions (sleeves, etc) but don't want the typical 23-24 inch petite length. Tunics are 3-5 inches longer.

Good afternoon. My daughter left this morning to go home. I will miss her and her help and love she gave me while she was here. She has enough individual meals in my freezer to last me a couple of months. That will come in handy on the days I feel tired.

Jo, I was in hospital three days and went to rehab on the 4th day. I was there for ten days and released to home on day 13. It was nice to come home. I wouldn’t have guessed I could be home alone today, but I am confident I can do the necessary things and my daughter near here will help me with things I can’t manage yet.

I walked 1/4 mile for the first time this morning. It feels great, but I am pretty worn out when I get finished. My back feels pretty weak. My walker has a seat on it so I can stop and sit for a minute when I need to. It’s crazy how weak your back feels. My legs felt stronger from the beginning but I notice more changes every week.

My surgeon doesn’t believe in back braces, so I don’t have one. Sometimes I wish I had one. I would feel more confident in not bending or twisting. Overall, I’m doing more each week. I’m awfully tired, but the surgeon said I would be, so I just rest and not worry about it.

We are having beautiful fall weather here. Some of the bushes on the mountains are turning colors already. My flower plots are kind of overgrown and messy looking, but I can’t do anything this fall, so they will have to wait until spring. The grass is super green and beautiful.

Enough about me. Lorita, I saw the glitches in the post when I signed on too. That’s crazy. I need to get up and stroll around a bit with my walker, so I’ll sign off and check in tomorrow . Enjoy the rest of this beautiful Sunday. Joan

Hello on a new Monday. Joan; you are really doing well - 1/4 of a mile - that is amazing! Good for you. My DH did say that he too has back weakness. Not as severe as earlier, but his back still feels somewhat weak and he must pay attention to it. This stands to reason since a long incision through the muscle/tissues has been made with a lot of manipulation during the procedure. It will take awhile for that tissue to knit and recoup. One bit I read, stated that it takes about a year for the nerves to fully regenerate. You are making very good progress. My husband's surgeon did not demand the very long distance walking that yours did. Goodness; tired me out thinking about it!

As for the back brace; DHs surgeon has all of his patients wearing back braces following their laminectomy and fusion; so do the other three back surgeons I know. I would imagine if you stated your wish for a supportive brace, that your surgeon would probably prescribe it for you. Perhaps he feels that if he prescribes a brace, that his patients will not strengthen their backs; don't know. DH's is a black brace, not big at all, and it secures with a velcro strap around the waist to the front.

Are you continuing P.T. at home? Bill had six weeks of home P.T. two times a week, and now goes for outpatient P.T. twice a week for nine weeks. The P.T. at home was marvelous - she was so smart and so good with him. She also had SO many handy tips and later in the therapy, took him all over the house and different areas to even show him how to do this and that in the kitchen, in the laundry, how to shower, up and down off furniture and bed; climbing up and down the stairwell, etc. One thing she did that was so helpful that I never thought of . . . . we have one bathroom with a toilet room that is smaller in size; it was difficult to walk into that area with a walker to use the toilet and turn the walker around. Well; she simply took the walker and removed the wheel portions - she then put them on again on the inside of the walker rather than their being on the outside. This gained inches and permitted much ease of use for closer quarters. Never would have thought of that.

How dear of your daughter to be so supportive and all those meals! Our daughter flew in from out of state and stayed six weeks. We never, ever would have made it without her. She did so much in so many ways and we are very grateful. Hated to see her go; it was a lovely time.

Hang in there Joan and remember to take it easy and to sit when feeling tired or weak; DH will get upstairs and do something; but then sits down for a few minutes to rest his back and then up again. He does this pretty much to rest his back routinely. He does not wear his back brace when he gets up to go to the bathroom or to get water, etc.; but when going distances in the house or doing a chore, he wears it. Always wears it when out of the house and out of the car. He now bends using his knees, but I do feel concern he sometimes may forget and bend at the waist, so am glad he has the brace.

I have been thinking about Zetta too. I pretty much thought she was probably very busy with work and tired afterward; (did she not increase her days at the SNF?) Hope we hear from her soon.

We just had the most awful tragic news. A young deputy sheriff had just gone on duty. He was in uniform alone in a police car- he had just left the sheriff's station and was sitting at a red light waiting for it to change; had not done anything on duty as of yet. A car pulled up next to him; the driver pulled out a gun and shot him in the head and killed him. Horrible and so hard to believe who would do something so evil. The killer had never had contact with the deputy prior to the ambush killing. The deputy had just become engaged four days prior to his death; his father and grandfather had also been deputy sheriff's. The suspect was identified and has been arrested - he appeared to live in a nice big two story house in a nice neighborhood. The "why" of it is not known as yet. The poor family of the deputy; devastated beyond measure. I had not realized the statistics from law enforcement officer ambush murders:

There have been 83 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement thus far in 2023, with 101 officers shot – 15 of them fatally, according to a September 5 report. Saturday’s shooting comes three years after two Los Angeles deputies were ambushed at a train station while sitting in their patrol vehicle; they were not on a call and had not had any activity nor did the shooter know them. Both deputies, one a mother of a six year old child, were in critical condition for some time, and both were left with disabilities. Sorry; enough about that. Just hit me, the dreadfulness of it. (DH and two sons involved in law enforcement.)

It is lovely outside today; about 76 degrees which is perfect weather. No humidity to speak of and a soft breeze just barely moving the leaves on the trees. Won't be long before winter comes to visit; but right now it seems light years way. I did look on QVC looking at winter tops - but did not like much. I do not use items with nylon, rayon or spandex; so much of those garments have one or the other or both.

Have to give in soon and make a haircut appointment; seems to creep up on me. I am so glad that I am no longer having my hair tinted and high-lighted. I used to have to go in every four weeks for a re-do; and sit there for several hours getting it completed. Sometimes I think I would like to have dark hair again; but then remember how I disliked going in and sitting for so long while being marinated, so am embracing my white dandelion coiffure. Have to laugh when I look at me in the mirror. Who IS that old broad? I think of my busy, busy all together aunt; she is going on 104; is healthy as can be, vibrant, walks long distances each day and is busy helping run activities for the elderly. She cooks, she cleans, she does everything . . . how I wish I could be like her when I grow up - but I think that train has already left the station. She is a wonder to behold and her three surviving sisters are in their late 90's and about to be centurions themselves. Her mother, my grandmother was in her late 90's and totally big time independent. She died secondary to trauma; she had been working in her garden when she was run over by a scooter car pinning her against her house; she sustained multiple severe injuries from which she never fully recovered.

Lorita, I think all will be okay; Sarah waxes and wanes in her contacts but she knows you are there for her and always comes back to talk. I can well imagine how concerned you are; but she has always managed and when she cannot, she gets herself to the hospital, so that in a way is good to know rather than her not getting to help at all. I don't know how she does it at home; seems impossible, but she does seem to cope. Do hope that she has good oversight with Home Health nurses and also hope she lets them come in and assist.

Sayra's Apple Cake sounds delicious with the Maple Glaze. I am wondering; I noticed the note with the flour amount - is that self-rising flour? I have not had a cake using self-rising; can it be made with regular flour? Fresh apples and maple syrup glaze sounds like a perfect autumn recipe. Makes me want to dig out slip on sweaters and light the fireplace, but it is still too close to 80 degrees to do that yet.

Judith; how are things going and how is your head? Are you knitting together as yet? Just such an awful fall and am still so sorry that happened to you. Is your re-do house on the market yet? Will be good when you reap the benefits of all that work. It is indeed a lot of work. Will you think of doing that again? Takes a lot of planning, energy and stick-to-it-ividness to get it all done. That is a lot.