Wednesday

 You have no idea how many tubes of mouth gel and lip have been used in the last two days, but I've got several more for today's marathon.  Why?  Because the doctor in CC informed me today that at 82, she is too old to get relief from even Lyrica.  Nurse sat and held her hand for 4 hours during the night as she cried (on neurontin).  Chris is going for the weekend and will talk to her, the doctor will only discharge to a nursing home since she can't walk with that pain.  We put in a request to transfer her to transitional care here and her PCP can take over.  

My brother found a large box in his storage filled with magazines from 40's and 50's.  This Valentine one has many labels missing and is quite yellow and in my burning pile, but the two for knitting are readable and fairly decent.  Published in 1944 and 1945, fragile but if you collect such as these, I'd be happy to send them out.  Let me know if you're interested.  samplersandsantas@gmail.com

I am quite upset that I've not worked on Margret, but once these calls and related research is completed, Chris will be with her all weekend and I will focus on my postponed appointments to be rescheduled, contractor for interior, landscaper to rip everything out in the back, excavators to install the new sewer lines, and serious search for a new house.  Considered moving previously, and have to be prepared.

Margret is waiting for me this evening.

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Tuesday

Oh my.  She is slowly improving, we know she will never fully recover but hoping for improved quality of life however long she will grace earth.  It's so upsetting, surprising, and frustrating, with or without advocate.  She spoke with her son twice in two weeks, four times with us.  When she did answer her cell yesterday afternoon with Mark,  he had such a hard time holding it together.  Crying and sobbing unable to catch her breath, tremendous pain from clots in a leg that was swollen, undiagnosed, and painful from the beginning.  ICU managed her pain well enough to be tolerated and

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forget it.  I am so exhausted from searching for help, making calls, now trying to find a hospital sitter which I was told is prohibited.  She is allowed one visitor during her stay, no one can tell her who it must be. 

One of my orders was delivered today and as usual, not as expected.  Zippered pouches from my first order were very similar to todays, a fancy freezer bag with a zipper.  My second order (Sunee) was fantastic, heavy, very smooth zipper, side tab, and if there is such a thing, sensual touch plastic (blue with tag).  The new claim to be Sunee, but are not the quality of the first order.  Returning.  

Finally got wired.  When I first started wearing these I felt like donning a Stetson and western boots while a device larger than my TV remote hung from a holster.  Kept a journal, documented anything that required more effort.  Ya know, like being nice to idiots.  What a vast waste field that has become.  This recorder is only about two inches and is held center chest.  Tight tank tops were perfect for keeping wires secure but all I have in my olden days is a man's undershirt in small.

Thanks for sticking around.  As soon as we get her home (no idea when) this will be the welcome home giftaway.

Have a nice tomorrow.

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Friday

 Husband received vaccine #2 and is very fatigued so no golf today.  I'm sitting here after talking with Carole, making plans for dinner, and adding Voltaren (thank you Amy) to my list.  My brother was told to use Tei-Fu Muscle Recovery Lotion, all natural, for his neck problems and is very pleased with it.  Not for pain, but muscle release.  

The nurse caring for Carole came to her bed after hearing her talk.  Most times she is reciting a vivid but not often appealing dream.  No, she is not leaving ICU today or tomorrow.  I was again giving wrong info to everyone on the list, including the patient!  She is in xtreme pain because of a clot in the already painful and swollen left leg.  Fentanyl lasted an hour (then what's the attraction?) did nothing, she is refusing OXY.  I told her to try a half dose first with the nurse, if not upset, take the other.  Her BP is 115/54 so they started her on BP reduction meds to find that balance for weak hearts.  Offered iron and blood which were quite low, and I learned something new.  Shaking, unable to find words, difficulty communicating, and thinking you're in the woods were a big concern to her.  Last time this same valve was done, she was tied to her bed and growling.  Not uncommon.  But we were surprised that a test exists to determine mental status of such patients.  Carole had a positive score for ICU delirium and she said "finally, I passed a test". 

Petey continues to not use one leg, I tried to get a closer look and he bolted so I won't do that again.  His heated house may be getting too warm for him, first time in months he chose the white one and we got a midnight chuckle seeing this.  

Have a nice weekend!!

I hope to catch up with posts,IG, and videos.

Stay well!

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Warm and windy

I was scolded by a friend for this post complaining about CC so I removed it. 

I said they are the best in tech, doctors, nurses, and because of Covid they need to have a site with answers for family because ICU nurses should not be taken from their patients for minor questions and test results.  And that would also correct the issues this family had with getting answers clearly reported rather than person to person.  

I don't have the strength to deal with unreasonable hate filled hypocrites.

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 I'm physically exhausted, mentally spent.  Bitchdom's crown gets heavy after months of stress.  Carole is being moved out of ICU tomorrow if there is a room for her in the cardiac unit.  Not much change in condition but still good news.

We have a high wind warning for 2am through tomorrow.  I hope no damage results but I love to hear wind in the calm quiet of the night.  Today I needed to relax a little so along with my sweet tea, I took my sanders outside in an attempt to remove 2" of skin from my heels.  I went back in for more Splenda and ...... 

so there he stayed enjoying the warm afternoon.

As soon as we have more info on Carole I can make a new appt for him.  I found the Temptations Creamy tube Charlotte recommended and I spent over $40 on cans that he ate last week but probably never will again.  He's eating dry food too if I mist it with water.  But whether liquid, pate, or dry, it only takes one bite and off he goes on a bad day.

My index and middle finger are now trigger and no longer bend from weeks of texting on a 2" screen to four people at a time plus typing emails.  I've postponed many doc visits so checking online for a remedy would be my only option.  Yes I will look for a phone but we have a ton of money leaving this spring and a new monthly payment.  Hopefully, a smart ass phone won't be necessary or used to this extent in the future.  

Thanks for visiting with me!

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Yesterday was not Monday

Sorry, most days I have no idea.  She made it through the night after what the nurse called an issue, then stabilized.  Her kind doctor called at 10pm yesterday which of course was alarming, but I'm very grateful to her for working so late and still thinking of family.  Everyone involved is hoping her BP rises, but drugs are required to help it (below 95/50).  When she would feel weak at home, she would sit and even just a few minutes would allow it to rise.  Lying flat, no movement for almost a week and it's that low?  What will happen when she stands?  Well, that is not in the next few days.  I cannot imagine four weeks without a shower, hair wash, seeing no family for two, but the absolute worst is lying flat for weeks, spinal stenosis pain, extreme foot pain, difficult to eat, bedpans.  She must remain on that lifesaving pump for ????? requiring this miserable position.  I don't know if I would be able to do anything but send out a grateful cry.  If this continues and the mitral does not improve sufficiently to hold a better pressure, I don't think she would survive another surgery.  During the valve replacement, TEE was repeated and they were pleased to see immediate mitral improvement, but whether it continues will be told in the next few days. 

Excuse please if I repeat myself in posts.  With my dumb phone texts needed typed (no voice) and allowed a max of four recipients in each, to finding a window or yard area with a bar or two to send, confusion and repetition is rampant.  Personally phoning is saved for immediate family, any more fades my voice to a whisper and the grease doesn't help that.  

Minimal work on this, but I am loving the colors I changed so far.  36 PTP Legacy.

Bud ate a can of FF another 1/2 the next day so he's hanging in there.  Won't lick the vitamin gel, cannot hold him to get a pill or anything close to his mouth.  If our vet has trouble, no way I want to risk a bite from that mouth.  Petey is limping again.  And the gorgeous long hair that Chris tried trapping for two months, is back.  

Enjoy your day!  

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So far, so good

 What a day.  Once again, I accidently found out mid afternoon that the TAVR procedure had started before noon without notice to family.  Calls were not returned, her excellent doctor in OR called me for 10 seconds and told me she did well, no intubation.  We know Monday is hectic and honestly, these ICU nurses should be with patients and have a few minutes to rest instead of explaining to so many families.  But after informing them 3 times that no messages or calls are coming to us and verifying the #, a new nurse checked again and it was NOT correct.  Also informed us there is no way she will be home soon, pump can't be removed, BP is too low, and she must remain flat until removal.  Were thankful, and hope she continues to improve without setbacks.

Thanks to you all!!

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