LuvMyLilDoggie
02-28-2005, 03:43 PM
I watched Jane Pauley's show today. It was about Alzheimer's. Very interesting to hear the stories of people, young and old, who are going through this. David Hyde Pierce was on there and told his story too. His mom's dad had alzheimer's. His grandma died of a stroke before his grandpa died. Then his dad got alzheimers and his mom later came down with pancreatic cancer and died from that before his dad died.
They talked about the caregivers too and the stress it puts on families. They talked about the fact that caregivers come down with illnesses of their own (due to the stress of caring for a loved one) at a much higher rate than average.
Some of the things that were said on the show got me to thinking. One guy was 51 years old with alzheimer's. He joked about how his wife wouldn't let him go to the grocery store anymore because he turned a 1 hour trip into 5 hours at the store. My dad does that when he goes with me. I tell him to get whatever he wants. I see something I know he likes and ask him if he wants it. He always says "get whatever Bo (that's my son) likes." I've kind of had it in the back of my mind for a while that maybe dad's confused about what he likes and just can't seem to make up his mind.
When watching that show today, I thought about something that happened yesterday. My son, my dad and I were sitting in the living room watching tv. My son had a box of cinnamon Altoids. He asked my dad if he wanted some Altoids. Dad took one which surprised me. He has always hated cinnamon so I said to him "I thought you didn't like cinnamon." He said "I don't" and ate it. Didn't even flinch! He loves sweets and I usually buy something he likes and something I know he doesn't like so the rest of us can have something sweet too. Well, I guess that explains where the cinnamon rolls went a few days ago. :)
What I'm wondering is if he's confused about what he likes and doesn't like or is it his sense of taste that's going. My son didn't tell him the altoids were cinnamon.
I know his sense of smell is shot but I won't go into that. ;)
Have a great day everyone!
Barb
They talked about the caregivers too and the stress it puts on families. They talked about the fact that caregivers come down with illnesses of their own (due to the stress of caring for a loved one) at a much higher rate than average.
Some of the things that were said on the show got me to thinking. One guy was 51 years old with alzheimer's. He joked about how his wife wouldn't let him go to the grocery store anymore because he turned a 1 hour trip into 5 hours at the store. My dad does that when he goes with me. I tell him to get whatever he wants. I see something I know he likes and ask him if he wants it. He always says "get whatever Bo (that's my son) likes." I've kind of had it in the back of my mind for a while that maybe dad's confused about what he likes and just can't seem to make up his mind.
When watching that show today, I thought about something that happened yesterday. My son, my dad and I were sitting in the living room watching tv. My son had a box of cinnamon Altoids. He asked my dad if he wanted some Altoids. Dad took one which surprised me. He has always hated cinnamon so I said to him "I thought you didn't like cinnamon." He said "I don't" and ate it. Didn't even flinch! He loves sweets and I usually buy something he likes and something I know he doesn't like so the rest of us can have something sweet too. Well, I guess that explains where the cinnamon rolls went a few days ago. :)
What I'm wondering is if he's confused about what he likes and doesn't like or is it his sense of taste that's going. My son didn't tell him the altoids were cinnamon.
I know his sense of smell is shot but I won't go into that. ;)
Have a great day everyone!
Barb
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Martha H
02-28-2005, 03:54 PM
That's very interesting, Barb. I think the sense of smell and taste do go. Mom eats some bizarre combinations. Like a roll with butter and barbecue sauce.
She cannot smell perfume at all, and thus greatly overuses it, luckily she doesn't have any left that is stronger than 'body spray' I think it's called.
OMIGOSH I suddenly realize that this explains how she doesn't get herself really clean and then DOES NOT NOTICE!
Shopping : On their way home from the Senior Center Mom almost always buys one of two items, and her Aide just lets her, I guess she gave up arguing. Bananas (I have to throw out the ones that get bad) and Rye Bread ..this never gets bad in our house.
Love, and welcome to the newcomers. This is the right place for help!
Too bad I was at work when Jane Pauley's show came on.
Love,
Martha
She cannot smell perfume at all, and thus greatly overuses it, luckily she doesn't have any left that is stronger than 'body spray' I think it's called.
OMIGOSH I suddenly realize that this explains how she doesn't get herself really clean and then DOES NOT NOTICE!
Shopping : On their way home from the Senior Center Mom almost always buys one of two items, and her Aide just lets her, I guess she gave up arguing. Bananas (I have to throw out the ones that get bad) and Rye Bread ..this never gets bad in our house.
Love, and welcome to the newcomers. This is the right place for help!
Too bad I was at work when Jane Pauley's show came on.
Love,
Martha
angel_bear
02-28-2005, 04:25 PM
Yep gal's, I tend to agree with you there.
MIL often puts strange combinations of food together, and BEWARE if you look sideways at it and she catches you! LOL ....
Roast Beef, French Salad dressing and mayonnaise
Chopped up onion, cabbage, capsicum in cheese and mayonnaise
cheese and peanut butter sandwiches
**ewwwwwwwww**
<b>Returning home: </b>Loves stopping in at the Bakery and getting a treat (vanilla slice, custard tart), sometimes bread, always goes to the vegie shop around the corner and get's fruit, fruit and more fruit. When there is too many fruit flies, we quietly chuck it out.
<b>Smells:</b> She can't smell off milk anymore, and there's usually 'something' in the fridge that smells wrong. You mention it, and she shrugs ...
<b>Eating: </b> If I put a little bit of food on her plate, she eats it all and is 'stuffed'. If I put a lot of food on her plate, she eats it all and is 'stuffed'. She seems to realise that if all the food is gone, then she must be full. If I do a buffet, she get's a bit confused, eats a bit and is 'stuffed' then eats more and 'is stuffed' .. and just keeps eating and eating until others at the table stop ...
They seem to have a mirror pattern eh?
Hugs ... we need more patience
Sally
MIL often puts strange combinations of food together, and BEWARE if you look sideways at it and she catches you! LOL ....
Roast Beef, French Salad dressing and mayonnaise
Chopped up onion, cabbage, capsicum in cheese and mayonnaise
cheese and peanut butter sandwiches
**ewwwwwwwww**
<b>Returning home: </b>Loves stopping in at the Bakery and getting a treat (vanilla slice, custard tart), sometimes bread, always goes to the vegie shop around the corner and get's fruit, fruit and more fruit. When there is too many fruit flies, we quietly chuck it out.
<b>Smells:</b> She can't smell off milk anymore, and there's usually 'something' in the fridge that smells wrong. You mention it, and she shrugs ...
<b>Eating: </b> If I put a little bit of food on her plate, she eats it all and is 'stuffed'. If I put a lot of food on her plate, she eats it all and is 'stuffed'. She seems to realise that if all the food is gone, then she must be full. If I do a buffet, she get's a bit confused, eats a bit and is 'stuffed' then eats more and 'is stuffed' .. and just keeps eating and eating until others at the table stop ...
They seem to have a mirror pattern eh?
Hugs ... we need more patience
Sally
Pat_S
02-28-2005, 05:47 PM
I think some of it (the grocery store) is because they just can't process information. We know just what we like or what we need, but it becomes an overwhelming decision for them.
Whenever I go to a restaurant with my dad, he usually gets exactly what I get, and let's me order for him. The servers think it's a virtue to rattle off all the specials and options as fast as they can, but he just can't understand anything they're saying. Makes me want to throttle them. :-)
Whenever I go to a restaurant with my dad, he usually gets exactly what I get, and let's me order for him. The servers think it's a virtue to rattle off all the specials and options as fast as they can, but he just can't understand anything they're saying. Makes me want to throttle them. :-)
LuvMyLilDoggie
02-28-2005, 06:23 PM
Wow! My dad does the same thing at the restaurant. He and I have always had pretty much the same likes amd dislikes (not many of those!) as far as food is concerned. I'll ask him what he's having and he'll say he doesn't know yet. Then when the waiter comes, I order and then he orders the same thing. So when he's with me, I try to be careful and order something I know he and I both like.
On another note, today has been a rough day. My son brought the mail in and gave everything to my dad. He opened the electric bill and off he went. He thinks that bill is too high for one month. He says he's going to have to pay the bills because I don't do it. I do, of course, but no sense arguing. And his credit card bills from when he was with my sister keep coming and he keeps hiding those. So when we get the phone calls (I intercept when I'm home), he tells them they're not his bills because he cut up his credit cards a long time ago. He thinks that because the credit cards are gone, there shouldn't be any bills. I'm sure I'm not telling you all something that you haven't experienced with your loved ones. But I learned something-something I've heard but not always put to use. If I just let him talk and not reason with him, life is better.
I have a terribly sore throat and am barely able to talk today. I have all the aches and pains like the flu. I had a fever last night but it's gone today. I wish I could say the same for the sore throat and cough. Those are much worse. I don't feel like eating. Everything except cereal (no milk) turns my stomach and as usual, dad always acts up at the worst times.
Wishing you all well....
Barb
On another note, today has been a rough day. My son brought the mail in and gave everything to my dad. He opened the electric bill and off he went. He thinks that bill is too high for one month. He says he's going to have to pay the bills because I don't do it. I do, of course, but no sense arguing. And his credit card bills from when he was with my sister keep coming and he keeps hiding those. So when we get the phone calls (I intercept when I'm home), he tells them they're not his bills because he cut up his credit cards a long time ago. He thinks that because the credit cards are gone, there shouldn't be any bills. I'm sure I'm not telling you all something that you haven't experienced with your loved ones. But I learned something-something I've heard but not always put to use. If I just let him talk and not reason with him, life is better.
I have a terribly sore throat and am barely able to talk today. I have all the aches and pains like the flu. I had a fever last night but it's gone today. I wish I could say the same for the sore throat and cough. Those are much worse. I don't feel like eating. Everything except cereal (no milk) turns my stomach and as usual, dad always acts up at the worst times.
Wishing you all well....
Barb
LuvMyLilDoggie
02-28-2005, 06:36 PM
Sally, my dad does that with a plate of food. I'll say "how much do you want?" and he'll say "just a little". So I try to figure out the in between. He has severe acid reflux and takes prescrition meds for it now. I had to take him to the emergency room in the middle of the night a couple of months ago because his pains were so severe we thought he might be having a heart attack except he was belching a LOT. I'll never forget that nor will I ever do that again. He tried to get out of the pickup truck while I was DRIVING! His reason? He thought he would feel better if he laid in the back. There was 2 feet of snow back there. Next time, I'm calling 911.
Hugs,
Barb
Hugs,
Barb
Martha H
02-28-2005, 06:43 PM
Barb, get checked for strep throat. My daughter, her 2 sons, and her mother in law all have it. It's going around, at least where they are in Indiana. She had the same symptoms including chills and outbreaks of sweat (changed nightclothes 2x a night) and still didn't see a doctor because it was assumed to be 'the flu'- a viral infection not treatable with antibiotics. It turned out to be strep thorat a bacterial infection which responds well to antibiotics, and in the meantime hers had already progressed to scarlet fever due to NOT treatng the strep infection..
As for restaurants: My Mom also cannot decide what to eat. ALWAYS chooses exactly what I order. Even at home has a hard time if I ask her to chose between two possible suppers. Decision making has to be taken over by us, the caragivers.
Credit card: I 'disappeared' Mom's card after she ignored bills so long that the charges were horrendous. She never missed it. She lost her Metrocard so often that I confiscated that too (it was not 'lost' lost, but hidden in an obscure place in the house.) I also have her medical insurance cards in a safe place after she sorted out her purse and removed them to 'a better place' and it took days to find them ...
It isn't easy.
Just now she removed the wall to wall bathroom rug and hung it over the tub because "IT was soaking wet, BUT I didn't do it. It wasn't me .. I didn't get water on it.'' I went to check and find a completely dry rug hanging over the tub ... it never was wet.
It is not easy.
Love,
Martha
As for restaurants: My Mom also cannot decide what to eat. ALWAYS chooses exactly what I order. Even at home has a hard time if I ask her to chose between two possible suppers. Decision making has to be taken over by us, the caragivers.
Credit card: I 'disappeared' Mom's card after she ignored bills so long that the charges were horrendous. She never missed it. She lost her Metrocard so often that I confiscated that too (it was not 'lost' lost, but hidden in an obscure place in the house.) I also have her medical insurance cards in a safe place after she sorted out her purse and removed them to 'a better place' and it took days to find them ...
It isn't easy.
Just now she removed the wall to wall bathroom rug and hung it over the tub because "IT was soaking wet, BUT I didn't do it. It wasn't me .. I didn't get water on it.'' I went to check and find a completely dry rug hanging over the tub ... it never was wet.
It is not easy.
Love,
Martha
LuvMyLilDoggie
02-28-2005, 08:06 PM
I'll call the doctor tomorrow. I was going to do it today but got distracted and actually forgot. I'm sick. How can I forget to call the doctor? lol
I live in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, about 35 miles from Indiana. I guess it could very well be strep. Oh sheeezzz, that's ALL we need.
Well, dad is quitely sitting in the living room with my son watching a loud (he has some trouble hearing too) action packed movie with the Surround Sound on. Things are more tranquil this evening but my fever is coming back. I'm waiting on my husband to get off work and bring me some more meds and Gatorade.
The dogs are barking like crazy now so my dh must be home. :)
Aww, dh bought some soup for me too. Chicken noodle and chicken and dumplings. What a sweety! He really takes good care of me. :)
Love,
Barb
I live in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, about 35 miles from Indiana. I guess it could very well be strep. Oh sheeezzz, that's ALL we need.
Well, dad is quitely sitting in the living room with my son watching a loud (he has some trouble hearing too) action packed movie with the Surround Sound on. Things are more tranquil this evening but my fever is coming back. I'm waiting on my husband to get off work and bring me some more meds and Gatorade.
The dogs are barking like crazy now so my dh must be home. :)
Aww, dh bought some soup for me too. Chicken noodle and chicken and dumplings. What a sweety! He really takes good care of me. :)
Love,
Barb
angel_bear
02-28-2005, 09:04 PM
I'm sure when we're crook (sick, ill, off colour) they sense it, and it throws them out themselves and that's why they're behaviour goes awry ....
Like the first week of my neck agony .... MIL wasn't <i>toooooooo</i> bad, 2nd week she was hell ... acting up, swearing, throwing, hitting, 3rd week, calm <i> most </i> of the time, and this week, so far so good ... she's a bit off again today, but my neck is hurting more today too.
Weird eh? Maybe they're psychic ability increases as there logic decreases??
Hugs .. Hope you improve BosBarb (I like that version .. separates the Barbara's LOL).
Hope your ALL doing ok !!!
I'm off to take some pain killers and watch "Hello Dolly" with Barbra Streisand on DVD and REST. FIL coming home this week .. *sigh*.
Sally
Like the first week of my neck agony .... MIL wasn't <i>toooooooo</i> bad, 2nd week she was hell ... acting up, swearing, throwing, hitting, 3rd week, calm <i> most </i> of the time, and this week, so far so good ... she's a bit off again today, but my neck is hurting more today too.
Weird eh? Maybe they're psychic ability increases as there logic decreases??
Hugs .. Hope you improve BosBarb (I like that version .. separates the Barbara's LOL).
Hope your ALL doing ok !!!
I'm off to take some pain killers and watch "Hello Dolly" with Barbra Streisand on DVD and REST. FIL coming home this week .. *sigh*.
Sally
BarbaraH
02-28-2005, 10:18 PM
Hi Barb,
Which suburb are you in??? I used to live in Elmhurst - from 1962 to '69 and graduated from York High. We used to ride the EL into Chicago for Christmas shopping and go to the North Ave Beach in Chicago or the Michigan Dunes for fun.
Back then, I was "Barb" too!!
Sally, sorry your neck is crook again. Is someone employed to come tend FIL from his first day home? Hope so! Enjoy Barbra!!
Hope you each feel better soon! Barbara, now in VA :)
Which suburb are you in??? I used to live in Elmhurst - from 1962 to '69 and graduated from York High. We used to ride the EL into Chicago for Christmas shopping and go to the North Ave Beach in Chicago or the Michigan Dunes for fun.
Back then, I was "Barb" too!!
Sally, sorry your neck is crook again. Is someone employed to come tend FIL from his first day home? Hope so! Enjoy Barbra!!
Hope you each feel better soon! Barbara, now in VA :)
LuvMyLilDoggie
03-01-2005, 12:45 AM
Hi there everyone!
Barbara, I live in Romeoville, about 10 miles north of Joliet. My son and I usually do the Christmas thing in Chicago too. We take the Metra train into the city and walk down Michigan Ave. I missed going to Marshall Field's last Christmas because I was in the same shape I am now. Too sick to go anywhere and when I got well, my son got worse.
North Avenue Beach. I love to walk that beach from North Ave to Fullerton Ave. And when my sister was up from Alabama last summer, I took her, my little neice and my nephew's girlfriend to the Dunes. I made the mistake of telling my 7 year old neice what me and her mom did when on vacation in Wisconsin when we were little. We collected colorful rocks and brought them home with us. Why, I don't know. Meghan decided she had to do the same thing. And guess where all these rocks are now. In my trunk waiting for her. lol She keeps asking me if I still have them so I can't get rid of them. I'm stuck between the rocks and a hard place. :D
Dad went from a tantrum to being nice back to a tantrum and now he's nice again since I last posted. Talk about a rollercoaster! The good thing about it is I'm too sick to get agrivated. It takes up too much energy that I just don't have.
Sally, I'm so sorry you're neck is getting worse again. Please forgive me if you've posted an answer to the question I'm about to ask. I either didn't see it or I forgot. What is wrong with your neck? Have you been to the doctor?
Hmmm, I think there may be some truth to that psychic stuff, at least in part. Maybe they're more in tune with those kinds of things like animals are. If you think about it, children are a bit like that too. Maybe it's the innocence or not having to rush or worry about having to pay bills or getting to work like the rest of us do. My son was EXTREMELY in tune with me and to an extent, his dad, when he was very small, before he went to school. He could tell when mommy didn't feel well almost before mommy knew. Unreal.
As he's gotten older, he seems to have lost that some. He's more into whatever it is he's into at that moment. There goes the innocense.
It's well past my bedtime now so I will say good night, my friends.
Barb
Barbara, I live in Romeoville, about 10 miles north of Joliet. My son and I usually do the Christmas thing in Chicago too. We take the Metra train into the city and walk down Michigan Ave. I missed going to Marshall Field's last Christmas because I was in the same shape I am now. Too sick to go anywhere and when I got well, my son got worse.
North Avenue Beach. I love to walk that beach from North Ave to Fullerton Ave. And when my sister was up from Alabama last summer, I took her, my little neice and my nephew's girlfriend to the Dunes. I made the mistake of telling my 7 year old neice what me and her mom did when on vacation in Wisconsin when we were little. We collected colorful rocks and brought them home with us. Why, I don't know. Meghan decided she had to do the same thing. And guess where all these rocks are now. In my trunk waiting for her. lol She keeps asking me if I still have them so I can't get rid of them. I'm stuck between the rocks and a hard place. :D
Dad went from a tantrum to being nice back to a tantrum and now he's nice again since I last posted. Talk about a rollercoaster! The good thing about it is I'm too sick to get agrivated. It takes up too much energy that I just don't have.
Sally, I'm so sorry you're neck is getting worse again. Please forgive me if you've posted an answer to the question I'm about to ask. I either didn't see it or I forgot. What is wrong with your neck? Have you been to the doctor?
Hmmm, I think there may be some truth to that psychic stuff, at least in part. Maybe they're more in tune with those kinds of things like animals are. If you think about it, children are a bit like that too. Maybe it's the innocence or not having to rush or worry about having to pay bills or getting to work like the rest of us do. My son was EXTREMELY in tune with me and to an extent, his dad, when he was very small, before he went to school. He could tell when mommy didn't feel well almost before mommy knew. Unreal.
As he's gotten older, he seems to have lost that some. He's more into whatever it is he's into at that moment. There goes the innocense.
It's well past my bedtime now so I will say good night, my friends.
Barb
Martha H
03-01-2005, 01:58 AM
Dear Friends, ..awakened by Mom again in the night. I know Chicago a bit too. My youngest, K, lived in Evanston and worked in Chicago for 4 or 5 years right out of College (1999 to 2002). He took the EL Downtown and worked at the Northwestern Med School research lab. I visited him there a few times, once (only) in midwinter with temperature of -17 and that famous wind! When I live in Middlebury IN, Chicago will be my nearest BIG city ..South Bend the nearest small city. I always felt at home in the midwest, although born in New York City. I find that people everywhere are basically good and loving, when you get to know them.
I want to try to get back to sleep on the LR couch now ... schools are closed tomorrow due to latest snow storm. Here in the living room I hear less of Mom's nightly activity in her bedroom which adjoins mine and cannot be shut off from it ...she has to go through mine to get to bathroom when for unknown reasons she decides to go there instead of using potty ...
Love,
Martha
I want to try to get back to sleep on the LR couch now ... schools are closed tomorrow due to latest snow storm. Here in the living room I hear less of Mom's nightly activity in her bedroom which adjoins mine and cannot be shut off from it ...she has to go through mine to get to bathroom when for unknown reasons she decides to go there instead of using potty ...
Love,
Martha
angel_bear
03-01-2005, 06:03 AM
HI Bosbarb .. :-)
It seems that I've torn a tendon that goes from the BIG bump in your spine at the base of your neck, down to the right shoulder ... and of course, all the other tendon's and muscles are bruised and trying to take up the slack .. and it's all not working too good.
I did pick up FIL from hospital for a home visit yesterday afternoon, and I think I did something getting his manual wheelie frame into the car. Thank heavens my dear hubby was home when we got back to get the electric wheels out of the car ... there is no WAY I could lift them!!
I realised my limitations today when I bought 2 x 2litres of diet coke. I can carry them left handed, not right handed. It hurt WAY too much. This afternoon we also had the house exterminated, and we've been washing everything I can visibly see for the moment tonight. I'm in agony ... full spasms .. not happy Jan!!
I have the cupboards to wash out tomorrow and all the contents .. not looking forward to that one !!
MIL definatley off tonight ... had issues with the exterminator coming upstairs to me first .. had issues that he gave me the invoice, had issues that FIL is paying (eventually LOL), had issues period ... well, she can have her issues, I'm hurting too much to really care.
Looks like FIL will be home tomorrow .......... I'm going to try and put him off one day more, because it means MIL is cooking for him, and all he will do is COMPLAIN ......
Hugs to all ....... cause by Golly we all need 'em !!
Sally
It seems that I've torn a tendon that goes from the BIG bump in your spine at the base of your neck, down to the right shoulder ... and of course, all the other tendon's and muscles are bruised and trying to take up the slack .. and it's all not working too good.
I did pick up FIL from hospital for a home visit yesterday afternoon, and I think I did something getting his manual wheelie frame into the car. Thank heavens my dear hubby was home when we got back to get the electric wheels out of the car ... there is no WAY I could lift them!!
I realised my limitations today when I bought 2 x 2litres of diet coke. I can carry them left handed, not right handed. It hurt WAY too much. This afternoon we also had the house exterminated, and we've been washing everything I can visibly see for the moment tonight. I'm in agony ... full spasms .. not happy Jan!!
I have the cupboards to wash out tomorrow and all the contents .. not looking forward to that one !!
MIL definatley off tonight ... had issues with the exterminator coming upstairs to me first .. had issues that he gave me the invoice, had issues that FIL is paying (eventually LOL), had issues period ... well, she can have her issues, I'm hurting too much to really care.
Looks like FIL will be home tomorrow .......... I'm going to try and put him off one day more, because it means MIL is cooking for him, and all he will do is COMPLAIN ......
Hugs to all ....... cause by Golly we all need 'em !!
Sally
Martha H
03-01-2005, 06:26 AM
Dear Sally,
My sympathies on your pulled tendon. I hope it gets better soon. What are you doing for it?
I think this tendon problem may be your exit key. You have a chronic, physical ailment which precludes caring for even one, never mind 2, elderly dependent people. So they have to go somewhere else, RIGHT AWAY!
See if that argument pulls any weight. Meanwhile you are in my thoughts and prayers and I really really hope your next message will contain good news .. you need it!
Love and a ((big hug))
Martha
My sympathies on your pulled tendon. I hope it gets better soon. What are you doing for it?
I think this tendon problem may be your exit key. You have a chronic, physical ailment which precludes caring for even one, never mind 2, elderly dependent people. So they have to go somewhere else, RIGHT AWAY!
See if that argument pulls any weight. Meanwhile you are in my thoughts and prayers and I really really hope your next message will contain good news .. you need it!
Love and a ((big hug))
Martha
LuvMyLilDoggie
03-01-2005, 08:06 AM
Sally, I second what Martha said. You do need some good news!
You sound like me. I was feeling so awful yesterday that I didn't care if dad threw his fits. I'm too sick to. I feel better this morning although the terribly sore throat is still there and I'm EXAUSTED. I only slept a couple of hours last night.
OUCH! A torn tendon. That will take a long time to heal. It hurts just thinking of it. I pulled a muscle in that area once and it took forever to heal. Now I have three bulging discs and a herniated disc in my cervical spine from a car accident I was in back in 1996. The only problem I have with that (other than a few aches every once in a while) is numbness and tingling in my right shoulder. I'm not sure if that's because of the c-spine or the ulnar nerve entrapment in my right elbow. It sounds a lot worse than it is actually. Believe it or not, I rarely have to take pain killers.
Dad is sleeping now. He's got his days and nights mixed up. He'll sleep till about 2 or 3pm when my son comes home from school. I LOVE the mornings! :)
I've decided to try and think of things I'm thankful for in this crazy disease called alzheimer's. There is one big difference that I actually LIKE in my dad now that he has this. Before, he used to run back and forth to Alabama. He'd come back here to Illinois once a month to pay his bills. He wouldn't even call to see my son while he was here (they were very close when mom was alive). My son missed that a lot. Now dad spends his day wondering when Bo's coming home. They love each other to death. Bo is loving the attention he gets from grandpa-even when grandpa forgets things and tells him stories a thousand times a day. I think at this stage, it's really good for both of them. Most days, Bo is the only one that can get dad out of his bedroom just by saying "Gramp, wanna watch a movie with me?". They have grown so close since we moved in with dad. Bo knows that things will get worse and he's noticed that they are. He's 16. But he told me that he's so happy to have this time with grandpa before grandpa goes away.
It's not been all fun and games for Bo but I'm so proud of him for looking at the positive side of things and for helping me with grandpa just by spending time with him.
Well, it's 10 more days till we see the neurosurgeon. I'm wondering what course of action he'll suggest for dad's brain tumor.
Ta Ta for now!
Barb
You sound like me. I was feeling so awful yesterday that I didn't care if dad threw his fits. I'm too sick to. I feel better this morning although the terribly sore throat is still there and I'm EXAUSTED. I only slept a couple of hours last night.
OUCH! A torn tendon. That will take a long time to heal. It hurts just thinking of it. I pulled a muscle in that area once and it took forever to heal. Now I have three bulging discs and a herniated disc in my cervical spine from a car accident I was in back in 1996. The only problem I have with that (other than a few aches every once in a while) is numbness and tingling in my right shoulder. I'm not sure if that's because of the c-spine or the ulnar nerve entrapment in my right elbow. It sounds a lot worse than it is actually. Believe it or not, I rarely have to take pain killers.
Dad is sleeping now. He's got his days and nights mixed up. He'll sleep till about 2 or 3pm when my son comes home from school. I LOVE the mornings! :)
I've decided to try and think of things I'm thankful for in this crazy disease called alzheimer's. There is one big difference that I actually LIKE in my dad now that he has this. Before, he used to run back and forth to Alabama. He'd come back here to Illinois once a month to pay his bills. He wouldn't even call to see my son while he was here (they were very close when mom was alive). My son missed that a lot. Now dad spends his day wondering when Bo's coming home. They love each other to death. Bo is loving the attention he gets from grandpa-even when grandpa forgets things and tells him stories a thousand times a day. I think at this stage, it's really good for both of them. Most days, Bo is the only one that can get dad out of his bedroom just by saying "Gramp, wanna watch a movie with me?". They have grown so close since we moved in with dad. Bo knows that things will get worse and he's noticed that they are. He's 16. But he told me that he's so happy to have this time with grandpa before grandpa goes away.
It's not been all fun and games for Bo but I'm so proud of him for looking at the positive side of things and for helping me with grandpa just by spending time with him.
Well, it's 10 more days till we see the neurosurgeon. I'm wondering what course of action he'll suggest for dad's brain tumor.
Ta Ta for now!
Barb
Martha H
03-01-2005, 08:35 AM
Barb: get a throat swab taken. You may have strep throat ..dangerous because of kidney and even heart complications .. GO get help!
My kids are over 10 or even 20 years older than your boy ..36, 34, and 27 ... but one never stops being a mother ... I worry about Jenny's scarlet fever ..and hope the long wait ( a week before she got help) does not lead to any serious complications...
I am a person who usually says "if you can still walk, walk away from the doctors' BUT NOT THIS TIME. GO!
My kids are over 10 or even 20 years older than your boy ..36, 34, and 27 ... but one never stops being a mother ... I worry about Jenny's scarlet fever ..and hope the long wait ( a week before she got help) does not lead to any serious complications...
I am a person who usually says "if you can still walk, walk away from the doctors' BUT NOT THIS TIME. GO!
BarbaraH
03-01-2005, 11:04 AM
Hi all,
Barb, yep - get that throat swapped as strep can get ugly if not treated. I've never heard of Romeoville, but found it on the map. Did you ever go bobsledding at Palos Park?
Oh, Sally, our younger son, Robby, pulled that tendon in a fall last year and it took forever for it to heal. You really must not use your right arm and keep it close to your body. Go see a doctor, because some tendon injuries require a surgical repair. Hope that's not needed. I agree with the others that this injury is the corker on your career as a caregiver/minder/keeper. You'll prolong the pain and perhaps worsen the injury if you try to do all and ignore the pain. Dear heart, call in the troops. You must have help more than ever.
Martha, hope you can nap a bit in your cozy and warm cocoon overlooking the storm. Hot chocolate or tea sounds like just the thing. Hope your mother will keep the peace and that your Indiana family is on the mend.
Busy day in VA and the high is supposed to be 47*F. - a heat wave!
(((hugs))) Barbara :wave:
Barb, yep - get that throat swapped as strep can get ugly if not treated. I've never heard of Romeoville, but found it on the map. Did you ever go bobsledding at Palos Park?
Oh, Sally, our younger son, Robby, pulled that tendon in a fall last year and it took forever for it to heal. You really must not use your right arm and keep it close to your body. Go see a doctor, because some tendon injuries require a surgical repair. Hope that's not needed. I agree with the others that this injury is the corker on your career as a caregiver/minder/keeper. You'll prolong the pain and perhaps worsen the injury if you try to do all and ignore the pain. Dear heart, call in the troops. You must have help more than ever.
Martha, hope you can nap a bit in your cozy and warm cocoon overlooking the storm. Hot chocolate or tea sounds like just the thing. Hope your mother will keep the peace and that your Indiana family is on the mend.
Busy day in VA and the high is supposed to be 47*F. - a heat wave!
(((hugs))) Barbara :wave:
LuvMyLilDoggie
03-01-2005, 06:21 PM
Hi everyone!
Barbara, YES! Swallow Cliff. That's only about 10 miles from here too. We used to go there every winter as often as we could. Cook County closed it down last year. It had fallen into major disrepair. I haven't been there in a few years. As I got older and heavier, the hill got bigger. :D How many steps were there to the top? I'd probably have a heart attack just thinking about that and how many times my sister and I carried a six person toboggan up there.
I went to the clinic today. As I suspected, it's bronchitis again. I just recently got over the bronchitis I got around the end of December/beginning of January. The doc rx'd Zithromax this time so it should be knocked out soon.
My prayers are with your son's who are in between jobs now. May they find jobs that they love and get paid well.
Wishing you all a very peaceful day.
Barb
Barbara, YES! Swallow Cliff. That's only about 10 miles from here too. We used to go there every winter as often as we could. Cook County closed it down last year. It had fallen into major disrepair. I haven't been there in a few years. As I got older and heavier, the hill got bigger. :D How many steps were there to the top? I'd probably have a heart attack just thinking about that and how many times my sister and I carried a six person toboggan up there.
I went to the clinic today. As I suspected, it's bronchitis again. I just recently got over the bronchitis I got around the end of December/beginning of January. The doc rx'd Zithromax this time so it should be knocked out soon.
My prayers are with your son's who are in between jobs now. May they find jobs that they love and get paid well.
Wishing you all a very peaceful day.
Barb