I'm running. I'm jumping. I'm swinging my hips. I'm twirling round and round and doing the



HAPPY DANCE!!!!

Dad is no longer in pain and wishes to stay where he is!!!

Will get back to you in a few. Have to go pick up dh from work.

I'm Soooooo HAPPY!!!!

Love, Barb

Well, I like part two MUCH better than part one Barb:) Yippee!!!!!!!!!! What a load off your mind.

Still laughing trying to imagine you doing the happy dance with all your recently sustained injuries:)

love Georgie

I'm very very happy for you too! What a relief.

(of course he can change his mind tomorrow again - promise you won't get all upset again?? remember, AD people can't remember things!!!)

Meanwhile, ask your sister if it is time to put him in a VA hospital THERE! She probably can't stand having him any more .... she might be behind the wish to move ... maybe???

Just brainstorming here - but still happy for you:) --- keep dancing!

Love,

martha

Ok I'm back. I spoke with dad and sis last night. Dad says his pain is gone and he'd like to come here soon for a visit. YIPPY!!!!! A visit, not FOREVER!!!

Sis said the doctor added another script to dad's many. He's taking another medication for the nerve pain in his face in addition to the one he's been taking all along. The doctor did another MMSE (at least that's what I think it is from how my sis discribed it). He didn't do well on it. He didn't even know the hospital he was in. The reason for doing another one was that the doctor wants to put him on another med for his AD. The Aricept has stopped working. BUT she (the doc) needs to PROVE to the VA that he needs it without a doubt since the prescription is very expensive. It has to go to the medical review board now.

Now he has an appt with a neurologist for the swelling and drooping on one side of his face. They're not so sure now that it's due to the tic dulurue. The doctor asked my sister if dad had a stroke. His face never drooped with his bouts of tic dulurue before. But as far as we know, he's never had a stroke.

I did notice that dad was having some trouble with bigger words when I spoke with him. He'd slow his speach when he got to those words and would often slur the words and have to say them more than once.

Dad also has an appt with a cardiologist and a geriatrician before he can come home for a visit.

My thyroid is acting up again badly so I'm really happy dad isn't coming home now. I'm tired all the time and my eyebrow hair is almost all gone. My hair is thinning. If I get a little paper cut, it scars. These are all signs for me that point to the fact that I need more bloodwork done and need an increase in my medication.

But for now, I have enough energy to do



THE HAPPY DANCE!!!!!!

Love, Barb

Thank HEAVENS !!

Doncha LUV AD? Keeps you on your toes even at a distance!!

Talking of toes .. hey twinkle toes .. keep on doin' that happy dance!!

Hugs
:angel:

JOY JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(((((((((((hugs)))))))))) Barbara :wave:

Thank HEAVENS !!

Doncha LUV AD? Keeps you on your toes even at a distance!!

Talking of toes .. hey twinkle toes .. keep on doin' that happy dance!!

Hugs
:angel:
You got that right! I was ready to jump out of my skin just at the thought of dad coming home to stay! I'd love to have him here for a visit, not to stay...

My sister still won't hear of dad going to a NH. She must not be ready to accept it but that's ok. We all accept it sooner or later. Unfortunately with AD, whether we place our loved ones in a facility or not, we all are faced with that tough decision.

So here I am...breathing much easier and resting. I didn't have to do anything today except pick up my paycheck, go to the bank and the grocery store. Tomorrow, I'll sleep in and take a "Lazy Day". I started out my week last Sunday with a 15 hour work day. And I've been working since then. And lay on top of it all the chaos that happened, I'm EXAUSTED!!!!

I shall enjoy my "Lazy Day" in peace. Hubby will be at work and ds will be doing whatever 17 year old boys do. I'm not feeling well. My ear is still bothering me, thyroid is acting up big time and my chronic bronchitis has flared up again. From stress, ya think???

Yup....Me too....:)

Love, Barb

Stress - what stress??????????????:)

Enjoy your days off - you so deserve a rest. And those were pretty scary numbers on you thyroid - I hope you can get that sorted out quickly.

love Georgie

Yeah. This thyroid is kicking my butt. Sometimes I just wish they'd take it out so I can take my medicine and not have to worry about going from hypothyroid to hyperthyroid and back and forth. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos Disease which is an autoimmune thing that attacks the thyroid gland. When it flares up, I go very hypo so my medication has to be increased. Then when it's done attacking my thyroid, I go hyper which is really scary. My biggest symptom when I'm going hyper is heart palpitations even in my sleep. It wakes me up sometimes. Then I need to decrease my meds and start all over again. And it's not like the meds work right away. It takes 6-8 weeks to level out with each dose adjustment. We talk about AD being a roller coaster. This is too. I think this had a lot to do with why I freaked out so badly about dad coming back. My emotions run amuk when I'm hypo.

Thank you. I will enjoy my weekend. I'll be going back to work Monday. Wednesday is the first day of school so I'll have a regular bus route (2 kids in the morning and 3 to take home). Not bad but a LOT of driving. I'll be driving about 200 (yes, I said 200!) miles every day.

It's just after 8pm now. I'm very tired so time to lay down.

Love, Barb

Dear Barb, A close friend of mine had her thyroid gland removed about 10 years ago. She is doing fine on just pills. The dosage has not been changed for years. The only effect of the operation is a scar across her throat which didn't heal well and looks a little wrinkly. The reason for her op was that her thyroid gland was enlarging, forming a 'goiter.' I hope your problelms with the ups and downs can be solved somehow - has your doctor ever recommended surgery?

Taking care of yourself is such an absolute priority that I think it isn't even a good idea to have your Dad as a visitor. Get yourself well first ...

Love,

Martha

Barb, I've had the hyper symptoms a few times - but because my doctor (actually ex-doctor:rolleyes: ) was overprescribing and not monitoring properly. Like having heart 'attacks' and dealing with an AD person is a really good match.

My rheumy is the one who understands how drastic it can get, and how out of control it goes sometimes - I have worked with him to understand where I should be. The greatest gift of all is that the rheumy has made my new doctor (who is no thyroid genius) understand how much she is underestimating it all. She has given me a 'revolving' thyroid test script. SO, whenever I feel like I am going out of kilter I can get the test done (I get copied on the results - not just TSH right?).

So, I can get onto it right away (I know it takes six weeks to get on an even keel), but I feel (and am) a little more in control of the whole thing. And I am SO much better now than I was six months ago. I hope you can do something similar ( and I know what you mean about the eyebrows!!)

love Georgie

Unfortunately just TSH. You know how they worship that. LOL

I don't have health insurance so that's a big hurdle for me.

Love, Barb

Barb, getting health insurance has to be a top priority for you. Most states have plans for those with less income, affordable or even free coverage. Check it out.

Or, since you are an experienced bus driver, isn't there a way you can become a full time employee of a school system or other organization that offers health insurance? You really need it, and it is really important. You can get on medicare at age 65, but I know you are far too young, and cant wait that long.

Good luck,

Love,

Martha