Saturday, October 15, 2005
Strange days, I guess...
...is my excuse for not recording here for some days. Part of my lack of journaling diligence is due to company but part of it is due to a dreamy mood I've been in since just before the visit. Can't really explain the parameters of the mood except that I feel as though something is percolating inside me but hasn't yet reached the surface, so I've been doing all sorts of other activities in order to allow that something it's "space".
The visit went well, although some definition is needed here and will be forthcoming. There was an incident that provoked some very specific thoughts about relatives who are uninvolved in caregiving attempting to "help". I'm working on that post over here, although when it's done I'll probably transfer it to the essay section.
Something, though, I want to mention before I forget for my own reference: MPS told me the history of a man of whom she knows through the daughter who is taking care of him. He is An Ancient One who "suffers", as does my mother, from Anemia Due to Chronic Disease which was most likely pre-diagnosed as Iron Deficiency Anemia. MPS related to me that his anemia is treated with frequent (every couple of months, sometimes more) blood transfusions. The man's daughter reported to MPS that at first he always felt remarkably better after the transfusions. As time pssed, though, this changed. He is now at the point where he feels worse immediately after the transfusion, a day or so after receiving blood he revives a bit then continues his downward anemic trajectory and, as well, he hates the procedure. MPS explained that this is typical of people who are receiving frequent transfusions. Here is my interpretation of her explanation: Blood is rather like an organ in that outside blood can be rejected and the blood can (and not uncommonly does) carry foreign agents which can deleteriously affect the health of the transfused. As well, transfused blood can cause the body to work hard to protect itself from a build-up of "antigens", a build-up which is impossible to prevent in the case of transfusions. Thus, while the transfusions may elevate one's anemia indices, each transfusion also elevates the level of internal physical stress and strife and, transfusion after transfusion, make a sense of physical well being harder and harder to come by.
In the case of my mother, knowing this information is a great relief to me. I am sure, now, that I am handling her anemia as it should be handled for her. Although there are risks, as well, to continuous high doses of iron, for my mother these risks are much easier on her than the continual transfusion scenario outlined above.
Since MPS related this to me I've wondered:
Mom isn't exactly recovering from the visit anymore but today has been a very low key day for her, as was yesterday. We've been watching videos and she's been "catching up" on her sleep. I'm hoping to get her to Walmart tomorrow to pick out a new watch. She magnetizes all but Timex watches and Walmart has a fair selection of this brand. When I suggested this to her earlier her response was, "We'll see." Not promising, but today is not tomorrow.
If you've been to Mom's Daily Tests & Meds you'll notice I'm a day or so behind. I'm hoping to make stat ketchup tonight. In case you're wondering, her blood glucose has been doing fine but she's having an episode of elevated (for her) blood pressure, although it doesn't appear to be connected to a CHF episode. Could be because she's a bit backed up. If she doesn't have a significant bowel movement this evening I'm going to send her to bed with yet another dose of laxative; haven't decided yet which one.
I've also got a few more entries to make in Movies, Mom & Me. Maybe I'll get to all this sometime this weekend. Tonight, though, my plan is to do Mom's hair and talk up the possibility of A Walmart Experience tomorrow. My dreaminess has involved me retiring earlier than usual after Mom retires which truncates my journaling. This may continue to be the case tonight.
Strange days, I guess...
The visit went well, although some definition is needed here and will be forthcoming. There was an incident that provoked some very specific thoughts about relatives who are uninvolved in caregiving attempting to "help". I'm working on that post over here, although when it's done I'll probably transfer it to the essay section.
Something, though, I want to mention before I forget for my own reference: MPS told me the history of a man of whom she knows through the daughter who is taking care of him. He is An Ancient One who "suffers", as does my mother, from Anemia Due to Chronic Disease which was most likely pre-diagnosed as Iron Deficiency Anemia. MPS related to me that his anemia is treated with frequent (every couple of months, sometimes more) blood transfusions. The man's daughter reported to MPS that at first he always felt remarkably better after the transfusions. As time pssed, though, this changed. He is now at the point where he feels worse immediately after the transfusion, a day or so after receiving blood he revives a bit then continues his downward anemic trajectory and, as well, he hates the procedure. MPS explained that this is typical of people who are receiving frequent transfusions. Here is my interpretation of her explanation: Blood is rather like an organ in that outside blood can be rejected and the blood can (and not uncommonly does) carry foreign agents which can deleteriously affect the health of the transfused. As well, transfused blood can cause the body to work hard to protect itself from a build-up of "antigens", a build-up which is impossible to prevent in the case of transfusions. Thus, while the transfusions may elevate one's anemia indices, each transfusion also elevates the level of internal physical stress and strife and, transfusion after transfusion, make a sense of physical well being harder and harder to come by.
In the case of my mother, knowing this information is a great relief to me. I am sure, now, that I am handling her anemia as it should be handled for her. Although there are risks, as well, to continuous high doses of iron, for my mother these risks are much easier on her than the continual transfusion scenario outlined above.
Since MPS related this to me I've wondered:
- Whether the man was ever treated with iron supplementation and, if so, was he treated with anything besides ferrous salts which, although they are currently physician's favorites are also the hardest iron supplements on the body and have the lowest absorption rates;
- Whether this man and his daughter experienced medicine's ridiculous insistence on "looking for internal bleeding" in the elderly with chronic anemia and whether and how far they assented to it?
- Whether either the man or his daughter have looked for alternative sources of information on Anemia Due to Chronic Disease and treatments for it?
- How long it took medicine to finally back off and identify his ailment as Anemia Due to Chronic Disease?
- Whether it was a physician who finally backed down or whether it was some other medical professional, like my Wondrous FNP, who has less invested in leaving a diagnosis open.
Mom isn't exactly recovering from the visit anymore but today has been a very low key day for her, as was yesterday. We've been watching videos and she's been "catching up" on her sleep. I'm hoping to get her to Walmart tomorrow to pick out a new watch. She magnetizes all but Timex watches and Walmart has a fair selection of this brand. When I suggested this to her earlier her response was, "We'll see." Not promising, but today is not tomorrow.
If you've been to Mom's Daily Tests & Meds you'll notice I'm a day or so behind. I'm hoping to make stat ketchup tonight. In case you're wondering, her blood glucose has been doing fine but she's having an episode of elevated (for her) blood pressure, although it doesn't appear to be connected to a CHF episode. Could be because she's a bit backed up. If she doesn't have a significant bowel movement this evening I'm going to send her to bed with yet another dose of laxative; haven't decided yet which one.
I've also got a few more entries to make in Movies, Mom & Me. Maybe I'll get to all this sometime this weekend. Tonight, though, my plan is to do Mom's hair and talk up the possibility of A Walmart Experience tomorrow. My dreaminess has involved me retiring earlier than usual after Mom retires which truncates my journaling. This may continue to be the case tonight.
Strange days, I guess...
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
I guess what I've got is a slow cold.
I've been fighting congestion for a couple of days but it always seems to disappear in the evening, although I've been extraordinarily tired late in the day, usually dozing on the couch between Mom's lunch and dinner. This morning I awoke because I could barely breathe. I'm dosing myself with Mucinex and ibuprofen and using way more Kleenexes than I typically use in a week. My energy level is extremely low this morning; lower than last night and it was really low last night. I'd consider this unfortunate, because MPS and MPNC are on their way up for an impromptu two night visit, but I don't even have the energy to care whether or not I'm easy to get along with. We are out of Supplies for Company. We don't even have enough bread, I don't think. When I picked up their message yesterday of their impending trip and called MPS I told her I'm not going to prepare for the visit. She's fine with this.
Mom worked herself into a snit over the No Toilet Paper in Her Bathroom issue late last night. It continued throughout the night. She insisted that "company" wouldn't know not to use her bathroom or that they'd forget. I insisted this was not the case. Everyone who visits regularly knows better than to use Mom's bathroom for a couple of reasons, the No Toilet Paper Issue being of the highest regard. She awoke me several times in the night getting up, trotting into her bathroom, peeing, searching for toilet paper, then hauling her Kleenex box into her bathroom. I'd wait for her to resecure herself in bed then I'd get up and take out the Kleenex box. Two times she hadn't yet settled in bed when I cleared out her bathroom and we had short, angry exchanges about the lack of any paper in her bathroom.
This is probably one of the touchiest, most difficult issues I face with her: Insisting that her personal dignity stand down so that I don't have to unclog her toilet every day to every other day and she doesn't become prone, again, to UTIs. I think the reason she has so much trouble forgetting this and what I do on her behalf (cleaning her, making sure her toilet doesn't stop up) is that this is truly an issue she doesn't want to remember.
I have no idea what we'll do with our company over the next few days. I know we'll have to go to Costco and a couple other groceries. I've been letting our stocks dwindle so there is more room in the freezer for half eaten loaves of home made bread. However, we've almost polished off the last of the bread. We need more salad stuff. I think we've got plenty of meat, although MPNC is vegetarian so we're pretty much out of what she eats.
As time nears for their arrival I am in no better spirits than I was when I arose at 0845. Mom, of course, will be in high spirits. This should be a very interesting visit.
Mom worked herself into a snit over the No Toilet Paper in Her Bathroom issue late last night. It continued throughout the night. She insisted that "company" wouldn't know not to use her bathroom or that they'd forget. I insisted this was not the case. Everyone who visits regularly knows better than to use Mom's bathroom for a couple of reasons, the No Toilet Paper Issue being of the highest regard. She awoke me several times in the night getting up, trotting into her bathroom, peeing, searching for toilet paper, then hauling her Kleenex box into her bathroom. I'd wait for her to resecure herself in bed then I'd get up and take out the Kleenex box. Two times she hadn't yet settled in bed when I cleared out her bathroom and we had short, angry exchanges about the lack of any paper in her bathroom.
This is probably one of the touchiest, most difficult issues I face with her: Insisting that her personal dignity stand down so that I don't have to unclog her toilet every day to every other day and she doesn't become prone, again, to UTIs. I think the reason she has so much trouble forgetting this and what I do on her behalf (cleaning her, making sure her toilet doesn't stop up) is that this is truly an issue she doesn't want to remember.
I have no idea what we'll do with our company over the next few days. I know we'll have to go to Costco and a couple other groceries. I've been letting our stocks dwindle so there is more room in the freezer for half eaten loaves of home made bread. However, we've almost polished off the last of the bread. We need more salad stuff. I think we've got plenty of meat, although MPNC is vegetarian so we're pretty much out of what she eats.
As time nears for their arrival I am in no better spirits than I was when I arose at 0845. Mom, of course, will be in high spirits. This should be a very interesting visit.
Monday, October 10, 2005
I'll be checking in later.
I've got stats for yesterday but not much to report. Yesterday was an extremely mellow day. Nice.
I'm in the process of adding a guest book. So far it's not working. I'll keep you posted about its development.
The guest book has been deleted. News to follow.
I'm in the process of adding a guest book. So far it's not working. I'll keep you posted about its development.
The guest book has been deleted. News to follow.
Sunday, October 9, 2005
I am, by the way, motivated by the idea...
...of grunt work today. I'll probably fix broken links over at the movie site as I get the time.
Although an important piece of business was accomplished...
...I, again, washed out yesterday. I definitely felt "coldish", although I'm doing better today. I dozed on the couch throughout the afternoon and early evening while Mom took an "unsupervised" (no oxygen, no double underwear) nap, arose, turned on the TV and watched a good hour of the Dog Show before I became marginally aware. I cover what we ate, which was little, in the last post for yesterday. I revived a little yesterday night and remained awake until almost 0400 this morning. Mom light-off retired at 0130. If you're wondering why I consider that she hasn't retired unless she is no longer reading in bed, it's because for her, reading in bed is an activity. It is not uncommon for her to call me in to read a passage to me, which is why I always remain up until she turns off her light.
I slept through the showing of a gorgeous Newfoundland, although the showing also occurred through a commercial and was only thumbnailed. Too bad. This dog was a luscious bitter-sweet chocolate color and had a very alert demeanor. I would have loved to see this dog in motion. I don't think this year's Newfoundland even made place or show. If we get a dog, this is the kind of dog we'll host.
The Little Girl loves to watch The Dog Shows. Funny, she doesn't find cat shows interesting. Although she loves reptile shows. She watches small high desert reptiles in and outside our house.
Movies, Mom & Me is updated, at least from the standpoint of listings. I discovered that I need to change some links within the descriptions on that site.
Fall is slinking in. Some trees are changing. Most aren't. Today it looks as though we'll have our first day in the high 60's instead of the low to mid 70's. I dressed Mom warmly yesterday but she refused a coat or scarf. I insisted on the wheelchair. She was eventually grateful.
I'm waiting for the announcement of the Best in Show then I'll sign off. This year they've attached microphones to the judges and top showers. The "informal" conversation is interesting. The judges, across the board, make contact with each entry. These people love dogs.
This year I like the PBGV and the Japanese Chin.
The Scottish Terrier looks good, too.
"She's asking the dogs to turn it up as well."
Cool!. Ahh. It's the shepherd. Wow. Beautiful dog. Great attitude. Definitely "on" tonight. Wonderful relationship with her (Tina's) handler.
Haven't yet decided what to do about rising time for Mom. She'll hit 12 hours at 1330. I'll play it by ear. She may already be rousing out of the depths of her pleasant, Mid-Central U.S. dreams.
Later.
I slept through the showing of a gorgeous Newfoundland, although the showing also occurred through a commercial and was only thumbnailed. Too bad. This dog was a luscious bitter-sweet chocolate color and had a very alert demeanor. I would have loved to see this dog in motion. I don't think this year's Newfoundland even made place or show. If we get a dog, this is the kind of dog we'll host.
The Little Girl loves to watch The Dog Shows. Funny, she doesn't find cat shows interesting. Although she loves reptile shows. She watches small high desert reptiles in and outside our house.
Movies, Mom & Me is updated, at least from the standpoint of listings. I discovered that I need to change some links within the descriptions on that site.
Fall is slinking in. Some trees are changing. Most aren't. Today it looks as though we'll have our first day in the high 60's instead of the low to mid 70's. I dressed Mom warmly yesterday but she refused a coat or scarf. I insisted on the wheelchair. She was eventually grateful.
I'm waiting for the announcement of the Best in Show then I'll sign off. This year they've attached microphones to the judges and top showers. The "informal" conversation is interesting. The judges, across the board, make contact with each entry. These people love dogs.
This year I like the PBGV and the Japanese Chin.
The Scottish Terrier looks good, too.
"She's asking the dogs to turn it up as well."
Cool!. Ahh. It's the shepherd. Wow. Beautiful dog. Great attitude. Definitely "on" tonight. Wonderful relationship with her (Tina's) handler.
Haven't yet decided what to do about rising time for Mom. She'll hit 12 hours at 1330. I'll play it by ear. She may already be rousing out of the depths of her pleasant, Mid-Central U.S. dreams.
Later.
