[Wannabehealthy]

Trish, it sounds like things are going to work out well for your Dad. I'm glad he will be having the therapy at home. There are a lot of programs around here for people to come to your home to help with different things for seniors. I'm assuming there are programs like that in TX too. This makes it easier for seniors to stay in their homes longer and makes it a little easier on the family and eases their mind, knowing that someone is checking in on their family member. The adult daycare sounds good too, so he gets out and socializes.

We ended up at the casino today and I ate well. I didn't have any steak or roast beef because it just didn't appeal to me. I had chicken and shrimp, along with broccoli and carrots. A piece of fried catfish and a scoop of mac and cheese. I also took a cajun crawfish, but couldn't figure out how to open it up, so I didn't eat that. LOL I wanted to try it since I had never had it before.

DH has gone to bed, so I guess I'll go in, too.

[pattygirl63]

I called Daddy this morning and he sounded great and looked forward to getting better. Later this afternoon DS called and asked if I was talking to Daddy. I wasn't. She had tried to call him and he didn't answer. She called back and said he had called her and he had fell again.

He had gone to the bathroom and when he stood up, his legs just gave way and he held on to the rail (he lives in a handicap apartment) and got himself down to the floor then got himself to the computer room to the phone and called her. She called me for us to go get him off the floor. She called her DD and SIL to come help DH get him up. When we got there they were all there and had called the ambulance. They came and got him up into his wheelchair. It was decided that the hospital would probably just send him back home. So we are all taking turns to have one of us with him around the clock.

I finally had time to read the paperwork about assisted living. I told him that he didn't understand what assisted living is and how it works; I didn't know how it would work either. Turns out that because he is a veteran he can get financial help and he may qualify for other help because of what he gets each month. My niece told us today that he had already started working on getting him help somewhere. Remember I told you that she is a social worker with the American Cancer Association. She made a call to get someone to come out and talk to him and assess him for help. At least he is agreement to it now.

I don't know how my eating is going to be for the next week. I can only do the best I can. My BIL is pushing for the surgery to fix his broken hand Wednesday. From Wednesday morning through the next weekend or more, it will be left up to DH and me and maybe my DNiece to stay with him. Unless he gets stronger with the therapy coming up, someone has to stay with him until he moves into assisted living. I just don't know how long this will take. I don't think I'll be able to do CAD unless I switch to 2 Slimfasts a day with 1 meal. I could do that. That may be the only way I can stay OP during this time. It would be better than nothing.

We are taking the 3pm to 11pm shift Sunday when my niece is going. Then DS and I will go Monday because I want to call therapy and let them know what is going on and see if they can some how help us since he isn't going to be able to stay by himself any more. I don't know if I need to call doctor's office or what, but we need to get the ball running on this.

[Wannabehealthy]

Trish, I'm sorry to hear that your Dad is doing so poorly. I do hope you can get assisted living for him soon. I agree that he can no longer live alone. The financial help will be great. I'm sure he realizes now that he needs it but it's a shame he didn't see this before it got this bad. It must be scary for him, too, to keep falling like this. He is very lucky you are there, and all your other family members. Maybe you can get a caretaker to stay with him sometimes. My friend does that off and on. I will keep you all in my prayers.

My DH has a cold and feels terrible. He was sick all day yesterday and today he told me his throat is sore, too. I took his temperature and he doesn't have a fever, so I think it's a cold and not the flu. I hope I don't get it, but we're so closely confined here it will be hard to avoid it. I keep washing my hands as they recommend.

My blood sugar has been under 150 for over a week now, and I've had no other post prandial readings over 200, so I'm glad that's improving. My weight is still holding in the 200 area, up and down a couple tenths.

[fatmad]

Trish, you and your DD will be in my meditations and I hope things will smooth out for you all. These are difficult times, and they can be hard to deal with, but you will come through it. Best wishes.

[pattygirl63]

A quick flyby. Thanks for y'alls thoughts and support. My FBS was high and don't know what it is right now as I've already eat. It wasn't that high, but not worried as it was because I got hungry and ate late again. Off plan yesterday. Going to try to do better today.

DS called and she thinks Daddy has a bladder or kidney infection. His urine smells bad and is dark may have blood in it she said. A nurse and 2 therapists are coming tomorrow morning. I will call doctor's office in the morning to request he order for nurse to do a urine test and culture. I'm going to talk therapist about training him to use a wheelchair.

Carol Sue I hope your DH doesn't have anything serious.

I'm taking my pc as it turns out DH and I are going to have to go over and relieve my DS and BIL and we are going to stay all night.

Catch y'all later.

[Wannabehealthy]

Trish, I am praying for your Dad and your family, that this all works out favorably.

I now think DH has the flu because he's achy and his temp was 102 today. He was in bed with all his clothes on and his coat on. I made him take Tylenol and I'll check his temp again. I do hope it's not the flu and I hope I don't get whatever it is. I am taking all precautions of know of.

[pattygirl63]

Oh no Carol Sue. I pray he doesn't have the flu. Did y'all get the flu shot? I know people who took it still can get the flu, but we still have a better chance of being okay. Y'all will definitely be in my prayers.

We are here at Daddy's and he seems to be fine. Only thing is that he isn't getting up much now. DS and DBIL had him cleaned up and dressed when we got here and he has a urinal to use that he got from the hospital ER. I don't like him not moving around but maybe we will get some help tomorrow.

Take good care of yourself.

[Wannabehealthy]

No, Trish, we do not get the flu shot. DH has never had one. I used to get them when I worked, but several years ago a friend of DH's developed Gillian Barre Syndrome from the flu shot. It about crippled him. He was in and out of the hospital, then he passed away. Because of that, I stopped getting the shot. I only had the flu once in my life when I was young, so I'm hoping I don't ever get it.

DH seemed to do better last night. He slept. I could tell he was asleep because he wasn't coughing. In fact, I had to check a couple times to make sure he hadn't gotten up because it was so quiet. He's still sleeping, now.

We are supposed to go for my blood work after he gets up. Right now, all I want is a cup of coffee, but I have to wait until afterwards. We got a couple inches of snow overnight, but I think the roads will be clear by the time we leave.

[pattygirl63]

I have been here twice already today and never got very far. DH and I decided that we will just stay here until Daddy is better or whatever. DBIL is having surgery to fix his broken wrist Wednesday morning at 7:30. Their DD is going to want to be with him and of course, DS will be having to nurse him back to health. DBIL was going to stay with DD tonight, but DH came in and told me there is no way that he could take care of Daddy by himself and DS can't do much to help him. DH and I both have worked in nursing homes and it actually takes both of us to get him up and take him to the bathroom. I tell you my DH is a jewel taking care of my Daddy. I am truly blessed to have him.

A Occupational Therapist came out today and I asked her to teach us how to help my Daddy get into the wheelchair and getting him to the toilet. My Daddy didn't like me asking, but I told her that I had taken care of my previous MIL when she had to have this kind of help and I also took care of my Mama, but Daddy is a big man and if I am here by myself and have to take him, I have to know how to do it. She taught us how to use his chair that lifts him up almost to standing and the walker to get him standing then he can use the walker to take small steps to turn and sit in the wheelchair so we can push him into the bathroom. He has rails and a very sturdy table he can hold on while we help him with his clothing for him to sit down. Not DH and I are getting pretty good at working together to get him to the toilet. DH helped him with a shower this morning.

I called the doctor's office this morning to as for a test for a UTI to be ordered and found out we don't have home health just therapy. The doctor wanted us to bring him in, but there was no way. Daddy said he was too weak. I told them his symptoms and asked if I could pick up a test bottle and take it back and they allowed me to do that. We will know sometime tomorrow if he has an infection. The therapist was going to call the nurse and she thought they should get him on a medication today, but either she didn't get it done in time or they didn't want to do it. In fact, she thought we should take him to the hospital today, but he wanted to wait for the test results and he said he had been out there 2 times and they had sent him home.

He has a bad cough and sore throat because he got a medicine pill stuck in his throat this morning and it burned and scratched the throat. Bless his heart, he is so weak and kind of feels frustrated. I feel bad because he keeps telling DH and me he is sorry. Told DS and me he felt like he was in the way. We have to assure him he isn't in the way and what we are trying to do for him. I told him once today that he couldn't help what is happening it is just that the timing sucks because we have so much going on right now with him and DBIL at the same time.

My eating is not OP, but I am trying to be careful. I think once we get him on an antibiotic that he will start to mend. So I think we will have good results, it is just getting through it.

Hope everyone is doing well. Carol Sue I'm so glad DH is feeling better. I hope whatever was going on is over and you don't get it.

[fatmad]

Trish, this is a very difficult time. Watching your big strong father become gradually weaker, thats tough on a daughter. I hope its a reaction to the illness, or if not that things go well.
DH and I go away for a few days, later today. DH worked late last night so I am letting him sleep as late as he wants, then I will drive to the hotel. We will each have a nice little ski this afternoon. I suspect we are both too out of shape to ski as much as we might like.
My eating is off as well. Oddly, I think we will do fine while away, easier when I don't have to cook myself.

Have a good day everyone. I will check in again Friday

[Wannabehealthy]

Hi Mad. I'm glad you and DH are going to get away for a while. You need the rest and relaxation after going through your father's illness and death, and you and DH need to spend some time together.

Trish, I'm so sorry for all that you are going through with your Dad. It's sad that it has come to this and it seemed to happen so quickly. I hope he can get the medical help he needs and get his strength back. You are truly lucky that DH is so helpful for you.

My DH starts to get better, than gets worse. He makes me angry because he won't let me tell his kids he isn't feeling well. He hasn't heard from either of them since he got sick. They don't realize their Dad is not the hale and hearty man he was before Last night he woke me up and said he stomach hurt. I don't know why, except that he isn't eating much and taking meds on an empty stomach. He is also not drinking water. He doesn't realize how important it is to healing. Now I'm back to thinking it's a cold and not the flu. He was only a little achy and only had a fever that one day. it's been normal since. He is up and dressed, watching TV now, talking on the phone to his brother. I think if he stays up a little while and walks around a bit he might get better faster. I reminded him that in the hospital, they stress that it's important to get up out of bed and move around. He used to work through this, but not when he gets sick it gets him flat on his back.

So far, I'm feeling fine. I praise the Lord for that. His being sick is saving us a lot of money. We haven't been going out anywhere. I have not been cooking since he isn't wanting to eat, so I've been making him mashed or scalloped potatoes which is all he feels like eating. I'm not eating as much as usual, but what I'm eating isn't very healthy. I need to cook some vegetables today.

[Wannabehealthy]

I got a call from the cardiologist office this morning. They got the results already from my bloodwork yesterday. I think that's because I used the lab associated with the hospital, even though I think I will have a copay through them. I'll have to wait and see if I get billed.

The only thing they said is my triglycerides are up, so even though I am lowering my blood sugar, I am still eating too many carbs and sugar. I know I'm getting careless with it and need to tighten it up. I stopped taking the fenofebric because the price went up. I don't want to go back on it, so I will clean up my diet and get back to exercising and maybe there will be an improvement when he checks it again in 3 months. Apparently my liver function is still good. They didn't mention that.

DH is up and dressed and ate 3 cups of chicken noodle soup, so I hope he continues to improve.

[pattygirl63]

fatmad I am glad you are going to be away with DH for a few days. You definitely need it.

Carol Sue Our doctor told me that exercising helps with the triglycerides. Glad you DH is eating. Maybe he will get better.

DS went for her doctor today about her hip hurting and told him all she wants to do is sleep and she feels achy all over. He asked her what she drinks. She told him that she drinks diet drinks all the time. He told her there was something in diet drinks that makes you feel like you have the flu. He told her that he can drink just 2 diet drinks and he feels like he has the flu. I've been trying to get my DS off of all those diet drinks for years, so maybe now she will slow down on them. My Daddy drinks a lot of them too so I hope we can get him off of them too. I don't drink many of them, but I won't be drinking them any more either. He told her to drink Crystal Lite instead. I will get some of that to drink too.

DH got up and helped Daddy get a shower, cleaned up and dressed and then went back to bed. DS showed me how she helps Daddy use a urine bottle. Not something either of us like doing, but I can do that and let DH sleep till he gets up. Having worked in nursing homes years ago and working in medical, we have gloves we can use too while working with him. Daddy is sleeping now too. I've got everything clean and now I'm going to just sit here and read while I can. Still waiting for doctor's office to call. I'm going to call them in about 30 minutes if I don't hear from them by then. It has just been a little over 24 hrs since we took the specimen in.

[Wannabehealthy]

Trish, I hope you have heard from the doctor by now regarding your Dad's specimen. If he has an infection he needs to get on meds right away to clear it up.

I think doctors want us to exercise so they say that it fixes everything. LOL My cardiologist told me that exercise was the only thing that raises HDL. I remember the last time I did strict low carb my triglycerides went really low, and I know I have been letting too much sugar in during the past few months. As long as my blood sugar is good I think it's OK, but I wasn't thinking about triglycerides.

My DH stayed up all day. He has been in his computer room all day working on fixing a computer. He ate more soup later on and he said the hot soup is helping with his congestion. He gets worse during the night, so I hope he's better tonight. I think when he lays down the congestion gets backed up.

I have been a diet coke drinker since it first came out. I never had any problems from it. I used to drink a lot...a couple two liter bottles a day and I never drank water. Now I drink mostly coffee in the AM and water the rest of the day. I keep diet coke in the house but only have it a couple times a week. I actually forget it's there because the bottles of water are in front of it. I stopped ordering diet coke when we eat out and order mostly water because they charge so much for it and what they give you is mostly ice. I am not crazy about Crystal Lite. I drink the diet coke for the carbonation. I could probably make the Crystal Lite with carbonated water. I have some of those little packets of Crystal Lite to put in bottled water but never think to use them.

I hope your DS is feeling better and her DH, too.

[pattygirl63]

Well, we finally got Daddy into the hospital. I waited until almost 2pm and hadn't heard from them and so I called them. I explained everything to the nurse. I talked to her for quite a while. I finally just told her, "Look my husband are staying with him 24/7. We aren't complaining about what we are doing. Taking care of him isn't the problem. We can do that, but we can't make him well." I told them when he falls in the floor we cannot get him up and we have to call the EMTs to come get him up. I let them know that we can get him from his chair to the wheelchair and out to the car to, but we cannot get him in the car. When we came home from the ER Friday night the girl didn't even help us get him in the car and Daddy almost fell getting in the car and DH was standing there to catch him to keep him from falling. My Daddy is a big man and my Hubby is not. After I explained all this and told her our goal is to get him well and able to be independent again if at all possible. She put me on hold and came back and said that the doctor said if he is that weak to take him to the ER.

The urine test was negative, but the culture has 2 more days before we will know anything. The ER doctor finally came in and said that the trauma of his body from the fall is affecting his body in such a way that he just isn't bouncing back like it should. With Medicare they have to have a reason to put him in the hospital, his oxygen level goes a little low sometimes to where he could need some oxygen so they were able to keep him. The ER doctor said that he can see that he can't go home because he is at risk of hurting himself cause someone else to be hurt. So he is going to get him in the in house therapy at the hospital. He has no problem with his secondary insurance paying for this the hold up was Medicare.

I have a load of clothes in the washer. As soon as I get them in the dryer, I'm going to bed. I am wiped out and it will be nice to sleep in my own bed.