Wednesday Roll Call

Good afternoon Delaware ! First let me say I am sorry for being missing in action. Bob's care is very demanding right now.  He has a fever today and his body is breaking down so bad. The nurse did a urine culture to get him started on an antibotic today. He has lost so much weight and is nothing but skin and bones. No muscle to help with healing. It is hard for me to get on line unless he is sleeping which he is not doing much of.  His aide has not been here all week. The weather is really nice in Lower Slower Delaware today. I wanted to do some raking but thats not happening today.I'm glad to see some new post. Hope all has a wonderful day. Keep the board going. Thanks to all for your prayers and thoughts. Please feel free to call me anytime. See all lighter. Joanne

Joanne,
Where is his HHA?  It is unacceptable for them not to provide an aide.  Does he have a hospital bed with an alternating pressure pad, if not call and demand one.  It will help with his breaking down.  There are also protective second skin pads that they can put on his heels, bottom and shoulders.  There is a cream called calmaseptine that really helps skin to heal.  Don't worry about the fever, give him tylenol if he is uncomfortable, and if he is restless and not sleeping ask for medicine.....lorazapam for agitation and resteril for sleep.  The goal now is to keep him comfortable, and to give you some help.  Write back if you have any questions

Barbara, the old hospice nurse.....boy I wish I were down there.

Barbara, I wish you were down here too. I am calling hospice today about the aid and will talk to the nurse on Friday about your sujestions. I do really appreciate your advice. He is taking lorazapam for agitation and Remoron for sleep. He did sleep last night. The nurse told me yesterday to give him the Remoron again if he has not gone to sleep in 4 hours. He has been up since 3 a.m.  I gave him more Remoron but he didn't go back to sleep. Can they get use to the sleep meds and need it changed? Some days I feel so lost. Thanks ! Joanne

Joanne,
Be strong throughout Bob's transition.  I know it's diffiult.  I would like to offer some help with your raking chores.  I will talk to our Scoutmaster tonight and I am certain Troop 105 would be more than happy to perform those chores for you as a community service.  They really are a good bunch of young men.  If you can, get back with me sometime today before 5pm about any other similar chores that you might need, and we will see what we can do, OK?  Rest easy my friend....help is on the way.  I will check this board off and on today for a message from you.  Our scout meeting is at 6:45 p.m. every Thursday.  We have a camping trip this weekend but arrangements can be made for some time next week.  Just let me know, and don't hold back...give us a list of chores and we will see what we can do.

Hey Kathy -- just curious -- what ages are the boys in Troop 105? And do you have any contact information for boy scouting for my son who is 10?

Thanks,
BJ

Hi BJ,
Our Scouts range in age from 11-18 and rank from Tenderfoot to Eagle/Eagle Palm . You can get information about scouting in Longneck from Mick Light, owner of Mick's Classic Carpet upstairs of the Burton Realty office.  He is Scoutmaster for our Troop.  I don't have the number off hand but you can stop by there and see him....his white van will be parked there if he is in. It's right next door to the Food Lion.  Good Luck!  Let me know if you'd like to enroll your son...we will take him to a meeting and Alex will get a recruiter badge!  (LOL)

Thanks for the scouting info, Kathy! I will stay in touch with you after I speak to Mick. How old is your Alex?

-BJ

Kathy, Thanks for the offer. We would be glad to accept the boy's help but I think the scout master should check it out before committing the troop. My yard is big with lots of pine needles and cones. The roof needs to be blown off and the gutters cleaned also. It is alot of work. The biggest job is bagging all the needles and cones. Hopefully Debbie's friend will blow off the roof. They did her's yesterday. Her yard is smaller and it took 2 of them all day to get it done. How many boys are in the troop? Let me know and I will make sure we have lots of bags, snacks and drinks for them.  If the burning ban is off they could have a nice bon fire in my yard with the branches. Please feel free to share my phone number with your scout master too. See you lighter. Joanne

Sorry I am just getting back to you. Had to work....  Remeron is not the drug of choice.  It is used for depression in the elderly, not specifiacally for sleep.  It can help one to sleep, but is not a sleeping pill.  If he is on lorazapam, see if you can increase the dose.  Sleep is very important for him, agitation is emotional pain, and that he does not need.  We have a term called terminal agitation.  It is when all the demons try to overrun ones mind.  What did the nurse say today?

I will talk to the nurse tomorrow in person. I did call them about the aide not coming. I didn't get a call back. I bathed , shaved and cleaned all his linens tonight myself.  I will ask her about changing sleep meds. I am tired tonight myself. It has been a really long day. Thanks for all your help. See you lighter. Joanne