Tuesday, August 22, 20237

It's a nice day out - today we move to DH's home. My shoulder is dreading it as we (my shoulder and I) had a bad night. This pain just sucks my energy between having difficulty sleeping and struggling to do anything requiring my right arm (wait isn't that almost everything? ). The doctor wasn't terribly helpful - it might subside but might not. I am scheduled for another corticosteroid injection on 9/15 and he wanted me to check with my other doctors on the possibility of taking an anti inflammatory but I don't have a lot of hope on that since we just recently got my multiple medications to the level required to drop my BP to the target level. Apparently he doesn't do the surgery for shoulder replacements so I got the name of a surgeon at Mass General from a nurse who works in Boston and is knowledgeable about such things. I am probably going to go ahead and make an appointment with him. What really worries me in the immediate future is that I have 2 trips planned in early September before the injection. One is a trio to Nashville with the SILs.

Anyway even I am getting tired of my complaining.

Devon, nice job at the dog show. I hope your Dad gets to a better place soon. I don't think they always know how to deal with complications related to dementia.

CC, it sounds like you are making some interesting, healthy stuff. But this social pressure to go places centered around eating is a challenge, isn't it?

Diane S, thank goodness that tree is showing signs of life. I know they cut rhododendrons down so they look horrible for a while until there is enough regrowth. Hopefully that is the case with your tree?

DD, you must still have a week or so until school starts up? Not surprising that your comments on changing process are taken seriously but it does seem unfair that they expect you to help with it given all the other tasks that have been dumped on the teachers. Will the education system never change?

Have a thinking Tuesday!

Liz, have you ever done a Prednisone packet? It's a 5 day course of steroids. I've taken it twice to lower painful inflammation. The information I received is it was okay with a sleeve, but worth double checking. Or maybe it's too much like cortisone... Anyhow, it gave me relief when ibuprofen couldn't touch the pain.

It's another heat wave here! Might hit 100 tomorrow. Luckily its supposed to be a short one, and temps should start cooling down Friday. So far, the meteorologists are promising a weekend of exceptional weather for Peps visit. Hope they're right.

We leave tomorrow for Missouri. The original plan was for all the cousins to meet up for lunch on Friday, and then go on a pontoon boat ride in the afternoon. Now the Missouri cousins don't want to go boating, but one of husband's siblings still wants to. They want to keep the boat reservation and "see how it goes" after lunch. DH doesn't want to go out on the pontoon unless his cousins do, that's why we are going to Missouri. Its not to vacation, it's to see family. I'll do whatever DH wants. I am relieved that I am not in charge of trying to make any of this work.

This morning to entice us to actually get out of bed and get moving, I suggested we go to our fave little coffee shop in St. Paul. Then we have to visit the thrift ship next door, where I usually find a very useful treasure or two. I've recently scored two plant stands that have a fair amount of patina. I can always use plant stands on and around my deck or on my porch.

In the week and two days since we returned from Mexico, I've lost 1 more pound. I'm not setting any speed records here. Since this spring, I've lost 12.5 pounds. I guess that's okay considering the amount of travel. The aspect I am liking the most is that once I lose it, it is staying gone. I will keep up the good fight. But boy is it slow going at age 62.

12.5 pounds is great. That's more than one size in clothing!

Greetings all

Scrabble today where I won one and lost two but not by much. Person I used to beat a lot is getting much better plus the shark is still the shark. Killer good.

Then it was off to the races of running errands. Had to take stuff to the gallery, pick up cash and checks, change out bills and pick up mail. Why we still have these tiny old fashioned post boxes is beyond me. But they are quaint.

Liz sorry your doctor had no clear answers. I think you gotta wear that sling so that people don't expect you to do more than is good for you. No carrying bags etc. Hope you can get some help in getting moved to Mike's.

Speaking of moving I have hit a stall on putting stuff back. It's back enough for me to go about basic business. Lack of incentive.

DD yay on twelve pounds lost since spring. Thats really excellent. Wygovey must be a good thing. I have heard it's much cheaper in foreign countries. Worth it regardless.

Picked up meds and dog kibble plus a couple of gigantic milk bones for them. Then picked up some meds. 100 miles of driving in no time.

More chicken sandwich tonight. Then steak and mushrooms tomorrow.

Fires are closer than I thought but still no impact on us. They are using the local fairgrounds as a staging area.

Yep determined little tree has sprouts. Yay

Diane S

Disgustingly busy day today, so a very late post. It's going to be short, too, because I need to pack. Will leave at 6:15 tomorrow morning.

It is my dad's 94th b'day today. He is unaware. Since he is in the hospital, my brother and I decided to not mention it. Doctors believe he will be sent home tomorrow. He will be quarantined one day at the assisted living place, then will be encouraged to return to his normal routine. I have only the slightest hope that he will be able to manage a return to a normal routine. Both my brother and I are ready to discuss a more restricted type of living environment and care.

The hospital doctor contacted the palliative care department. Someone from that department called my brother to discuss the option of palliative care or hospice. Somewhat shocking since the old guy has kicked Covid in the azz. But I think it is because of the dementia, which the palliative provider was referring to as Alzheimer's, even though that is not Dad's diagnosis. It was all a little much for me to digest. Anyhow, luckily my brother was in agreement with me that palliative care was not an option at this point. Dad is aware, can carry on a conversation, etc... He just doesn't manage minutia like calendar dates, how tech works, etc. He can still flipping do basic crossword puzzles. He's not a completely gone. But I understand what the delirium does to him and how he presents.

Okay.... off I go. Hope the weather cools down in MN before i get there! It's supposed to be very pleasant this weekend.

Palliative/Hospice care for dementia is different - not like the 6 month prognosis with a terminal illness such as cancer. In fact since it is so difficult to determine remaining time with dementia they use different criteria to qualify for it and people often live more than 6 months (they just reevaluate periodically). It provides for some extra support which might not be available otherwise. It might be worth having a conversation with the people responsible for it.

Thanks! That is good to know. The rep from palliative care did mention different criteria. I will explore that more next week when I am home.