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Hi Cuz, Good to hear that you guys are getting some maintenance done as well.

Today I have an appointment to set up a colonoscopy. Yup…. They're going to look up my old address….

This will be my fourth one over 25 years so that's ok. I know what to expect and don't look forward to drinking that gallon or so of nasty stuff that will polish my insides pink.

Hope Joyce isn't down too long with that foot surgery. Will be thinking positive thoughts for her.

Tell everyone I said hi and glad to hear is ok Aunt Hank and wish Mike's legs would get better.

lovbob
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Preparing for my first colonoscopy today! Ugh...I am hungry! Can't wait till it is overwith tomorrow! Have to start drinking the stuff in about 1/2 hour. Oh joy.

Things here are good. I have a part time, temp job. Feels good to be out in the workforce after 15 years of caregiving. Miss mom but I know she is partying up there with her brothers and her mom and dad. The sibs all came together for the funeral and a thank you note writing party about a week after. Mom would be happy.

Weather turning warmer! Makes everyone smile! Winter was tooo long this year. Hopefully the snow is done!!!

Hope everyone is doing ok! Mame
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Still here, another trip to ER. A new fun fun for me...."Cluster Headache" My God, I think I'd really rather die! They were as usual rude to me so I was rude right back. I never asked for pain meds but did get anti nauseal med. Puking all over the house is just much too much for me! May take weeks to go away, lovely...G not dead yet. at $12,000 a month even mom is starting to wish he'd go now...She is making sure he gets the very best care possible and is always talking to nurses or aides about him, make sure they know someone loves him and wants him to be well looked after and to assuage the incredible guilt she feels for abandoning her beloved Daaaadddddeeee in to nursing care (which he apparently made my Grandmother swear she would never place him in) As_+&%e! Too bad old man! He is complaining they make him stand up now...Well the only other become bed ridden, you wanna go there, that will be a lot more work and bother for you and the staff old man! God when does this end?
Almost did Monday. We had a green left hand turn lane...the white box truck had the red but just kept coming...." it was a near miss!...I was so depressed and out of it I hardly cared. Been well out of it what? No more worries...

been keeping busy, re screwed mom storm window in, making antimacassars for G old room furnishings, made curtain for back door window, to cover the metal mesh bolted into it (great neighborhood). Been very Springy weather cold warm cold warm wet dry wet dry...Probably need to mow NOW! But been fighting it. I did put on weed n feed so we are the only house with out Dandelions yet...
Good luck and good news on the colonoscopy bobbie. prep always worse that procedure as far as that one is concerned! hope you get the all clear sign!
Deef has the snow melted off there? any garden prep yet?
Hope everyone is doing well and a nice balmy Spring is making it's way everywhere...Have a good rest of the week! Jen
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Oh Jen,
cluster headaches! Can't imagine the pain.
12,000 a month for G to live in the home is insane.
Glad Spring is making an appearance and hopefully it will take your cluster headaches away.

Mame! Good luck on your South of the Border Inspection! The stuff to drink is awful but sure gets the job done.
My appointment for this lovely experience is on the 30th this month.
What kind of cool job did you get?

Hope everyone is seeing some good weather. The midwest has been hammered.
Linda! Are you guys doing ok? Other than everything that you have had to deal with.
The Hits just keep on Coming…

Meanwhile! Austin! DEEF!!

Think about you guys a lot and wonder how everyone is.

lovbob
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bobbie I told the dr that that was and exit only but he just knocked me out and did it anyway. Didn't like the punch they gave to drink, got sick after a half gallon and cleaned out the top along with the bottom.
luvCuz
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Oh cuz, that is a terrible thing to do to the word "Punch" gazza! Flavor options, I say take one you DON't LIKE. That way the experience (and it is an experience) will not ruin a favorite flavor for you! I kid you not. Phosphosoda anyone...
bleah!
I know Deef...I like to say it as often as possible. Mom won't tell anyone how much it is costing, but I say it out of spite and bitterness...Grandma would be sickened, truly! Hell, literally! The pain is unimaginable and when it hits it is all you can know...I understand pain reliever addition. I f I had any, I'd take them. Excedrin will have to do. Jen
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Hey Cuz,

They're giving me an anti nausea along with the go go juice so that doesn't happen.
This will be my 4th poop shooter so I am not looking forward to it but they found polyps and removed them on the first one in the early nineties so I am happy to be alive.
Subsequent scopes have revealed no polyps and hopefully we continue the tradition with this test.

Mame! How did it go? (no pun intended)

Now that I'm not so severely sad after my mom and all the crazy that went with it I am on a campaign to get the medical tests and care I need in order to move forward in my life.

Jen said it best in a post on my wall: We are supposed to put our wants and needs last on the list in order to care for everyone else.
We all end up paying for it, whether it's Cluster Headaches, Severe Depression, Heart Attacks, PTSD or whatever else manifests itself in our stressed out minds and bodies.

This May it will be 5 years since the passing of my mom and after many false starts where I thought that I was coming out of it I finally gave up and sought the help of doctors and counseling to get me right.

Caregiver Lives Matter.

lovbob
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Gosh, you all seem to know each other. Hope all is well in roto rooter land :) and I don't have cluster headaches but have suffered with migraines from time to time. Surprised I don't have more of them with all that's going on. Glad to hear that the rest of the country is thawing out. Dallas area got hit yesterday with deluge of rain yesterday. Flooded some parts of Ft. worth and Dallas. But we need it badly so I'm not complaining (my husband would say that's a first :) That's about it. Just wanted to join in all the conversation so I wouldn't feel left out. :) Have a good evening. Oh, and Bobbie 321, I feel your pain on all the illnesses. It was 5 years in Feb. for my mom to go into alz/dementia facility. She is stable and no signs of this disease ending. 5 years in Jan. for dad with his heart attack sending mom to facility. Many, many drs. appts. for him in 5 years. 2 years that I lost my sister. That's not all the illnesses my husband and myself have had plus our son getting divorced, moving in with us and we have the grand boys 3 times a week. So talk about depression, ptsd or whatever, we have had it. But we are the lucky ones. A roof over our heads, food on the table and at the very least.....we have tried really hard to keep our senses of humor. Man it's hard though. Anyway, I keep all of you in my prayers everyday.
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Amen Bobbie!!!! Still sitting here with B about 80 hours/week. Sister and bil came up 2 weeks ago to get bank stuff done and prepay funeral. Bil dragged his feet the first three days and didn' t get everything done while here, so of course I got the pleasure of following up on stuff!!
Also been helping out my neighbors by taking care of their 2 year old son while they get job and school issues juggled around. Believe me, that is way more pleasurable than sitting with B!!! Been having much
stress relieving fun with him!
Jen, the snow is finally gone to many days of above normal temps! Haven't been home long enough to work in the yard, but hoping to get started this weekend. Have to put down Grub-X on the lawn. Damn moles have tunnels all over the yard! Can't walk without your feet sinking down 6" in some spots!
Okay everyone out there going for a colonoscopy. Get the unflavored and Do NOT refrigerate!!!! You can down it a lot faster if it's room temperature and the flavored stuff will definitely make you puke! By the way, if you have to have the " 2 for 1", esophagus and colon, remind them you want the throat done first!
Ok, B is in bed, for the night, i hope! I'm here until 11 and back at 7-10, then from 1-11pm. Long day again. Really getting tired of this! Except for my visit to Seattle to stay with Rip in 2011, and a week in Va at my sister's the last 2 summers, my husband and I have not had a vacation since 2008 when I left work to care for mom.
My sister is retiring from teaching at the end of the school year, but is checking into leaving early to come here and stay with B until we can get her p laced. Her $ is almost gone so they need to step up and take over the responsibility of B's care. I'm more than ready to start enjoying my old age before i can't!
Mame!!! Glad to hear you are back out in the world!
Bobbie!!!!! Know what you mean about taking care of yourself. I put on all but 5 of the 16lbs I lost last year just sitting on my a$$ with B. Can't get up to pee without her looking for me! Drives me and my restless legs crazy! First thing pn my to do list is get healthy again!!
Here's hoping we all, present and past, get to enjoy our " golden years" in a positive way after years of caregiving!
I'll let you know when I'm finally free! Bobbie, I just might get myself down to that boat yet! Jen, when I get to Washington again, I'll definitely be looking you up!
Hang in there everyone!!
Love Deef!
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Hey pargirl, now you know us all and we know you too. Vent and Live!
Glad you're here.

Good to hear from you Deef! You let me know when you want to come and I'll get those little umbrellas for some boat drinks!

The Boat Angel is dealing with his mom and his stepdad who is mid stage and the mom who is in the early stage of can't find anything or remember what's what. He's doing a good job with it but I feel my anxiety coming back when I can hear the phone calls. I can't just leave the room and have been able to clue him into things like sundowning, etc so he doesn't unnecessarily upset them or himself when nothing seems to make any sense in the late afternoon and early evening.

He's getting them squared away in a new home and they are now in the packing one and getting ready to move into the other in the next month. The home they are leaving is way out in the boonies and absolutely no one will stop by. The new home is in town and close to everyone and everything and social services and big enough to have a live in caregiver so hopefully they will be able to go down that road.
Sux when it's half an hour to go to the grocery store.

going to crawl off to the sack.
Mame! How did it all come out? (sorry haha)

Wondering how Meanwhile and Indio and all of her horses and animals are.

lovbob
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Bobbie!! Grab a few extra hours of z's for me!!! I'm not much of a drinker but those umbrella ones sound good! One more hour, then home foe a few hours of sleep, hopefully.
Pargirl, yes, a lot of us have been on this thread for years and some more recently, but we are all here for each other when times get tough! Bobbie was our lifeline for years. I' ve been here fromclose to the beginning and so has Jen and a few others. Many are more recent, but we all have the same thing in common. We all have beenlooking for help and support and this entire site provides that to all of us when we have questions or just need to talk to someone who understands.
My mom passed in July of 2013 and I don't participate as much or as often as I used to or would like to, but Like everyone else, I do come back!
Hang in there!
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Still here. Been getting Indio taken care of. Appointment with a Diabetic specialist. Waiting on an insulin pump (for Indio). But, otherwise quiet here. I'm lucky in that my mom and step dad can physically still get around, and mentally not too bad. My mom isn't any crazier than she ever was anyway. Take care eveyone.
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Hello to everyone-old and new! My colonoscopy went well.I did almost puke the drink up! Good God it is awful! I hope I never have to do it again-or that I can take a pill next time! Ugh! There has GOT to be a better way!!!!! Thanks for asking!

It is nice to be back to work-especially socially! It was so lonely and isolating taking care of mom. It has been hard on my nervous system but I am doing better week by week.

It is so busy here- I barely have time to write...So sorry! Hang in there everyone! Take care of yourselves when you can! I am playing catch up and hopefully all will be well! But I do know how difficult-impossible-it can be to do when caregiving!
Hugs to all! Mame
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It's good to see you guys.

Meanwhile, I hope that the insulin pump does the trick for Indio. Good thing to get that stuff under control.

Mame, glad it went well.
Here's to keeping our insides happy.
The job and being able to get out and around sounds great. Love it.

DEEF!!
What a nice post.
It is amazing to know that we have been around for awhile.
You have got to get some sleep. Sleeping, Remembering to Breathe and Venting!

Cuz!
Salutations to Joyce and Mike and Aunt Hank and Tank, Cuz D and everyone else that you feel like.

We're all getting some parts of our nooks and crannies worked on and it's a collective experience.

Jen, how are your headaches? I can't even imagine.

Pargirl, glad you're here.

Lovbob
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You don't want to know...I DON'T want to know. I am just hoping that after a week or two they move on! Not sure I can keep taking so much acetaminophen...

Everyone seems to be nauseous here....sign o the times eh...hope it passes soon...

Good weekend everyone...Jen
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Jen, so sorry. Wish I knew of some cure.
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Put your toothbrush away after you use it. If your mother lives with you, and you offered to take her, than live with it. If your parents "gross" you out when they eat, feed them earlier then when you eat. I use to clean my fathers mouth when he drooled, I'd do it all over again, I wouldn't care if mom used my hair brush, or comb, I'd use my own if I combed her hair and we're out somewhere. No, nothing grosses me out, we're ALL headed that way, just imagine someone doing that to you?
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And so it goes - OBMAJ!
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Kuli!!!!! Some things never change!!!!
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Welcome to the site Ohiomom.

I see that we're your first post. Huzzah.

Deef and Kuli! It's so good to see you both!

I hope Amber Jane is ok..

Caregiving is tough and grieving is tougher.

I don't think I can be shocked any more by how easily some people become indignant.

It's all good Ohio. You're not the first to misjudge the situation. This thread started in February of 2010 and we have all been through it and some of us have even been here for each other through the deaths of our parents and spouses.

I know for a fact that I would have really lost my mind if not for the caregivers on this thread. Caregivers and my Cousin, Harv. Cuz.

We have been very supportive to each other and here on the Grossed thread we Vent and Live.
Just when you don't think you can do it anymore, 24/7, years on end, like I am sure you are very aware of, we would go for the funny. We had to. Vent and Live.

Doesn't mean you love your parent less, just means you're venting your teakettle so you can stay under pressure longer.

Plenty of great threads on this site to explore. Amazing group of Caregivers.

You're welcome here, everywhere.

Anyhoo,
Back to bingewatching Deadliest Catch on Hulu.

lovbob
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Yep, seems like a long time ago... But people do mean it. Not everyone is gonna agree, and yet life goes on...
Mom's been pissy mad for days now, but I can not listen to anymore about Dadddddeee. I just can't. New words..."Compression Fracture"...Well, least they know what it is and can medicate the pain...
Now how to medicate the stress?...I'm doing reading and sleep and housework.
Gonna use up the peanuts in freezer, make peanut brittle. See no reason not to...
Hope the stove don't blow up, will have to replace it soon. It is making vorp vorp noises...
Another week...Stay sane all...Hide yer tooth brushes...Jen
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Heehee ' I'm a shitofranic. , Bobbie u said it well . Kuli u said it well too obmaj :-) I am recovering well on my stroke . No ciggy since m arch twenty third .. I still wobble a little feels safe walk-in with my cane . Just thankin lord that he did not take me . I want to live .. gonna enjoy my life while I am able to '
Amber Jane I know sure lurk in , fly on the wall - lala love youall xoxo
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Good for you Linda. Hope you keep getting stronger. So glad to hear you quit smoking. That has to be hard. Jen, sure hope you get to feeling better too.
Goofed off yesterday, went riding with friends. Neighbors loaned us an extra horse so Indio could come too. I rode the borrowed horse, and Indio rode my horse, Cory. Indio made the mistake of walking Cory out into the middle of a creek. Water was about 3 feet deep, and Cory belly flopped down in the water, Indio got soaked. But it was warm, and Indio didn't mind much. It was pretty funny. The neighbors borrowed horse was very well behaved. Beautiful red and white paint horse. When I went to clean him up, before taking him home. Discovered his tail was all matted up. Huge mat. We got out the WD-40, sprayed it on the tail, and it combed right out. Chalk that up to another use for WD-40. Good week everyone.
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Horseies Yay... Doing better, think my head aches have passed, hope they stay away!
Went to nursing home, he was listening to music lady today. New crap, he is refusing to bathe, take his pills and has started to reach around and un-hook the monitor that says he is trying to get out of wheel chair unassisted...Good good, maybe he will kill himself doing something stupid...Whatever...
another week and what not....Hope everyone hanging in there O.K. Jen
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Amber Jane brings back memories one of our first KAW occasions -wow about 6 years-about the time my husband died-he would be so pissed off I got up and dusted myself off and went on to live and re-meet a good man from my high school years who is the love of my life. Cap't Bobbie and her crew have been trough a lot together since then 30175 posts and counting-love you guys-tomorrow is one week since my brother's funeral-it still is not real for me.
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Austin, I'm so sorry about your brother.
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Austin, sorry about the loss of your brother. Ow Ow.

Linda! so glad you don't smoke anymore and are taking care of yourself. I know you'll keep working on getting stronger. Shitofrantic! woohoo!

Jen, happy your headaches are gone and here's hoping they stay away from you from here on in.

Cuz! what's going on with you guys? How is Mike? Did you get your eye surgery?
I remember you were going to get one and then the other.
Can you see?
How many fingers do I have up?

Love you guys,

lovbob
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bobbie every one here is doing good. Joyce had her foot worked on last week and is finally able to take a shower. Yowser. PTA's sometimes just don't work good. Don't tell her I said that though. HA HA. I can't remember if I had told you that it was deeper than the dr thought. He said it was growing in between the two bones on the top of her instep. He had to make two cuts just to get it all. She goes in next week after I have my right eye done on Wednesday to get the stitches out. Yesterday I had a physical and came out with an A+ and I also went to the skin cancer dr ad he gave me an A+. It was the first time in years that he didn't have to spray me with the liquid nitrogen. I'm starting to get my second wind. In May marks our 47th so maybe I will stick around for awhile ya think? Ma is doing good. Mike is back to gaining weight again but not from eating. Side effect from the medication to help with his numb feet and legs. His depression comes and goes but he is doing ok.
Linda glad to hear you are on the rebound.
Austin you are in our prayers.
Jen There is a light at the end of that long tunnel. Sounds like you are getting closer.
meanwhile glad you were able to do what you like to do best. Ride. Thats so cool.
everyone else hugs to all.
lovCuz
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H*ll, I am not in the tunnel now. I am just outside the entrance looking around! Can't go too far yet, but good to be out of the endless dark!
Just keep going forward Austin...better days ahead for us all...Love,Jen
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Glad you made it out Jen Hugs to you.
luvCuz
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