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I'd have to get the forms back out to answer that. I just added all the Medicare parts up and saw there was a $36 monthly increase for all parts together. I really can't figure out how they computed the 1.7%. Anyway I do the calculations I come up with different numbers than $38 a month increase ($2 realized and $36 for Medicare premiums). I didn't spend a lot of time with the calculating, though, since I figured they knew what they were doing. (Risky, I know, for the gov'ment.) The bottom line is my mother gets $2 a month extra next year.
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Someone forgot to let the grocery stores know that SS only went up $2. Christmas dinner is so expensive this year and I see no relief in sight.
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My whine at the moment is my boss, who has been across country in sunny Palms Spring playing golf for a week.... must be nice.... this vacation of his has uprooted many people around him. He had sold his house and left his cleaning lady in charge of seeing what furniture got on what moving van to go to the auction house, and what stuff to go to charity. He should have done that, not her.

I was suppose to be in charge of the office while he was away. He knew weeks ago that I would be scheduling surgery to chip out a massive kidney stone. No big deal, he had that surgery and was back to work in 2 days. Good heavens, guess he thinks everyone's surgery is the same. Two days after surgery I was still wobbling from the bed to the bathroom hoping I wouldn't fall on route. Go to work? Was he crazy?

Well, I had complications, was rushed to the ER, and admitted to the hospital for 3 days. Talk about Mr.Toad's wild ride. Love those 5 a.m. wake-ups by the RN's to check vitals or to draw blood. Let's not forget the fire alarm going off at midnight and sounding for an hour :P

And those long mechanical cuffs they put on your legs to keep the blood circulating, who on earth can sleep with those things running? It was a marathon from my room to the bathroom every couple of hours, uncoupling those mechanical cuffs and unplugging the IV drip from the electrical outlet, and making a mad dash to the bathroom hoping not to lose it before you get there. I was so tired I was in tears, and my boss was wondering if I would be back to the work the next day. WHERE IS MY HELMET?
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FF obviously you have spoiled your boss just like everyone else. Get some Depends and pee whenever you like. I would.
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Oh FF I was wondering about you! Hope you feel better soon, and your bosses stuff goes to the wrong places ( as he is an A**)
On the good side, dad slept all night last night (after being up for about 20 hours) bad side.. he slept alot today and I have to work tomorrow , getting up at 430 am.. thinking this is gonna be a bad night!
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Ah ha you both are right, my boss is one spoiled [fill in the blank]. I was planning on having my sig other drive me to the office tomorrow [Sunday] to open the mailbox and sort through a week's worth of mail and take down the "Toys for Tots" outside banner, yada, yada, yada. Heck with that. I am scrubbing that idea. Sig other said to tell boss he won't see me until 2015 :P
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FF, glad you're back! We were concerned about you. Oh, those 5am wakeups for vital checks are horrid....but add to that having them done by a MALE nurse who seems to have a fascination with my EARS of all things ("You have *such* small ears! They're *so* cute!" - as he strokes the upper part of my ear and inserts the ear thermometer...) - well...you get the picture. Ew. Creepy bugger, he was. I reported him. That was just a bit beyond the amount of care I needed from him.

I've got an appointment for a homecare agency to come in after Christmas to evaluate Mom for respite care. I am going to visit my grandkids tomorrow, but that's going to be the last time I go anywhere and leave her alone for more than a couple hours. Guess I'd better start working more hours to afford that...maybe I can work 80 instead of 60, huh? LOL I don't have much choice - she's getting too bad to be left alone for long periods. She forgets too many things and ends up sitting in wet clothing, because she won't remember to change.

Picking up a few hours extra here and there from 2 of my clients, plus picked up a small proofreading job for the weekend. Always good news.
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Don't you hate that, Frequent! About the vitals check up. Strange how different hospitals handle that. Here on island, after my cystectomy (ovarian cysts), they had to Wake me up to tell me that they needed to check my vitals... at 1am, and then at 5am. I was so frustrated and couldn't wait to go home and get an uninterrupted sleep. (Maybe that's what they wanted?) Then I had a hysterectomy in Hawaii (due to potential complications seen from the Cystectomy), and Not Once did they wake me up at all for vitals. One would think a hyster was a more serious surgery than a csystectomy. {{shrug}}

Well, I'm glad that you're okay now.. ?? .. right? Take it easy, though. What can be put off, put off. And do it slowly. Hate for you to have a relapse. {{Hugs}}
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I am whining today because I can't come to decision about the colonoscopy I have scheduled for Jan 6th. I am really upset about it because I have always refused and finally agreed to shut everybody up. I am trying to weigh up the benefits against the risks and so far the risks are coming way ahead. I have dysphasia and can't swallow that amount of liquid assuming I want to. I am afraid I will get dehydrated and throw myself into A fib which is always close. If I do too much I find myself begining to flutter and have to rest. I am also afraid that once I start the diarrhea it wont stop as I have that anyway. The other thing is that the prep scours the intestines and kills all the bacteria good and bad and I have been recovering for the past year from that induced by 2 weeks of IV antibiotics in the hosp. That was my fourth episode of antibiotic induced gut problems and I don't want a 5th. #4 also gave me extreme fatigue, muscle wasting, weight loss, loss of strength and neuropathy. i have seen every specialist under the sun and everyone agrees there is something wrong but they don't know what it is and don't think it is life threatening. Personally I think it is leaky gut caused by the destruction of the good bacteria in my gut. hubby is presurizing me (cancer can be prevented) but I am a few weeks shy of 76. I had a CT scan (as much radiation as people living on the outskirts of Hiroshima recieved) and that showed no abnormalities. I am really struggling with this as I think it is courting disaster. Very upsetting.
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Hey ff!! Glad you're back and doing better! Too bad so sad about the boss. Meh, oh well, he will be just fine! Now we need to figure out what happened to Cap. Remember, he was a tad depressed as well.

Susan, have you checked with the local area on aging? With your mom's income what it is, she should qualify for at least 30 or more hours a week. I know in the long run it isn't much but oh boy is it LOVELY!! Any hours after that you can work out with the carer. After the New Year I am asking for more hours as her care has become 24/7, mobility issues and incontinence. The State would rather pay for more in home help than foot the bill for memory care... I don't think it will be a problem to qualify for more hours.

pamz, what meds did they put your dad on for his wandering at night? Mom has her reg doc appt on Tuesday. I'm asking for either Ativan or xanax, for both of us. This cycle of sleeping great for two days and then up for two days is kicking my ass. I almost put her bed on the floor today... she spends more time on the floor so it would make more sense so I can easily get her back in it. I have the alarms as well as the room monitored but... but... I do at times need to sleep, besides, she's more clear headed when she sleeps.

Still haven't heard a peep from my brothers. Once again I think I made a huge mistake by staying here. Should have packed this place up, sold it, and took mom back to FL with me after daddy passed. I have friends and family there that would be of immense help... none here.

Hmm, I think I shall make this my New Year's resolution. Get it all together and just do it.
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Veronica, in your shoes I think I would say no to the colonoscopy unless there were some symptoms. The risk in listening to me, of course, is there could be cancer or something else. There just seems like there should be an easier way of looking at the intestine than what they do. Colonoscopies seem like they are still in the dark ages of science to me. I guess we have so much intestine that it is difficult to look with something like an MRI.

I like the idea of cancer sniffing dogs. I heard they were training some and that dogs could smell cancer in some way. Wouldn't that be cool to just have a dog sniff and not have to go through all that? I haven't heard anything about training these dogs in years, so maybe it didn't pan out.
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I reread what you wrote and see there are some symptoms that probably came from earlier procedures. Sorry, I missed that. This is a tough call, but I know you'll make a good choice.
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Veronica. Wow... I am so sorry for all you're going through. Nobody knows your body like you do. You are an intelligent woman who seems to know how to research whatever is needed. I am positive you will make the right decision when it comes to YOU! God Bless you girl and my humble respects for all you've done.

Hate to be cliche on this but.... follow your gut (or instincts). ((((hugs))))
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Jeanette, dad was on seraquel. It;s wierd.. we tried it again 2 nights ago (per the dr give it another try, after he was up almost 20 hours) He slept great. And again last night, he slept pretty well, just woke up at 4 yelling for his grandmother!. But still, from 830 p until 4 am is pretty good. We go back next monday to see whats up, or there is anything else? The OTC sleep aid did NOT work so great.. he was very confused. Good luck!!
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Veronica91, oh my gosh I can understand your concerns. Has any doctors suggested to go for a CT Virtual Colonoscopy instead of a regular colonoscopy? You would still need to prep to clean out the colon but the CT wouldn't be as evasive and it's only 10 minutes as the CT takes pictures. Or what about the camera that you swallow and it takes pictures as it travels through your system?
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:( I would trade a bad day for a good night anytime. Hope you can get that perfect routine and meds going soon.
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FF I am most concerned about what the prep will do to me. because of my difficulty swallowing I can't swallow huge amounts of liquid quickly. I am unlikely to be able to rehydrate which can lead to my A fib kicking in and the dangers of that without the cover of the warfarin..
Same prep for the virtual and the camera. I will be under anesthetic so I am not cerned of the proceedure. I am doing the 2 day prep so i guess i will give it a try and see how far I get and what they say. i have warned the GI about these concerned and requested hospitalization and cardiac monitoring but was told it is not necessary this is an outpatient proceedure. So we will see. I am not so upset this morning.
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I am so amazed at how many medical procedures are now out-patient... just about everything including many major surgeries. As soon as one wakes up you are scooted out the door and sent home with a sig other/spouse who faints at the sight of blood.

At least if one stays in the hospital for 24-48 hours, your vitals are watched... nurses or LPN's are changing your bandages and helping you to the bathroom... the hospital is feeding you appropriate food [sorry, at home a frozen pizza after surgery just doesn't cut it].... you are resting, no one is popping their head in asking where is this or that is located in the house [makes you wonder how bachelors survive to their 30th birthday]..... in the hospital the cat isn't sitting on your chest while you are napping.... and no one is asking you if you are up to making dinner :P
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FF did you steal my husband?
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They seem to be doing everything short of heart transplant or brain tumor removal on outpatient basis now. "They" say they worry about getting infections in the hospitals. It makes me worry about how nasty our hospitals are if they think the average home is cleaner. I'm sure it's more about what the insurance companies want to pay. Outpatient costs much less than inpatient, though the costs of both are highway robbery.

I lost a cousin-in-law to a thrown blood clot. A few months later her husband almost died from sepsis. Both of these followed outpatient surgeries -- one for shoulder, another for back. Both were 65 years old and not in good physical condition. I think that the system ought to weigh risks based on the medical status of the person. Veronica, doctors know you have afib, so I believe your thinking is right that you need to be monitored for a while. It would be easier to stabilize your fluids as needed than to correct things if your heart kicks in to overdrive.

I don't know how we ever got into this "one size fits all" thinking on healthcare.
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What bothers me the most is the tunnel vision of the "specialists" your history is right there on the computer and you point out other problems you are seeing other Drs for and it is totally ignored. the information on the drug manufacturers site says risk of cardiac arythmias and patients with swallowing difficulties should be monitored while taking the prep. My GI wrote to me when I raised all this just said hospitalization is not indicated this is an out patient proceedure. Well it's not over the fat lady is far from singing.
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A bit of levity. My mother is like a squirrel when we go out to eat. She is always bringing home morsels of things and bits of drink. Today I had two hands full and saw another couple of morsels I had to bring in. So I did what every tired caregiver does on a Sunday. I reached in the car to fetch them, muttering g...d... as I did it. When I pulled my head back out of the car, there was the preacher come to visit. Oh, goodness. Wonder if he heard me break that commandment. Ah, well...
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Ohmahgod.... had to seriously laugh out loud Jessie. What is it at this time of year that brings out the best of us? :D What you muttered, I say out loud, actually, very loud. Told mom just last week that it was my new saying. For some unfortunate reason, it seems to fit everything. Ok, I have to ask, did the Preacher really come to visit? yeegads that would really freak me out.

Veronica, it doesn't matter if your history is right there for all to see. They need to question and re-question you, given their history of making major mistakes, not too mention insurance liabilities.
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It was really the associate minister, but that was preacher enough for me. :-O
I was caught sinning, I tell you. He didn't say anything, so I hope he didn't hear. I certainly wasn't going to ask.
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On another lighter note -- tonight I took out my rocking reindeer to set up. I had almost forgot about it. I bought it at an estate sale 2 or 3 years ago. When I was setting it up, my mother said, "Oh, yes. I've had that deer for years." She told me what they used to do with it. This stirred up the big kid in me, and I told her it was MY reindeer, not hers. I don't know why it was so important to me to not let her take possession of my deer. I guess it is because I have so little that belongs to me here, it brought out the selfish brat in me -- mine!
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I don't know what I'd like more. A "dislike" button or a "MINE MINE MINE" button.

Personally, I think you have enough to worry about.... much less sinning. Oh sweet Lord.... we will need a downright exorcism here.

Be selfish.

For my goodwill... I took one of those Christmas tree's in a planter and a tin of popcorn next door to the neighbors. I appreciated his help the other night.... I felt like a deer caught in headlights in their house.... kids, babies and friends.... I had no words aside from, errrr mom and I ... babble babble babble..... I no longer know how to interact with the real world.
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I no longer know what the real world is. :) My real world is one that I build in my head, where people live ideally. They all care about each other and no one is selfish on my side of the fence. The selfish people are on the other side. Then I go into the REAL real world and realize that most people live in their own worlds, rarely giving anyone else a thought. Sometimes we are lucky to have good friends and neighbors. And sometimes I feel they are better to us than we are back to them. That makes me feel bad.
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Well, for the record... I felt like the walls were caving in when I took my "thank you" next door. There were several people there, plus dogs and babies. I felt like all eyes were on me...and what the heck did I do.... what I always do... cried. No longer apparently, can I handle other's kindness. Tears rolled down and my voice choked up.... I am more comfortable with my mother, my dogs and my mind. It is ok. There is zero reason to feel bad. Did I just write this for the world to see ? man...
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Veronica, I know how you feel about their seeing the whole picture. Nothing reassures me more than seeing a doctor sit back, look at the screen and say nothing for several minutes while s/he takes it all in - apart from anything else, it's so nice to know that a) they can read and b) they can just about concede that other specialties are not staffed entirely by idiots.

The ones who stride around being 'decisive' scare the bejasus out of me. Mother's on an acute stroke ward - don't know her consultant, but at least he's a geriatrician instead of the fat-headed neurologist she had last time. The people taking care of her yesterday were wonderful to a man and woman. I'm not whining about this, though - too frightened. Prayers would be lovely if anyone has any to spare, I'm asking for whatever is best for her because I just don't know what that is.
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CM, I didn't know your mother was back in the hospital until now. Wish I could give you a big hug. I understand what you mean about not knowing what is best. There comes a time when there doesn't seem to be a best. I remember when my father reached that point I sat outside, feeling horrible from everything going on, and realized I had to put it all in God's hands. It took it off my shoulders. There was no way I could fix anything. Let us know what is happening with you. I have a lot of prayers to spare for your mother and for you, too.
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