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MsMadge,
The heat has arrived, yeah, oh yes it is here.
Please do not hesitate to go to a hotel if that is where the air conditioning is at.

Do they keep the air on at work 24/7?  Not likely, but if it is cool and they have a lounge, shelter in place?
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Becky,
Stick with us, we are a huge group of caregiver friends who want the best for you!
Reminds me of Veronica, when everything went south physically, and she is still with us today. We got the power! Or, know the one who IS.

Here, so many hugs for you!
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Becky; I get up at 4 AM here in NY; I'll be with you in spirit from 5 AM on. Dear lord, you've had too, too much to bear in the last year. (((((hugs)))))))
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Becky
Thanks for letting us know -

I'm holding good thoughts for surgery tomorrow and today to let your mind be quiet and body relax so it can heal quickly
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Becky, I don't visit this thread often but saw some of the most recent posts on my news feed, so I stopped by to read about your situation.

Wow - you're really facing a lot now. I wish I could offer some consoling thoughts....are there other alternatives to a transplant? I don't know enough about your situation to know, but gosh, that seems like such a major operation.

I can't send you a card, so I'll just send you helping and healing thoughts as others are doing. And best of care and luck with the surgery tomorrow. Peace to you as you work through this challenge.
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Awwww Becky, that's just $h*tty news; I feel terrible for you.
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Well, crap Becky.
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Thanks Barb. I am in the hospital. Have had 5 tests done. I have a small thinning spot on the pericardium and also a severely leaking mitrial valve. So tomorrow I’m headed back to surgery. Mesh patch to repair pericardium and mitrial valve replacement. My cardiologist says these are stop gap measures. My CHF is worse and my ejection fraction has dropped another point. So I am being placed on a transplant list. I’m not a good candidate for a transplant because of other co-morbidities. I feel kind of shell shocked right now.
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Please, everyone send Becky hugs! She's in the hospital!!!!
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Lisa91, that almost always seem to happen when I would get a day off or an afternoon off. Then, I get a reality check that at least I don't have to take a last minute off and use up another day of my vacation leave. It can get frustrating but most especially irritating.

Caregiver, you're a much nicer person than I am. If my dad had done that to me, after I asked him twice, I would have complained non-stop and then tell him that we're sharing. Since half a meal is not enough for 2 people, then I would have cut that sandwich in half - one for him and one for me.... knowing he would not eat the sandwich - which would go to waste. Just pack it up, put it in the fridge and give it the next time he's hungry... That would be my scenario with my dad. But to give him my whole food?!? No way! That's like rewarding him … And that's why my dad always accused me of being disrespectful.
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It's nearly 1 am and it still sounds like a war zone here - so many illegal fireworks everywhere
What happened to snakes, sparklers and piccolo petes?
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Becky
Sorry you're in hospital again - hope you get at least a bit of sleep
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Adopting a cat on Friday.
More later when the internet and computed ars working better.

Happy 4th!
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Thank you Gershun!
I am offline, every minute, it goes offline, then on again.

Say hello to Luckylu for me, her dinner sounded so good. She is the deviled egg and jello salad lady in their family. Our family no longer gets together, and sad there are no famous egg ladies any more.

What is with the so very many caregivers picking on other caregivers-on way way too many threads. Stop it! Just stop it! Don?t make me name names. It is disgusting behaviors.
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Before I forget, Happy Fourth of July to all my American friends!

Send, you are not a crap magnet.............if you are then I must be crap cause I've always been drawn to you. Should I start calling myself crapola? Change my name from Gershun to Crapface?

I've gotten good at looking really busy when it looks like someone wants to talk to me. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy chatting with strangers if I'm in the mood and they don't seem too weird but then there are those days when people can see my "resting bitch face" and they know to stay clear. :)
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Lisa91, that always seems to happen to me too, I plan for a day off to catch up on my own stuff, something comes up and I get farther behind. I have learned to just set my expectations lower and not put so much pressure on myself...sometimes it works, sometimes not. The past couple of months I have started taking little naps when I can get them...an hour or two after work on a weekday, or longer into the evening, and then I get up around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. and do a few things around the house. Sometimes I have more energy then and get more accomplished. It is a blessing that you did not have to miss work...sometimes that adds to the pressure. Hope you find some time for yourself.
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Caregiver727, I understand that it's frustrating. Would you have felt better if you had eaten your food and given her the sandwich instead? Probably not, since it probably is not in your nature to do so. Please try to get some rest and a little time for yourself. This too shall pass.
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My whine moment was when I asked my MIL if she wanted what we were having for dinner- twice- and she said no so i made ours. The second I started to sit down with my family to eat she decides she wants some. I didn't make her any because she said she didn't want it -twice. I gave her my food and ate a sandwich. I understand that she's got a very short time left to live, but seriously, that doesn't give her the ok to be rude. She's did it before and if I would have just offered to fix her something else she would've been mad and telling everyone that I don't take care of her. I'm over being a caregiver. I already had my husband (2 strokes), my son (autism). Those two ARE my responsibility and I don't begrudge helping them. Over the years I have found out that I have rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and HS. Hubby knew this and yet he still insisted that we (I) take care of his mom when her COPD got to the point that she was put on hospice. Now my body constantly hurts and everything is flared up. I'm about ready to tell him that either she goes into a nursing home or he's gonna have to figure out a way to take care of her himself. This will cause irreversible damage to our marriage, but how can I take care of my son, him, and myself if one more added responsibility is breaking me down?
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Have had a bad day. Called my cardiologist and went to ER. He met me there and I’ve been readmitted. Cardiac arrthymias. Have to have testing to determine cause. I’m tied of this.
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I’m a newbie with whine moment. It could really be a whine hour - I can clearly see that everyone can relate. I’m whiney because I have 2 parents and 2 step-parents - all in varying states of illness. Things fall apart on Holidays and just prior to my planned vacations - whether they know in advance that I’m going or not. Spent a much needed day off from work today shopping, cooking cleaning and bathing because my step-father was admitted to the hospital and my Mom can’t be left alone. Guess I should be grateful that I already had off and didn’t have to miss a day of work.
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Amazon loves me! An order a month.
At least I use "AmazonSmile" where a portion of your order is donated to your favorite charity. They have about 6 to choose from. Mine is Doctors Without Borders.
That justifies my purchases (I keep telling myself). 😉 💸💸💸
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I think Kellse has a great idea! Yeaaah Amazon; my latest coup is an 8'x6' outside awning, no shipping, no tax (not yet), and delivered to my door.
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i Just bought a 99 dollar window unit from Amazon , the shipping was free and i didn't have to lug it up the stairs
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MsMadge,
Think clothes dryer exhaust, hole in the wall, same size as air conditioner exhaust hose.
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Katie, is it one of those small square looking box shape that you set near you? I decided not to spend $1400 on air conditioner split unit, and then pay $350 monthly power bill - when the air con broke down. My bill went from $350 to just $80.00/month. But the heat can be sooo bad. I hate waking up at nights soaking wet. The bedsheet, the pillow, my dress (not pajama but very thin regular cotton dresses) is wet. I clicked on the advertisement for it on the website. Now, that d*rn thing keeps popping up whenever I'm on the net. That and JcPenney. I then went on Amazon and checked the reviews. Some reviewers say you need to refill the water several hours - not the 8 hours. It kind of defeats the purpose to use for nights only - if I have to keep getting up to fill the water.... Oh.. It will work for the 8 hours on the Low setting...
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MsMadge, Have you seen those little air cooling units they advertise on TV lately?....I forget what they are called. I don't know how well they work, but they don't have to be connected to anything and you fill them with water and they run for about 8 hrs.. The hotel idea sounds good though...no cleaning or making the bed, possible room service, and you can kick back and relax....
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There has got to be a way around that MsMadge, you need someone who is handy and can think outside the box. Portable unit with the hose through plywood attached to the inside of the window? Dang, I'd be prepared to knock a dedicated hole in the wall :(
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Spent the afternoon cleaning fans and windows - they desperately need to be replaced - 70 years old
Portable a/c is out given screens are wired to an alarm - I remember the summer of the night stalker
Forecast is for 106 on Friday -
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Cathiro, has anything really changed significantly for you with this diagnosis? He's still the same man he was yesterday and it sounds as though you've been dealing with his decline for a very long time. Perhaps this is a positive thing, hopefully a diagnosis will help his doctors find more targeted medication and he will qualify for more care.
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My 80 year old husband has just been diagnosed with major dementia. Not only does he suffer from dementia but he also suffers from bipolar disorder and CHF.

I’ve been his caretaker for going on 30 years.
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