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I've been out a couple of times in my wheelchair. I'm getting a little better at maneuvering around. We had family Easter dinner my stepson's restaurant. It was closed to the public, so we had plenty of room. Great food. Went shopping today. It was hard in my favorite fabric store. I finally ended up sitting in one spot and letting my girlfriend show me pieces she thought I would like. But it was good to get out. But I'm totally worn out.
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Rainy here tonight; I understand that this is the soft end of a Nor'Easter that is dumping snow in neighboring areas.

We have a follow-up with my DH's neuro to go over results of blood work, initial imaging and neuropsych testing.

I am going to pick up my 5 yo granddaughter tomorrow and try to spend a nice day with her; I suspect Wednesday is going to bring some unwelcome news, or maybe just watchful waiting, which I find pretty unbearable.
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Becky: Get some rest. Glad that you got out.
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Barb: Hope and pray that the Wednesday news is less worrisome than you expect. Hugs.
Tons of rain here in the mid Atlantic today; snow expected in western MD.
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Barb ((((((((hugs))))))) and prayers
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Home for the weekend. Remote work tomorrow and Friday. It is working well, so far. Enjoying the job.

But, hotels are not all they are racked up to be. Though it has worked out much better than the terrible AirBnB experience.

I requested a plains view, in order to see over the roof top mechanical equipment that meant the 4th floor. And wouldn't you know it?! The elevator broke down! So climbed those four flights for two nights! That was quite the climb!
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My hair is on my mind. I wear it in a high ponytail every single day, tucked under to keep it tidy at work. It's getting too thin to keep it long but since it's been long since high school and I've worn it in daily ponytails for decades now, I don't have a clue how to change it up. I have a hair appointment tomorrow: highlights and cut. My first hair appt since before covid! I'm excited and will probably have the stylist trim more length off but generally keep the same style for now. It's just thinning out so, so much the past 1-2 years. What little length I have now, just below the shoulder, has an expiration date in the next year I think. Without intervention, I'll have to cut it short.

Based on a friend's referral, I made an appointment today to see a hair dermatologist in July, their first available appt. Friend told me her hair derm examined a piece of her scalp, determined several causes of her hair loss, and gave her medicated shampoo and serum. Now two years later, her new hair regrowth is much better. I figure I don't have anything to lose, except more hair, so I'd like to have a piece of my scalp examined, too. :-) It will be interesting to see what they determine.

Part of me wants to spend a lot of money on some beautiful custom clip-in extensions and go back to having thicker, longer hair that I can still wear in a ponytail every single day. lol

Petty stuff, really. Just... I have no idea how to wear my hair any other way than long/pony. Decisions will have to be made about that soon.
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Ali: Have you tried Biotin? I bought some a while back, but haven't gotten into a routine of taking it daily yet.
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I've been taking a high dose of biotin every day for a couple of years now. It didn't help, unfortunately. And more recently, I added a daily 3g of collagen. I think the collagen is helping some, but hard to say as it's only been a few months. I think my hair issues are beyond supplements at this point. I'll keep taking them but I don't expect anything to change for the better. My hair was never thick, but now it's very thin strands and not enough of them. Hoping the hair derm will have some good input for me, either way.
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About the comments on hair thinning (loss?), over the past couple years I noticed my wife losing a lot of hair. I blame it on the various meds she’s on. No one could come up with a diagnosis. Although she and I felt I was making decent meals for us at home, I noticed an improvement in her hair after moving here to the ALF. Here we get lots of protein and vegetables on a regular basis. As we say “Food! Nourishing food!”

Does a proper diet have something to do with her hair problem improving? I’d like to think so.
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Hallah, a good diet always helps everything in the body. I'm glad to hear you and your wife are getting good nutrition. And it's a good reminder to always be providing ourselves with good food, yes!

I was late-night rambling on here last night and wanted to share because I know this is a common issue, but also because I'm upset about it. Something will have to change for me in the way I do my daily routine... and either way, I'll adjust. Not without some pouting, but I will. 😅
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Have you looked into Traction Alopecia Ali?

The main treatment for traction alopecia is to change your hairstyle. Avoid wearing your hair in a tight style, especially overnight. You’ll know it’s too tight if it hurts. Remove braids, cornrows, or dreadlocks. Avoid pulling your hair up into a ponytail or bun, or loosen the style.
If your hair is very long, cut it. Minimize the use of chemicals and heat, which can damage your hair.
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So, neuro visit went pretty well.

There are two small strokes evident, one is in a motor area and the doc pointed out that dh can no longer touch his left index finger to his nose accurately (dh blames this on being right-handed. There is a fair amount of denial going on).

There isn't a lot of volume loss, so not vascular, he thinks.

A spinal tap could rule out some stuff (like Alz, apparently) but dh not interested.

He recommended a new sleep study (dh agreed reluctantly.) Mentioned some other followups, but dh not interested.

I'm not less worried. There IS something going on, but we haven't gotten to what it is. I'm just feeling less jittery, more validated and like I have an understanding partner doc.

I'm very glad to have you folks to type stuff out to, because that helps organize my thoughts. Having a once a week therapist via telemed also helps. Immensely.
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Barb, I'm glad you feel satisfied with the neuro visit and that your hubs is going along with it for the most part. I pray that you get the answers you both are needing to proceed.

(((Hugs)))
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Barb: Thanks for the update on your DH's neuro visit. Hugs.
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Just a quick "fix" for slippery wooden ramps. Install roofing shingles in the center walking area. They can be installed to provide an even nonslick surface even when frost or rain degrades the footing. A quick brush with a broom and some salt keeps a clear path even when there's snow. In fact the snow melts faster with the darker shingle color.
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TNtechie, great idea on using shingles. I used 6” wide non-skid tape on our ramp with 6” between strips. The ramp was only 8’ long and a friend furnished the tape. Home Depot sells various widths of the tape.

Folks, plan ahead now for winter weather and your ramps!
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I know! I know! we’re just getting past winter but…..TNtechie started it. Just teasing, TNtechie.

Be careful using calcium chloride on ramps. If I’m correct that’s the ice melter that’s looks like little styrofoam beads. Works great but I found the little balls of melter to act like ball bearings one fine winter morning. I found I could pirouette with the best of the dancers going down that ramp.
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I don't use the melter, I just use table salt. I found it a lot easier to distribute just shaking out of the box. I've never had a problem with the ramp being slick until it gets down below 20. I just try to get it clear before the temp drops that far or stay inside until the sun comes out.
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I tried the weather stripes but they didn't work as well in the constant freeze and thaw cycle we have here in the winter (usually in the 40s during the day and dropping to the 20s at night). The tape strips came up after a season or two. The shingles are screwed into the ramp and stay in place better/longer. When I replace them I just back the screws out and use the same holes in the wood for the next set. The grand-nephew doesn't fund it as appealing to his bare feet and usually comes up the ramp beside the shingles but other days he pretends he's walking on the roof - something he's seen his daddy do on his construction jobs.
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dear llamalover, and everyone :).

i can't find the message now, but i know several of you wished me well, while i disappeared from the internet for a while. thanks!! :)

in fact, i'll continue to disappear a bit. i hope you all had a GREAT easter!! :) :)
courage!! :) :) :)

things get very tough sometimes. and the kinder you are, in a sense the tougher, because you care and want to RESCUE. as so many of us repeat, please rescue yourself, too.

DEAR SWEET, kind people on this forum, life is so full of wonderful things! grab it! PLEASE PROVE TO THE WORLD, that IT'S NOT A DISADVANTAGE TO BE KIND.

you see...as long as our lives get destroyed while we help our LOs...it sort of means that it's not possible to be kind (whether that kindness means helping the LOs at home, or advocating in a facility, whatever the kindness looks like) AND do well in your own life, at the same time.

we're in this together.

wipe away from your mind all the mean things people have said to you.

let's prove them wrong. all these people who abandoned us, who left us alone to deal with all of it. let's win. one day, say: ha! i succeeded. my life and their lives.

bundle of joy :)
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bundle, I noticed your absence and missed you and your jokes. Glad you're back for now.
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nice to hear you, polarbear! :) i missed you too! i'll return with more jokes :). for now, i continue to be gone from internet. hug! :) :)
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BOJ: Welcome back or I should say take care in your caregiving journey, you positive bundle of joy as are all you wonderful, uplifting people on this forum.💜
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thanks llamalover :) :)
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just sending huge hugs to everyone going through a very tough time. prayers from me. hug!!
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BOJ: You're welcome.
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We have a provincial election coming up and the campaign promises are beginning... On the news tonight both opposition parties are quoted as saying they want to put money into expanding home care rather than into building and refurbishing nursing homes that "warehouse our grandparents". I'm sure that after all the disastrous publicity about facilities early in the pandemic this message will resonate with the general public but not with me, I know that most people are in nursing homes because nothing short of 24/7 care provided by trained professionals is enough, and no home care is ever going to be able to replace that.
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sending lots of courage & strength to us all! :)
i hope today, we're all able to work on our own lives, too. there is great virtue in helping yourself (not just others).

meanwhile over here, 27 april 2022, it just snowed!
oh boy. i put on my winter clothes, just about to walk out. now blue sky and sun, with little birds happily chirping. back indoors, changing clothes.

yup...murphy (from murphy's law), i want to have a chat with you.
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While I agree facility care is always going to be needed once our LOs need a certain level of care, I also believe better state funding for a few things could help many senoirs safety remain in their homes a little longer abd reduce the costs associated with LTC. Like 2 or 4 hours a week someone comes to the home to do housework and/or change light bulbs, maybe a monthly visit by a nurse, funds for a ramp or transportation services. Our state has some home services for elders now and has started increasing funding levels and services a bit each budgetary year.
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