I've had a hard time getting motivated to write this weeks update.
Bill had leg cramps 3 nights this week. I finally had to threaten to start an IV if he didn't start drinking. He seems to think that when his legs cramp just drinking some in the middle of the night when they wake him will do the trick. He did better last night and slept most of the night, only getting up once for the bathroom.
He's also taking his oxygen off in the middle of the night and throwing it on the floor. He acts like it is just a big joke when I tell him it doesn't do him any good.
I know he gets tired of me nagging at him to take his medicine, or use his inhalers, or drink, or keep his oxygen on, but if I didn't do it, he wouldn't take his medicine, or use his inhalers, or drink or use the oxygen. So, if anyone has any suggestions let me know.
We got his drivers license renewed on his birthday. I was concerned that he wouldn't pass the eye test, but he did fine. This one is good for 8 years which will make him 81 when it expires.
After we left the license bureau (revenue office for local folks) I took him out for a birthday breakfast. The weather was supposed to be bad that night so we knew we probably wouldn't be able to go out for dinner.
Our neighbor Ron brought his dinner on Wednesday, ribs and baked potatoes and some green beans. He brought an entire rack of ribs and the potatoes were big enough that we could have shared them. We got 2 meals out of them and then I had the last of them for lunch again yesterday.
That's about the highlights. Like I said, I'm not motivated to do this today. Maybe next weeks will be better.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Good Morning everybody! It's a nice warm morning, the sun is trying to come out, the wind has calmed down and I slept really well last night. The laundry is half done, supper is in the crockpot, and the bed stripped and remade. It's amazing what having energy can do for a person!
We've had a basically normal week. We both had eye appointments and neither of us had to get new glasses. I had to get new ones last year and Bill the year before so we were pleased that we were still good.
We went to Jonesboro Thursday to get my diamonds inspected to keep the warranty valid. We used to make it a day with shopping and lunch out or visiting friends, but Bill just can't do that anymore. We got the ring looked at and spent $1.50 on 2 cups of coffee and came home. For those of you who don't know the area we are in, there is not much local shopping. We have to drive an hour west, or 1 1/2 hours south, 2 hours north, or 45-1 hour east. That's why we would make a day of it. Maybe once he gets some stamina back we'll be able to do a little more.
Bill has been talking about getting back to his treadmill. While that is a good goal, he is nowhere ready for that. I told him that they only way he was going to do that right now is if I was with him and he only walked 10 minutes. I remembered last night how we worked up to the treadmill when we were in Florida and I reminded him of that last night. We would walk around the condo complex. When we first started we would usually only make it to the end of the building and back then worked up to around the block, to the pool, to the exercise room and then to the mailboxes. He did remember how we did that, so today, since there is no rain forecast until tonight, we're going to walk to the end of the block and back. That may not take 10 minutes, but it's a start. Hopefully the weather will keep cooperating this coming week and we can work up to around the block pretty fast.
Tuesday is Bill's 73rd birthday. His drivers license expires this year so Monday we have to go to the revenue office to renew it. We don't have any appointments scheduled for next week so who knows what kind of trouble we can get into!
That's all I can think of for today. I'd better get a move on before my energy is gone! Have a good week-end and a good week ahead!
We've had a basically normal week. We both had eye appointments and neither of us had to get new glasses. I had to get new ones last year and Bill the year before so we were pleased that we were still good.
We went to Jonesboro Thursday to get my diamonds inspected to keep the warranty valid. We used to make it a day with shopping and lunch out or visiting friends, but Bill just can't do that anymore. We got the ring looked at and spent $1.50 on 2 cups of coffee and came home. For those of you who don't know the area we are in, there is not much local shopping. We have to drive an hour west, or 1 1/2 hours south, 2 hours north, or 45-1 hour east. That's why we would make a day of it. Maybe once he gets some stamina back we'll be able to do a little more.
Bill has been talking about getting back to his treadmill. While that is a good goal, he is nowhere ready for that. I told him that they only way he was going to do that right now is if I was with him and he only walked 10 minutes. I remembered last night how we worked up to the treadmill when we were in Florida and I reminded him of that last night. We would walk around the condo complex. When we first started we would usually only make it to the end of the building and back then worked up to around the block, to the pool, to the exercise room and then to the mailboxes. He did remember how we did that, so today, since there is no rain forecast until tonight, we're going to walk to the end of the block and back. That may not take 10 minutes, but it's a start. Hopefully the weather will keep cooperating this coming week and we can work up to around the block pretty fast.
Tuesday is Bill's 73rd birthday. His drivers license expires this year so Monday we have to go to the revenue office to renew it. We don't have any appointments scheduled for next week so who knows what kind of trouble we can get into!
That's all I can think of for today. I'd better get a move on before my energy is gone! Have a good week-end and a good week ahead!
Saturday, February 13, 2016
We've had a pretty busy week since the last post.
Our neighbors came over Saturday for a visit. Joe comes over a lot and Barbara has started to come over more. So, we had a pretty good little visit. It was a relatively warm day, in the 50s and sunny.
Sunday we took a long drive. It was again a pretty day. We headed west for an hour and then south for an hour and then back east. We had lunch in a town that is actually about 45 minutes away, if you take the direct route. But, taking the back roads is much more interesting. We saw a lot of pretty houses, and several that were for sale, not that we are looking.
Monday and Tuesday we had snow flurries off and on and it was so cold with a brisk north wind. We were both out for a bit, but not long.
Bill has had a pretty good week. He still doesn't understand that he will not be cured from the COPD and emphysema. I finally told him the only cure was a lung transplant and then asked if he really wanted to go through all of that process again. Since then he hasn't argued about using it at night and he's leaving it on all night.
I talked to our O2 rep about a smaller unit since we don't need the home fill unit (I can't see having it just sit unused when someone else could get some use out of it). They don't carry the portable ones but she did say we were supposed to have some bigger tanks to use for out of town travel and back-up. They were delivered this week, but the other small tanks and the home fill unit were not picked up...and the new tanks are both empty! I think he had been to exchange some for another patient and brought the wrong ones in. I haven't called to get them exchanged yet, I've been too angry about it. I'm considering more and more about changing companies, but I want to do some research first.I doesn't make much sense to me that they make this equipment to give patients a better quality of life and allow them to be more independent but insurance and companies don't want to use them. So, research it is.
Remember at the first of the year I picked the word change? I also said that I needed to make some personal changes. Well, this was the time to do that. I had a dr. appointment this week. It was time for new prescriptions, which is about the only time I go to the dr. unless I am sick. All of the labs came back perfect and normal, but I told the nurse practitioner that it was time to take care of me. I haven't felt bad, or had any alarming things, just that it was time. So she ticked off mammogram, colonoscopy (it's been 8 years), pap smear, the usual stuff and then asked if I had ever had my carotids dopplered. I had not so she also wanted that done. She made the comment that too many people depended on me.
The doppler test was scheduled for yesterday morning and when the tech asked the usual questions all of the answers were no (heart attack, stroke, dizzy, falling, etc.) Then she said "Then why are you here?". I told her I didn't know and she said that they had put down that I had passed out and maybe they did that just to get insurance to pay for it. She spent a lot of time on the left side in one spot and finally said that she was having a hard time finding the place she needed to see, but that was just the way I was made, there was nothing wrong. She said she didn't see much plaque at all. She also told me that I had been scheduled for a mammogram for the 30 minutes before this test, but no-one had told me! I was able to get in after the test. I felt sorry for the tech, she had to deal with hairy pits! But, also got that done. I won't know those results until next week and unless they find something I will just get a letter. I imagine if there is something there they will call and have me come in. So, half of the tests are done. The rest are scheduled for March.
We both have eye appointments next week but that's it for awhile.
We don't have any big plans for Valentine's Day. Bill ordered me some flowers from McKenna. Their youth group always has a rose tent for a big fundraiser. They should be here any time. But, it's very cold again only going to be about 30 today so we aren't going anywhere. We're supposed to have sleet, freezing rain and then rain tomorrow so we'll stay where we are nice and cozy.
Hope everyone has a good week ahead!
Our neighbors came over Saturday for a visit. Joe comes over a lot and Barbara has started to come over more. So, we had a pretty good little visit. It was a relatively warm day, in the 50s and sunny.
Sunday we took a long drive. It was again a pretty day. We headed west for an hour and then south for an hour and then back east. We had lunch in a town that is actually about 45 minutes away, if you take the direct route. But, taking the back roads is much more interesting. We saw a lot of pretty houses, and several that were for sale, not that we are looking.
Monday and Tuesday we had snow flurries off and on and it was so cold with a brisk north wind. We were both out for a bit, but not long.
Bill has had a pretty good week. He still doesn't understand that he will not be cured from the COPD and emphysema. I finally told him the only cure was a lung transplant and then asked if he really wanted to go through all of that process again. Since then he hasn't argued about using it at night and he's leaving it on all night.
I talked to our O2 rep about a smaller unit since we don't need the home fill unit (I can't see having it just sit unused when someone else could get some use out of it). They don't carry the portable ones but she did say we were supposed to have some bigger tanks to use for out of town travel and back-up. They were delivered this week, but the other small tanks and the home fill unit were not picked up...and the new tanks are both empty! I think he had been to exchange some for another patient and brought the wrong ones in. I haven't called to get them exchanged yet, I've been too angry about it. I'm considering more and more about changing companies, but I want to do some research first.I doesn't make much sense to me that they make this equipment to give patients a better quality of life and allow them to be more independent but insurance and companies don't want to use them. So, research it is.
Remember at the first of the year I picked the word change? I also said that I needed to make some personal changes. Well, this was the time to do that. I had a dr. appointment this week. It was time for new prescriptions, which is about the only time I go to the dr. unless I am sick. All of the labs came back perfect and normal, but I told the nurse practitioner that it was time to take care of me. I haven't felt bad, or had any alarming things, just that it was time. So she ticked off mammogram, colonoscopy (it's been 8 years), pap smear, the usual stuff and then asked if I had ever had my carotids dopplered. I had not so she also wanted that done. She made the comment that too many people depended on me.
The doppler test was scheduled for yesterday morning and when the tech asked the usual questions all of the answers were no (heart attack, stroke, dizzy, falling, etc.) Then she said "Then why are you here?". I told her I didn't know and she said that they had put down that I had passed out and maybe they did that just to get insurance to pay for it. She spent a lot of time on the left side in one spot and finally said that she was having a hard time finding the place she needed to see, but that was just the way I was made, there was nothing wrong. She said she didn't see much plaque at all. She also told me that I had been scheduled for a mammogram for the 30 minutes before this test, but no-one had told me! I was able to get in after the test. I felt sorry for the tech, she had to deal with hairy pits! But, also got that done. I won't know those results until next week and unless they find something I will just get a letter. I imagine if there is something there they will call and have me come in. So, half of the tests are done. The rest are scheduled for March.
We both have eye appointments next week but that's it for awhile.
We don't have any big plans for Valentine's Day. Bill ordered me some flowers from McKenna. Their youth group always has a rose tent for a big fundraiser. They should be here any time. But, it's very cold again only going to be about 30 today so we aren't going anywhere. We're supposed to have sleet, freezing rain and then rain tomorrow so we'll stay where we are nice and cozy.
Hope everyone has a good week ahead!
Friday, February 5, 2016
Decided to update this tonight instead of in the morning.
We got the results of the overnight oxygen saturation test and it shows that Bill does need to use his oxygen at night. He doesn't seem to understand why he needs it and he keeps taking it off if he gets up to go to the bathroom and doesn't put it back on. He tried telling me this evening that it bothers him all night, but I've watched and he's sleeping fine, hasn't even gotten up much in the night for the bathroom.
The inhalers have worked wonders for him. The cough he had is almost entirely gone and he's not breathing as hard at times. But, insurance won't pay for one of them so they've substituted another one which is harder for him to use. I've also heard from my mother that it doesn't work as well for her as Advair. Yes, Mom, they put him on Symbicort. He was doing really well with the Breo, so we'll see how he does. Depending on cost without insurance, we might just pay for it out-of-pocket.
We went to Walmart today and walked most of the store. Started out in pharmacy then walked to automotive, back to electronics, to jewelry and then to vacuums and cleaning supplies. Bill did really well but asked if he could sit while I got the few grocery items we needed. So he waited at Subway while I finished up. He walked faster than he had for quite a while since he hasn't been active for so long now, so I was pleased with his effort.
I got our taxes filed this week, but our state return wasn't accepted. It's a glitch in the program. I was online with H&R Block trying to figure it out and then an hour on the phone with another tier of help yesterday. It still hasn't been resolved. I need to wait for a program update next week to see if that works. If not I'll have to mail the return in, which is no big deal. The guy on the phone gave me a $50 refund on the price of the program which was totally unexpected. I tried to talk him into refunding just the cost of the state program, but he was having none of that. I even told him that I was a retired Block employee and would have bought the program anyway and would continue to but he just punched buttons and said "Done".
Our weather was up and down again this week. It was 77 Tuesday and 48 Wednesday. I woke up Wednesday with a headache, sore throat, stuffy nose and just achy. I felt a little better yesterday and today I'm pretty much back to normal. I was supposed to go to the dr. yesterday for the annual prescription renewal appointment and had to cancel it. I still have enough meds that I can go next week and still get the renewal on time.
Since Bill only has to use the oxygen at night, we're going to see if there is a smaller unit that is easier to travel with. We know there is one by the same manufacturer, but we don't know if our supplier carries it. I felt so bad the last 2 days though that I didn't feel like calling to ask.
That's it for this week. We're slowly getting back to normal. Still not getting around a lot of people but we have ventured out a couple of times this week. Hope everyone has had a good week and hope your week ahead is good too.
We got the results of the overnight oxygen saturation test and it shows that Bill does need to use his oxygen at night. He doesn't seem to understand why he needs it and he keeps taking it off if he gets up to go to the bathroom and doesn't put it back on. He tried telling me this evening that it bothers him all night, but I've watched and he's sleeping fine, hasn't even gotten up much in the night for the bathroom.
The inhalers have worked wonders for him. The cough he had is almost entirely gone and he's not breathing as hard at times. But, insurance won't pay for one of them so they've substituted another one which is harder for him to use. I've also heard from my mother that it doesn't work as well for her as Advair. Yes, Mom, they put him on Symbicort. He was doing really well with the Breo, so we'll see how he does. Depending on cost without insurance, we might just pay for it out-of-pocket.
We went to Walmart today and walked most of the store. Started out in pharmacy then walked to automotive, back to electronics, to jewelry and then to vacuums and cleaning supplies. Bill did really well but asked if he could sit while I got the few grocery items we needed. So he waited at Subway while I finished up. He walked faster than he had for quite a while since he hasn't been active for so long now, so I was pleased with his effort.
I got our taxes filed this week, but our state return wasn't accepted. It's a glitch in the program. I was online with H&R Block trying to figure it out and then an hour on the phone with another tier of help yesterday. It still hasn't been resolved. I need to wait for a program update next week to see if that works. If not I'll have to mail the return in, which is no big deal. The guy on the phone gave me a $50 refund on the price of the program which was totally unexpected. I tried to talk him into refunding just the cost of the state program, but he was having none of that. I even told him that I was a retired Block employee and would have bought the program anyway and would continue to but he just punched buttons and said "Done".
Our weather was up and down again this week. It was 77 Tuesday and 48 Wednesday. I woke up Wednesday with a headache, sore throat, stuffy nose and just achy. I felt a little better yesterday and today I'm pretty much back to normal. I was supposed to go to the dr. yesterday for the annual prescription renewal appointment and had to cancel it. I still have enough meds that I can go next week and still get the renewal on time.
Since Bill only has to use the oxygen at night, we're going to see if there is a smaller unit that is easier to travel with. We know there is one by the same manufacturer, but we don't know if our supplier carries it. I felt so bad the last 2 days though that I didn't feel like calling to ask.
That's it for this week. We're slowly getting back to normal. Still not getting around a lot of people but we have ventured out a couple of times this week. Hope everyone has had a good week and hope your week ahead is good too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)