How's this for a more positive topic. I am trying to destress myself. Plus I took Janie's suggestion and made a copy of that other topic. Spring is here, we have holiday reservations, Mike has had several good days(and nights) in a row. What more can I say???Maybe I'm burying my head in the sand but I like it better this way.Gypsy

Dearest Gypsy,
One moment at a time.

Val, we have known each other, like ... FOREVER. You have been a TRUE caregiver to Mike. You are a very special person and I love you and your resilience.

I am soooo sorry for your loss. You have fought the mighty fight!!

Gypsy, This sounds very frightening for you. None of us knows for sure how long we have to share with our LOs. We can only treasure our time and do our best to make all the moments count. Mike has you and you are the best. Remember to breathe. Please feel the hugs we are sending your way.

Gypsy, let us know when you can.
My prayer for you is to have angels on both sides of the next "fork in the road", so some will help Mike and some will be there for you.
Nobody completes their journey alone.

Well, I haven't written for awhile. did start around Christmas telling some of what was happening. We have been on a slippery slope for the last few weeks. The old dr. said"his systems are probably starting to shut down" I kind of ignored the comment(denial?) He went through a few days of mostly sleeping, more like unconscious-couldn't wake him. Ate little, lost weight. After being on iron of a couple of weeks he seemed to perk up. About 3 weeks ago he finally developed a pressure sore on the side of his heel-we(including Dr) had been watching and trying to keep him off it-I have a sheepskin heel thing and also got a memory foam mattress topper(we have a queen bed so couldn't see how to use a gel one(think they are single). One of the HS workers reported it to the health nurse. She came out Fri.-put a bandage on it with some new iodine stuff. (we had been using polysporin)She is coming out tomorrow to change it. The last few days-since the beginning of last week Mike has been getting to where he won't eat-until yesterday I could get him to feed himself some things-soft finger food, this weekend he not only wouldn't feed himself he wouldn't eat much for me. Tonight was the first time I have had to use the lift to get him to bed. I am trying to let him know that I understand he must be getting tired and that if he has to go that Sandy and I will be ok. I hope I am wrong but I have an awful feeling this time. Gotta get to bed.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: gypsy,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE

See I missed another month and then some. We have had a pretty good fall-think I have only plugged in the light therapy lamp 2 or 3 times. Have had some storms-wind and rain but they haven't gone on and on.We have had some frosty nights but no snow. Can't believe how time flies. Mike turned 78 Fri. -we had gone out Wed for lunch. I can't believe it has been over 11 years since his stroke-he was about the same age as I am now. Still sometimes what might have happened if he hadn't had carotid surgery that resulted in the stroke. Just have to keep taking one day at a time I guess. Well I better get to bed-it's after 1:00 am again.

Mel my MIL had the MRSA virus and theres still a possibility of the infection rearing its head due to the prosthetic in her hip.
One specialist said that because the prosthetic is a porous material the virus sets up on the surface and embeds itself into it so the likelihood of MRSA coming back is very real.
If that pump does have porous material on it can she handle it being taken out and replaced? Thats what I would suggest you ask her PCP.
For my MIL its not an option but maybe for Debbie you could have it replaced midway thru the Vanco treatments???

Gypsy glad to hear you and Mike are havin a lil fun there and nice on the new flooring how you like it so far?

That van sounds pretty sweet! We have an oversized Ford E-150 - gas guzzler extraordinaire. Debbie's tried driving after having her other leg amputated, but has since stopped, but we needed both front seats for when she was driving. It's still more spacious inside than I suggested - we have hauled lots of boxes in it when we set up at flea markets - but your setup would certainly give us a lot more room. Sandy's a lucky puppy.

Debbie's MRSA is back. She's on Vancomycin again. Much as I was hoping it wasn't, I knew better. She will be having a test called an Indium scan this week. It's to try to pinpoint where in her body the infection may be hiding. I"m hoping it works, and shows something they can do something about without removing anything in her that she really can't live without- like the internal morphine pump. Should know more by Thursday.

We did get out to a flea market this weekend and had beautiful weather for it. I do love fall, but do ya think we could convince Mother Nature to skip from fall straight to spring this year?

quote:

Debbie's health just isn't doing so well. We're afraid the MRSA might be back

Melissa, sending prayers your way that Debbie is truly rid of the MRSA. Wish you guys could do a little travelling too. The hoyer is the only thing we rent. We have a lowered floor Ford Windstar-we leave the front passenger seat out, there is room behind the driver's seat for his rolling commode and his push chair folded.This van has been the answer for us-it has a power ramp that goes under the floor.It's not TOO bad on gas.Sandy has the whole bench seat to herself when she comes with us. Let us know if you get any news(hopefully good) Gypsy

Hey Gypsy. How nice that the rain left you alone while you were in Victoria When I read your post, I was wondering - how on earth do they get all that equipment in their van?? I know that Debbie's Jazzy alone takes up most of the space in ours! Read back a few posts and saw that you rent it (with some obvious glitches here and there - natch ) Too easy! I wish we could rent a travel-worthy van and take off somewhere - anywhere... Debbie's health just isn't doing so well. We're afraid the MRSA might be back - we'll probably know more tomorrow. She's down with a migraine this weekend. We're both tired, we're both stressed. A trip sounds lovely. I hope you and Mike can continue your trips for a long time to come, and may beautiful weather be with you every time.

see I didn't catch up on this in a couple of months. In August we went to Victoria again-rained both ways but beautiful weather the 3 days we were there. Had new laminate floors put in where there was carpet-looks great and much easier for the hoyer and even rolling commode and whch. Got rid of the bookcase headboard so we have more room at the foot of the bed.
When we were on holidays I didn't see my sis as she wasn't feeling well-described the tiredness etc. that Mike and I had experienced on the Zocor-asked her if she was on any cholestrol drugs-YES she had recently started zocor. Told her to talk to her Dr. Just got a note from her-he took her off it and she is feeling back to normal-that's 3 out of 3. Hope all is well with this family.

quote:

I hope you aren't sore from all that dragging and lifting.

funny you should mention that. I wondered why I woke up a little stiff-then remembered. Once I was up and moving I was fine. We have winter here today-wind, rain, cold(at least for summer)had to close some of the windows.
Just sent an e-mail to rent a hoyer in Victoria-hope they get it right this time-I sent the message to the hotel AND Medichair. Hope we can get our floor done while we are gone(somebody we know that does that kind of stuff)

Hugs, to you gypsy, it sounds like you got a lot of work done by yourself. I hope you aren't sore from all that dragging and lifting.

Thanks for the trip. Fascinating country. We leave on our next adventure 3 weeks from tomorrow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUtibEOWgbU

gypsy, let's take a road trip. you and Mike are my best companions. Just a quick trip.

Trying to be positive about this. Our bedroom was a little crowded for this so I was mumbling on Fri. to the bedtime CG. She suggested putting the tall chest in the middle of our closet.So on the weekend and today I cleaned out the clothes, moved suitcases etc. to make room, Took all the drawers out and dragged it into the closet(it was only a few feet as it was right beside the closet. There are 3 drapes(took the sliding door off years ago) the middle one is off white I didn't want to take it down as it covered the shelf of junk so I just tucked it over the rod. Then a brainwave-my many pendents(most on cords) needed a place so chains and cords didn't tangle so I just looped them over the closet rod-easy to see and get too and look kind of neat against the light drape. Moved the other dresser over -tada room for the hoyer. oh ya-had to do a big vaccuum and dusting job when I moved the furniture. yuck. I'm tired but at least it kept me busy-

quote:

quote:
I am almost afraid to write this-Mike is still improving-much better transfers-

I should have shut up.

No you shouldn't have, we need to share and take those wonderful moments as well as the disappointing ones. One day at a time, good or bad. Thanks for sharing.

quote:

I am almost afraid to write this-Mike is still improving-much better transfers-

I should have shut up. Actually he is still more alert and not dopey just not wanting to stand up to transfer sometimes. Guess with regular people on holidays they had 3 complaints about transfers in the last couple of weeks. Thurs the supervisor phoned "Mike can't get out of bed till he is reassessed"duh, pardon? or they can use the hoyer or you can do it.(a little better). Anyway I was upset, OT phoned that she was coming out Fri. to do the reassessment. I talked(through tears) to Mike about how we didn't want to always have to use the hoyer and he had to do really his best on Fri. He did one of his best transfer for me Thurs but come Fri. he wouldn't budge for the OT, or the worker(reg one on holidays) even I had some trouble. Care plan says the MUST use lift-even the workers that have been here 10 years and know Mike's moods almost as well as I do.I even asked if it couldn't be just into bed as that is the only time anyone has difficulty-nope. I was stressed all weekend and grouchy with Mike. Really not very nice person at all. We had a different worker this am so I got Mike up then when he went to bed we used the hoyer-it wasn't too bad with the 2 of us-we only clunked Mike on the head once . He was not super cooperative but not bad. I'm going to have to move the pole over-I still want it but think if I move it up the bed 6 in. it will make a diff. we had to move the foot of the bed over. Hope some of the workers don't complain about the carpet, bed etc. this is all to save their backs-the fellow this am said it didn't seem any easier but he guessed it was to prevent back injury.