Category Archives: Health

Communication Among Caregivers

Blog, Blogging, Caregiver, Communication, Family, Family Caregiver, Health
Communication Among Caregivers
Communication Among Caregivers

 

Communication among caregivers is very important  Rita called me (the Blogging Caregiver) to give me an update on Cindy’s Status.  I usually get nervous when she calls, but it wasn’t awful news.  Here is what she said:

Cindy has been having a problem with keeping food down for the past few days.  She had a scheduled appointment with her surgeon, Dr. Tsai, today.  He told her that she was having a problem with scarring on her esophagus or delayed gastric emptying – the stomach can’t empty food properly.  It is possible that she might have started eating solid foods too soon – such as bread and bagels.  These foods are too gummy and can be difficult for the stomach to digest after a surgery like she had.

Next week, when the surgeon’s assistant comes back, she will schedule an endoscopy to check the esophagus and a gastric emptying study.  If there is a problem with scarring on her esophagus, then he will widen her esophagus.  This is an outpatient procedure that can be done in his office.  If there is a gastric emptying problem, then it is possible that he tightened her stomach too much and he will have to surgically open the back of her stomach.

Until they find out what is wrong, Cindy has to go back on a liquid diet.  The good news?  She will probably lose more weight and is at the lowest she has been in many years.

The Blogging Caregiver appreciates all your comments.  Please let me know your thoughts below.

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The Blogging Caregiver Takes a Break

Blog, Blogging, Caregiver, Family, Family Caregiver, Health, Time Management
Taking a Break
Taking a Break

This week I tried to find more time for myself  Honestly, I’m not sure how I used to work full time – and that was only 3 weeks ago.  My calendar seems to be full.  Monday was a trip to the surgeon and labs for Pauline.  Tuesday was a trip to the doctor with Cindy.  Today was an appointment with Social Security to get Edgar him onto disability.  Tomorrow is physical therapy for Pauline and then we’re going to the doctor to beg her to find why Pauline feels so sick.  After that I’m going to work with the Rabbi to work on honors for the High Holidays.  Friday I drop my car off at the station.

But I also have time booked for me.  Almost every night I take a 3-5 mile walk.  I love getting exercise outside in the fresh air.  I also get to smile or talk to people on the street.  If I’m lucky, I see some interesting things in the neighborhood.  For instance, the two pictures in this post was taken a couple of nights ago.  This guy had his friend paing his truck with these images.  I was very impressed.  The driver was happy to let  me take pictures of the side panels of his truck.

image

The Blogging Caregiver Takes a Break

Wednesday night is Mah Jong night.  There is very little I allow to interfere with Mah Jong.  Last night there was an extra treat.  My friend Marika brought her dog, Joey, to the game.  He sat on my lap and gave me lots of kisses.  He also told me which tiles to throw.  Unfortunately, they were exactly the ones that Marika needed.

Tomorrow night I’m going to dinner and drinks with a friend – after I make dinner for the family.  I think that’s a fair proposition.  Whenever we go out together, we spend most of the evening laughing and having a great time.  I can’t wait.

The walks, Mah Jong, and spending time with friends are great ideas for caregivers.  Everyone needs a break from taking care of someone else.  Both Pauline and Cindy encourage their caregivers to take time for themselves.  They know it is good to be able to rely on someone who feels refreshed.

And then there is the numbing of the mind.  I enjoy watching detective shows for an hour or so.  In the evenings Pauline and I often watch our favorite shows together.

But now it’s time to publish this post.  Good night everyone!

 

Knee Replacement Surgery – The Knee Looks Great!

Blog, Blogging, Card, Family, Family Caregiver, Health, Knee Replacement, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapy, Surgery

The knee replacement surgery went very well.  The doctor was pleased with his work and there were no complications.  Now all that

Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee Replacement Surgery

Today Pauline went for her follow-up appointment with the orthopedic surgeon.  He said her knee looked great and she was recovering better than he expected.  That was great news.  He also said it would take a year for her knee to be totally healed.  She should be able to drive in about two weeks or so.  Tomorrow she will see the physical therapist at home for the last time.  After that, she will start to go to the hospital for physical therapy.

Pauine has been having other health issues.  She has had problems with her adrenal glands in the past and it is possible she has had an adrenal crisis that was triggered by the surgery.  Her primary doctor ordered a special test to check this out.  She had to get a cortisol shot and exactly an hour later, have her blood taken.  She should get her lab results by tomorrow.

Cindy is also recovering nicely.  She continues to get stronger and was able to walk a little bit without her walker.  Tomorrow she goes to her new primary care doctor for the first time.

That’s the update for now.

Day 51

Cindy Lobel, Health, Status
Cindy had a problem with the nurses early this morning.  It was the first time that one of the nurses was working on the floor and not in the ICU.  They didn’t give Cindy her pain mess, had a huge problem with Cindy’s Foley catheter, spilled fluids on her bed when changing her IV, and put a urine saturated towel on her bed.   They even laughed at her.  Cindy called them over and said that she’s giving them an early Christmas gift by not reporting them but they are not allowed to be her nurses again.

Cindy’s roommate is back from ICU.  Her daughter came by yesterday and put up a small Christmas tree and lights.

This morning, Cindy had scrambled eggs and Corn Flakes.  This afternoon she had her first solid meal of pasta and meat sauce.

Day 50

Cindy Lobel, Health, Physical Therapy, Pureed, Status
Cindy used a walker to help her keep her balance as she sat in the chair today for 1 1/2 hours.  She had lunch while she was sitting there.  You can check out the menu and lunch below.  Things didn’t look so appetizing.  The bread (bottom right) wasn’t great, she doesn’t like rice (top left) or anything green (zucchini in this case), but she liked the bow ties and butter (bowl in the middle).  It tasted like it was made with chicken broth.

Day 49

Cindy Lobel, Health, Lunch, Purée, Status
Cindy got to eat solid food today.  Well, it was puréed which is more solid than anything she’s had since November first.  She ate the fruit and ice cream but wouldn’t touch anything else.  To tell you the truth, it didn’t look very appetizing and Cindy is a very picky eater.  The lids on the main course in the picture below are closed to protect the innocent.

Day 47

Chair, Cindy Lobel, Health, Physical Therapy, Status
Cindy got to sit in a chair today.  She sat at the edge of the bed for only a few minutes and then was able to stand up, turn and sit in the chair – with a little help from the nursing staff.  She sat in the chair doing her excersizes while the Physical Therapist sat across from her giving directions.  They chatted about their cats and exchanged some interesting cat stories.

Since Cindy has been able to verbally communicate, she has gotten to know a lot about the hospital staff’s personal stories and they know a lot about Cindy.  That’s our Cindy – always enjoys a good conversation and being the center of any social circle.

Day 45

Cindy Lobel, Health, Holiday, Status
Not much to report today.  Cindy is still doing well with getting weaned off the trachea.  Rita spent part of the day partying with her sibs, taking a break from the hospital.

The holiday gizmo in the video below belong’s to Cindy’s roommate, Cynthia, who is in the ICU with a lung infection and will hopefully be back on the floor tomorrow.