Friday January 6th 2023

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2023

Good afternoon!

I thought I posted this morning already but didn't.

Stars, you've considered the placement issue over and over from every angle.

It's wash the linen day and have that in process. The owner of the painting business came over and touched up the edges I wasn't happy with and it looks better. She was chatty. Talked about her daughter being a nurse that was stuck in a Buffalo hospital during the snowstorm and had to work because people couldn't get in to relieve her. She was visiting and said she was trapped inside her daughter's house for five days because the snow was snow high she couldn't get out. But she had power and dealt with it okay. I would've gone nuts.

My flood insurance bill came and it's up $400. I guess I should be glad that's all it went up. Now I have to adjust my monthly budget to set aside next year's payment.

Doing the "what should I cook for dinner thing". I need to come up with something that I can get three dinners out of like some sort of stew or pasta dish.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Jan 6, 2023

I’m at work, looking forward to the weekend. Weather is mild, partly cloudy in the 50s. We went to watch grandson play hockey last night, then stopped for pizza, I had salad bar. Hubby has been fixated on that football player that had the cardiac arrest. He seems amazed about the level of medical care he got, and I think it was pretty standard for a level 1 center. If I try to comment at all, I get shut down because I obviously don’t know. You all know the feeling.
I’m hoping that Mr. Stars continues his treatment.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jan 6, 2023

It's about 59 degrees, and, yes, "Boy that sunshine is SO bright out there!" I swear I'm going to get her a pair of sunglasses, but she probably wouldn't wear them.

I got up late-ish and went to the pharmacy. Thank God the good pharmacist was on, because he said the doc had done his math wrong for the Ativan prescription; he was good enough to follow the directions on how to take them and when, and he got the math straightened out and filled it. I told him it was crucial that hubby gets the meds today! (He knows what is going on with hubby.)

Still and all. I was at Walmart for TWO HOURS because of all the lines to the registers, both pharmacy and the regular check-outs. The minute I got back I woke hubby up and made him take the Ativan and his regular AM meds. He said he was staying in bed because he felt sick to his stomach. I'm hoping that the meds he was so late taking finally kick in and make him feel a tad better. I might very well go upstairs and take the bottle of Xanax away to hide from him, like I keep the Ativan.

Regarding Nannie, yeah, NO, we aren't doing anything about the breathing (apnea)! I tell you, she was sitting with her head resting sideways ON her shoulder, so I guess her throat was squinched (how do you like that technical jargon?). Anyway, when I woke her up she was fine. She got to eat the rest of her lunch for supper, AND I got her to go to bed at 9 PM. I said we had to start making her bedtime at 9 because I was having to take care of so many things I was tired out by nine. She said, "In the MORNING?" Huh! "When have I ever made you go to bed at nine in the morning?" and she said, "I don't know." Yup, we know that's truer-than-true, she doesn't know hardly NUTHIN'.

The gypsies seem to fade when I wear my clogs with the arch support the podiatrist made for me. Unless I can find another pair of clogs without the little holes on them (not the brand everybody wears; these are an off-brand) I may have to suffer the cold toes; that's easier than having the hips and knees aching.

Oh! Last night hubby asked me, "When is my next appointment?" and when I told him that it was on Monday, he said "For the biopsy?" WHAT biopsy? Nobody said anything to me about any biopsies. He said it was for his liver. I have NO clue, but he said they told him the last time he was in the hospital that's what they were going to do; however, as far as I know, they didn't. Have to mention it to the PCP when we go on Monday.....as in: WTH? I personally think it would be necessary given everything else! And how is the hepatic encepha-whatsis diagnosed? (These slippery spots in my brain must be that I'm catching dementia from Nannie AND from hubby!)

Yesterday I saw hundreds and hundreds of small birds flying over the house, heading North-West. (direction, not Kim Kardashians kid, named 'North West.' I think "north" is a girl....) Maybe they don't know about all the storms?

Jabber, jabber, jabber. I suppose I am done for the moment...

Everyone stay well!

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jan 6, 2023

Stars, hepatic encephalopathy would show up as increased blood level of ammonia (besides the altered mental status that is the "encephalopathy" part). The oh-so-fun initial remedy for increased ammonia levels is lactulose.

We also have very bright sunshine and it's currently 66 degrees. ?

I'm stunned by the NFL player's cardiac arrest. The local news has highlighted that the guy who did CPR on him is from Midwest City, OK. I'm glad he seems to be on the road to recovery. This event, along with the player (Tua) who had a head injury and was allowed to continue to playing and got hit again, have been enough to make me take more seriously the objections some people have to the NFL. I love to watch football but these guys are not gladiators and I don't want to support an industry that places them at such high risk. There's a lot to unpack and I haven't made any decisions; I'm just pondering a bit more seriously than I have in the past.

Hubs has a cousin who is planning to move back to Indiana and is interested in stepson's house. This could be a big relief. He still has to have a place to live, of course, but could avoid foreclosure. Since he isn't speaking with us, I'm having those discussions with his sister.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Jan 6, 2023

A liver biopsy is a big deal because of risk of bleeding. I am guessing the GI doc who wanted to see him in the office wanted to explore a possible biopsy.

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jan 6, 2023

Hubs had a liver biopsy once because his hemoglobin is always high and he was being checked out for hemochromatosis. I suppose if one's liver isn't working well and therefore one's platelets are low that would increase the risk of bleeding even more.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 6, 2023

Hello all!

Joe, hope your day went well, not too busy. Have you heard from J about Sunday's outing? What is the name of the musical you are planning to see?

Tweety, good that the owner came out to fix the painting! What did you decide to make? I made a split pea soup last night, dh says he loves it! I decreased the dry peas by half, and left everything else the same, and it's still a pretty thick soup.

No Stars, good you took Mr. Stars' Xanax away. Hope he continues the treatment, and that he has an epiphany moment so he is motivated to continue to not be a burden to you. It's really too bad you can't place Nannie in a care facility. OR get some help caring for her, since you are doing all the care-giving. Re: liver bx, yeah, I'm sure they would first do a complete coagulopathy work-up, considering his ETOH intake history. Good you have some shoes that send the gypsies on their way.

Ado, I have been following the Damar Hamlin situation as well, and am thankful he seems to be recovering well. I agree, football seems to be very high-risk for serious injuries. I wonder if this incident will inspire any changes? As my friend always says, just give each side a ball and then they won't have to fight over the one!

I had lots of restless legs last night, and really don't know how many hours I finally slept, it was so broken up. But I got up and had breaky, and then got ready for the 20-min drive out to an imaging facility, where I had my dexascan (lumbar and hips). Then I bought a few veggies at the farmer's market, held on the campus. And I did a couple errands before coming home. So, that dexascan is done.

Dh is setting up for the jam, I better get off here so I can participate. If nothing else, it keeps my callouses "in shape!"

We have music to do at the local county mI'useum, the 14th and 15th, for their Old West Days. Fiddler isn't available, she is still sick, so it will be the three of us playing. I'm sure we will have enough pieces to fill the time (two one-hour sets).

Have a good afternoon/evening!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2023

Unless they found some kind of mass or blood abnormality a biopsy of an alcoholic liver really isn't necessary. Wonder what he's talking about?

I wound up making a "Brazilian coconut milk chickpea curry". No so sure what is so Brazilian about it other than the lime juice at the end but it was good.

I Googled and got this answer.

Quote

Total revenue of the National Football League 2001-2021. The statistic depicts the total league revenue of the National Football League from 2001 to 2021. In 2021, the 32 teams of the NFL generated revenue of 17.19 billion U.S. dollars.

College football also brings in the big bucks. Apparently the University of Texas alone brings in nearly 100 million dollars.

So with this kind of money coming in there will be no change. There might be talk and uproar but then it will go away. Kind of like shootings.

I will not watch violent sports like football, wrestling or boxing. I'm glad I'm not a parent because my kids would be prohibited from those kinds of sports.

Speaking of shootings did you hear about the six year old that brought a gun to school and shot a teacher? She's in critical condition.

America.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jan 7, 2023

Whoa, I hadn't heard about the little girl who shot the teacher. Talk about trouble, for the teacher, for the girl, for her folks, and the school. (why didn't they have a metal detector?)

Earlier hubby had come to the top step of the den, and said, "What are you two doing up and awake so early?" We were eating supper at 6 PM.

Nannie decided at 8:10 PM that she really wanted to go to bed. It was all I could do not to say "HALLELUJAH!"

Later I told hubby I had to check his blood sugar; he told me "I've already checked it." (He hadn't.) It was 108, and I decided, I hope correctly, that he probably doesn't need to take his PM Lantus, because he's not eating.

I gave him his 'AM' dose of the Ativan this afternoon when I brought it back from the pharmacy (2PM). He got the second dose at 8 PM. Won't be waking him up at 2 AM for the next three tablets, though. I keep telling him he needs to drink fluids. The 'threat' I used was: "If you get dehydrated, you may end up having problems that will send you to the ER." And handed him a glass of water, which he drank. I can't even imagine what they would do here on their own. smh.

I am watching TCM which is playing a few (1936 and 1938) Nancy Drew movies. I don't know any of the actors. But gosh-gee-whillikers, in those times, way back then, it seems they sure were squeaky clean!

I have to stay up until 10:59 PM so I can see if I won (or more likely didn't win) the $940 million in Mega-Millions, and also the NC Powerball Lottery. {? You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one....")

No Stars In My Eyes · Jan 7, 2023

Correction: I just read the blurb on line that said the 6 year old grade-school student who shot the teacher was a boy. Oops.

londonflo · Jan 8, 2023

dianah said:

I had lots of restless legs last night, and really don't know how many hours I finally slept, it was so broken up

I am a long time lurker here, But your problems with restless legs was something I have had a great deal of experience with (pain, loss of sleep, and constant movement of my legs after a minute or two). One time I had to leave work because of lack of sleep. I did Stretching, hot baths, Quinine by pill, Benadryl, magnesium supplements (both po and topical ) Heating pads, ace wraps, putting my legs up on pillows, Herbal tea, Quinine soda, Orange juice for the potassium, everything.!!

After 50 years of this I heard about 'dry needling' done by PT. The PT did one leg at a time. Such relief. My husband rubbed my (L) treated leg that night and said he could tell the relaxation of the muscle. He rubbed my (R)untreated leg and said it feels the same as always -- muscle contracted. Got my (R) leg treated and have never had a right or left leg cramp yet.

When I went to the orthoepic surgeon (for pelvic fractures) he said unrelated to my leg cramps and exclaimed about dry needling he said "I had that done for my back...isn't amazing!"