Friday July 29 2022

nursej22, MSN, RN · Jul 29, 2022

I’m sitting here in the ED with my sister. She had labs drawn yesterday but never got results. At 6 am she got a call from the on-call cardiologist to go to ED because her potassium is “dangerously high”. No report of a value. But it’s now 8 am and still no report, so they are going to redraw. The ED doc seems more concerned about the vertigo she’s had for years. SMH. Ah well, this too shall pass. Will check in later. My guess is she’s going to get Kayexalate. Yuck.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2022

Good morning!

Joe, I like Turkish delight. Hope J is feel up to a get together.

J22, sorry to read about your sister being in the ER. We've been using "Lokelma" with good results where I work, rather than Kayexalate. My boss that recently retired, as well as one of our techs were collecting full social security while working full time.

Stars, sorry you're having a flare up.

I'm definitely on mend from covid. Not 100% but getting there. Today is the last day of quarantine. Luckily I'm off this weekend and still have a couple of days to recover before going back to the work grind.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jul 29, 2022

Counting down: One hour until hubby asks the dreaded "what do you want for supper" question. *sigh*

I went out to get a few things left off the list yesterday, stopped at Subway to get Nannie's favorite sandwich for her lunch, and of course I HAD TO stop and gas up, (now $3.99/gal.) so I got a couple of Mega-Billion ? tickets. If I win, it's dental care for everyone! w00t!

Joe, if you can't describe the taste or texture of Turkish Delight, can you at least tell me what it is? Meal, dessert, or treat?

j22- How would one's potassium get "dangerously high" and how do they bring it down? Not familiar w/ med mentioned by you or Tweety.

OH! Speaking of meds....the answer to the question, "Are you still taking the med the doc prescribed to help you wean down on the booze?" is ....wait-for-it....Aw, you know the answer, it is NO. That's the med hubby said was making him sick to his stomach. Silly me, I thought it was the med given him to "pull fluid off ", like Lasix, that was making him sick. He hasn't called to let the doc know he'd stopped taking it. I told him that it isn't likely he'll be able to kick the craving or the habit without some support, both medication AND a support group or counselor... And he doesn't know when his next follow-up w/ PCP is. Way to go, hubby. TSK! Maybe I should lock him in a padded room for 6 weeks or so? He won't even consider a rehab place, because he says he can't leave Nannie's care all to me. (Don't feel obliged to make suggestions, because honestly, he obviously isn't ready to confront reality.

At least all of his "boo-boo's" from his fall on the cement under the car-port are healing up. And he found a new barber, which makes him happy. (yippee-kye-yay, huh?)

So on and so such.........

nursej22, MSN, RN · Jul 29, 2022

Whew, I am finally home and eating my first meal of the day, at 3:30. Well, I did grab a cup of coffee with cream at the grocery/drug store while sis was picking up her meds. Her potassium was likely high due to the new meds she started a month ago for heart failure. The ED poo-pooed the values from Monday (6.3), Tues (6.4) and Wed (6.5) saying they were likely hemolyzed. So they did a full cardiac work-up--chest X-ray, ecg, pacer check, serial cardiac enzymes, BNP, lipase (huh?), and TSH (which was just done on Monday). Potassium in ED was 5.8. She got the med Tweety mentioned, plus Lasix IV, Calcium gluconate IV, Insulin IV and dextrose IV. Despite the dextrose, her blood sugar bottomed out to 59 and she felt awful. So after more dextrose, juice and sandwich, she perked up and was ready to go. The ED said to follow-up with PCP, not cardiology office for potassium and other cardiac meds. Huh? Anyhoo, she's home, in her recliner and finally has the heart failure meds, with adjusted doses, that she ran out of last week.

Its another hot and humid day, but I missed most of it.

Here is hoping the rest of everyone's day is smooth. TGIF!

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 29, 2022

Wow, nursej22, what an outing! So good your sis is feeling better, with labs more normal. AND, that she is on correct HF meds.

SMH, No Stars, about your hubby and his denial. Sorry you have this to deal with, along with Nannie. And what did you decide on, for supper???

Tweety, good you are feeling better. Best to continue to rest, so no relapses occur.

Joe, don't know if I would like Turkish Delight... is it a firm texture or kinda squishy?

I have gotten the laundry done, and changed sheets and towels out. And watched a couple episodes of The Time Team, an archeology program from the late '90's. I find it interesting, and am glad there are many seasons so I can watch a couple episodes and not have to cry that there are no more to watch!

I went over to S's house again yesterday, to bring her a taste of the Banana Zucchini cake with whipped cream/cream cheese frosting. We compared the lemon pudding cake she'd just made, with the one I'd made previously. We agreed that what we REALLY wanted was a lemon lava cake. Looked it up on the internet and sure enough, there are several recipes for it! Now we have to try a couple of those!

And, now I recall why I haven't baked in a long time. Firstly, it heats up the kitchen. Secondly --- I end up EATING what I bake! And I don't need those calories and carbs! Best to stick to preparing meals, methinks. Though making the desserts has been fun, I must say. I still have a chocolate cake recipe that looks really good, that I may try in the future...

Have a good afternoon! I miss herring...

No Stars In My Eyes · Jul 30, 2022

Gosh, j22, what an afternoon! It's enough to make your head (or MY head!) spin! I'm glad things are straightened out for your sister.

I did remember to take my pain meds at 7 PM tonight, and the Gypsies have toned down a good amount from their previous raucous run through the left side of my body, thank goodness.

I used to make a very lemon-y lemon pound cake. Punched little holes in the top and drizzled in confectioner's sugar mixed with lemon juice. It was too good. And I guess the recipe is still out in that dratted shed, so I may not find it for another 5 years, if even then. *sigh*

Hubby decided to go to the Smokehouse to get our supper. I don't happen to think their BBQ is particularly inviting, and I just had a BLT from there the other day, so I got a Philly steak and cheese sandwich this time, and some of their VERY good coleslaw. I really need to take that long drive out to Earth Fare (HFS) and pick up some HEALTHY foods for me! Veggies! Fruit!

Should have done laundry today, and vacuumed the rug in the den, but I didn't, so I guess I get to do those chores tomorrow.

Nannie keeps asking "what are those white things all over the floor?" Wellllll, she pulls her #6 long incontinence pads out of her pull-ups when she changes them (just the pads), and the crotch surface of the pull-ups gets torn and little pieces of absorbent cotton from that is what she sheds as she walks from bathroom to her recliner. OY! ?

Guess I'll go upstairs now and continue to read a Louis L'amour paperback!

Hope everyone has a miraculously GOOD sleep tonight!