Tuesday June 14 2022

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2022

Good morning!

Joe, hope you can get the bike fixed.

J22, hope that your sister does well.

Stars, such patience to allow your husband to burn out like that. I probably would have snapped but I guess all those years of marriage helps. ?

Dianah, did you leave for your RV trip? I thought of you when I saw a TikTok of some people jamming on their front porch playing bluegrassish type music. The focus was on a young fiddler and looked about 10 years old and her father was the guitar player.

I spoke with my father last night. He said my mother is sleeping a lot and not eating. He said she was depressed. He said her being in pain and immobile and getting old is too much for her right now. The ER doc gave her a script for valium. I think she's already on anti-depressants. I encouraged him to make sure she follows up with her PCP and to hire some help if it gets to be too much for him. He just plows through and seems to be in decent spirits. Not much I can do at this point.

Going to be in the low 90's here as is typical for this time of year. Nothing much happening.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Jun 14, 2022

Thank you for your well wishes for my sister. She is still waiting to have a heart cath. She got bumped for an emergency yesterday and per the cardiologist "the team needed to stop for the day." So she was added on for today, for noon, but then another emergency and now she is looking at 4 or 5. I think they are going to give me heart failure! I sent her a nice bouquet of flowers. She has diuresed almost 20 pounds of fluid.

Last night, dd had to cancel the birthday dinner because the birthday boy became ill. Dh, our two sons and myself met for dinner anyway and eldest told us about his recent trip to PA, MA, and NH, for cycling, a high school grad and to visit DIL's aging parents. Weather here is overcast, more rain forecast, but maybe sun tomorrow? Dh is flying to Richmond, VA tomorrow for a trade show. He is driving to Seattle tonight to catch a 6 am flight.

Joe, its sounds like you made need a whole new bike wheel! 100 is too hot for me! I hate to think we made need to install AC someday.

Tweety, I am sorry about your mom. I know I don't want to be a burden for my hubby or kids, which is why I have long-term care insurance. Valium seems pretty strong for an elder.

Hi Stars. I don't think I could have stayed in the same room with the commentary. Or I would be tempted to just stick my ear buds in.

I am sure Dianah is jamming away. I hope they have decent weather and not near any fires.

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jun 14, 2022

Joe, sorry about the bike tire. Hope you can get it "really" fixed this time.

Tweety, I hope your mother improves. Valium does sound a bit strong. No doubt it is hard to be in pain and immobilized.

J22, how frustrating for your sister to keep getting bumped! Our pastor's husband needed a heart cath and went twice to an outpatient appointment, where the doctor tried and failed to get the cath done. He then saw another cardiologist who said he was pretty sure he could do it (and I guess tried not to badmouth the other guy). He did get it done.

Stars, you should get a gold star for holding your tongue. Last night I said something about the Jan 6 committee hearings being on TV and Hubs said, "I don't care" as he continued to channel surf for his favorite car-repair shows or whatever. It simply doesn't matter that I care. Then he wonders why I'm "unsocial" and disappear to my bedroom to read or websurf. Today he told Twin A that it would cost too much for him (Twin A) to drive up to the zoo to visit with his coworkers (including the one he has a bit of a crush on). He's not wrong, but Twin A isn't sure how to feel about being told by his dad how to spend his money. All of which would be perfectly understandable except for the fact that he does live at home, drive our car, and rely on us to pay for his health insurance, etc. etc. I'm thinking about running away and becoming a hermit. ?

No Stars In My Eyes · Jun 15, 2022

Ado, Yeah, sometimes I fantasize myself into an RV or one of those "tiny homes" (but not the tiniest of them!) Me, and a cat, in peace and quiet! Not thinking of bailing out from here, though. I tell you what, I love my husband and I'm sure this is common in other couples, but there are times when I don't particularly care for some aspects of his persona. I don't like feeling that I don't like him, so that's when I try to use what I know, to detach from whatever is stirring my discontent! First, though, it has to occur to me, and then I have to actively practice it; not always easy, but when it works, I can just, like I said, let it roll over my shoulders.

j22, hope your sister's "Adventures in The-Department-of-Delayed-Procedures in Hospital-Land" has worked out by now, and all went well. Whew!

Joe, We must've gotten the Southern end of your storm, around 4-5 AM. They said it moved in fast. Thundered for an hour, rained heavily, though briefly, during that time. And somewhere in this town, there were damaging winds -- we saw pictures on the news of lots of trees blown down. But all remained quiet in this neighborhood. Especially since I mostly slept through it! I did hear thunder twice, but I couldn't wake up enough to enjoy listening to the storm.

Hope nobody we know is out near the Grand Canyon; what a mess they're having to deal with.

Hey to all the rest of yez usual suspects!

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jun 15, 2022

What's happening out by the Grand Canyon? Fires?

Yes, I love my husband, too. Doesn't stop me from occasionally wondering *why*. ?Just kidding, he has many good qualities, including putting up with me! 33 years next week!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2022

Stars did you mean Yellowstone Park that is flooding?

I wouldn't think you could live with someone over 30 years and not come across things you don't like but that love trumps. I used to irritate the socks off my ex with some of my ways. LOL

Hope by now the cath is done J22

I had a patient this weekend that had an MRI ordered Saturday afternoon and he was bumped by traumas and strokes to the point it was going to be done Monday as it was non-emergent. Frustrating to his care providers and the patient because it was needed to diagnose whether he had osteomyelitis.

For what it's worth, my mother is not naive to valium. She's been on it before for long periods, although I do agree it's not necessary a good idea at that age in every case. I don't know the dose and I suppose for an acute anxiety episode it's a good tool.

I just got back from the beach after enjoying a nice sunset. Just what I needed.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jun 15, 2022

Uh, NOT the Grand Canyon; what I should've said was Yellowstone National Park. I had the cutest LOL patient once who would've said with a shrug, "Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park. Same thing only different"

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jun 15, 2022

Stopping in to say hello.....

Today, Flag Day was Grand Mom Halls 126th birthday... she passed @ 99 1/2 in 1995, has always a big deal each year. I visit the family grave periodically, always stop to post Flag and bring flowers Flag Day. Almost couldn't find the grave as Hosta I planted few years ago overtop gravestone. Will thin it out this fall.

I've been caring for patients and family since 1973; as nurse since 1977. Cared for Dads sister + her COPD husband, both sets grandparents, both parents + in-laws, and brother. Dad died Jan 2017, my brother 1 month later. My DH was DX with Pulmonary HTN that year, by 2019 was on 8L Oxygen @ home and needed vent to leave home for doctors appts. only. He died 4/1/2020 at home under Palliative home care as he never wanted to give up till body just wore out.

So now its time to take care of me: inherited hubby's parents home built in 1950s that DH and 30+yo sons thought needed no updates beyond new roof, heater and central air. Rented temp. home last August 2021. Sons still live with me, needed to get rental air/carpet cleaned as had cats prior.

Decluttering took til November to get furniture moved in then 5 more months to move 70 years of items with sons helping. So home now ready for complete first floor remodeling: 2 bathrooms and gutting 1st floor -Walnut paneling going, removing wall between kitchen/Dr to enlarge kitchen as only 4 cabinets; got walk in tub so I can soak arthritis legs. LVT flooring instead of rug so flat surface home as had 3 trip and falls during move -- finishing PT tomorrow.

My per diem Home Health gig had quarterly QI meeting last week. Starting back to Summer Camp live-in position Sunday for next 9 weeks running Health Center looking forward as pool outside my bedroom door so can do aqua therapy again. It's my happy place to interact with children who are mostly healthy. Get to teach nurse interns about basic first aid, asthma attacks and bug bites.

So keep having your fun adventures. Hoping to have my renovations completed this Winter. Next year, planning to travel again to visit AN members who've asked me to stop by.

Will peak into AN @ bedtime EST as campers late night calls permit. I always enjoy reading your adventures and keep those having health challenges in my thoughts/prayers.

?

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jun 15, 2022

NRSKaren, Flag Day was my aunt's bday. She would be 89 this year, died in 2017 I think it was. She was my mom's sister. Their brother's daughter (my cousin) was also born June 14. She is 66 today.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2022

Karen, after all that caretaking it certainly is time to take care of yourself.