Back in Leitchfield

I'm back in Leitchfield after being home for a week. I had a great time at home. I had lunch with my grandchildren and daughters (not all at once however). I got to go to church and see my sons-in-law. We went out to eat more often than I expected. John was hungry for home cooking but I was tired of cooking so we just went out most of the time.

John had a carotid angiogram last Monday. We had to be at the hospital at 6:30 in the morning. John was much calmer than either of us expected. He was very nervous before his recent colonoscopy and we expected he might have a little anxiety with this one as well, but he didn't. (Many prayers did help.

He had a really good nurse who explained everything as she was doing it and told him exactly what would happen during the test. He was gone about an hour and said that most of that time was spent waiting. He said he didn't feel anything but the numbing shot and the heat flush when they put the dye in (about four or five times). Then we spent the rest of the time waiting. He had to lie perfectly still for two hours. The nurse was very explicit about not moving (no being a wiggle butt). Once he was feeling uncomfortable and they came in and moved him up in the bed but would not let him help in any way.

.

We talked, watched TV, and waited. About two hours before we came home they let him get up and walk down the hall and back. About half and hour before leaving they let him get dressed and walk up and down the hall again. FINALLY they put him in a wheel chair and brought him out to the car. I think we were both happy to get home.

He thought he would be going to work the next day, but was told he needed to rest. I called his work to explain why he wouldn't be coming in. He hadn't really told anyone what was going on (so typical) and the secretary said "Pu-leeeze" when I told her he thought he would be able to come to work the day after a test like that.

.

The day he went back (Wed.) he finally told them what was going on and his boss came in and told him about a heart problem he had that was being watched. I think John was surprised that they would even be interested. Sometimes I wonder about him. :)

On Wednesday, I had two doctor appointments. First with Dr. Hood (John and I both see him). We talked about John's test and I told him about the eye flashes John had mentioned. He said those were definitely symptoms and immediately started typing. I asked if he were typing a note to Dr. Rogers (surgeon) and he said, "No, I'm sending a note to my secretary to have her call him and tell him about it. I want him to know before John sees him on Monday." Then he said he was sure John would need to have the surgery soon. This is not something that needs to be played around with. He then gave me some samples of Plavix. He said that normally he wouldn't do this (treat a patient without seeing him) but he was concerned enough to want John to be safe until he sees Dr. Rogers on Monday.

Then we went on to me.....my latest blood work was interesting for a couple of reasons. My THS had gone up, therefore my medication was lowered. He is now reading on down the sheet and says, "Linda!, Why is your RBC 16.2?" I asked if that was good or bad. He said it was way too high and started looking back through my other blood work from earlier this year and last. He said that 15 was the highest it should be and that that would be the top of the limit. He then said mine had been creeping up for a while now. It had been 15.2, then 15.3. He was concerned about 16.2. I told him that my Aunt Anne had had polycythemia and he added that to my family history. I said she knew when she needed to have blood drawn because she would start itching. He said that all fit. He told me he didn't want me to get to the point of itching. He said there were two methods of treatment...drawing blood or medications. I said I didn't want to take any more pills. He sent a report to Dr. Eldridge so he would be aware of the test results and said we would check it again in two months.

Then we got to my cholesterol....He put me back on Crestor but only every other day for now. We talked about my taking care of Mama and he said it sounded more like another dementia than Alzheimer's. He gave me a link that I'll look up today to see if it sounds like what she is doing. (She seems much better right now. She is walking better and said she doesn't feel like she would fall. She is more aware and seems to understand better too. I can't wait until Tuesday for her to get her hearing aid because I think that will help even more.) All in all it was a good visit.

That afternoon I saw Dr. Offutt (eyes). He said my eyes were getting worse. Double vision, more lid retraction, and my right eye is more prominent. He assured me that it could be fixed and was ready to set a surgery date. I told him about John and said I just couldn't do it right now. He said he would see me in three months since that would give us time to work out John's situation and for things to settle down. I asked him how long recovery time would be for my surgery and he said that would depend on what all needed to be done when he got in there. For some reason I'm not worried about it. I trust him and his very excellent reputation.

I could have come back to Leitchfield that afternoon but I wanted to spend some time with Elizabeth and Case and to have lunch with Amy. It was a very good day on Thursday!

Or it was until I got back to Leitchfield. I'd been dreading seeing how much money had been spent and I was correct. MS had spent almost $400.00! Two hundred of that was meant for her to take home and buy groceries for the month. She tuned up and said, "I guess I didn't do a very good job." I asked her why she spent all that money and why there was $100.00 that could not be accounted for? She couldn't explain it and I kept asking her if she had more receipts she might have forgotten. She said she was sure she'd given all of them to me. She was looking upset and slumping down in her chair and I guess Mama figured out we were talking about the money. Mama got angry and said, "I don't like all this having to keep up with every penny. I'm not going to have it!" I just waited until she left the room and tried to find out what had happened. I never got an explanation from MS. It could be that Mama has the $100 but she said she didn't and I'm NOT going to go through her purse to find out.

.

I had to write another check for $200 for MS to have food this month. So that means she got or spent (including the TV and back rent) over $830.00!

.

The next day MS went home and John arrived. Despite saying he wouldn't do much, he has mowed the lawn, trimmed, and picked up limbs (small ones).

.

John helped me set up a budget. It turns out that Mama has enough money to cover her expenses and a little for pocket money but that anything else will have to come out of her savings. If it is used as fast as it has been the past few months, it won't last a year. Then we would have to either borrow money, do a reverse mortgage, or sell the house and use the equity. Not having Charlie's income makes it tough.

.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.

At lunch Mama said the pizza was too salty. I didn't even put salt on it. I got yelled at for that too. It's getting to be a regular thing.

.

Amy called in the afternoon and we talked about all this. She reminded me that Donna had been through the same thing with her mother and got her feelings hurt too. It helped to hear that eventually she could find humor in it instead of being hurt by it. I hope I get to that stage soon.

.

We took Mama out to dinner last night and she ate really well. Funny thing...the dressing was really salty and she never even mentioned it!