Manatee Mentors 2014--CLOSED (begging & bribes MAY work) (Page 32)

Some randomness...

Went for my FAA flight physical today.  Doc takes my BP and HR and his eyes kinda pop.  "Oh crap, I can't use these numbers.  If I write down a HR of 43, they'll make you do all sorts of tests to prove you don't have a cardiac condition.  Your HR is 50."  Or something about to that effect.

I'm too healthy!  Yay, health!

Matt

Have fun in the ski race Monica, I love the snow but have to travel a long way now to get there. The ski season in Australia is short and very expensive so quite a few people fly to Japan instead. Maybe next year?

Enjoy the half Ernesto, I paced a friend a couple of years ago and annoyed the hell out of her by running backwards and talking too much!

I quite like your creepy virtual swim coach Yanti, nice eyes... I can only think someone thought it would be a cheaper alternative to a paid real person but surely you could find someone to do it for free!?

I skipped my ride yesterday to rest my legs and luckily today I felt much better, got 60km done at a steady pace. I think I need to build my base back again post-Christmas. Have a fun Sunday everyone, it's going to be a hot one here today!

Good job Jen! 

Sorry to hear about J, Erin.

Michael, sorry you missed signing up for IMChoo, but your plan sounds awesome!

We have had an eventful 24 hours here.  I got a call from my SIL while out on my run yesterday--my Bro has been having GI issues for 18+ months.  Colonoscopy in April showed nothing (or so he was told at the time, there were actually ulcers but I digress).  Scheduled for another yesterday at a local outpatient facility.   He had had a rough GI week, and despite following the prep to the letter, they could complete the procedure, as he was not cleaned out enough.  They were, however, able to see 'something abnormal'.  My SIL was called to pick him up, they were going to try another day.  By the time she got there (she was about 1/2 hour away), he was being transferred by ambulance to the local hospital due to severe abdominal pain and vomiting.  After 8 hours in the ER and a CT scan, diagnosed with an obstruction caused by a mass and had emergency surgery.  3+ hours later, he lost about 1/4 of his colon and has a temp. colostomy, which we were prepared for.  Surgeon does not believe it to be cancer but an inflammatory process due to diverticulitis.  We will have to await the biopsy results to be sure of course.  Bro is doing quite well, keeping his sense of humour (a family trait...), joking about getting to the front of the line in a wheelchair at Disneyland .  I am sure grateful for my vet tech education, as I was able to help my family understand what was happening, as ER docs and surgeons are not 'all that' when it comes to bed-side manner!  The experience also reinforced my belief that updates for the family, however uninformative, are invaluable! 

Any thoughts and prayers for his quick and complete recovery are appreciated

MAN oh MANatees ... I'm having a hard time here.

Breathe, breathe. One day at a time and I only have to do today what I can do today. Bare minimum is fine. Last over the line is still called "triathlete"

Depressed (not sad/blue/down) ... very common with protracted illnesses and whatever this one is, it's likely causing depression directly as well (it's actually one of the diagnostic criteria for a lot of the nasty tropical illnesses). My iron's low. That can't be helping, either.

In a quandary about Mutti's dog, who I'm still taking care of (wound care, which as many of you know is detailed and taxing) and hauling around to the tune of 1.5 hours a day, and also spending time petting and interacting with her. She's around 15yo, which for a large purebred dog is ANCIENT. Anyway, she's gotten to the point where she can't use her hind end anymore and has lost bladder and bowel control, but is otherwise quite robust. But if I'm not here, there is NOBODY to actively care for the dog (she'll get fed but that's it).

Do I put her down? Get or make her a dog wheelchair and make her an indoor dog? Mutti pretty much lives for the dog, and I seriously fear for her well-being if there's no dog.

Mutti's declining, too. I know it is inevitable with Alzheimer's; it's just that every day seems to be a new challenge and I don't feel like I can leave. Very early this morning she kept coming into my room, so I finally got up and followed her and asked her what she needed. She insisted that someone had woken her up and told her that Pa (my deceased father) needed help, and so she had to go find his "machine" and get it to him. I tried to reassure her that everyone was fine and that everything had been taken care of, but she was resolute that she had to do this thing, and refused the gentle suggestion that this may have been a very vivid dream.

Usually if I slightly change the topic or can get her focused on something else, she'll completely forget what was happening before. Didn't work this time. I sat with her for quite a while and she was getting very annoyed with me and would not be deterred. I finally told her, as gently and kindly as possible, that Pa had passed away nine months ago. She was absolutely dumbfounded, in shock and grief, both for Pa and then that she couldn't remember.

I suppose it's a great blessing that, until now, this has not happened--she was always aware Pa had died, and was able to go through a grieving process. And chances are, she won't remember any of this later in the day, but will go right back to recalling that he is in fact dead. But for a good half-hour there, she was as devastated as if he'd just died, with the added panic of knowing that she's losing her mind. She was clinging to me and sobbing, and kept saying, thank you for being here. I'm so glad you're here.

A lot of the time now, she also thinks I'm my sister.

Anyway, I just can't imagine if Mutti had to go through something like this morning by herself. Her caretakers are capable of handling it--they would probably do exactly what I did--and these moments will only increase in frequency and severity, as they have been. I just don't feel like I can leave. I don't know what to do.

Oh Yanti.  *Hug*

Not knowing what to do is so hard.  With respect to Mutti, all I can say is that you are a wonderful daughter and you also have a right to your own life and health.  Dobiedog is VERY old; I always say if the bad days outweigh the good, it is time.  Thinking of you.

That's great!

How are you doing with the shoe thing?

Who are you again? :P

I saw all the beautiful FB posts from you, Judi and others about Meg's Miles. Really touching. My heart goes out to all who knew her.

Good job Jen! 

Sorry to hear about J, Erin.

Michael, sorry you missed signing up for IMChoo, but your plan sounds awesome!

We have had an eventful 24 hours here.  I got a call from my SIL while out on my run yesterday--my Bro has been having GI issues for 18+ months.  Colonoscopy in April showed nothing (or so he was told at the time, there were actually ulcers but I digress).  Scheduled for another yesterday at a local outpatient facility.   He had had a rough GI week, and despite following the prep to the letter, they could complete the procedure, as he was not cleaned out enough.  They were, however, able to see 'something abnormal'.  My SIL was called to pick him up, they were going to try another day.  By the time she got there (she was about 1/2 hour away), he was being transferred by ambulance to the local hospital due to severe abdominal pain and vomiting.  After 8 hours in the ER and a CT scan, diagnosed with an obstruction caused by a mass and had emergency surgery.  3+ hours later, he lost about 1/4 of his colon and has a temp. colostomy, which we were prepared for.  Surgeon does not believe it to be cancer but an inflammatory process due to diverticulitis.  We will have to await the biopsy results to be sure of course.  Bro is doing quite well, keeping his sense of humour (a family trait...), joking about getting to the front of the line in a wheelchair at Disneyland .  I am sure grateful for my vet tech education, as I was able to help my family understand what was happening, as ER docs and surgeons are not 'all that' when it comes to bed-side manner!  The experience also reinforced my belief that updates for the family, however uninformative, are invaluable! 

Any thoughts and prayers for his quick and complete recovery are appreciated

MAN oh MANatees ... I'm having a hard time here.

Breathe, breathe. One day at a time and I only have to do today what I can do today. Bare minimum is fine. Last over the line is still called "triathlete"

Depressed (not sad/blue/down) ... very common with protracted illnesses and whatever this one is, it's likely causing depression directly as well (it's actually one of the diagnostic criteria for a lot of the nasty tropical illnesses). My iron's low. That can't be helping, either.

In a quandary about Mutti's dog, who I'm still taking care of (wound care, which as many of you know is detailed and taxing) and hauling around to the tune of 1.5 hours a day, and also spending time petting and interacting with her. She's around 15yo, which for a large purebred dog is ANCIENT. Anyway, she's gotten to the point where she can't use her hind end anymore and has lost bladder and bowel control, but is otherwise quite robust. But if I'm not here, there is NOBODY to actively care for the dog (she'll get fed but that's it).

Do I put her down? Get or make her a dog wheelchair and make her an indoor dog? Mutti pretty much lives for the dog, and I seriously fear for her well-being if there's no dog.

Mutti's declining, too. I know it is inevitable with Alzheimer's; it's just that every day seems to be a new challenge and I don't feel like I can leave. Very early this morning she kept coming into my room, so I finally got up and followed her and asked her what she needed. She insisted that someone had woken her up and told her that Pa (my deceased father) needed help, and so she had to go find his "machine" and get it to him. I tried to reassure her that everyone was fine and that everything had been taken care of, but she was resolute that she had to do this thing, and refused the gentle suggestion that this may have been a very vivid dream.

Usually if I slightly change the topic or can get her focused on something else, she'll completely forget what was happening before. Didn't work this time. I sat with her for quite a while and she was getting very annoyed with me and would not be deterred. I finally told her, as gently and kindly as possible, that Pa had passed away nine months ago. She was absolutely dumbfounded, in shock and grief, both for Pa and then that she couldn't remember.

I suppose it's a great blessing that, until now, this has not happened--she was always aware Pa had died, and was able to go through a grieving process. And chances are, she won't remember any of this later in the day, but will go right back to recalling that he is in fact dead. But for a good half-hour there, she was as devastated as if he'd just died, with the added panic of knowing that she's losing her mind. She was clinging to me and sobbing, and kept saying, thank you for being here. I'm so glad you're here.

A lot of the time now, she also thinks I'm my sister.

Anyway, I just can't imagine if Mutti had to go through something like this morning by herself. Her caretakers are capable of handling it--they would probably do exactly what I did--and these moments will only increase in frequency and severity, as they have been. I just don't feel like I can leave. I don't know what to do.

MAN oh MANatees ... I'm having a hard time here.

Breathe, breathe. One day at a time and I only have to do today what I can do today. Bare minimum is fine. Last over the line is still called "triathlete"

Depressed (not sad/blue/down) ... very common with protracted illnesses and whatever this one is, it's likely causing depression directly as well (it's actually one of the diagnostic criteria for a lot of the nasty tropical illnesses). My iron's low. That can't be helping, either.

In a quandary about Mutti's dog, who I'm still taking care of (wound care, which as many of you know is detailed and taxing) and hauling around to the tune of 1.5 hours a day, and also spending time petting and interacting with her. She's around 15yo, which for a large purebred dog is ANCIENT. Anyway, she's gotten to the point where she can't use her hind end anymore and has lost bladder and bowel control, but is otherwise quite robust. But if I'm not here, there is NOBODY to actively care for the dog (she'll get fed but that's it).

Do I put her down? Get or make her a dog wheelchair and make her an indoor dog? Mutti pretty much lives for the dog, and I seriously fear for her well-being if there's no dog.

Mutti's declining, too. I know it is inevitable with Alzheimer's; it's just that every day seems to be a new challenge and I don't feel like I can leave. Very early this morning she kept coming into my room, so I finally got up and followed her and asked her what she needed. She insisted that someone had woken her up and told her that Pa (my deceased father) needed help, and so she had to go find his "machine" and get it to him. I tried to reassure her that everyone was fine and that everything had been taken care of, but she was resolute that she had to do this thing, and refused the gentle suggestion that this may have been a very vivid dream.

Usually if I slightly change the topic or can get her focused on something else, she'll completely forget what was happening before. Didn't work this time. I sat with her for quite a while and she was getting very annoyed with me and would not be deterred. I finally told her, as gently and kindly as possible, that Pa had passed away nine months ago. She was absolutely dumbfounded, in shock and grief, both for Pa and then that she couldn't remember.

I suppose it's a great blessing that, until now, this has not happened--she was always aware Pa had died, and was able to go through a grieving process. And chances are, she won't remember any of this later in the day, but will go right back to recalling that he is in fact dead. But for a good half-hour there, she was as devastated as if he'd just died, with the added panic of knowing that she's losing her mind. She was clinging to me and sobbing, and kept saying, thank you for being here. I'm so glad you're here.

A lot of the time now, she also thinks I'm my sister.

Anyway, I just can't imagine if Mutti had to go through something like this morning by herself. Her caretakers are capable of handling it--they would probably do exactly what I did--and these moments will only increase in frequency and severity, as they have been. I just don't feel like I can leave. I don't know what to do.

Good job Jen! 

Sorry to hear about J, Erin.

Michael, sorry you missed signing up for IMChoo, but your plan sounds awesome!

We have had an eventful 24 hours here.  I got a call from my SIL while out on my run yesterday--my Bro has been having GI issues for 18+ months.  Colonoscopy in April showed nothing (or so he was told at the time, there were actually ulcers but I digress).  Scheduled for another yesterday at a local outpatient facility.   He had had a rough GI week, and despite following the prep to the letter, they could complete the procedure, as he was not cleaned out enough.  They were, however, able to see 'something abnormal'.  My SIL was called to pick him up, they were going to try another day.  By the time she got there (she was about 1/2 hour away), he was being transferred by ambulance to the local hospital due to severe abdominal pain and vomiting.  After 8 hours in the ER and a CT scan, diagnosed with an obstruction caused by a mass and had emergency surgery.  3+ hours later, he lost about 1/4 of his colon and has a temp. colostomy, which we were prepared for.  Surgeon does not believe it to be cancer but an inflammatory process due to diverticulitis.  We will have to await the biopsy results to be sure of course.  Bro is doing quite well, keeping his sense of humour (a family trait...), joking about getting to the front of the line in a wheelchair at Disneyland .  I am sure grateful for my vet tech education, as I was able to help my family understand what was happening, as ER docs and surgeons are not 'all that' when it comes to bed-side manner!  The experience also reinforced my belief that updates for the family, however uninformative, are invaluable! 

Any thoughts and prayers for his quick and complete recovery are appreciated

I worry about you, David

I was going to say about your tough ride last weekend--it takes however long to recover as it takes. There's really no "should" about it. (Believe me, I learn this over and over and OVER AND OVER and right now for example ... again). If compounding factors happened, they happened, and you looked at them. Glad this 60km went better!