Still Hangin' in there

[JanM]

Pills from the VA came here and I went to the NH at suppertime to deliver them. Tomorrow I am dog-sitting for a friend for a couple of days. Bandit and Dusty are two older dogs and have nothing to prove to each other I just have to watch that Bandit doesn't decide to go the 3 blocks to home.. Dusty has gotten a nice short haircut and a bath so I won't have to spend a half hour picking grass burrs from his legs and tummy. Grass burrs are about half inch long and are like needles If one doesn't remove them they start to dig into the skin, the nasty buggers.

[mrsjerome]

Jan it surprises me that the NH is accepting any outside medication.
When I took the meds from the VA over to the NH, I was told that their own Dr. prescribed the meds unless a script would be sent to them directly from the VA or his own outside medical Dr. Their policy was then using an outside pharmacy were the meds are individually packaged and thus every pill can then be accounted for.

This is what I was told here. Maybe each state has their own rules regarding this. My husband does not use the VA as his medical source now. After 9 months of the NH and the VA not getting on the same page regarding his urological problems, the Dr. at the VA told me that it was then up to the NH since that is where he was staying and calling the shots for him to be seen by their DRS. In other words even though I had power of attorney because of some so called NH rules in regard to catherization would have meant for me to keep him there or take him home.

I remember wrestling and almost was on the verge of taking him home. I don’t know if you remember a lady named Tootsie (she has since passed). But she urged me at that time because of his behaviors not to take him home. She offered me some very good advice at that time. I think those posts are still somewhere in the archives.

Anyway I didn’t take him home, his urological problems were never resolved.

Sorry for the long post, like I said surprised me about the NH accepting the meds from you.

Hope your time goes well spent with the dogs you are caring for. I have heard for some having these pets around can just ease and relax a person’s mind. I hope it does for you.

Take Care and hope better days will be coming for you

mrs j

[Buttons2]

Jan,doubt anyone would ever consider you a coward! curious what a Pink Lady award is? and good for you telling the NH staff off! hope the doggies will bring a smile.

Mrs J. I often think of Tootsie. she was a wise woman & will always be missed.

[JanM]

Every April the "Pink Ladies" have their Awards dinner and Installation of officers. The awards are given for hours worked. At each milestone set of hours one gets a bar to hang from a pin one gets after the first 100 hours. e.g. 1000, 2000, 5000 hours, etc plus incoming officers get a bar honoring them for holding an office. Me, I am happy to be one of the indians, and not a chief.

Hank's meds come to the house and I bring them unopened to the NH It never occurred to me to open them. I think the NH sends the enclosed re-order form to the VA

[mrsjerome]

Oh Jan , I never opened the pkg. sent through the mail containing the med either. I know when he was home his meds used to come through the mail with the correct amount in a bottle just like when you get it from the pharmacy. If refills were indicated was a number to call along with a re-order form.

This NH did not want his meds this way. So whatever medication he was taking they would have their own NH Dr. order it. They wanted it done this way cause every pill was individually packaged and wrapped. They really indicated to me that they did not want to deal with the VA system. They wanted their own pharmacy to fill all his meds.

So it sounds like the NH is in full co-operation with the VA in your area. If so that would be one less thing for you to worry about.

Take Care
mrs j

[JanM]

Saw Hank on Friday on my way to work at the gift shop. Whenever he started on getting out of the NH I told he about Dusty getting a haircut on Wednesday and that I got one also that day, when he said that he didn't need one I told him that I had given him a haircut on Easter. I think I repeated this about 5 - 6 times and every time it was a brand new piece of information for him. I also stopped after church today and we had a repeat conversation. I also brought him some munchies to snack on.

[joy]

Jan I am just so thankful that you are doing what you know you have to do. Sorry it has come to that

[lor]

I hope Hank had a nice birthday. You are the light in his life.

[JanM]

Hank is in the hospital. This past Friday about 9;15 PM I got a call from the NH telling me that his blood sugar was high and they gave him insulin and then he had trouble breathing. After the blood test came back they said that he had had a mild heart attack and a start of pneumonia (sp?) They called Hank's heart doctor in Abilene and he told the ER what he wanted Hank to have and then Hank was admitted to the local hospital. Hank's test number were worse on Saturday and then he was taken to Abilene. Since I was still hooked up the local hospital got my verbal permission to transport him. My S-I-L and I went to Abilene and stayed until 4:40. I went to Abilene Sunday and then again Monday. Monday night I got a call from the hospital that Hank was so confused and agaitated and was pulling out his IVs. They transferred the call to his room so I could talk to him. Well, he couldn't hear me because h didn't have his hearing aids in. I talked real loud to get the nurse back on the phone and when she got on the phone I told her to give Hank his sleeping pill now and in 20 minutes it would take effect. I haven't heard back I told them that I was doing my treatment at night and couldn't come. I had thought of staying with Hank 23/7, but the stuff that I would have had to bring was just too much for me to handle The machine is 45 pounds plus I would have to carry all the bags and other supplies from the parking lot to his room. ........................... NO they are just going to have to deal with him!!!

[houghchrst]

Jan there is nothing that you can do there except cause confusion for him and heartache for yourself. You take care of you so that you are better able to deal with both of your issues. You get ill and you won't be able to care for either one of you.


((((((((((((hugs hun))))))))))))

[Buttons2]

Jan,no idea what equipment you need but totally agree with the idea you need to care for yourself now & let the doc's do their job with Hank. to stay strong you must take care of yourself first.

((((hugs)))) and thanks for the update. we all care & wish you better days ahead.

[joy]

It is always so much worse on me if I cannot be there with loved one. It is for you as well I am sure but perhaps Hank will be tamer without your presence. And therefore maybe keep those tubes etc in him. Dear lady this is so hard on you. Just know we all are thinking of you and Hank are in our prayers.

[JanM]

Hank is getting the heart cath tomorrow and when I spoke to his doctor today at the hospital, he is well aware of Hank's confusion and can deal with it. The reason the nurse called me last night was that she thought that I lived in Abilene. Hank's afternoon nurse said that he would make the night shift aware that I am 60+ miles away. I am glad I didn't feel guilty that I didn't even attempt to go to Abilene last night!

[lor]

I'm praying for Hank

Today we got our new firepit. Fed Ex put it on the porch but didn't have me sign a paper saying they did. Wouldn't you think they would? We like sitting by the fire in the backyard in the summer. But not before late June in north west Ohio.

[JanM]

Hank's doctor just called me (I have dialysis nurses coming today & I have to be here) He told me that there was a point that he thought that Hank wouldn't survive the procedure. A couple of veins tore and they had to scramble to get them repaired. Hank is in ICU and I will go to Abilene as soon as I can. God has his back.