OT September Chit Chat

[Jeanie Z]

:) Cat do you have someone who has a key to your door that you can call if needed? Maybe a neighbor. Just be extra careful when you are home alone. I only fall when I am rushing or not concentrating on what I am doing. Jeanie :)

[SuzE-Q]

Cat, can you have a packet of Depends or a mobile commode handy nearby, in the event that you can't make it to the toilet? Also, keep a cell phone or phone handset on you at all times in case you find yourself in a precarious situation, as our Sally did?

[Cat Dancer]

My front door is never locked, and my nearest neighbor knows that. He has promised to come in daily and take care of the litter box issue for me...so if I'm on the ground, he'll find me, eventually... :) And I have a cell phone, and those who need to know (visiting nurses, neighbor, Tom Cat, etc.) have the number). It's in a little purse that hangs around my neck. The bathroom is right next to my bed, practically. I have a catheter in for #1....#2 is the issue...While it's pretty well controlled - I generally have plenty of notice to get to the bathroom, get on the toilet and do my thing... but the issue there is that the wound dressing is in such a spot that it will always be soiled when that happens.. And will need to be changed. So I'm really hoping to manage it so that Tom Cat can change it on Wednesday (as he would normally do), and then the nurse on Friday. Then when he gets back on Sunday, I'll use the bathroom then. At least that's the plan. Anyway...I've tried to build in as many precautions as I can to manage all this. I'll keep in touch here, too.

[agate]

Maybe a home health care agency could come up with a person who could come and assist?

Are there visiting nurses?

[SuzE-Q]

So, what you need is a short-term diet to keep you a bit stopped up over the next few days?!

Ok, so no ruffage, no prunes, very little with fibre...basically, you should have a teenager's dream junk food diet!

On a more serious note though, sounds like you've got a lot of the bases covered already...I think you'll be fine! You can't control everything, but you've got good plans and safety measures in place!

[Cherie]

Just got a card written to Andy (Jeanie sent me the address) and it will go out in tomorrow's mail. I think this family and its extensions has been a tremendous support to each of us at various times over the past decade and more.

Got David's Colonoscopy set up for Mid-October. I leave for DC area a week from tomorrow for another jamb packed 2 and a half day conference. Tired. Hips hurting. Haven't heard anything about the first MRI arthrogram but am kind of thinking since the second is scheduled for after I get back from this conference , he will review both and tell me the news in one visit. Nothing much is going to change before then.

Leaves are beginning to turn now in spots. So pretty. And Humidity is around 40% now instead of 80 and the days are cool (high around 72) and nights cool (lows in lower 50s or upper 40s). I should be feeling more alert and energetic.

[Howie]

Happy National Coffee Day! Many doughnut shops and even some McDonald's are offering free coffee today.

[Virginia]

Well, Cat you have pretty much thought things through I believe, and we will all be hoping that nothing out of the ordinary happens during this alone stay. I am sure you have thought out how you are going to get your food, etc. Try to enjoy your alone time.

I am hoping that dear Sally is doing well and is still at home with her care giver.

Jeanie, I guess you have been able to get some rest. If you need to talk just know that we are here. We also care about Andy. He has been so good to you, and you were able to repay some of that by helping with his precious Jamie.

Howie, I have not had a doughnut in several years. Wish I had a hot "Krispy Kreme". Anyone heard of them. This is where they originated and the original store is still there. I remember going there on dates when I was in high school. They are so good it is unreal.

[Frog42]

I love fresh, hot Krispy Kreme but you could only get them in MA for a short time. Not something I can eat anymore anyway.

I had to know. The closest one is 67 miles away at a casino in CT.

[Howie]

Krispy Kreme were SO good. Getting them fresh out of the oven, still warm and dripping with the frosting, with a cup of coffee.....the best!!!

[Gary]

I love fresh, hot Krispy Kreme but you could only get them in MA for a short time. Not something I can eat anymore anyway.

I had to know. The closest one is 67 miles away at a casino in CT.

Ohhhhh Krispy Kreme and a casino. In an hour I would weigh 500 lbs and be broke!! We use to stop at one in Boise coming home from MIL :-( now my wife refuses to let me go 50 miles one way to get donuts mostly because there would be any left By the time I got home.

It is STILL in the upper 80's with lows in the upper 40's. Ahh fall in the Rockies!

[Cherie]

The rain is starting....finally. Soft and gentle so far but they are calling for 5 days of heavy rain with a tropical storm coming up the coast which may or may not play into it. It is muggy and upper 70s right now but I am reveling in the sound of rain through the open windows.

Got the bills paid, two loads of laundry done, a trip to the grocery store, post office, and two other stores and now I sit here exhausted. Don't remember the fatigue being quite this bad in a very long time.

[Virginia]

Cherie, just think of all you have done in the last couple of weeks or so. Someone without MS would probably be fatigued. You don't stop long enough to realize just how much you are going and doing. I am fussing!!

[Howie]

Cherie, Virginia is right. It is good to do as much as you can, but doing too much will catch up to you in a bad way.

[Virginia]

It is back to stress time for me!! Patient Access Network had already informed me that they were not sure if they would help me past 12/31/15 get my Rebif. Well, then I got the new 2016 formulary for the Medicare Part D plan that I had, and beginning in 2016 they will no longer be covering Rebif. They were paying part and Patient Access Network was paying part.

Then I received the new Medicare and You book for 2016. Last year there were 26 insurance companies offering medicare part D in my State. This year there are only 13. I have already found out that 2 of those 13 are not going to cover Rebif. Don't know about the others yet. One of them told me on the phone they could not tell me yet. I have tried going on line to the different companies and their 2016 formulary is not out yet.

This is big deal for me because I have been on that drug since it was introduced in the States back in 2002 and really belief in it. I think believing in something is a large part of the battle, so I absolutely do not want to give it up.

I am trying not to freak out about it, but will be very concerned about that and all my other drugs until things are settled.