OT July Chit Chat

[stillstANNding]

Thank you, Agate and Cat. My Vocational Rehab Counselor never told me about fuel assustance, taxi coupons, grocery EBT's. I had no income for 7 months until the Disibility went thru. I dwindled some savings and was scared to spend.

I also enjoy grocery shopping in person. I love being able to walk around an airconditioned space and pick my own bananas, etc.

Vicky, Happy Birthday late and thank you for posting the picture of the two orange cats. We'll take them! We have had an orange cat and loved him. Special personality there. Awesome in the true sense.

Virginia, I wouldn't wait for your symptoms to resolve. Get checked out for stroke.

Love, ANN

[SalpalSally]

Ok Ann and ViTginia, I never thought of TIAs!!!

[Howie]

Strange as it may sound, my weekly trips to the grocery store is my only social life. I speak to everyone at the store, and they all speak to the old man zipping around in the electric cart.

And coming here. It means a great deal to come here, and just be myself. Talking with folks that understand what life with MS is about.

I go to Facebook and some car forums, but they seem pretty impersonal most of the time.

Sniff...now excuse me...sniff...I got something in my eye.

[Howie]

(singing) It's 5 o'clock in the morning, everything's alright.........

[Frog42]

(Singing) Hello, is there anybody in there? Nod if you can hear me....

[Virginia]

Maybe Howie finally got to sleep!

I feel kind of un-nerved this morning. I had a call from a neighbor. The one I had told all of you about who had the Hospice help for a couple of hours 3 to 4 times per week. Anyway, she went into Hospice House last week. She went for what they call respite, and it was to be for 5 days. She went Monday night and came home Saturday. She said she was unpacking her things Saturday and she started to turn toward the closet and all of a sudden she felt herself hitting the floor. She said she vomited and it felt like she was going around a pole. She did not have her glasses but could reach the cord on the phone.

She pulled the phone to her and worked her fingers across the keyboard until she got to "0" and dialed the operator who then called 911 for her. They broke in her back door and took her to the hospital. She stayed there until last night when they put her back in Hospice House until further arrangements are made. They want her to have 24 hour care at home or go to an assisted living place. She says she cannot afford this.

She wants someone to come and get her door key, which one of the firemen thought to get out of her pocketbook, and take it to her house and pack her some clean things. She said she was in underpants and a shirt when it happened and that is all she has. Not even a comb for her hair. She is located about as far as you can get from here and still stay in Raleigh. She wanted me to get in touch with her maid and get her to do all this, but I do not have the telephone number. I called another neighbor who said she was going to call the maid. My neighbor in Hospice had called her last night.

I think she just wants help, but it really is so sad. I know she must be nervous and scared. It really did upset me because I felt so helpless. I use to would have just said give me a few minutes and I would have jumped up and gone there and got her key and come back to her house and packed what I could for her and tried to take care of as much as possible for her.

Now I feel useless and helpless and sad for her! She said "just remember I would do the same for you if the situation were reversed". It really makes you feel sad. One of her son's is coming from out of town, possibly will be here tonight. Now I wonder why he did not come when she was taken to the hospital on Saturday. There could be a very good reason.

Just getting it all out, I guess.

[agate]

I'm here too!

I try to make sure I'm showing up as online here during most days, just so the place looks as if somebody's here.

Has anyone heard from renee? I sent her a PM a couple of days ago since there hasn't been any sign of her in nearly 2 months. She keeps busy and travels sometimes--I hope she's OK.

[Pegakafarmgirl]

I'm here,, I think,, let me check,,

was taking care of veggies from the garden,, made cole slaw,, soaking cucumbers,

family reunion Saturday,, 2 and a half hours from us,, yes we are going,,

stay cool everyone..

[stillstANNding]

Hi all. i am "here" hiding from the heat and the humidity.

Virginia, I understand getting a call to get up and do something when you are not feeling up to it.

We got in late Saturday night from my Mom's. Our plane left the gate 15 minutes early. Half way into the flight they told us there was a storm hanging directly over Boston Logan and the airport was closed. We were doing circles over upper NY state for about an hour. When the airport opened, there were too many planes ahead of us so the sent us to Hartford. They parked on the field. We couldn't get off and they said they weren't allowed to feed us or offer any beverage. We were on the ground for another hour. Of course we eventually got home.

Both houses were stiffling. We opened the windows and turned on the ac in the one room. We realized it was so hot I couldn't even go to the second floor so we switched houses. I collapsed into bed.

Yesterday, I needed to stay home. Peter took his Mom shopping. In the late afternoon, Peter called. They had a car full of groceries and he had lost the keys. He wanted me to rescue them. I took an uber over w my key but it wasn't a day I felt up to it.

We all missed lunch and we didn't eat until after 7.

[agate]

ANN, you've had a day and a half, and then some. That's the thing about traveling--so much can go wrong.

I don't suppose your mother would consider moving closer to you?

I find it takes time to get over an unavoidable exposure to too much heat or strain. There can be the instant relief that comes from entering a cool place (AT LAST!)--I can feel energy flooding back into me--but there are other effects that linger, sometimes for days. I'm slower and clumsier, and I drop things more.

[Virginia]

Ann, I am so glad you have Peter to help you, and that you can get to your Mom as often as you do. At her age I think it would probably be kind of hard on her to move away from where she is and everyone she has known.

So sorry the end of the trip turned out the way it did for you. That was not a good couple of days.

Hi Peg, glad you are going to the reunion. I bet you will work yourself to death getting everything ready that you want to take.

Agate, I am glad you check in every day so no one will think we all passed away from the heat or something.

I too wish we would hear from Rene and some others. Maybe someday things will get back to normal. I still have no desire to go elsewhere.

[Howie]

It's 98 here right now, the heat index is 111. Needless to say, I'm not going out. Oh, and to prove what we already knew, Howie's drinking hot coffee.

[stillstANNding]

Howie, one advantage of an air conditioned room is that you still get your hot coffee!

Agate & Virginia, my mom - in fact both of our mothers are 91! She has great neighbors and friends. She has 3 social engagements this week. And she is near her health care. Did I mention she drives and was just re-examined for that. Her house is a ranch w whole house AC.

ANN

[Howie]

It's now officially 100 degrees.

[Frog42]

Sounds like you're ready for iced coffee, Howie.

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...