OT August Chit Chat

[Virginia]

Jendie, sorry you are having a bad time right now. With that many falls I do not understand the lack of medical attention. Falls are very dangerous to all of us, even those who are younger and MS is notorious for having people with falls. I am surprised they did not jump right on that and try to help you in any way they can.

I hope you are just going through a flair and will come out of it and get better real soon.

[agate]

Jendie, I agree with ANN. Could you approach your doctor about the need for a mobility device of some kind? You might want to decide which type you'd like, in advance, so that you'll have a clear idea of what you need when you ask the doctor, who at that point will probably want to write you a rx for it.

This is troubling:

Saturday I did my shopping, plus my mom's. My mom has caregivers and I have no clue why they can't help her with most of her shopping.

I realize you want to help your mom and may feel guilty about not doing more for her. (Been there, done that!!) But it sounds as if it's time to make a few calls--to whatever agency supervises the caregivers, possibly to the case manager if there is one in charge of allocating helpers for your mom, and finding out why they can't help with her shopping. Most caregivers can do that.

At least in my experience, and it's a large part of their job, often. They can either go shopping with a list and a check your mom makes out to the store, or by some arrangement where your mom gives the worker cash and checks the change when the order comes in. Most helpers who work with decent agencies are bonded.

Or they can take her shopping and help her with the selecting and lifting or give whatever help she needs.

Is it maybe that she prefers to have you do it because you are more apt to know what she wants? Then maybe you need to talk to her and let her know that it's the helper's job and that you simply can't manage it.

Three falls in one month--not good. I hope you can find some ways of easing up on your load.

[Howie]

And they're all gone again at this early hour. Oh well, you can't expect too much. They are sick after all.

I'm watching Pumpkin Head 2. About the 4th time I've seen it, but the cats insist we watch it again. Being a cat daddy is not an easy life, but it's the one I chose.

So sleep tight my sleepy friends, and I'll see you in the AM, or later, says the East Coaster.

[jendie]

Jendie, the PT is wrong. In the last year here, everywhere I have been for any kind of medical appt - even the chest xray- they give each patient a short form asking if they've had any falls lately and if the feel dizzy today. I'd push on getting both a walker or scooter and the assistance at home as needed.

Here's to better days (handing over some chocolate).
ANN

The sad thing, Ann, is that he recommended I use a walker when I walk outside. I'm limited to 2 blocks with that and the grocery store is 3 blocks from the nearest bus stop. I need to sign up for paratransit.

Ugh... I need to call the high school so I can get my teenager enrolled again for the 2016-17 school year. If I wait too long, the start of school will be upon me and they won't be expecting DS3.

Thanks for the chocolate.

[agate]

I don't want to cover up your post, Jendie, but I have a question for Howie, who seems to be out of chocolate. Or something.

What is the picture under your user name? It looks like some misshapen piano keys--?

[jendie]

I'm wanting a 4 wheel travel scooter for when I'm out and about. The local neuro sent me to see a MS specialist in Seattle when I mentioned not getting the help needed from the PT near me. It was the wrong MS specialist in Seattle, he didn't refer me to the one who RX'd Novantrone, it was a different one who had this bad habit of not taking my personal experience over the past 30 years seriously.

I will not go back to him, I'll see about trying to get in to see the one I'd been seeing since 2003, plus I'm also going to try to see if I can get an appointment with the neurologist my mom sees, she's in the same city as the local dr I see, just a different clinic.

[agate]

Do you have a primary care doc--a general practitioner or internist? You could ask that doctor for the rx for the scooter. I've never had a problem with my primary care doctor when it comes to prescribing assistive devices--a wheelchair, then a replacement wheelchair, then a commode, and physical therapy as well. if I ask for it, I get it. Maybe I've just been lucky but I'm talking about 3 different primary care doctors, over many years.

[SuzE-Q]

Jendie, sometimes it's an Occupational therapist that can rx a scooter if your gp needs extra support, they often evaluate mobility needs.

You absolutely shouldn't be taking risks of falling. Can you phone your local MSS chapter and ask them if they have any that have been donated, or can help you to get one? I hate being caught in bureaucracy, and you sound frustrated by it as well. Maybe they can help.

[Catdancer]

My primary care doc also has been helpful about getting me supplies I need, like wheelchairs. I haven't asked for a scooter as one would not do me much good without a van to transport it in. I live in the country, on a dirt road, not good for scooters, no public transportation, and the nearest store is 7miles,away.

You've got a teenager? Can your teen help with the shopping? As for your mother, I'd call the agency who services your mom and explain your situation--that you can bare care for yourself, without also caring for her. They something assume that if there is a nearby family member, that person is willing and able to provide care. I've had to make it clear to my providers that even though my husband lives with me, his own health issues mean he isn't able to provide a lot of the care they'd like him to provide, and there are no other family members to do it, so they have to.

I don't understand the walker issue? If you have the walker, why can't you use it for the three blocks to the store? That is a long way under any circle to be then carrying back groceries. Is there a paratransit program in your town? There is one here that services my area three days a week. I can get go four stops on one booking, including to from town, so grocery store, discount store, two other stops, before bringing me home, for $5. When the time comes that husband can no longer do this, that's what I'll use.

[SalpalSally]

Yeah, chocolate is really bad for dogs and cats. I feed mine a bit of vanilla ice cream, and occasionally coconut (my favorite) but keep anything chocolate away from them. Fooled my cats last night -- had mango sherbet. They didn't like that at all!

I don't blame them.yucky,!

[SalpalSally]

We have been having cooler days here in Washington state, so much so that it feels like fall is quickly approaching. I hope this won't mean that we'll have a lot of snow this winter, we didn't have any down at sea level the past couple of years.

I'm happy to finally have internet access again. My life has been somewhat chaotic lately. I'm too adaptable to require a caregiver. The case managers words, not mine. But I have a hard time going to the grocery store, or doctor appointments on my own. I had 3 falls in the month of July, 1 at home and 2 outside.

Physical therapy didn't seem to think I required any kind of mobility device in spite of the fact that I have difficulty walking more than 2 blocks. Saturday I did my shopping, plus my mom's. My mom has caregivers and I have no clue why they can't help her with most of her shopping.

I almost fell down in one of the stores I was shopping in because they didn't have any of the mobility carts available and my legs were on the verge of giving out. It wasn't even so busy in there that that was the reason for the lack of electric carts.

I know I'm relatively young (47), but this MonSter is a horrible thief that has stolen so much from me in the last few years and I'm getting little to no help from the medical professionals I've been dealing with lately. Just a lot of hurry up and wait.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.

(((((Jendie)))))

[Howie]

How do you all get up so early? I guess you don't stay up half the night like I do. I'm JUST getting up at almost 1:00. It's the TV's fault, showing movies all night long.

I need some coffee, and the cats are about to attack. It's not that they don't have any food or water, but everyday first thing, I give them a piece of sliced turkey. It's for people, but I never get to have any.

Everyone have a great day!

Oh, and Agate, that's exactly what it is. I found it looking at Surreal Art and saved it for here. Either that, or it's a piano made for spiders.

[Frog42]

I liked the picture of Pinky better, didn't you Joan?

[Howie]

There!!! if you're going to gang up on me!!!

[agate]

Yes, Pinky is far more colorful, and besides she represents wheels for all of us. The day will come when we'll all pile in and go for a ride in Pinky.

Not so sure we'll all be playing floppy pianos.

If anyone around here has had a lumbar puncture and knows about the headaches people sometimes get afterwards, there's a new member with the user name MTheadache who posted a thread a few days ago in the Feedback forum.

I did what I could to dig up some information but personal experience might be useful.