OT January Chit Chat

[Howie]

I just looked at the weather forecast, and "they" are predicting SNOW for Saturday. We'll see. SAM, get the sled and pans out!

[nuthatch]

Rose, you are an angel, and it sounds like you ran into another angel in the grocery store! This world needs more people like you. Hugs.

[nuthatch]

Hi Sally! Hugs for you too.

[agate]

A big HELLO to Sally!


And so you can picture yourself in this place, here's my favorite emoticon:

Sorry the image is so small. Either it's smaller than it used to be or my eyesight is getting worse.

[Howie]

WHAT? What....what did you say?

[SuzE-Q]

Agate, is that a pic of how Howie should deal with his snow, throw up a sun umbrella to block it from falling on him and the cats?

Forgot to say HNE to ANN and Vicky last time, I hate when I miss people!

[Frog42]

Forgot to say HNE to ANN and Vicky last time, I hate when I miss people!

Not a problem. Same to you!

[Cat Dancer]

Glad to see Sally posting again! I hope you're feeling better. You are missed when you don't check in regularly.

I got my insurance stuff all worked out. Only took an hour on the phone, most of that on hold, as they shifted me from one agent to another to another to another to finally get someone who knew what she was talking about. Bottom line is the tecfidera will be covered at the same co-pay as last year .. $50/month. Not too bad considering it costs nearly $2,000/month!

Physical therapy is essentially over. They say they've taught me all that they can, that the only thing now is to "keep working at it". Who knows how much strength will come back..if any. Neurological damage might be such that where I am now is where I will be. Which sucks, as I'm nowhere near independent. Still can't stand enough to take off pants, still cant transfer to/from bed confidently. Guess I have to keep plugging. They're having me come back in two weeks to see if there is any progress, and re-assess there, but for now, they're done with me. I'm discouraged, and scared. Scared that I really won't be able to improve any more than I am, now...and that sucks. If something more should happen to Tom Cat -- as I've mentioned here his health isn't good -- I will indeed end up in a nursing home, sooner rather than later. But first I have to figure out what to do with my 3 remaining cats, a huge house, a bunch of possessions, etc. Life sucks, sometimes.

But I'm feeling good otherwise. :)

[agate]

Actually, SuzE-Q and Howie, my post was addressed to Sally. I wouldn't suggest any sunshiny beaches to Howie because he so clearly wants snow.

Not sure why but he does.

Cat, I think that PT sessions are designed to get you started on a program that you're meant to keep up with. I've noticed gradual improvements in my functioning in the months since I finished up the latest round of PT sessions, which ended early in the summer. I've kept up with the exercises like a good girl and have been pleasantly surprised. Maybe some of the improvement would have happened anyway as time passed, even without the PT, but just in case it's helping, I keep up with the exercises.

I'm having fewer and fewer episodes of losing control of my legs, and that is a huge improvement, I think.

I did have to acknowledge that a better walker would be helpful, and today it came--the rollator that I mentioned. It wasn't hard to put it together, and it seems to work fine. When it's braked, it is stable enough to be positioned by my bedside to provide support as I get out of bed.

That's when I'm at my wobbliest and stiffest. Probably just arthritis and not MS but whatever it is, it hobbles me.

My whines must sound trivial to those who can't get out of bed. I'm lucky to have got this far in life and still be walking around at all.

Now my 95-year-old neighbor has to be persuaded that she could use my other walker. I offered it to her but she said she doesn't think she's ready for it. I'm going to try again.

She's not even going to get her mail, and she asks other people to take out her trash, has a helper one day a week to do the laundry, but it would be nice if she could walk outside her own apartment, where she's teetering around.

[stillstANNding]

Agate, I am familiar w the "I'm not ready for a walker" syndrome. My Mom has my dad's covered in her laundry w a sheet for whoever needs it. Her or me. She is 91. She has trouble standing in any line or even answering her door. I want her to at least try it. She says she will when she needs it. I believe this translates to "If I fall, then I'll start using it."

ANN

[Howie]

That's a shame because when you get that age, a fall can be a disaster. At that age, your bones become brittle, and don't just break, they shatter. But I also know that at that age, you will never be able to convince her.

[agate]

This neighbor has fallen so many times that there are two neighbors (one below her, the other next door) who routinely hear her falling and are alert to the sound--and do what they can.

She likes to stay stylish and she looks absolutely great most of the time, but she's barely standing up by herself. I have a feeling that she's afraid she'll be pigeonholed as an old lady if she uses a walker.

Still, she could get her own mail and walk around for exercise....

[Howie]

"Use it or lose it". A simple truth.

I did use my tire inflator today. It worked great, easy, and accurate. I accept it will be Spring before I drive it, but Pinky will be ready except for that first trip to the car wash!

[Howie]

ALREADY in bed? Well I sure hope so.

One advantage to the single like I am is I can do anything I want. I'm staying up late, drinking beer, and watching the movie about the Million Man March. Get On The Bus is the name of it.

I'm even missing watching Sea Hunt to finish watching this. I watch the Black Channel quite a bit.

Well, sleep well, and watch the drool!

[Virginia]

Sooooo, no one up today but me, and it is noon - well it is on the East Coast.

Hi Sally and everyone!

Agate and Ann, I understand what you are saying about a walker and older people not wanting to use them. However, people ask me a lot if I have a walker. Well, I do alright here in my own home and for the life of me I cannot see how a walker helps if you have to get it down your front steps and then somehow get it in your car (especially with weak arms) then get it out when you drive where you are going. I can understand that Agate might can use it to get to the small convenience store near her, but I don't think she can buy much. I like to go to the grocery store once a week and I really load up. Also, it is my understanding that Agate might only do that in an emergency.

My Father used a three prong walker and it was small, but he only used it inside his house as his left arm was completely paralyzed and his left leg didn't know what it was doing. That I can understand, and if I had someone taking me everywhere, getting a walker down the steps, into the car, etc then maybe I could see benefit, but as things stand at this point I do not.

I found someone in my area who takes down your menu and does your grocery shopping, but for me it is way too expensive. It is called Home Chef and I think they have their own menus and you choose what you want and they include every item you need including cooking oil, everything is already measured out. They advertise you will get it within six days. Guess if you had a real desire for something special you would just have to wait. The meals for one average about $20.00 and I don't think you would have leftovers. Considering that a person has to cook their own that sounds like a lot to me.

Cat, I understand exactly what you are saying about being scared. I know that TC is not well himself and that leaves you in a vulnerable position. Gratefully and thankfully I can still walk enough to be on my own, but I stay scared all the time as my left leg weakens. If you could just get to the point you could transfer safely from bed to chair you might could hire someone to come in and do your housework and go get groceries and even take you to the Doctor. I know you are out in a rural area, but sometime people just have no where to go in areas like that. Here where I am, in a large urban area the price to get someone would be a minimum of $20.00 to $25.00 per hour plus mileage. It would be kind of hard for me to pay that. I think of you often and your situation and I say a prayer for you and TC each night along with some others on here. I don't always know the needs of others, but I think most anyone on this forum has needs.

Howie, I expect we will not see you until very late today given the fact that you stayed up all night. I am a night owl, but not like you. I try hard to make it half way reasonable. Last night it was almost 1:30A.M., which is bad. I shoot for 12:30. If I go earlier I wake up too early and do not sleep well.