Update from.....Izzy

[Izzy_*now*]

Thanks lighter,

After whatever length of time, like a couple of months, when I knew I'd never make it downtown, maybe just to a Old Folks Home, in 9 days of tablets I have been downtown twice, just test runs, and felt only a bit tired in my left arm (my right one must work harder, as sidewalks slope rightward to the street gutter for drainage!)

These were tests so I can tell Ellen that I can, but I won't overdo it and please not consider me lazy while I recuperate and I also plan on keeping her on, as I said. (I have been accustomed to working hard all my life, and some things are difficult to stop.)

After that episode, a virus or inflammation, I now feel about 10 years younger! 

Later termater
Izzy

[Hopalong]

 

 

 

 

YAY!!!! YAY YAY YAAAAAAAAAY
(But don't overdo it.)

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

YAY! YAY! to feeling 10 years younger, Izz.

And please do let us know how this new chapter in your life unfolds. 

I'd like to read how you're doing nothing but what you like, eating mommy food someone else prepared, and continuing to enjoy gratifying relationships that enrich your life.

However it goes, I'd love to keep in touch: )

Lighter

[Izzy_*now*]

Hey! All!

I meant to keep health in this thread and family in the family thread!

I took graduating downward mg of Prednisone for 5 weeks, was off for 2 weeks and felt weakness arrive, so did another 4 weeks of graduating down, from 45mg/daily to 25mg/daily. My last was Sunday night (17th), felt a little tired on Monday and not in good shape at all on Tuesday, so I took 2 x T3s, then Wednesday when Karla was coming was still a mess so took 2 more T3s. They finally kicked in later in the evening and now I feel fine, no Prednisone, and no discomfort, except or the swelling. slept well last night.

I'm hoping maybe Dr. will allow 25mg/every second day, and keep the swelling at bay--well that is what *I* would do!! I do not like looking like Jerry Lewis! I'll  make an appointment for next Monday and just hope my Dr. knows something about Prednisone!

Izzy

[Hopalong]

You are MUCH cuter than Jerry Lewis.
You could be a CHIPMUNK and still be cuter than Jerry Lewis.

And that's a fact.


Hops

[gratitude28]

I hope I will always be as strong as you, Izzy - all around. You are a big inspiration to so many of us here. Many of us could not make it through half of what you have suffered! I love seeing you plugging along and showing us how it's done!

Looking forward to reading more about your exploits

Beth

[Izzy_*now*]

Hiya Beth,

So good to hear from you, and I am sorry that I forget your story. I know we talked a lot, you moved away..... and I'll check back.

I have been rather "self-indulgent" for these past 4 ½ + years, over this accident and the pain etc. Nothing else in my life. One thing after another just overlap and I try hard to remember the sequence of events. I was really over-drugged in hospital and that messed up my mind.

The settlement was made in April, after which came the arm pains and PMR (Polymyalgia Rheumatica) a joint inflammation. Had that been diagnosed any sooner, it would have been a mess to settle between PMR (mine) and the argument the Lawyers and doctors were having over my shoulder rotator cuffs giving out with my going into a HOME, estimated at over 5 years earlier than would be expected, which is still open on the books.

I have me a new fella to daydream about---as if I were about 35????? He delivers my wine. (My 2 gals do the health and household.) I don't even know his name but he is tall, slender in his 40s (I'm 74 so keep it to myself) and what I would go after 35 years ago. I called him today, no answer but he called back; I asked if he were working, he said "yes" and I said I wasn't and "wouldn't until he brought me some wine." He has a shy look that is so darling.

The rest of my life is the pits but I make the best of it---always have.....tried anyway!

My gals don't think I am self-indulgent, but, instead, restrained. I guess because the settlement ought to see me through, I have no problem slipping either of them $5, off the income records, just for a small, extra job, This way I spend and enjoy my settlement on things I need, things that please me, things that help others and when I die it wouldn't be worth it to anyone to hire a lawyer to contest my Will.

I mess with my computer and read. Then I have things like up in the night, knocked my toe, bled all over the kitchen floor, living room and bedroom carpets...and my arms aren't strong enough to clean, but Ellen will do what I missed when she comes on Tuesday. That's my life! (I still don't know which toe, since I cannot turn my foot upside down to look, so life will always be a mystery to me.

......and probably to everyone else too,

xx
Izzy


EDIT: My story of today is that I broke off the toilet seat, while scooting from it to my bath lift. *SNAP* I emailed Ellen, sent her  photo of a toilet (in case she didn't have one for reference. Ha! that's me) and ask her to determine when she can fit that into our schedule. She comes Tuesday anyway as I said.

She is my chore-runner as well as household. She'll bring a battery pack for my portable phone---I sent cash with her last time. If she buys a toilet seat and brings it, it will be on her Visa and I get the $$ to her on her cheque before Visa is due.

I can still drive, still have my car, but don't use it enough to make it worth the expenses, so the battery dies. Therefore, I am trying to sell it, and use taxis. It's only 23 years old with 140,000 miles on it!

[Hopalong]

Oooch.
Sorry about your toe, Izz.
And your toilet seat.

What you teach me over and over is how small my problems are,
and how everything, literally everthing, is all a matter of perspective.

Hope both toe and toilet seat are back in proper order soon.

Is Karla still coming regularly?

love
Hops

[Izzy_*now*]

Ha and Hi Hops

Nice when you check in.

The toilet seat is in place now. Ellen couldn’t get the old bolt out. I called the Super, who last worked on the offending bolt, and she couldn’t either. She said she’d call a workman….he came and couldn’t either  (Hurry up guys, I might need the washroom!!!!) He kept leaving for more tools and Ellen went shopping. He came back with a crowbar, and I laughed, thinking about his taking the crowbar to the whole damned room. Finally he went for a saw, and cut the top off----that flipping bolt will cause no one any more problems!! And I just sit and balance my accounts as everyone works. Ah! The Life!

Ellen returned with a battery pack for my hand held and it charging now. She also assembled my new vacuum, as my wrists are too weak. We need too long to charge it fully, so she used the carpet sweeper and then I’ll have her use this new one….all ok? Then take away the old one.

She is really good about things, and today I needed cash and I gave her my PIN# for the bank. (She wrote it down in the form of a telephone number, rather than forget or to lose the record.) I know the ramifications, but I have Faith in her and she in me. I asked her to bring a transaction slip, sign that she received $? from the bank, then under that I signed that I had received $? from her. We feel that is enough for the two of us and no one else, in this area, is to know.

Karla is POA and I turn it all over to her when I can never go back to the bank. Karla will never know. (I think there is some jealousy involved.) Otherwise a bank trip is not out of line for me, unless like this week with less meds, and the cold weather.

Don’t know which toe was cut but all appears healed!

Ellen comes once every 2 weeks and Karla once a week.

Ellen told me the cutest story about her youngest (of 4 sons). They all went someplace and she was designated to the bedroom that had fleece sheets. In retrospect, I think this youngest (9) was put with her, re sleeping space. He just loved the fleece sheets. In the long run, without going into T.’s secretive ways, he took money that he was saving for a puppy, got his eldest (18) brother to drive him to the store, bought fleece sheets for Ellen for her birthday. How terribly unselfish and sweet! (I somehow suspect they are also “for him”, and it would be very sad if he expected to sleep on his mother’s sheets, just because he bought them, as one night a phone call came in and she sent him back to his room. He was upset and she knew. She was talking with her friend, yet gave in , and went to him and sent him into her room-----T. was in his glory! Sound like trouble?)

More about health on my other post!

XX
Izzy

[Hopalong]

I'm glad you have people you trust, and are so smart about it too.
We used to send my mother's daytime caregiver to the bank with a check to cash for hundreds.
(Given that she is about the most honest human being on the planet, it was not a problem.)
The tellers knew her and were always happy to see her--just handed over the money...

I miss that lady a lot. Just wrote her a note the other day.

Ellen's young T does sound a little attached, doesn't he?
But I've heard people talk about kids who are indulged that way growing up extra-secure, too.

Who knows. Ellen sounds like a nice person and Karla is matchless.

You done good, Izz.

love
Hops

[Izzy_*now*]

Well, Hell's Bells:

I just cannot win. I lost my balance (with paralysis) in that 1969 car crash and have had to be so careful on crutches, reaching, etc. all these years.

Age can take its toll on the bones, as you are aware, and Doctors are now comparing mine....nailing them together.....like nailing a custard pie to the wall. (I rather thought after the 2009 accident and ramifications, that no hardware ought to have been installedd. I was using the term chalk then.

I have had quite some number of falls in 44½ years----- broken bone falls? maybe 4,5.

I never ought to have taken all those "successful" falls for granted, because.....and I think this is 2014 now, about Jan. 5.....am on a Rehab Hospital computer that reads Dec.11, 2013 having had the other end of my femur snap at above the knee, distal end, with the proximal end losing its head in 2009.

Anybody want that spare piece of custard that's floating around in there?

Karla is doing her duties, and I am sociallizing??? with old????? people of all kinds, as this fcility has three se3ctions, A, B (ooops used their dining room the first night, after 2 weeks in hospital) and RehaB.

I managed to find this site, but this portable, wireless, mouseless, is useless and Karla says my own comp's mailbox is not working????????

My brother tracked her down at her yoga work, and she ain't squealing like a rat, details are for me to report......leaving it up to me.......in more detail when I finally get home.....have to adjust knee hinge from 30 degrees (almost straight-legged) to 90 degrees (actual sitting position.)

I think I quoted this once before, "They shoot horses, don't they?"

You wouldn't really want to know, right now anyway, what this staff is like.

I have transferred to and from commode alone and I think they are mad, to and from bed, and I think they are mad. Food is terrible and I might be on the verge of insanity. Time will tell.

If I can get on Facebook, I might get somewhere, but in essence, might just prefer to eat and read.

I enjoy my computer, not this P.O.S.

Love
from "the custard pie, with pieces of chalk" lady

Izzy

[Hopalong]

Oh, Izz.

SHIT!
(apologies for the improper language)

I am so very sorry you're in rehab and subject to "staff" and more hurt....but...

I
hope
it
works

SO resourceful of you to find a computer and check in here...know we are thinking of you.

If anyone can bounce back, even when made of chalk/sponge/coral reef...it would be you.

But...I repeat...[aforementioned rudeness].

Sympathy, support, calm, endurance...

and love to you,

Hops

[Twoapenny]

Iz I hope this gets sorted out for you soon, what a rotten start to the year.  Any indication of when you'll be going home or is it too early to say?

[lighter]

Izz:

I'm so sorry to hear about the latest break.

What were you doing when it happened?

It pains me to think of our Izzy going half mad eating shite food, dealing with shite staff, using a shite computer while back in pain.

When are you getting out of that place?

((Izzy))
Liughter

[Izzy_*now*]

Hops, twop and lighter, and all

This is the Horror Home for all elders.....I kid you not!  Karla told me to "suck it up then I'll be home". That was disappointing, but she is looking after everything else. ....as my POA.

One comes in and is greeted with enthusiasm and kindness only to note that it is the beginning of the "turning of the tides" when the patients become the helpless victims.

---(rang my bell) Nurse enters, "Oh it's you, well I haven't the time. I thought it was her (points to roommate), pivots and walks out.
...asked for Ex-lax (instead of 'laxative'....I wasn't advocating Exlax).....had to get Dr.'s permission then provide my own.
---went for x-ray, yesterday at hospital, new orders from Ortho Dr., handed them in at desk upon return and his new instructions are not yet put into effect. Losing time on recovery if I stay the same....my knee brace (no more surgery in lower limbs.... too chalky, Jello-y, Custard pie-y,...must be extra careful of falls-----even though one fall did correct some previous pain.
---food in hospital was artificial--- awful, only ½ okay here, but is all shipped here in bulk prepared.....must check out Crisco's  intent
---loud staff voices ALL the time, night and day
---moans, groans and pitiful "Help me"-s.
---no one on staff follows through, buck the system and wait 2 more days
... $31.90/day, $920+/mo., knee hinge $280.00 ("one size fits all" was fine tuned twice for me)
...Once I yelled, "
" They arrived in 19' 59".
---The recreation guy installed a mouse on this Dell machine, but still the table it's on is at nipple height. The pianos are all out of tune.
---I said I would do "xyz". Nursie said, "I am not doing "xyz". I said, "I said I would do "xyz": you need only bring me "abc"." She turned on her heel, waggled her hands up around her head and left.
---I am to ne Independent, but bedside table, over-bed table, commode and visitor chair are consistenly moved out of place and intertwined with their ability to parl the wheelchair in yet another locatio---------------take it away? I am stranded.
---well, I could make a book out of the last 4 weeks.

Anyway, when D. was an adolescent and had friends in).....)))))) If I were iin sofa chIR, WITH EITHER W'CHair or crutches on hand, AND ONE OF HER FRIENDS BEGAN TO PLAY WITH, AS IN REMOVE FROM MY REACH, SAID ITEM, d WOULD GO GET THE OTHER ONE AND TELL FRIENDS "nEVER TAKE mOM'S CHair without fitst bringing in her crutches, or vice versa. (oops Caps--not going back.)

Anyway, I ought to think of this as a sign to never even THINK of falling, with my eggshell bones. Remove word completely from my vocabulary.

But then Dr. Arrhole had reduced my Prednisone to 1 mg/dly---steady at 5mg/dly now.