Idiot Proof

We have idiot proofed the house as much as possible.  My lovely pleather chair which heats and massages is enconced in the living room.  My channel changer has been secured to the adjacent table via cording and many rubber bands.  I can now retrieve if  it falls.  My Kindle is plugged in and charging.  The spare is in the bag that goes with me to dialysis.

My clothing that fits is in five heavy plastic shopping bags. They contain panties, socks, bras, shirts and pants. My shoes are arranged neatly beneath the old school bench which Mom used for growing violets. I have five or six sweaters draped on the back of the Herman Miller office chair.  I do have a few hangers with clothing in the downstairs closet. 

There are several signaling devices. They are round medallion type things.  They sound like a bell ringing.  One is in the bathroom, one is on the lamp next to my chair, one is by the stove and of course in the upstairs bedroom.  I have a grabber for picking up stuff or reaching for out of reach stuff.

For years now husband has been purchasing large containes of peanut butter filled crackers.  The empty ones are ideal for filling cereal, pasta, etc.  I have elimited many glass things that could come crashing down.

We have adequate phonage, including cell phones which I hardly use.  Husband is advocating the I get a smart phone.  I do like the "how do I get there" apps.

There no rugs to trip or fall, except there is a small rug in the downstairs bathroom.  Husband also had Reece Electric come and install a timer on the light switch so we don't run the heater too long.  Oh, did I do that!?

I purchased an attachment to the sink with a hose so that I may wash my hair and perform bathing functions. I love it!! Wish I had room for one of those sitting bathtubs.  oooh!

I also have one of those rolling chairs which I can use if I get dizzy.  I seldom do that and have learned to sit up before rising.  I do use the chair for transportation of lunch etc. to the living room.

The smoke alarms work, because recently I roasted some pepper to make the very fancy tamale pie.  They finally quite after I turned on the thing on the stove.  We are still eating tamale pie.

If I were stinking rich, I would do many good deeds before I purchased the Tioga Hotel in downtown Coos Bay.  It is a venerable building about 12 stories or more tall. 

I would keep the tallest floor as home for myself and husband.  The roof would be reconfigured for helicopter landing pad and the combination green house and place of worship.  I would also hire a beekeeper/gardener.

Next level down would be salt water swimming pool.  Life Guard on duty. There would be room for a complete gym with trainer available.

The rest of the levels would be apartments for all of my relatives.  Anyone can come subject to availability.  Book early!

At least one level of housing available for personnel and business managers.  I would have a very good lawyer on retainer. I would also have a man of God on retainer.

The bottom two floors are commercial and I would remodel the restaurant to top end kitchen.  The business would be leased.  They would also cater for occupants of the building.  There will be fabulous room service.

Also if there is a garage I will upgrade.  There will be topnotch mechanics.  They will also be available with a tow truck. 

All mechanicals will be upgraded and will be located in the basement. 

I will add a very large frieght elevator to the back of the building.

The garage will be large enough for guests to park including fairly large RV's.

There will be maid service and Nanny's.

There will be an on call physician as well as RN's.

There will be a concierge as well as security.

In addition, I will purchase building suitable for the homeless with all services they need.  I will provide employment for them.

Almost forgot, there will be counseling available.

If I have forgotten anything, do let me know.  I just love daydreaming.

keeping safe

Sorry about the lengthy absence.  First of all, my medical adventure then it was Covid19.

First major thing was when Tim dropped me off at Bay Area hospital for a dialysis appointment.

They would not let him come in even to use the inside toilet. 
He was directed to a PortaJohn.  He was incensed!  Although he did tell me later that the toilet paper was luxurious.  In his bathroom ratings, Porta Johns rank as equivalent to third world squat slot toilets.

Next occurrence was visit to wound nurse for my brand new shiny cardiac pacemaker.  The lobby window had a box marked clean pens and an empty one labeled dirty.  

The bank experience was interesting.  We went to get a durable medical power of attorney notorized.  The bank official had the lobby locked. She opened and let us in.  Tim was incensed that he had to sit six feet away.  I sat at the desk.  Lady looked the document over and witnessed my signature. We left triumphant.

The local Safeway store had a sign, 96 maximum customers at once.  We shopped and exited on the other end, which again disturbed husbands normal shopping pattern.  There was a lady in full PPE greeting us. That pretty official.

The gas stations have been granted an order to allow patrons to pump their own gas.  Big Woo.  Would rather have some else do it as I have not voluntarily pumped my own gas for decades of not centuries.  

Today we will drive to my doctors office for an appointment.  We sit there and call the number, someone brings out a tablet and we shall commence.  There should probable be a patron saint to communications.

Everything and a kitchen sink.

values have fallen.  Go to hospital for dialysis.  Away we went.  Tech looked at shunt and said one side is good the other side is immature.  Surgeon came in and said he would schedule me for next day for a shunt on neck then dialysis.

Did that the next day.  Put in room postop.  Developed afib.  Put in ICU.  Then nex t day had dialysis.  One more day, another dialysis.  Sent home.

At home that night becme dyspneic. Very short of breath.  Went to Er.  They said you were given a lot of this.  I was given a lo of that.  Heart went way slow.  Transferred via ambulance to BayArea Hospital.  Ride like a carnival.  Got there in Er. They say admit immediately and I do not remember anything else.  Because I have petit mal.  That thing where I do no remember stuff.

I was transferred to Mercy Medical do not remember same reason.  When next I became aware of anything the viral death tole was 12000.  I was in a regular room and developed pauses.  I was trasferred to ICU.  Heart doctor saw me and say pacemaker. 

Next day got  pacemaker inserted.  Much better now. Discharged next day.
I was awake for the pacemaker.  I felt all the shoves.  I have bruises to prove it.

Husband came over to take me home.

If anyone called abd chatted with me I do not remember.  I hope we had a silly good time.  Tim says I was super chatty.  Yeek. 

My cardiac meds were eliminated and now I have ten or so fewer to put in pill boxes.  Yay.  It is still a whole ye gods bunch if pills.  Because of my kidney syndrome applesauce tastes bitter.  Must find some else to gulp down the medication.  Oh I wonder if Rocky Road would work.  Yep  it tastes delicious.

In summary, I was in Er twice, in Bay Area once and in Mercy Medical twice.  All of which I do not remember except first ER visit and the last Mercy visit.  I wish not to do this again.

We are considering Home Health evaluation.  And a memory aid such as a large whige board with room for seven days of activities just in came I forget, ah that's what happened.

I will shecedule with Dr. Holland and talk about the many new diagnoses and ask her if she thinks a referal to neurology is appropriate.  Ick. 

THANK YOU, GOD

V
thank you God.  I don't have cancer and I am an idiot.

This past Friday, I was watching Wheel of Fortune.  When it was over, it took me a few minutes to even notice what happened.  The program ended and I thought, what happened?  I had missed 20 minutes.  That was weird.  So I Googled it, you know how Google offers up dozens of answers? Straight to Brain Tumor.  Huh. 

I owned it immediately.  Surgery, no biggie, chemo ugh. Survival to 5 years 30 percent.  I would have lived that long without the diagnosis.  Worried all night about whether to tell husband.

In the morning, I told him.  He was a rock!

We spent the day at dialysis. I told the nurse. She laughed and said Did Not. Ok.

Went home and thought to myself, I should examine the other question of the diagnosis.  What neurological condition causes absence (French).  Google pointed right at Petit Mal seizure.  Ah,  I would be unusual at 25 minutes and 2 hours at dialysis.  Will have Dr. Holland order me an ECG.  I won't be on meds. Win! Win!

Told husband, God bless him, didn't even roll his eyes. 

Friday 13

Let me get you caught up.
It all started on Friday 13th.  Went to appointment, Doc looked a labs and said go to the hospital.  Okey dokey.
Got there dialysis tech said your arm thingie is not mature.  Called in surgeon.  Booked the next day for neck thingie.  That went well, then had dialysis.

I was sent to a room where I developed atrial fibrillation.  On to ICU. Another dialysis treatment then discharged.  Wheeee!
Went home up to bed.  Became very short of breath.  Went to CVH ER.  They had a security guard there an we answered questions.  I was seen and treated for fast heart, meds given, too slow dude!  So sent by ambulance to Coos Bay hospital.  I love to travel. Got out of there after pretty fabulous food.

Am home, going to dialysis this morning.  Later!

Medical things and other excitement!

Oh, dear.  This morning I woke up all sweaty and decided I had better go get some OJ.  I progressively became weaker as I clutched the stair rail and dizzy kicked in.  Well, that's new. 

Gulped down the rest of the OJ on hand and staggered over to the desk.  I opened up the computer and tried to sign on. I had forgotten my password, well the back half of it.  AND I completely forgot where I had even put the password, didn't think about it actually.  

I eventually staggered into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.   Got out the frozen waffles, butter and bottle of water for tea.  Got paper plate for waffles.  Got cup, knife, spoon, packets of Splenda.  Swell, what next?  I could not keep organized, kept going around in circles trying to get started.  I have never been this disoriented.  Strange sensation, I must say. 

Husband concerned, Bless him.  I left a message with my doc.  They will call back in 24 to 48 hours.  Hmph.  So I did a little Googling and discovered that better carb loading after Insulin is a GOOD thing.  And I kind of love eating, veggies and cookies it is!!!

Also had labs done Monday for Dr. Kumar.  Kidney values are dropping into the dialysis zone.  We are driving over Friday, I believe I will be spending afternoon next door at the dialysis center...bugger.  Husband is prepping Kindle with movies and such.  I have tons of books to either read or listen to.  Hope the chairs are comfy.  Taking my blankie in case the room is cold.   Hope to connect with Bay Area dialysis unit for future use.

Also, I will be collecting a years worth of office visits to present to SSI for extra payment for end stage kidney disease.  no idea how much extra.  Kind of doubt it will cover mileage let alone taxi fees for round trips to Coos Bay.  Keeping fingers crossed.  Anyone got type B blood? That is all it takes to match for a kidney.  Eesh would not relish the permanent moon face from steroids but that would fill out the facial wrinklies. 

Another weird thing I NEVER saw coming is that my ears have gotten slower.  I have noticed lately that I have begun noticing that people are talking faster, the news people sound like fairly steady rapid fire speaking, how did I miss this?  I catch a little K drama on my Facebook feed, what I hear is rapid fire chipmunk speak and I get the giggles.  The tiny women are cute. But the tall slim men? Hilarious!  And the bigger bad guys?   Nope! Do not feel one bit threatened.  

Also squeezed in a self haircut this morning.  Used the clippers with short guide to trim the short bits.  Left the long bits long and husband was kind enough to trim my neck.  Not bad for a half blind person handicapped without all the muscles of the right shoulder hooked back up after a major fracture.  Oh well.  Shook off the hair, got the floor swept in the bathroom.  Time for lunch, yayyyy!!!!

Oh yeah, blood pressure sucks   (lip blubber)