(posted by Greg)
Monica saw the palliative care doctor on Monday. The Dr. was very nice and very gentle with Monica. We discussed how Monica was doing and she gave me some good advice as to how to experiment a little with Monica's medications to see which medications work the best and what times are the best to give them to her. Homecare will continue to monitor our situation in order to see when we need some more help.
Otherwise there is nothing specific to blog about. Monica, Marley and I are in familiar routine with the home support and coping with Monica's problems. However, while there is nothing specific to comment on, I do have a strong feeling that she is slipping at an accelerated rate.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Wednesday, Sept 18, 2013
(posted by Greg)
As things get more difficult for Monica, I find it more difficult to describe how she is doing. So, briefly: She continues to get quieter (if that is possible) and generally weaker. As a result the transfers are getting trickier. She is also starting to shake on her good side and we have to help her more when she eats. Her feet are swelling (I think from the lack of movement) and are causing her some discomfort.
Fortunately, every so often something happens to remind us that she is still "in there". The other night she awoke saying "ow-ow-ow" over and over again (this is also what she says when she is frightened or wanting to say "no). We never did figure out what was causing her discomfort (I think it is muscle or joint ache from the spasticity) and it took a while to calm her down. In the course of talking to her, Marley asked her if she was dying. Monica responded with the most amazing combination of "no" and a deep belly laugh. She actually similarly laughed at a couple of different things.
I plan on asking to have the palliative care doctor from Homecare see her now so that we can get some advice on how to best deal with the swelling and her discomfort.
As things get more difficult for Monica, I find it more difficult to describe how she is doing. So, briefly: She continues to get quieter (if that is possible) and generally weaker. As a result the transfers are getting trickier. She is also starting to shake on her good side and we have to help her more when she eats. Her feet are swelling (I think from the lack of movement) and are causing her some discomfort.
Fortunately, every so often something happens to remind us that she is still "in there". The other night she awoke saying "ow-ow-ow" over and over again (this is also what she says when she is frightened or wanting to say "no). We never did figure out what was causing her discomfort (I think it is muscle or joint ache from the spasticity) and it took a while to calm her down. In the course of talking to her, Marley asked her if she was dying. Monica responded with the most amazing combination of "no" and a deep belly laugh. She actually similarly laughed at a couple of different things.
I plan on asking to have the palliative care doctor from Homecare see her now so that we can get some advice on how to best deal with the swelling and her discomfort.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Tuesday, September 10,2013
(posted by Greg)
Nothing too dramatic to blog about ... The Homecare Workers and the Nurse Next Door people are a big help. They are all quite good and a few are exceptional. I am happy that they are around during the day as transferring Monica is becoming a bit trickier as she gets weaker in her right leg. I am also thankful that Marley is around in the evenings as well.
Monica still has no pain, no headaches or seizures and, for the most part, seems content and at peace. As I said in an earlier blog, she is very quiet and says very little. I find this aspect hard.
One of the Nurse Next Door People read some stories to Monica of her own accord. Monica seemed to like it so Marley and I are reading more to her. The three of us are crying our way through "Chicken Soup for he Woman's Soul".
Nothing too dramatic to blog about ... The Homecare Workers and the Nurse Next Door people are a big help. They are all quite good and a few are exceptional. I am happy that they are around during the day as transferring Monica is becoming a bit trickier as she gets weaker in her right leg. I am also thankful that Marley is around in the evenings as well.
Monica still has no pain, no headaches or seizures and, for the most part, seems content and at peace. As I said in an earlier blog, she is very quiet and says very little. I find this aspect hard.
One of the Nurse Next Door People read some stories to Monica of her own accord. Monica seemed to like it so Marley and I are reading more to her. The three of us are crying our way through "Chicken Soup for he Woman's Soul".
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
(posted by Greg)
The last week went better than I expected. Monica and I have got into a routine with the Homecare Nurses. I am able to do the necessary transferring and they help Monica by cleaning her well and getting her dressed etc. While some are better than others, the quality of the Homecare workers is pretty good and I don't really have any complaints.
The first week using Nurse Next Door also went well. Again, the quality of the people is good. I used them primarily to help me Monica a bit in the afternoon and to be with her while I ran some errands, did shopping and kept a couple of appointments at the office. For the most part, Monica has been napping while I am gone. As part of the contract, they provide some other basic services. So, while they are here they do some laundry, dusting, vacuuming etc and will, if I organize it, help prepare meals by chopping vegetables etc. It is nice to come back to a clean house and to have the laundry done.
Our long weekend was fairly quiet. Ingo brought Oma and a steak dinner in on Friday night. He also brought Oma in for a visit yesterday. Marley was home most of the weekend which allowed me to get out to do a few chores. We took Monica to the mall on Sunday and had her hair trimmed. (We got an increasingiy rare smile when we bought her one of her favourite bubble teas.).
Thankfully, Monica is still in no pain and having no headaches etc. She is a bit weaker and is quite quiet (this is one of the hardest parts for us as we would like to speak with her more).
The last week went better than I expected. Monica and I have got into a routine with the Homecare Nurses. I am able to do the necessary transferring and they help Monica by cleaning her well and getting her dressed etc. While some are better than others, the quality of the Homecare workers is pretty good and I don't really have any complaints.
The first week using Nurse Next Door also went well. Again, the quality of the people is good. I used them primarily to help me Monica a bit in the afternoon and to be with her while I ran some errands, did shopping and kept a couple of appointments at the office. For the most part, Monica has been napping while I am gone. As part of the contract, they provide some other basic services. So, while they are here they do some laundry, dusting, vacuuming etc and will, if I organize it, help prepare meals by chopping vegetables etc. It is nice to come back to a clean house and to have the laundry done.
Our long weekend was fairly quiet. Ingo brought Oma and a steak dinner in on Friday night. He also brought Oma in for a visit yesterday. Marley was home most of the weekend which allowed me to get out to do a few chores. We took Monica to the mall on Sunday and had her hair trimmed. (We got an increasingiy rare smile when we bought her one of her favourite bubble teas.).
Thankfully, Monica is still in no pain and having no headaches etc. She is a bit weaker and is quite quiet (this is one of the hardest parts for us as we would like to speak with her more).
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