Mom Update, November 16, 2011, Wednesday

Mom’s update November 16, 2011

Jean started the day with mom today. She was awake when he arrived. Mom was happy when she saw Jean. He put her hearing aids in and her glasses on. When he went to put the glasses on she grabbed them and said, “I can do it.” HE put on the TV and they watched Good Morning America and then Regis. Mom was interested in the fact that Regis is retiring on Friday. All week we have watched the show (or I have left it on for her to watch after I leave). Jean made mom’s oatmeal with apple sauce and Fiber One. Mom kept calling the Fiber One rabbit pellets! (That’s what Con and Anthony called them) She thought it was hysterical!

Anthony went to see mom. She was in a religious service. There was a lot of singing so the recreation therapist brought her to the service. When Anthony took her back to the room she was crying a lot when he came. She said she misses everybody. He told her to cry if she needs to cry. He took her for a walk near the windows to look out at the cars. He made her laugh. They called dad and mom spoke to her. Anthony was able to calm her down by making her laugh. Mom asked to go downstairs and Anthony said why and mom said why do you think and Anthony told her to tell him and she said to get pretzels. They sat at the end of the therapy hallway and watched people. They went

Dad came next and spent the day with mom. They watched TV and read the paper. Mom went to OT and PT.

John came next. He brought doughnuts for the staff. He brought mom a jelly doughnut for dessert and told her he had a surprise. She wanted it now but John said it is for dessert. John told her that we all fixed up her house for when she comes home. She said, “What house?” John said, “Your house.” Mom said she wasn’t going home to her house. She was confused. Dad pointed to the picture of her house and she said, “Oooooooh!” John was a little scared that she was confused. They talked and watched TV. Dinner came and John cut up her meal. She had Sloppy Joe’s and john took the roll away because he surprised her with a jelly doughnut for dessert. After dinner John played crosswords (It is a game where there are cubes with letters on them). Mom was getting frustrated because the letters that were facing up were too difficult to make a word so John turned the cubes to give her better letters and mom accused him of cheating! The CNA’s came to put mom to bed. John sat with her for a while longer and watched the food channel. He said a prayer and kissed her goodnight.

Peace and Be Well,

~Claud

Well...in the words of the late Gilda Radner playing "Rosanne Rosanna Danna," "It's always something!"

I spoke to the "attending physician" from mom's neurologist's office today regarding the EEG mom had last week. In short, the results are inconclusive at this point. The EEG came back abnormal. Though mom's EEG shows no signs of seizure activity (thank God), it DOES show "seizure-like spikes" (spikes look like the top of a triangle on the EEG scan sheet). A typical EEG scan sheet shows relatively even lines that wave in small waves. Mom's show even lines that wave AND places where the waves turn into 'triangle tops' or 'upside-down Vs.' I asked what this means exactly and the AP said that is undetermined at this point because an EEG only shows seizure activity. Other tests would be required in order to determine what is causing the "fidgetiness" or "tic-like" movements mom has been having. I asked if we should be concerned---the response was a question, "Well, how is she? How does she seem otherwise?" Mom seems great otherwise. I asked about medication---the answer was: "If she seems OK then no medication is needed. If not, then she may need some." I explained that we want to know: a) should we be worried? b) does she need medication? [because we don't want her on any unless she absolutely needs it] c) what could be causing the movements/fidgetiness/tic-like movements? The more questions I asked, the more the AP couldn't answer. The AP said that mom has an appointment in the near future with the neurologist (Jan. 5). I pointed out that January 5 is a long way off. The AP said mom could go on a waiting list for an appointment that is closer---she is not an emergency now.

I also left a message with the AP for the neurologist regarding the blasting of the kidney stone and the fact that mom will need general anesthesia to do this. The AP finally said that the neurologist will call me directly either later tonight or tomorrow.

Dad also received information regarding the procedure to blast mom's kidney stone. It said that mom is scheduled for December 5 to have the stone blasted (through sound waves). Evidently, the urologist scheduled it already, even though the urologist said there was no hurry, we could wait 2 months or so, and I could consult with the neurologist first. So much for all that. I called the hospital where it will take place and explained the concern over speaking to the neurologist as well as not knowing if mom will be home or at the facility still by December 5....I can call them back Monday or Tuesday after we speak to the Nurse from the Department of Social Services on Monday regarding mom's discharge.

"It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening." Psalm 92:2