I really don't understand what is going on with Chris right now. For the past 2 weeks he has been in a terrible rotten mood.
He doesn't care any more, he has gotten very nasty at times with people and he is constantly complaining and very negative with me. He is very demanding. I can't even sit down for 5 minutes and he starts calling for me because he wants something or something hurts, etc. etc.
Tonight I was just about ready to choke him. While I was getting him ready for bed -
Chris was only on the Baclifin for a few days and improvement was starting to show. He recently started experiencing severe tone in his affected arm and leg. The doctor has increased the Baclifin for this week and if he shows no improvement will increase it again until he gets 30mg daily.
I have been concerned about him the past few days. Today I called the cardiologist. He has been having shortness of breath. He said it feels like he can't get the air in. He was also having episodes
The best thing that happened this weekend was that Chris had no pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was amazed as to how I could move his affected arm and leg. Before when you tried to wash him he would yell when you just moved his arm and leg slightly. The limbs where always so stiff. Especially his hand and fingers where always so painful.
I can't believe that the Baclafin worked so fast. He was so much more happier and very talkative. He was laughing and joking around with everyone all week
Well, Friday Chris and I went to see the rehab doctor at the stroke and brain injury rehab in our area. She is not sure if the insurance company will approve an inpatient stay for Chris. She claims he is still very weak in the trunk area. If she can't get inpatient approved she will try for outpatient PT. She had also advised us that we will get family therapy. This will help me in being able to handle things with Chris. I am looking forward to this.
She said that Chris is still weak
Well the appointment is set. In 2 weeks Chris will go to see the rehab doctor at the Stroke and Brain Injury Rehab at Doylestown Hospital. I have been doing some research and talking to alot of people. This rehab has a great reputation and has had some miracles happen when all hope was given up. Chris is really excited to go and really wants to go inpatient.
We had a really great weekend. Saturday our daughter had a yard sale and we all sat outside and helped her. Saturday night we fi
Chris has been doing very well. We are waiting for a call from the nurse of the rehab doctor of the stroke and brain injury facility where Chris will be going for outpatient therapy. There is also a chance after seeing the doctor that Chris will go inpatient for extensive PT/OT for 30 to 45 days. He is working very hard at all his exercises and has really built up strength in his right side.
The past few days though he has been very tired but he is still on the antibiotic for the urina
Today I have been really concerned with Chris. He did nothing but sleep again today. He had no interest in doing any of his exercises, he was very snappy with everyone, he especially snapped at out daughter today, which is one person he never raised his voice to.
We talked tonight about what he was feeling and he said that he was very depressed today and that he is very angry at this stroke. He also said that he should have "checked out" when the stroke happened. He also said that he
I feel really rotten inside right now, because I know that I really have no room to complain. I'm not the one who suffers from the effects of the stroke.......but this weekend was the PITS!!!!!!!!!!
First of all, Chris started with a bladder infection on Thursday which of course the first thing I noticed was a change in his mental status. I knew something was cooking with him. So of course he was started on an antibiotic. Next problem which I have been talking to his doctor about for mo
I got a phone call on Thursday afternoon from Chris' brother. He and his wife where coming up for a visit today.
So Friday night I started cleaning the downstairs like crazy. It's still very hard to stay on a schedule yet and the dusting and vaccuming needed to be done. I never got to bed Friday night till 1am.
Saturday morning I got a phone call from Chris' sister, she had taken her daughter to college in New York and wanted to stop in on the way home. So by 1:30pm we had
It' been along time since I have taken the time to sit in front of the computer and spend time on this site.
Chris is doing well and the daily routine is getting easier, I just wish my routine with the housework was getting easier and GETTING DONE!!!! Usually every 2 weeks the house gets a really good cleaning. Thank God every week I get the wash done - I'd rather have clean clothes than a clean house. I'm also keeping a business afloat - can't pick the cash off trees!!!!!!!!!!! M
This morning I was really concerned, probably overly concerned about Chris. Yesterday he slept all day along with having a headache. I really didn't think much about him sleeping because Saturday we had family from out-of-state. But this morning when he woke up, I thought his speech was somewhat slurred. Different than I have heard it in the past 3 months. So I mentioned it to the aide and asked her to let me know if she noticed anything different with him as he was eating his breakfast. N
Chris feel asleep shorter after dinner on Saturday night and awoke long enough to get into bed. He slept straight thru the night and didn't wake up till almost 11am Sunday.
He ate breakfast and feel back to asleep. Finally at 1pm I woke him up to get cleaned up and dressed. Shortly after I got him in his wheelchair he wanted a pillow to lay back and again feel sound asleep. He slept all afternoon. At 6:30pm I woke him up for supper, he really didn't eat alot, less than normal and then
I still haven't figured out why when I see Chris achieve or start to achieve a goal why I cry?
This morning the OT came and started working with Chris to try to get him to dress himself. He was very successful in his first attempt to put his pants and shirt on.
Next she wanted him to try to shave himself. So we set up his supplies and a basin of water and he shaved himself with a straight edge. He really did a good job. Watching him shave again reminded me of all the mornings we wo
Chris has been doing very well. This week his PT and OT has been restarted at home. The PT at the hospital said that Chris was not ready to come to the hospital until he had more upper body strength and could transfer using the transfer board. So we have alot of work ahead of us. Although he is doing very well with his exercises and is showing continued improvement. Thursday the OT will be here again and she is going to show Chris how to try to help in dressing himself. I am anxious to see
Well the past 2 days have been better day. Although Chris has been tired. On Saturday night we partied again for these crazy birthdays. I am so glad they are over - I need a break.
Saturday, Chris seemed to be doing good emotionally. After breakfast and getting cleaned up he took a nap for several hours. He said that he was just tired. He was his "old self" at the party. On Sunday he again was in a good mood - we watched the baseball game again and he was very happy that the Phillies
Thursday was a good day. The new aide is really working hard with Chris in regards to the exercises that need to be done. She also told me that she had gone to school to be a physical therapist but never completed the course. You can really see it in the way she works with Chris.
That evening we had celebrated our daughter's birthday. After our company had left, while I was getting Chris ready for bed he just started to cry. Our daughter is very good with him and she had started talkin
Did you ever wonder why such stupid things happen to you?
For the past 5 years that we have lived in our home, I have had a bird feeder in the same tree, on the same branch in the same spot. Now you would think that I would remember where it is after so many years. RIGHT!!!!
So today I went outside to cover the grill from last night because we got blasted with a thunderstorm last evening with no warning. The grill is slightly to the right of the tree. The sky was starting to get
If Representatives From Insurance Companies Had Brains They Would Be Dangerous!!!!!!!!!!
For the past month I have been going back and forth with the pharmacy, doctor's office and brace company in regards to several things that need to be pre-authorized for Chris.
There are 2 medications that he has been on now for over a year. They where originally prescribed when he was in the hospital for his first stroke. The insurance company is denying them because the FDA claims that these
Saturday afternoon Chris and I went to a friends house to celebrate the birthday of their daughter who was turning 3.
What a chore to get Chris in and out of my father's van. I felt like I was going to ripe my guts out. Even with all the training from the PT it was still difficult. BUT the struggle was worth it...........Chris had a great time at the party. He finally got out of the house and could talk to people. It was really good for me also to finally get out of the house and do
Chris had started last week going to the hospital for his PT/OT. Today the PT had called and told me he felt that Chris should continue to receive his PT at home. He feels that Chris needs to build more upper body strength and work on being able to better sit on the side of the bed. The decision still has to be made if his OT will be at the hospital or go back to homecare.
This week, finally, a new aide started. She is from a very competent nursing organization in this area and I have
July 26 was Chris' birthday and also the 1st anniversary of his stroke. I was alittle concerned as to how he was going to be emotionally. So when I got up Tuesday morning, went downstairs, put on the coffee and then went over to his bed to wake him up and wish him a Happy Birthday he was his old chipper self. He didn't mention anything about his stroke.
That morning nothing was really different, my Dad stopped in to "devil" Chris as usual, wished him a HB and Dad brought up the fact of t
I don't think I should have ever got out of bed this morning!!!!!!!!!
It started last night. Sunday afternoon my mom and I went shopping for Chris' birthday. When we came home my mom started preparing the food for the grill while I was helping Chris. I'm always bare footed around the house and then that's when it started. I had Chris in the hoyer lift to get him into bed and I caught my heel on the lock on the wheel of the bed. Well all I'm gonna say is that the cut I put in my heel sh
Well, I can honestly say that this was a good week. It has been alittle harder for me, I realizing that if I continue to work, which I have to do, that I will need some help for a few hours during the day. This week I really stretched myself thin. I have been really tired.
Although I am sleep walking I am amazed as to what has been happening with Chris in regards to his therapy. I can't believe that I was told that he would never improve and would never function outside of a facility
I am using this space to try to sort out some of the feelings that I have and some of the things Chris and I are going through right now. It feels like we have been on a roller coaster lately. Like this morning, I don't understand him some times, he works very easily and is eager to work with the therapists, but when I ask him to try to do something he gets angry with me or tells me that he can't do it!! It really blows my mind on the reaction I am getting. This reaction has only just starte
Today we where up quite early. The PT was coming at 10:30a. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to get Chris ready in the morning, including breakfast.
About 2 weeks ago the OT had just suggested that soon Chris would be ready to go to outpatient therapy. Today after the PT finished working with him he said that it was time to start making arrangements to have him go to the hospital for therapy. He said that he would start working on this this coming week and in about 2 weeks he should have hi
