Ups and downs
Tuesday we met with the Social Worker from Home Health and we accomplished two important items. I had told her on the phone that I would appreciate assistance in finding a new Primary Care Physician for wayfinder38. She came prepared with recommendations. She went to the Medical Society of Arizona and looked up physicians who practice within the University Medical Center. She found 3 internists who have openings for new patients in the relatively near future. We decided to see the one who had an additional year's training in Nephrology (Kidneys). She also had a few years of experience. I phoned and the first appointment will be January 4th. They I brought up the difficulties we are having when wayfinder38 is running a fever and can't attend to anything. She helped depersonalize it as she recognized the problem as the UTI's. She has seen this a lot with older patients who have UTI's. Even the smallest fever will make them delirious which is what is occurring. This helped us focus on the UTI's and not behavior. So we are prepared for our meeting with the urologist on Friday and will ask for more in the way of preventing additional infections.
We also saw the Infectious Disease specialist and he took wayfinder38's mask off and said you don't need that. He said the culture of the abscess did not grow anything in 14 days besides the MRSA so he took him off TB precautions. He did say the MRSA will take a long time to eradicate. He will wait to find out what the urologist says after we see him Friday before he decides how long to continue the vancomycin.
All in all a good day with no fevers.
Yesterday it was out to the Cancer Center for another blood draw. Hemoglobin 8.7 so we did not need to stay for a transfusion. The physical therapist came over in the afternoon and tired him out so he took a nap and then he was able to go to the Christmas Potluck last night at the club house. It was the first time he had been out for a social time since Thanksgiving. He had a good time and several people came over to ask how he was doing. The Activities Committee provided the ham and each table of 10 to 12 did their own potluck. Our hostess had decorated the tables with a lovely red brocade tablecloth and we had holiday themed placemats and napkins. I had the easy part and brought pickles, olives and a mango salsa. I found some garlic stuffed green olives at Trader Joe's and some high grade black olives, Cornichons and Vlasics Zesty Bread and Butter Pickles. The Cornichons are the tiny pickles flavored with tarragon and were quite tasty. I even liked the green olives stuffed with garlic. I have never cared for olives least of all green ones so I was a bit surprised to find the ones from TJ's palatable. The mango salsa went well with the ham but some folks found it a little too hot because of the jalepeno. The couple next to us was from Virginia and are full time RVers they brought Ambrosia salad, the couple across from us was from Colorado and also full time she did the hash brown casserole. D our hostess and R her companion are from Wisconsin. She made her Blueberry salad with sour cream and a Garlic and Rosemary bread from Costco. The last couple I was able to talk to them as there were 150 people in the room eating and talking. She made a Hawaiian Wedding Cake which was really good. It was nice and moist which I like and had Coconut and Pineapple in the topping. I'm am pleased to report thatwayfinder38 was able to enjoy everything and ate better than he has been able to for 3 weeks. He took the anti nausea medication and a pain pill prior to going and I think that helped.
We were able to borrow a wheelchair from the park and I put it in the car so I could wheel him into the club house as it is about 1/2 a block from the parking lot to the main room and he is still pretty weak.
I manage to clear off both beds in the quest room and unpack and put away more stuff and sort boxes for donations, to take to the used book store and to put in the storage shed. Today E phoned and she has laryngitis so was not able to come over today but I told her I had been able to accomplish more than I thought I could so I would be in good shape for when Mom and K arrive Saturday. The paperwork can wait until next week.
Had the Water Tek technician out to change the filters on the reverse osmosis equipment this morning and he put a new drain line on the water softener so we are all set. The membrane and system was still doing well when he tested it before he changed the filters. I also put us on their schedule to come out and change the filters once a year as after watching him do it I thought I sure don't want to do that. They will also deliver salt for the softener and put it in. We are done hauling large bags of salt.
Now wayfinder38 is napping and I'm off to a health seminar.
A better week than many before. I hope it can continue. I would like him to build up some stamina before Kaspian and his parents arrive.
We also saw the Infectious Disease specialist and he took wayfinder38's mask off and said you don't need that. He said the culture of the abscess did not grow anything in 14 days besides the MRSA so he took him off TB precautions. He did say the MRSA will take a long time to eradicate. He will wait to find out what the urologist says after we see him Friday before he decides how long to continue the vancomycin.
All in all a good day with no fevers.
Yesterday it was out to the Cancer Center for another blood draw. Hemoglobin 8.7 so we did not need to stay for a transfusion. The physical therapist came over in the afternoon and tired him out so he took a nap and then he was able to go to the Christmas Potluck last night at the club house. It was the first time he had been out for a social time since Thanksgiving. He had a good time and several people came over to ask how he was doing. The Activities Committee provided the ham and each table of 10 to 12 did their own potluck. Our hostess had decorated the tables with a lovely red brocade tablecloth and we had holiday themed placemats and napkins. I had the easy part and brought pickles, olives and a mango salsa. I found some garlic stuffed green olives at Trader Joe's and some high grade black olives, Cornichons and Vlasics Zesty Bread and Butter Pickles. The Cornichons are the tiny pickles flavored with tarragon and were quite tasty. I even liked the green olives stuffed with garlic. I have never cared for olives least of all green ones so I was a bit surprised to find the ones from TJ's palatable. The mango salsa went well with the ham but some folks found it a little too hot because of the jalepeno. The couple next to us was from Virginia and are full time RVers they brought Ambrosia salad, the couple across from us was from Colorado and also full time she did the hash brown casserole. D our hostess and R her companion are from Wisconsin. She made her Blueberry salad with sour cream and a Garlic and Rosemary bread from Costco. The last couple I was able to talk to them as there were 150 people in the room eating and talking. She made a Hawaiian Wedding Cake which was really good. It was nice and moist which I like and had Coconut and Pineapple in the topping. I'm am pleased to report thatwayfinder38 was able to enjoy everything and ate better than he has been able to for 3 weeks. He took the anti nausea medication and a pain pill prior to going and I think that helped.
We were able to borrow a wheelchair from the park and I put it in the car so I could wheel him into the club house as it is about 1/2 a block from the parking lot to the main room and he is still pretty weak.
I manage to clear off both beds in the quest room and unpack and put away more stuff and sort boxes for donations, to take to the used book store and to put in the storage shed. Today E phoned and she has laryngitis so was not able to come over today but I told her I had been able to accomplish more than I thought I could so I would be in good shape for when Mom and K arrive Saturday. The paperwork can wait until next week.
Had the Water Tek technician out to change the filters on the reverse osmosis equipment this morning and he put a new drain line on the water softener so we are all set. The membrane and system was still doing well when he tested it before he changed the filters. I also put us on their schedule to come out and change the filters once a year as after watching him do it I thought I sure don't want to do that. They will also deliver salt for the softener and put it in. We are done hauling large bags of salt.
Now wayfinder38 is napping and I'm off to a health seminar.
A better week than many before. I hope it can continue. I would like him to build up some stamina before Kaspian and his parents arrive.