Thursday, 4pm

It's a new day, and a wintery one, finally some snow around here.  I could hardly keep our 4 wheel drive plow truck on the road on the way into here at 10:00am.  Roads were snow covered, unplowed everywhere.  I don't look forward to shovelling out Dixie's kennel if it starts to rain before I get home.  This morning the snow was perfect, dry, sugar like, and easy to move.   There was about 4 inches then, but I think at least 4 more have fallen since I left home.

Yesterday I was able to pick up some protein samples at a place named Portland Nutrition.  The dietician referred me there, said they give samples, and stated that Anne would benefit from it in her bodies effort to get the fluid off.  I've been mixing some the past 2 days into Anne's Mango Pineapple Smoothy which I bring in with me.  She looks forward to that smoothy and she likes the mix.  It's a vanilla flavor.  I have a bunch to try, a couple chocolate, and a couple strawberry.

I may 'sugar coat' things sometimes as far as Anne's condition, but that's because I'm so hoping she is doing better and will turn the corner any day.  Today I believe she has been more communicative with the pain meds having been changed back to 'PRN' (patient request needed?).

She is still very tired and sleeping alot, but when folks have woken her today for whatever reason she is clearer and more responsive.  Her sense of humor has returned too.  She hasn't had any pain med today, none.  She has taken scheduled nausea meds.  Would be good if we can work to reduce those over the next several days.

I arranged for a nausea med (zofran) injection at 5pm daily which is timed that way to help her tolerate her dinner, which comes around 5:45.  Nurse Celine at MMC started that and it worked good for Anne.  She isn't eating very much of her meals but she has an awful small stomach anymore.  She hasnt' eaten much for almost 2 years now.   

Today she had 2 episodes where she told the CNA that she had belly pain.  I stepped in each time and asked that Anne be moved to the comode beforde pain meds are given, to see if she'd get relief from 'going'.  Each time she had a bowell movement and peed, and she was fine when she was cleaned up and moved back to her recliner.  No pain meds last night, and now none today!!!

I've asked that she be weighed each day while on her feet (not the seat scale, it has a bad rep).  I asked that they post the information where I can check it daily.  I want to track her fluid loss by doing so.  When she got here she had 38 pounds of fluid to shed.  Not sure how else it can be tracked.  Her legs are still puffy, but thru my rose colored glasses I think I'm seeing improvement.  I asked Anne today if her legs were feeling any better and she said 'yes'.  There's still a way to go, but we are exercising patience.  Tomorrow we see the doctor, and we'll talk all about this.

Anne took OT and PT exercise today as she sat.  She also got moved several times to the comode, which is hard work for her at this stage.  I actually asked that the CNA's ask Anne every two hours if they can help to move her to the comode on schedule.  I ask because she's using the dieuretics, and having to pee alot.  Also, I believe every opportunity to move her body is a good thing.  The Nurse Manager said they would do this, but not when she's fast asleep in the middle of the night.  After she gets up and down, I noticed today that she is able to scooch back into her chair a few times on her own, easier than before.

Ray, the OT, feels that Anne can go to the gym tomorrow and use the recumbant bike.  I'm thnking it's a long shot.  I don't know how she'd get on there, but if she can, and she pedals that bike, it'll seem wonderful and I know she'd be proud.

Right now she's sleeping soundly, but she has had alot of activity today, so it's all good.

I've requested that when they put the pillows behind her back in the recliner that they put them the wide way across her back instead of up and down direction.  When they've been up and down Anne has had to scratch her back on both sides like crazy when she gets up.

Anne's seems aggrevated with me today because I bug her about drinking water, and I've brought some protein bars which she hasn 't been interested in yet.   They replace meals she doesn't care for.  We used them on the road trip last year and she does like them.  She's tired of hearing about these thins from me now, so I'll back off for awhile as long as she's drinking some sort of fluid.

I'm encouraged that she's been more comfortable and communicative this day.