our new rehab exercises

The last time my sister was in the hospital and rehab she came home with five chair exercises. This time they sent her home with visiting professionals -- a nurse, PT, and OT.

I have to tell you I don't quite understand what the nurse does. They ask questions, take vitals and pretty much leave. The physical therapist I'm not crazy about either. PT has been here twice. The same person. The first time they did all the things the nurse did, and had her walk unassisted from the living room to the bathroom and back and from the living room to the front door with the walker. They leave a folder and the notes said "can walk assisted to front door". The distance to the front door and the distance to the bathroom vary greatly. The bathroom being further.

Then they went in the kitchen and Pat held on to the counter and learned five leg exercises. But they didn't do a workout. Huh? We've been doing the exercises most days since. PT returned this week but I don't know what happened during the session . I do know that the exercises have multiplied. (We'll find out today what they are. since she had OT yesterday.) I was at my computer doing a Zoom class while the PT person was here. Pat does not like the PT person at all. When they leave she says "don't come back".

OT also has come twice. Pat loves OT. They work her ass off.  The first day they did the questions and found out I was listed as her daughter on the paperwork. Pat walked up the stairs, thru the house, climbed into bed, climbed in and out of the tub, the whole nine yards.  Her balance was tested. She's two points away from being normal. Pat was given just two exercises, one for breathing and a bending one. OT said they'd be back with resistance bands. When they left Pat took a nap.

Yesterday OT came again. I was not in class this time. Ot added more upper body exercises as well. This time with the resistance bands. And since I work out with her, OT brought me one as well. (I didn't use it yesterday because of my activity restrictions.) I guess next week we add the weights.

Yesterday I asked. What's the difference between OT and PT. PT does from the waist down. OT from the waist up.

We just finished them all. I am leaving her count. Sometimes when it's an every other leg thing where it should be one (left, right) she counts them single. Don't care. It's not my exercises. But I think getting Pat healthy is going to get me healthy as well. Screwy counting included. Whether I like it or not.

first post-op walk

Wednesday was my surgery. No strenuous activity for a week. I could walk, but no hills. Basically listen to my body and rest.

I don't rest well. I was in class less than an hour after I got home. I kept my Friday walk-date with Pam. I needed someplace flat. I really didn't want to go to Cedar Beach or Trexler Park. Then I thought about the Whitehall Parkway. That is the straight portion of the IRT that runs from Rt. 145 to the Troxell-Steckle House. The IRT then continues to Ironton.

We met at the barn.It was cold. Really cold. It was so cold that we didn't even take a selfie.

We took the path nearest to the lot down to the trail. My glasses kept fogging up. I kept wondering how I was getting back up to the car without climbing. Turns out this was a shortcut path and there was a much gentler path going up and down.

We headed west toward the Troxell-Steckle house. I was exhausted by the time I got there. I felt like I walked a marathon.  We turned around and headed back. The original plan was to go all the way to 145 and turn around and go back to the car. But I cried uncle and we just returned to the car up the much gentler path.

There was a little snow on all the paths and that was actually quite nice. But it was so windy. It took our breath away. Thankfully walking back the wind was at our backs.

Miles/Steps:  A mere 1.5 miles
Weather:        19 degrees, windy, with a wind chill in the single digits. Overcast.
Bathrooms:    P - 4.5 in winter. I was shocked. Clean, toilet tissue, and sanitizer

In other happy news the herd keeps growing at my friends farm in Virginia. Three more kids this week. One was the cutest buck. I took a screen shot of one of them from the farms Facebook page. It's hard to pick which is the cutest.

getting my act together

lvhn.org

Everyone who reads this blog knows that I neglect my healthcare. It's partially economic -- I had no insurance for most of the last 20 years -- and partly because I just don't trust/have faith in the medical field.

Now that I have Medicare, the money issue mostly goes out the window. Though I'll need to get a supplement. That 20% will kill my savings.

I have a laundry list of things to take care of. On the top of the list was a D&C. The gynecologist recommended it two years ago, but frankly the cash price of $17K just for the hospital was out of my league. So I played Russian Roulette and waited. Hopefully the pathology won't use the one bullet to shoot me.

Wednesday was the big day.  One call a few days before was to tell me that they moved the surgery to 17th street. Muhlenberg was filled with Covid patients.  I had arranged with Bonnie to take me. She lives in Allentown. She'd come out Susquehanna and Broadway, pick me up and head over to Muhlenberg. Now she had to drive to Bethlehem to go back to Allentown. 

They called on Tuesday, pre-op,  to tell me the details. They told me it would take 4-6 hours. The procedure was 10-20 minutes. WTF? I had a class at 11:30 on Zoom.  I had to be there at 5:30 am, so six hours was 11:30. Class began at 11:10. I was cutting it too close. I emailed the students and told them that class would begin at 12:15. They all came. 

Because of the change in location Bonnie was out of the house at 4:30. Thankfully she was allowed in and able to stay. They took me back and then they left her come back maybe 15 minutes later. I think that helped me calm down. I was itching like crazy. The special surgical soap I used the night before dried out my skin. Maybe I should have spent the extra $6 for the name brand. (I get that I'm cheap, but really $16 for soap!)

Then I was headed back to surgery. The staff that had greeted me while I was in the holding room where all there, except the doctor. I was instructed to sit on the table with my ass right above the break, and then lay down. Then they took my arms and spread them straight out like I was on a cross and tied them down. Meanwhile, they were putting inflatable tubes on my legs for blood circulation. My legs must have looked like the Michelin Man.  The nurse said something to me and then it was lights out. The next thing I know I'm waking up and headed to post-op. 

Now I hadn't had anything to eat or drink since midnight. Golly was I thirsty. I had cotton mouth. I drank two cups of water without tasting it, then another. Then a Coke. I chose graham crackers as a snack. That was not a good choice—they were just way too dry with a dry mouth. They sent me home with another Coke. (When I got in the house Pat gave me the "you went for takeout without me" look.)

Bonnie was waiting  in post-op. That was good. A was a bit groggy at first, but recovered quickly. The nurse came in and asked if I needed to use the rest room. I couldn't leave until I peed. I was escorted to the restroom and when we arrived back in the room Bonnie was told to go fetch the car. Fifteen minutes later I was out of there.

I would have just made class in time but I'm glad I pushed it back.

So far, no problems. I am taking it easy. No heavy lifting or strenuous activity. I did my class, took a little nap, did my second class, and then sat on the couch to watch mindless (The Masked Dancer) television. By 8:30 I was sleeping on the sofa. I woke up at about 1:15 am and went to bed. 

breaking bad

 

I actually had to lookup the definition to make sure I was using "breaking bad" correctly. I know it was a television show about drug dealers and violence but little else. 

My sister came home from the rehab on Monday. The previous Wednesday she tested positive for Covid while in rehab. So I've been back in quarantine. In the month of January I was in the house 24/7 more than 75% of the time. I had 7 days where I have not been isolating. It sucks. So yesterday I had enough. I had to go for a walk before I lost my mind. Have you ever spent 24/7 with your older sister? Exactly.

But even though I was breaking all the rules I had to do it safely. I don't want to be responsible for anyone getting the virus. 

• I picked a new trail — The Upper Bucks section of the Saucon trail. I was fairly sure it wouldn't have much traffic on a weekday. 
• I wore a mask and the shield I bought for my weekend elder care job. (The client died. I'm unemployed for a bit. But I do have four classes on Zoom.) I walked with fogged-up glasses and shield. I would have seen better taking off my glasses.
• I went at 8 am. Again to avoid people.
• When I did see other people I tried to turn my back to them with a hearty hello. I know, mixed signals.
  

This section of the trail runs parallel with Route 309 and will eventually take you all the way into Quakertown. Right now it goes to Pumping Station Road at Veterans Park.  Since it's winter and the trees are bare, it was very noisy. 

I kept looking online for trailheads and they suggested Living Memorial Park. It's not far away, maybe two blocks. But there was one near the actually Berks trailhead off E. Station Road (Burger King). There is no signage yet.

The trail is crushed stone and boardwalk. I'm guessing mahogany. Expensive. Indeed. But it lasts a long, long time. There's several areas that are very marshy. And at one spot you could see the old railroad tracks. Near the turn-around spot there was a lot of deforestation happening. I'm guessing they are building a sub-division. Just what the world needs.

I felt better when I got home.

Miles/Steps:  3.8miles
Bathrooms:    locked for the season
PPE Found:    one mask in a puddle. It looked small.

Other happy news this week. 

We have a new president. It's apparent he has a heart. And experience in government.He can read and comprehend the constitution and doesn't have an itchy Twitter finger. Maybe I will no longer wake up wondering if today was the day the world would end because of some stupid thing the former president said or did. As much as people complain about career politicians, the last four years has demonstrated why experience is important. He would not have been my first choice. Or even my second. But he is systemically better than the person he replaced. Now if we could just change the pronouns ...

My friends in Williamsburg have a farm ... with goats. They do the whole self-sustaining eco thing, and he makes yummy cheese. Yesterday one of the goats had the cutest kids. Four of them. Congrats Cardinal Lane Farm.

out of covid jail and back on the trail

 

I have been planning this day for nearly two weeks. My first time out of the house after testing positive for Covid.

Pam suggested the cross country course at Lehigh. It came in a 5K, 6K, 8K, 10K, 12K and 15K. I just spent two weeks on my ass. I chose the 5K. I went to Lehigh's website and downloaded the 5-6-8K map. All three routes ran together for a portion of each walk. They only separated when it was time to add distance. We followed the red arrows, but it wasn't easy. At places they were missing. I wonder if the grounds crew sprays arrows on the ground during races. Or maybe there are temporary signs.

We managed to cut off one loop. Maybe two, but still managed to walk 3 miles.

then it was off to the bank, but I forgot the banking. I'm out of practice on how to. run errands. I did go to the college and get a text book, and CVS to pick up Pat's medicine.

Speaking of Pat, she is getting out of rehab on Monday. At 11:30. I think she's counting the minutes. I had to borrow two pound weights. I guess the new exercise routine will include upper body workout. As long as it's in a chair, I'm okay with it.

I might be walking weekends again. My elder care client died today. I'm not going to sign up for a new one until after school gets rolling. With four classes this term, I won't need the extra work. I'll need it in April and thru the summer.

And finally ... my Christmas cards started arriving this week. Nearly one month after I mailed them.

Miles/Steps:  3 miles
PPE Found:   none

I walked 165 miles and got a face mask

The swag came today from the Tail on the Trail challenge. Each year the "reward" goes down a notch. We shouldn't be walking for rewards, but let's face reality: we do.

This years prize is a thin fabric mask with a giant logo on each side. If you wear it, especially with glasses you can look like a giant moth. Add a giant winter coat and you're all set. This mask has been relegated to the bottom of the pile. Or maybe the glove compartment. 

They need to ask for help with design. One logo, 40% smaller, even 30% and it would be more attractive. I know, I'm ungrateful.

There was also a black thing from St. Luke's (the big corporate sponsor) that wraps around your phone and holds your license or credit card.

I wonder what the winter challenge will bring.

it's 9:45 and i'm wearing pajamas

I haven't been for a walk since last Wednesday. I am at the point where I'd kill just to go outside. Even mundane tasks like grocery shopping and getting my fingerprints taken for school would excite me right now. 

Let's start at the beginning.

I was scheduled to work at my elder care job full days Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Basically the whole holiday weekend. If it's just her and her husband I don't wear a mask. I feel that they are part of my bubble. If ANYONE comes to the house, the mask goes on. I often stand in the doorway when the nurses are there, Or stay in another room when her constant stream of guests come. (She put in her Christmas newsletter she was in hospice care.) I generally do not see the other aide. I have been accused of being anti-social.

I worked on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. While I was there I was told the weekday aide had bronchitis. 

Sunday I received a call not to come to work. The weekday aide was Covid Positive. I did not know they took a Covid test when she was at the doctors. Surprise. 

 

I decided to be proactive and take a test. Her husband took one as well. We are both positive and NOT ill.  Her children are negative which is interesting because they hug and kiss mom. I just wipe her ass ... with gloves on.

Clearly no amount of prevention offers 100% protection.

I've been self-isolating since Sunday. That will continue until the 13th. I've had multiple offers from wonderful friends to grocery shop and bring me food. So far I'm trying to live off all the food in the house. Though I have run out of fresh food. I may try and be an adult and use a delivery service. I really don't want to put anyone out if I don't have to.

Now while all this has been going on my sister/roomie has been in the hospital. I was starved for information. She didn't answer the phone and I hadn't heard from a doctor since Friday when the outlook was grim. I'd call the nurses station and get tiny tibits. But she improved. Just like she did the last time. In fact, the whole illness unfolded just like the last time. We took her in earlier and she still continued to decline, before she got better. And they still don't know what's wrong with her.

Social services called Wednesday that they'd be moving her to Kirkland Village for short term rehab at 1pm. Then again nothing. Did they move her? I had no idea. I finally called the nurses station and found out she was indeed a patient.

Thursday, I managed to get one call thru to Pat and we talked for a couple minutes. She told me I had a plan of care meeting Friday but nobody has called yet. I hope she comes home soon. But I hope she doesn't come home before the 14th. That will be an whole other can of worms.

Yesterday someone from the recreation department called and asked what she liked to do in her free time. They are supposed to send me information about their video meetings via ez-connect link. Haven't gotten anything yet. Nor have the multiple calls to social services been returned. I did find out where to take her bag, and my friend Bob picked it up and delivered yesterday. I have not been able to confirm that Pat received it.

Today, I got a call from the health department. I think it was both informational and for contact tracing.

Since I was at Bonnie's on Wednesday to pick up kraut and have a drink, she's going to be tested today just to be sure. I hope she is negative. She took Sharon to the doctor on Wednesday. Sharon lives in a senior high rise and takes care of an 93-year-old. I don't want to think about the chain reaction.

If you need me, I'll be home. I'm not getting dressed. There's no point. It's a pj quarantine. 

wedsnesday on the irt

 

Wednesday morning I had a ultrasound appointment before my walk with Pam. I arrived at the Ironton Rail Trail almost a half-hour early. When Pam arrived we headed out to do the 5.5 mile loop. Pam had ridden the loop before, but never walked, so she enjoyed exploring all the "stuff" on the trail.

There's a lot of new bridges on this trail. I was surprised. One already has graffiti.

 

Miles/Steps:  5.5 miles
Bathrooms:   At the parking lot and also at the half-way point a P-2.5. Both were handicapped
PPE Found:   none

Then I went home where I waited for information on my sister from the hospital. And then I waited some more. Mid-afternoon I found out that she spent most of the day still in ER since there were no beds available. When neurology called for her base activities (walking, talking, handles med and money, cooking ... ) she told me all the many -ologies had been in. I don’t remember them all. She was admitted to a room at about 4. 

Of course after waiting all day I left for a bit to pick up kraut at Bonnie's, and of course the doctor calls. He left a message, but had a thick accent, so I had to do multiple plays of the message to reveal that he'd call back later. He didn't.

Thursday I had to work Noon-4. I called the nurses desk. I just needed information. That report:

• She was alert and follows commands but she’s not talking and just stares
• Her heart rate is low, but higher 40-50s
• Good oxygen
• Low blood pressure 106/65
• Low temperature. She was back in the bear hug blanket. It was back up to the mid 90s

Doctor is supposed to call “later”. There was two messages on my machine when I got home. He left his cell phone number. I called him. He sounded glum. She had acute kidney failure and they thought maybe an infection because her temp keeps dropping. His biggest concern was that she was no longer alert and active. She just laid there and stared at the ceiling.

I was really worried. What will happen Friday?

Friday I worked all day. I tried the nurses desk after lunch but it just rang. I tried again around 3:30 and got some information. It was a little more hopeful. But sounded a whole like like the episode in March. They still don't know what's going on. Stop me if anything sounds familiar.

• She's a lot more awake today and responding to questions when asked, but a little confused. For example, she didn't realize she was in the hospital. She thought she was at someone's house.
• Her body temperature is still an issue. But at least now it's in the 90's. The bear hug is still being used to warm her up.
• They are hoping to transfer her out of cardiac ICU. (Wait. I didn't know she was in ICU.)
• Kidneys are improving
• Speech Therapist came by she's having some swallowing issues. Back to the soft/bite sized diet.(She calls it dog food.)
• Heart Rate still low, but not as low as before.
• Still doing tests, blood work
  

No contact with doctors today. No messages when I got home. I left my cell phone # again.

 

 

 

 

i walked on monday and wednesday and blogged on friday. yep ... that kindof week.

I worked from Friday thru Sunday. My roommate/sister was acting a little weird. She said she wasn't sleeping. But Monday morning she was still in bed at 7 am. Pam and I had plans to walk Monday after my car appointment.

I thought, thank heaven, she's asleep and I left. I took the car to the garage at 7:20 and found out I'd need to come home because the recall service would take 2-2.5 hours. I took the shuttle and arrived home to discover I left all my keys at the garage. I'm banging on windows and doors, and I can't get Pat's attention. I call Bonnie to bring me a key. As I hang up the phone Pat appears at the door and let's me in. I cancel Bonnie.

In a few minutes Pam arrived. We explored Fountain Hill and South Bethlehem. We headed up Bishopthorpe, then headed down Seneca to Clewell, and back the alley so Pam could see the factories and the ghost signs. Then it was out Seneca, past the old house to Dealware. We crossed Delaware and headed down Uncas to Ostrum. Out Ostrum to Bishopthorpe and up to Jeter. Out Jeter to Hoffert, then down to Russell and into the woods by the playground. Then we came down the big hill, went up Smiley to Sioux and back Sioux.

We arrived at Hoffert when the garage called. I told them we were five minutes away. It was more like 10. When we arrived back at the house Pam came in to say hi to Pat. She was asleep. I woke her up and she never really woke up. Then the shuttle came and I had to leave.

I went for groceries after grabbing the car and came home. She was awake and wouldn't eat lunch. She slept all afternoon and wanted to go to bed at 4. She was holding on to furniture. I told her I was calling the doctor. She said no. After she went to bed, I called Bonnie for backup. 

Bonnie arrived Tuesday morning and read her the riot act. She agreed to urgent care. We went. They sent us to ER. (Muhlenberg) We were in the waiting room four hours before they called her back. 

After a flurry of tests and chest X-ray, they said they are keeping her a day or three. There is evidence of heart failure and kidney damage.  I left at about 9. They were taking her to a room. 

I was hangry when I left.

Miles/Steps:  Almost 4
PPE Found:   A lot.I lost track. Hell, there's anotherone in front of my house.