New priorities
We got some really difficult news tonight. Our dear friend whose husband fell ill one week before our wedding, is now with Hospice and another dear family is having major medical issues with their 20 year old son. I have been brooding for a week, but in light of all of this news, am a bit ashamed. There are just so many with issues so much bigger than ours. I am lucky in that I am visited by my parents in my dreams. Daddy does not appear all that often, but Mom arrives alot. I am always at peace after their appearances. I just know, somehow, that things will work out.
Bruce met a couple of weeks ago with the new PCP. The Doctor wanted to add a Statin to Bruce's meds. Bruce never had high cholesterol. Two weeks pre-stroke, his levels were fine. Doctor advised this was now standard post-stroke protocol: Aspirin and a Statin. Being a nurse and knowing Bruce had his levels checked just 8 months ago, I insisted on a blood test. Be very careful what you ask for - LOL!
While awaiting the blood test results, dear Julie walked me through all of this, so when the Doctor called I was calm and accepting. But WAIT - there's more.
Bruce's Vitamin D levels are very low. Julie again advised on this. Beauty of Vitamin D therapy is that there are very few side effects, what you don't use, you pee out. So I am OK with that. Vitamin D keeps Calcium in check and we need to get those levels back to normal - if he falls, I don't even want to think about it.
Yes, he now needs a Statin. But also his Triglycerides are out of whack and now Bruce is Diabetic. Bruce's Mom was Diabetic and Bruce used to test with our close friend, but we have not been doing that since Stroke. So it has been a week of adjustment.
Yes, we are on board. Have the Glucometer in, started all the new meds, got a cookbook - that has been some fun and I am working with Dietitian at my SNF. I am considering a Nutritionist: balancing high cholesterol, tryglycerides and Diabetes is a bit overwhelming. Good news is that for February I am only working mornings, so we have been hunkering down after lunch, working on all of this. And I am insisting that Bruce take an active part.
Was speaking tonight that so often Bruce asks, wants the details and then "poof" Debbie will take care of it. Not so now. I leave his Glucometer out at night. He has it set up for me in the morning and is trying to figure out how to stick himself with the stylus. Plus he has to find the recipes for dinner. Don't forget, he is the one with the most hand-on experience with Diabetes. I have spoken to his Botox team and none of this will affect the February injections.
The new hand splint is working out well - so much more comfortable. We shall see.
The difficult part again is how much more? When will he stop having to pay for having a stroke, for choosing his lifestyle? And he says to me "Are we worried?" I have to stay upbeat, positive - all the while wanted to kick the wall! And still worrying about our dear Kira, who has her follow up next week.
Yes, we need some time off - a time out day, so to speak. But until we are comfortable with all of this, that is on the back burner for a bit. And with 10-20 inches of snow due Friday into Saturday, won't be this weekend, obviously. Debbie
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