Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Hi, Dirk, and sorry to hear about your fall. Yep, this goes on around here. When I have asked my husband to say if he can tell when he is going to black out, he says no. However, I can tell by looking at him when he may topple, most of the time. I also know the 'at risk' times. Getting out of bed in morning, getting up from the table after eating, after being at a movie, etc. I watch his face and can interpret his body language at this point. What Jan has written is so very true. Someone at some point will need to be with you at all times. At this point I am my husband's caregiver 24/7 and I keep putting off getting someone to 'spell me.' The fluctuations make living a roller coaster. We sold our home and now live on one floor and have safety bars, etc. Take care of yourself. Arlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Hi Dirk, I am sorry to hear about your awful fall, but I am glad that you are no longer driving. I know it is hard to have your independence taken away. I had a horrible time with my husband getting him to stop driving. It is not safe for you to be on the road or for other people on the road with you. One of the things besides a cell phone that could help you is called, " Life Alert " I actually had it installed for me, but have only used it for my husband. I am my husband's primary caregiver and I started thinking if I was working in the garden and fell and severly hurt myself or even in the house if an accident should happen, my husband would not know how to get help, nor could he understand that I need help possibly. Life Alert has a button that you wear around your neck around the house if you are in trouble you press the button and the paramedics will be sent to help you if you need them or you can speak to the people on the intercome that comes with Life Alert and let them know if you need someone or not or if you just want them to check up on you periodically to see how you are doing if you don't want paramedics sent. They can also hear you on the intercome from outside your house. Intime Dirk, it is possible that you will not know how to dial a phone or press buttons for help. This has happened to my husband. You will need a caregiver that can stay with you and watch for your well being. It will not be safe for you to be left at home alone. Dirk, my husband and I have a two story house also with 14 steps. We have two master bedrooms one upstairs and one down stairs. We moved our bedroom to the downstairs room. Jim, my husband, never needs to go upstairs for anything. Do you have a room downstairs that you can convert to your bedroom, so that you do not have to climb the stairs. Also, I know of people on the caringspouses support group that have lifts on the stairway. You sit on it and it brings you up the stairway along the railing of the stairs. You need to look into new solutions so that you don't need to climb the stairs. You could have been hurt a lot worse. Take care Dirk..............Jan Colello --- Alan scott wrote: > I have had periods where I briefly black-out and > fall down. Yesterday I blacked out while walking > down a flight of stairs. I woke up at the bottom of > the stairs dazed and confused. My son was there to > help me and get me to the emergency room as I > injured my neck and collar bone. The emergency room > doc immediately put me in a neck collar. The x-rays > showed no broken collar bone but a possible fracture > of the neck. Needless to say I was scared as I > looked up at the ceiling. The doctor ordered a CT > Scan for a better look. The CT Scan showed negative > for a fracture. I severely strained my neck muscles > and am in alot of pain for which they gave me pain > killers. I was told I cannot drive. > This hit me hard as I now have lost my > independence. Also we live in a two story house with > a flight of thirteen stairs. I do not have any > warning as to when I am going to blackout. I am left > alone 12 hours a day. This could be dangerous if I > fall and am seriously hurt. I am looking for > solutions. One idea I had was to carry my cell phone > on my body at all times. Anyother solutions or > recommendations would be appreciated. > Your new member Dirk > > > --------------------------------- > Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make > PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at > 1 & cent;/min. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > Jan Colello, wife of Jim, dx w/Parkinsons 1993 and LBD 2003San Francisco Bay Area, California __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 --- Janet Colello wrote: > Hi Dirk, > I am sorry to hear about your awful fall, but I am > glad that you are no longer driving. I know it is > hard > to have your independence taken away. I had a > horrible > time with my husband getting him to stop driving. It > is not safe for you to be on the road or for other > people on the road with you. > One of the things besides a cell phone that could > help > you is called, " Life Alert " I actually had it > installed for me, but have only used it for my > husband. I am my husband's primary caregiver and I > started thinking if I was working in the garden and > fell and severly hurt myself or even in the house if > an accident should happen, my husband would not know > how to get help, nor could he understand that I need > help possibly. Life Alert has a button that you wear > around your neck around the house if you are in > trouble you press the button and the paramedics will > be sent to help you if you need them or you can > speak > to the people on the intercome that comes with Life > Alert and let them know if you need someone or not > or > if you just want them to check up on you > periodically > to see how you are doing if you don't want > paramedics > sent. They can also hear you on the intercome from > outside your house. > Intime Dirk, it is possible that you will not know > how > to dial a phone or press buttons for help. This has > happened to my husband. You will need a caregiver > that > can stay with you and watch for your well being. It > will not be safe for you to be left at home alone. > Dirk, my husband and I have a two story house also > with 14 steps. We have two master bedrooms one > upstairs and one down stairs. We moved our bedroom > to > the downstairs room. Jim, my husband, never needs to > go upstairs for anything. Do you have a room > downstairs that you can convert to your bedroom, so > that you do not have to climb the stairs. Also, I > know > of people on the caringspouses support group that > have > lifts on the stairway. You sit on it and it brings > you > up the stairway along the railing of the stairs. You > need to look into new solutions so that you don't > need > to climb the stairs. You could have been hurt a lot > worse. > Take care Dirk..............Jan Colello > > > > > --- Alan scott wrote: > > > I have had periods where I briefly black-out and > > fall down. Yesterday I blacked out while walking > > down a flight of stairs. I woke up at the bottom > of > > the stairs dazed and confused. My son was there to > > help me and get me to the emergency room as I > > injured my neck and collar bone. The emergency > room > > doc immediately put me in a neck collar. The > x-rays > > showed no broken collar bone but a possible > fracture > > of the neck. Needless to say I was scared as I > > looked up at the ceiling. The doctor ordered a CT > > Scan for a better look. The CT Scan showed > negative > > for a fracture. I severely strained my neck > muscles > > and am in alot of pain for which they gave me pain > > killers. I was told I cannot drive. > > This hit me hard as I now have lost my > > independence. Also we live in a two story house > with > > a flight of thirteen stairs. I do not have any > > warning as to when I am going to blackout. I am > left > > alone 12 hours a day. This could be dangerous if I > > fall and am seriously hurt. I am looking for > > solutions. One idea I had was to carry my cell > phone > > on my body at all times. Anyother solutions or > > recommendations would be appreciated. > > Your new member Dirk > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make > > PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at > > 1 & cent;/min. > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > Jan Colello, wife of Jim, dx w/Parkinsons 1993 and > LBD 2003San Francisco Bay Area, California > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Thank you Jan. Do you know where I can get this " life alert " . Are they at pharmacies, medical supply stores, internet? Also we only have one small bedroom downstairs now our office. We do have a large home with 4 bedrooms 3 baths one full bath downstairs. The downstairs bedroom is too small. Thanks again Dirk Janet Colello wrote: --- Janet Colello wrote: > Hi Dirk, > I am sorry to hear about your awful fall, but I am > glad that you are no longer driving. I know it is > hard > to have your independence taken away. I had a > horrible > time with my husband getting him to stop driving. It > is not safe for you to be on the road or for other > people on the road with you. > One of the things besides a cell phone that could > help > you is called, " Life Alert " I actually had it > installed for me, but have only used it for my > husband. I am my husband's primary caregiver and I > started thinking if I was working in the garden and > fell and severly hurt myself or even in the house if > an accident should happen, my husband would not know > how to get help, nor could he understand that I need > help possibly. Life Alert has a button that you wear > around your neck around the house if you are in > trouble you press the button and the paramedics will > be sent to help you if you need them or you can > speak > to the people on the intercome that comes with Life > Alert and let them know if you need someone or not > or > if you just want them to check up on you > periodically > to see how you are doing if you don't want > paramedics > sent. They can also hear you on the intercome from > outside your house. > Intime Dirk, it is possible that you will not know > how > to dial a phone or press buttons for help. This has > happened to my husband. You will need a caregiver > that > can stay with you and watch for your well being. It > will not be safe for you to be left at home alone. > Dirk, my husband and I have a two story house also > with 14 steps. We have two master bedrooms one > upstairs and one down stairs. We moved our bedroom > to > the downstairs room. Jim, my husband, never needs to > go upstairs for anything. Do you have a room > downstairs that you can convert to your bedroom, so > that you do not have to climb the stairs. Also, I > know > of people on the caringspouses support group that > have > lifts on the stairway. You sit on it and it brings > you > up the stairway along the railing of the stairs. You > need to look into new solutions so that you don't > need > to climb the stairs. You could have been hurt a lot > worse. > Take care Dirk..............Jan Colello > > > > > --- Alan scott wrote: > > > I have had periods where I briefly black-out and > > fall down. Yesterday I blacked out while walking > > down a flight of stairs. I woke up at the bottom > of > > the stairs dazed and confused. My son was there to > > help me and get me to the emergency room as I > > injured my neck and collar bone. The emergency > room > > doc immediately put me in a neck collar. The > x-rays > > showed no broken collar bone but a possible > fracture > > of the neck. Needless to say I was scared as I > > looked up at the ceiling. The doctor ordered a CT > > Scan for a better look. The CT Scan showed > negative > > for a fracture. I severely strained my neck > muscles > > and am in alot of pain for which they gave me pain > > killers. I was told I cannot drive. > > This hit me hard as I now have lost my > > independence. Also we live in a two story house > with > > a flight of thirteen stairs. I do not have any > > warning as to when I am going to blackout. I am > left > > alone 12 hours a day. This could be dangerous if I > > fall and am seriously hurt. I am looking for > > solutions. One idea I had was to carry my cell > phone > > on my body at all times. Anyother solutions or > > recommendations would be appreciated. > > Your new member Dirk > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make > > PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at > > 1 & cent;/min. > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > Jan Colello, wife of Jim, dx w/Parkinsons 1993 and > LBD 2003San Francisco Bay Area, California > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Hi Dirk, You can find Life Alert at: http://www.lifealert.com the ph.# 1- --- Alan scott wrote: > Thank you Jan. Do you know where I can get this > " life alert " . Are they at pharmacies, medical supply > stores, internet? Also we only have one small > bedroom downstairs now our office. We do have a > large home with 4 bedrooms 3 baths one full bath > downstairs. The downstairs bedroom is too small. > Thanks again Dirk > > Janet Colello wrote: --- > Janet Colello wrote: > > > Hi Dirk, > > I am sorry to hear about your awful fall, but I am > > glad that you are no longer driving. I know it is > > hard > > to have your independence taken away. I had a > > horrible > > time with my husband getting him to stop driving. > It > > is not safe for you to be on the road or for other > > people on the road with you. > > One of the things besides a cell phone that could > > help > > you is called, " Life Alert " I actually had it > > installed for me, but have only used it for my > > husband. I am my husband's primary caregiver and I > > started thinking if I was working in the garden > and > > fell and severly hurt myself or even in the house > if > > an accident should happen, my husband would not > know > > how to get help, nor could he understand that I > need > > help possibly. Life Alert has a button that you > wear > > around your neck around the house if you are in > > trouble you press the button and the paramedics > will > > be sent to help you if you need them or you can > > speak > > to the people on the intercome that comes with > Life > > Alert and let them know if you need someone or not > > or > > if you just want them to check up on you > > periodically > > to see how you are doing if you don't want > > paramedics > > sent. They can also hear you on the intercome from > > outside your house. > > Intime Dirk, it is possible that you will not know > > how > > to dial a phone or press buttons for help. This > has > > happened to my husband. You will need a caregiver > > that > > can stay with you and watch for your well being. > It > > will not be safe for you to be left at home alone. > > Dirk, my husband and I have a two story house also > > with 14 steps. We have two master bedrooms one > > upstairs and one down stairs. We moved our bedroom > > to > > the downstairs room. Jim, my husband, never needs > to > > go upstairs for anything. Do you have a room > > downstairs that you can convert to your bedroom, > so > > that you do not have to climb the stairs. Also, I > > know > > of people on the caringspouses support group that > > have > > lifts on the stairway. You sit on it and it brings > > you > > up the stairway along the railing of the stairs. > You > > need to look into new solutions so that you don't > > need > > to climb the stairs. You could have been hurt a > lot > > worse. > > Take care Dirk..............Jan Colello > > > > > > > > > > --- Alan scott wrote: > > > > > I have had periods where I briefly black-out and > > > fall down. Yesterday I blacked out while walking > > > down a flight of stairs. I woke up at the bottom > > of > > > the stairs dazed and confused. My son was there > to > > > help me and get me to the emergency room as I > > > injured my neck and collar bone. The emergency > > room > > > doc immediately put me in a neck collar. The > > x-rays > > > showed no broken collar bone but a possible > > fracture > > > of the neck. Needless to say I was scared as I > > > looked up at the ceiling. The doctor ordered a > CT > > > Scan for a better look. The CT Scan showed > > negative > > > for a fracture. I severely strained my neck > > muscles > > > and am in alot of pain for which they gave me > pain > > > killers. I was told I cannot drive. > > > This hit me hard as I now have lost my > > > independence. Also we live in a two story house > > with > > > a flight of thirteen stairs. I do not have any > > > warning as to when I am going to blackout. I am > > left > > > alone 12 hours a day. This could be dangerous if > I > > > fall and am seriously hurt. I am looking for > > > solutions. One idea I had was to carry my cell > > phone > > > on my body at all times. Anyother solutions or > > > recommendations would be appreciated. > > > Your new member Dirk > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make > > > PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at > > > 1 & cent;/min. > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jan Colello, wife of Jim, dx w/Parkinsons 1993 and > > LBD 2003San Francisco Bay Area, California > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Thanks jan thats awesome!! Dirk Janet Colello wrote: Hi Dirk, You can find Life Alert at: http://www.lifealert.com the ph.# 1- --- Alan scott wrote: > Thank you Jan. Do you know where I can get this > " life alert " . Are they at pharmacies, medical supply > stores, internet? Also we only have one small > bedroom downstairs now our office. We do have a > large home with 4 bedrooms 3 baths one full bath > downstairs. The downstairs bedroom is too small. > Thanks again Dirk > > Janet Colello wrote: --- > Janet Colello wrote: > > > Hi Dirk, > > I am sorry to hear about your awful fall, but I am > > glad that you are no longer driving. I know it is > > hard > > to have your independence taken away. I had a > > horrible > > time with my husband getting him to stop driving. > It > > is not safe for you to be on the road or for other > > people on the road with you. > > One of the things besides a cell phone that could > > help > > you is called, " Life Alert " I actually had it > > installed for me, but have only used it for my > > husband. I am my husband's primary caregiver and I > > started thinking if I was working in the garden > and > > fell and severly hurt myself or even in the house > if > > an accident should happen, my husband would not > know > > how to get help, nor could he understand that I > need > > help possibly. Life Alert has a button that you > wear > > around your neck around the house if you are in > > trouble you press the button and the paramedics > will > > be sent to help you if you need them or you can > > speak > > to the people on the intercome that comes with > Life > > Alert and let them know if you need someone or not > > or > > if you just want them to check up on you > > periodically > > to see how you are doing if you don't want > > paramedics > > sent. They can also hear you on the intercome from > > outside your house. > > Intime Dirk, it is possible that you will not know > > how > > to dial a phone or press buttons for help. This > has > > happened to my husband. You will need a caregiver > > that > > can stay with you and watch for your well being. > It > > will not be safe for you to be left at home alone. > > Dirk, my husband and I have a two story house also > > with 14 steps. We have two master bedrooms one > > upstairs and one down stairs. We moved our bedroom > > to > > the downstairs room. Jim, my husband, never needs > to > > go upstairs for anything. Do you have a room > > downstairs that you can convert to your bedroom, > so > > that you do not have to climb the stairs. Also, I > > know > > of people on the caringspouses support group that > > have > > lifts on the stairway. You sit on it and it brings > > you > > up the stairway along the railing of the stairs. > You > > need to look into new solutions so that you don't > > need > > to climb the stairs. You could have been hurt a > lot > > worse. > > Take care Dirk..............Jan Colello > > > > > > > > > > --- Alan scott wrote: > > > > > I have had periods where I briefly black-out and > > > fall down. Yesterday I blacked out while walking > > > down a flight of stairs. I woke up at the bottom > > of > > > the stairs dazed and confused. My son was there > to > > > help me and get me to the emergency room as I > > > injured my neck and collar bone. The emergency > > room > > > doc immediately put me in a neck collar. The > > x-rays > > > showed no broken collar bone but a possible > > fracture > > > of the neck. Needless to say I was scared as I > > > looked up at the ceiling. The doctor ordered a > CT > > > Scan for a better look. The CT Scan showed > > negative > > > for a fracture. I severely strained my neck > > muscles > > > and am in alot of pain for which they gave me > pain > > > killers. I was told I cannot drive. > > > This hit me hard as I now have lost my > > > independence. Also we live in a two story house > > with > > > a flight of thirteen stairs. I do not have any > > > warning as to when I am going to blackout. I am > > left > > > alone 12 hours a day. This could be dangerous if > I > > > fall and am seriously hurt. I am looking for > > > solutions. One idea I had was to carry my cell > > phone > > > on my body at all times. Anyother solutions or > > > recommendations would be appreciated. > > > Your new member Dirk > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make > > > PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at > > > 1 & cent;/min. > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jan Colello, wife of Jim, dx w/Parkinsons 1993 and > > LBD 2003San Francisco Bay Area, California > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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