Re: Chocolate needed

[Guest guest]

Darling Donna, you made me laugh! I like the idea of slapping the Doctor too.

I am thrilled about getting the hearing aids probably this week. And, Donna,

I know you are thrilled with your new kitchen, and to cut cost by your

loving son doing the work, as my children did for me.

Let us rejoice in good things, and put away all bad that we can, and dear, I

am so happy for you. Your kitchen must be beautiful! And, the way you

wanted. What a positive thing to bring a person joy. Yes, I am so happy for

you.

Love you dear,

Imogene

Caregiver for my true Texas Gentleman Husband of 37 years. First diagnosed

with Alzheimer's by a Neurologist OCT, 2005. But, on May 2, 2006 Dr.

Schillerstrom, Geriatric/Psychiatrist diagnosed LBD with Parkinsonism.

My precious husband, Don, is taking Zoloft and Razadyne.

A happy personality is contagious. Infect someone today.

In a message dated 4/20/2008 3:53:52 AM Central Daylight Time,

twomido@... writes:

Imogene,

So glad to hear that things will be better with hearing in place. It has to

make for even more stress than we all know to deal with Don and have to try

and hear what is going on at the same time.

Dumb MDs! What was that MD thinking? He has some poor excuse as to why you

and Don couldn't be together. There is no confidentiality with husband and

wife? Never heard of it. MD might have control issues! Slap him for me too.

I have been in a mess for about a month like you were. My son put in a

whole new kitchen. Monday they come and put new countertops in and then I can

get my kitchen back together. I just love it and can hardly wait. It has made

me rather quiet here. My son stayed with me while he did most of the work..

He lives 4 hours north of me and so slept here while he worked. My computer

is by where he sleeps so it was hard to do anything except read.

Keep smiling! I love to read your positive messages all the time. Take

some deep breaths and get that blood pressure down, please!

Lots of hugs coming your way.

Donna R

Caregave for Mom (after I brought her from WI to MI) for 3 years and 4th

year in a nh.

She was almost 89 when she died in '02. No dx other than mine.

**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car

listings at AOL Autos.

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[Guest guest]

Oh... Poor Imogene... :( What kind of chocolate do you like? I like

dark chocolate myself...

I would have been furious with that doctor myself. Here's hoping you

find a new one (and a compassionate one) soon! Enjoy those hearing

aides!

[Guest guest]

Oh Darling Norma, thank you dear. Yes, as you may have read we have already

located a good doctor, and his front office girl will be setting up an

appointment today, for being seen in about two months. We just saw the other

doctor, so don't need to see one right now, but it's in the works.

Thank you for caring, Norma. It means the world to me.

Love a bunch,

Imogene

In a message dated 4/21/2008 8:18:55 AM Central Daylight Time,

Normal@... writes:

Imogene,

I am so sorry to hear all that you went through and are going through.

It's hard enough for you to have to deal with all of your health issues and

Don's, but having to deal with an ignorant doctor who has no understanding

or compassion, makes things much worse.

I hope you will be able to do whatever it takes for you to feel better.

That is foremost. And I know you are trying. I have no doubt that you

will now find the perfect doctor--one with a heart--for both you and Don.

I am thinking of you and wishing you love, Norma

**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car

listings at AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)

[Guest guest]

Imogene,

I am so sorry to hear all that you went through and are going through.

It's hard enough for you to have to deal with all of your health issues and

Don's, but having to deal with an ignorant doctor who has no understanding

or compassion, makes things much worse.

I hope you will be able to do whatever it takes for you to feel better.

That is foremost. And I know you are trying. I have no doubt that you

will now find the perfect doctor--one with a heart--for both you and Don.

I am thinking of you and wishing you love, Norma

Iward27663@...

m

Sent by: To

LBDcaregivers@yah LBDcaregivers

oogroups.com cc

Subject

04/19/2008 02:48 Chocolate needed

PM

Please respond to

LBDcaregivers@yah

oogroups.com

Hi family caregivers. Does anyone have a lot of chocolate to share, or how

about a couple of lemon drops?

The week has been more than horrendous! And,Yet-----

It has had some of the most glorious times a person could want. It has

caused an almost euphoria. Hearing aids are on their way! I have been

tested and

am getting state of the art computer adjustable aids. I didn't pick them

out.

The Technician did. He said it is what I need. My hearing is down to

70-80%.

Meaning I can't hear 70% of men's voices (at normal volume), and can't

hear

80% of women's voices. I looked at the final computer printout of my

hearing

range.

My not being able to hear my darling Don has been more stressful that

anyone

can imagine. My blood pressure is soaring. And, it has been difficult to

fall asleep. Three or four hours sleep has been all I am getting.

The Geriatric Doctor had cut of my getting Diphinhydramine, or Valium.

Well,

I knew what I could handle and what I couldn't. I took one 25mg Benedryl

once in a while at night for sleep, or 2 1/2 mg of valium. Taking away my

sleep

has taken a terrible toll, and raised my blood pressure. I am dizzy most

of

the time. All from a lack of proper sleep and hypertension.

Things to do tripled this week. Phone calls to make, people coming to

clean,

(and doing a terrible job) Doctor's appointments, Pharmacy three times for

my inhaler, and on and on. ( I still don't have it.)

Right now I am in the process of getting another Doctor. The Doctor this

week that is substituting for my regular doctor wouldn't allow Don and me

in the

same room at the same time. I was so angry I could hardly control myself.

He

was very subtle

in separating us after I objected to our being separated. He had me go to

the lab down the hall, while he talked to Don.

I asked the Doctor why he separated us, that I need to know what is

happening, because I am his caregiver. He said, " It is office policy. " I

asked,

" Why. " He stumbled around for a minute, and after I asked why the third

time, he

said it's for the privacy of the patient. I told him it was an insult to

me.

I told him we had always been together. Always! That I was with him

through

two open heart surgeries, and many bad cases of angina, and many bad

nights

with running him to the ER. He has had three stents, and five surgeries on

an

AVF created in his groin during an Angiogram, and three different bugs

that

he became infected with, that nearly killed him. The By-pass around the

AVF,

and excising the infection left a huge hole over five inches long. I was

sent

home with him to pack that wound three times a day for weeks.

I assured the Doctor that we have no secrets, are very open and loving. I

said I always remain quiet during the Doctor's interview and examination

of

Don. I am there to observe, and hence know everything I am dealing with as

his

caregiver.

When Don was left alone in the room The doctor came looking for me. When I

got in his room, Don said. " I was just about to go looking for you. " I

told

him I know, " Because you walked down the hall in the hospital with your

gown

hanging open and my son chasing after you. You said you were looking for

Imogene. " He looks for me no matter where I am. Twice in the hospital he

hollered

for me for hours, demanding to know where his wife was at three in the

morning

one time. I am his lifeline.

The Doctor still did things his way. I HAD to stay to have some medicines

refilled. But, have already started the process of getting a new Doctor.

Now, I have gotten that stress out of my system,(thank you) I can go back

to

the joy of new hearing aids. The man said they will be in on Wednesday,

and

he will call me. My joy with that is wonderful and almost more than I can

grasp.

Thank you for being with me through thick and thin. I do know now that my

health will not hold up under caring for Don when he begins to get worse.

Right

now, it is the juggle of taking care of dozens of loose ends.

The lady from Aging, (and what ever,) will call me back about more help,

and

about updating our paperwork.

I know all of you understand, and those of you that are young and healthy,

visualize (in your minds) taking care of everything when you are too sick

(almost) to get out of bed and still have all of it to do. I am sure you

have

been there. Most caregivers have. I am there all the time. That is why I

know I

can't care for Don when things get worse.

I cry for Don, with what he is watching me go through, and he can't do a

thing about it, and when he can also see himself getting sicker. I hate

him

seeing these things. It can't be avoided.

The Doctor did tell me to stay on this List, and use it. I just have. You

know my heart.

Thank you.

I love you

Imogene

**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car

listings at AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)