A doppler procedure performed two days ago revealed no additional clots in Karen's legs, which is the good news. The bad news is that her legs are extremely swollen, hard, and constantly in pain. We are trying to reduce the swelling by keeping her legs elevated, little salt in her diet, and daily doses of lasix(blood thinner). The physical therapy is also considered as an additional tool in reducing the blood clots. The major factor is the continued use of warfarin(coumadin generic).The doctor again said that it will be 6-9 months before they are gone.
Karen gets around pretty well with her walker. We've been to a movie, eaten out, and of course visited many doctors without serious mishap. The only real problem we've experienced is getting her up from some chairs which are too low. At home, we have two pillows on all of the chairs she uses. We've also been trying to get to our local community pool once daily. Walking and swimming is excellent therapy for her. We also try to do the prescribed therapy, given us at the hospital, every day we're not at the hospital therapy unit. We've missed the past two days as Karen had her monthly 5-hour infusion of gamma globulin yesterday, and has been in no shape(headaches and exhaustion) to do therapy nor to go into the pool.
She is a stubborn lady, so will not be giving up on the therapy. She "is" going to get better, and is working hard so that she may some day be able to get back out on our golf courses.
Love, Bill
Friday, July 10, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Continued Progress
We saw both Karen's pulmonogist and primary doctor today. Her coumadin is a little high, and the amount is being slightly reduced to bring the level into the proper range. Her legs are very sore due primarily to the blood clots. Over the past several days they seem to have gotten worse. Another doppler of her legs is being done tomorrow. I'll pass on the results when I get them. In the meantime, lasix is being started to remove excess water in her legs.
With Jeannie here, we've gone into our Cimarron Community Pool, every day. It has an ocean entry which eliminates steps, making it much easier for Karen to get in and out. Being in the water is therapeutic and enjoyable for her. Jeannie is making all of our meals and helping us in many ways. We're really going to miss her when she leaves on Friday.
Jeannie, Karen and I had dinner with Katie, Tim, and Caitlyn on Sunday night at Fogo De Chao in Scottsdale. It was wonderful; many varieties of meats arrive at out table to be cut and served to our cooked request. We've been to a franchise in Aruba which is the same as this one. Apparently there are many of these franchises world wide. Wherever they are, all of us recommend them highly.
Our temps are now in the 108 to 115 range. Our swimming is done in the mornings. The girls take naps in the afternoon, while I get a chance to read the paper and do any chores needed.
Love, Bill
With Jeannie here, we've gone into our Cimarron Community Pool, every day. It has an ocean entry which eliminates steps, making it much easier for Karen to get in and out. Being in the water is therapeutic and enjoyable for her. Jeannie is making all of our meals and helping us in many ways. We're really going to miss her when she leaves on Friday.
Jeannie, Karen and I had dinner with Katie, Tim, and Caitlyn on Sunday night at Fogo De Chao in Scottsdale. It was wonderful; many varieties of meats arrive at out table to be cut and served to our cooked request. We've been to a franchise in Aruba which is the same as this one. Apparently there are many of these franchises world wide. Wherever they are, all of us recommend them highly.
Our temps are now in the 108 to 115 range. Our swimming is done in the mornings. The girls take naps in the afternoon, while I get a chance to read the paper and do any chores needed.
Love, Bill
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Improving Day By Day
Karen got in and out of our pool today with the help of a woman giving her three showers weekly, and some help from me. Unfortunately, I can't do it alone, thus she won't be able to use the pool until she can do it without help. Tomorrow, I think we'll try one of our community pools which has an ocean walk-in, which should work quite well. I'll use the hot tub while she walks and exercises in the pool. This Friday will be the last time for the "shower lady" as Karen feels she can hereafter take her shower without help.
On Friday, Jeanne Clark, our friend from Chicago will fly in and stay with us for seven days or until June 10. This is really a wonderful thing on Jeanne's part. She will help in all areas with Karen, which will be a great help to me. I'm sure she will make some meals as I'm pretty sure she won't consider my cooking among the best she has ever had. Karen is very excited to have Jeanne coming to stay with us for the week.
The twice-weekly physical and occupational therapy sessions continue at the hospital. Though the sessions are only 1/2 hour each, Karen is exhausted after completing the sessions. There has been noticeable improvement each day. However, her legs remain very painful due to the blood clots running the full length of both. The exercising, combined with the blood thinner she is taking are undoubtedly working, albeit very slowly. Her legs are often times warm, and always very hard to the touch. Care must be used whenever there is a need to touch her legs as any touch hurts pretty badly.
My thanks again to all of you "bloggers" for your continuing thoughts and prayers on Karen's behalf. If you would like to leave a note for Karen, simply click on the word "comments" at the conclusion of our posting, following the prompts as it comes up, and I'll see to it that she sees your comments. The cards and letters do a lot for her psyche.
Love All You Guys, Bill
On Friday, Jeanne Clark, our friend from Chicago will fly in and stay with us for seven days or until June 10. This is really a wonderful thing on Jeanne's part. She will help in all areas with Karen, which will be a great help to me. I'm sure she will make some meals as I'm pretty sure she won't consider my cooking among the best she has ever had. Karen is very excited to have Jeanne coming to stay with us for the week.
The twice-weekly physical and occupational therapy sessions continue at the hospital. Though the sessions are only 1/2 hour each, Karen is exhausted after completing the sessions. There has been noticeable improvement each day. However, her legs remain very painful due to the blood clots running the full length of both. The exercising, combined with the blood thinner she is taking are undoubtedly working, albeit very slowly. Her legs are often times warm, and always very hard to the touch. Care must be used whenever there is a need to touch her legs as any touch hurts pretty badly.
My thanks again to all of you "bloggers" for your continuing thoughts and prayers on Karen's behalf. If you would like to leave a note for Karen, simply click on the word "comments" at the conclusion of our posting, following the prompts as it comes up, and I'll see to it that she sees your comments. The cards and letters do a lot for her psyche.
Love All You Guys, Bill
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Pool Difficulties
Mom did great getting into the pool this weekend. It was excellent for her and she was able to move around really, really well. I think the swelling was a little less in her right foot after working the in the pool.
Here's the problem -- she could get in no problem... but can't get out without help. Tim and I could get her out without issue but she can't do it on her own. Dad can't help her without hurting himself. So I gave Dad a suggestion of seeing if we could get an aide who would be willing to get in the pool. He's going to explore that tomorrow.
She's a little down as she really wanted to be able to get out on her own. Hopefully, the aide deal will work out.
It was great to be there... and have both of them home. I was able to get Dad out to the Transformer movie... it as fun.
Here's the problem -- she could get in no problem... but can't get out without help. Tim and I could get her out without issue but she can't do it on her own. Dad can't help her without hurting himself. So I gave Dad a suggestion of seeing if we could get an aide who would be willing to get in the pool. He's going to explore that tomorrow.
She's a little down as she really wanted to be able to get out on her own. Hopefully, the aide deal will work out.
It was great to be there... and have both of them home. I was able to get Dad out to the Transformer movie... it as fun.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Hospital Therapy
Karen completed her first sessions of OT and PT this week. She has the most severe problem with her legs, thus the physical therapy will be the most important of the two therapies for her. The occupational therapy will be concentrating on improving her strength in her shoulderrs and arms. She has the full range of motions, but is pretty weak in the upper torso. She is unable to get up from regular chairs and/or lazyboy rockers without two pillows under her when she gets into each of the chairs. The wheelchair also needs a lift in it for her to get out to her walker. The blood clots in both legs remain painful, but not as severe as the pain in them a few weeks ago. The therapists are pushing her quite hard, always reminding her that she will have to push through each exercise, regardless of the pain she might encounter. This is sometimes hard for her to accept, but I know that she realizes she has to work hard to have a chance to use the pool, and certainly to ever get back out on the golf course.
Katie, Tim, and Caitlyn are with us this weekend. They are going to try to find a way to be able to get Karen in and out of the pool, without any help. This will be an interesting exercise. I hope she can do it, as she really enjoys swimming in the pool. They are a big help to us in many ways, and we really look forward to having them here. I'm sure Caitlyn misses Megan not being here.
Megan is with Kevin and Karrie for two weeks. This was supposed to be a trip we were to make, so she is standing in for us. She loves being with Fiana and Liam, as she gets down on the floor with them and plays with them as she does with all of her nephews and nieces.
Please continue to keep Karen in your thoughts and prayers. She is facing a long and arduous journey, and needs all the help she can get.
Love, Bill
Katie, Tim, and Caitlyn are with us this weekend. They are going to try to find a way to be able to get Karen in and out of the pool, without any help. This will be an interesting exercise. I hope she can do it, as she really enjoys swimming in the pool. They are a big help to us in many ways, and we really look forward to having them here. I'm sure Caitlyn misses Megan not being here.
Megan is with Kevin and Karrie for two weeks. This was supposed to be a trip we were to make, so she is standing in for us. She loves being with Fiana and Liam, as she gets down on the floor with them and plays with them as she does with all of her nephews and nieces.
Please continue to keep Karen in your thoughts and prayers. She is facing a long and arduous journey, and needs all the help she can get.
Love, Bill
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Home Therapy
Since coming home on Friday, Karen has been trying to walk arouind the house as much as she can(with a walker). She is limited, as she gets very tired quickly. We've had some difficulties with getting up from chairs, but we've found out how many pillows are needed on each chair to insure she can get up.
We start physical therapy at the hospital this Friday. The following week, she is scheduled for both physical and occupational therapy. We chose the hospital for therapy as it has more equipment and good staff than home health has. When Karen broke four bones a year and a half ago, we chose home health which included nurse visits, therapy sessions, and showers twice weekly, all of which was covered by Medicare/Blue Cross-Blue Shield. We were disappointed in the care and service she received from the home health people. Out-patient physical and occupational therapy is covered, but nothing more. We felt the hospital therapists and facility will be far better than the services offerred by home health. We have a private pay caregiver coming in to give her three showers weekly.
We see the doctors later this week in f0llow-up to the hospital stay. Her legs, ankles, and feet have noticeably swelled up, thus the visits will be timely. We believe it's from the walking with both legs still full of multiple blood clots.
If anyone wishes to visit Karen, just call in adsvance to insure we're home and available.
Love, Bill
.
We start physical therapy at the hospital this Friday. The following week, she is scheduled for both physical and occupational therapy. We chose the hospital for therapy as it has more equipment and good staff than home health has. When Karen broke four bones a year and a half ago, we chose home health which included nurse visits, therapy sessions, and showers twice weekly, all of which was covered by Medicare/Blue Cross-Blue Shield. We were disappointed in the care and service she received from the home health people. Out-patient physical and occupational therapy is covered, but nothing more. We felt the hospital therapists and facility will be far better than the services offerred by home health. We have a private pay caregiver coming in to give her three showers weekly.
We see the doctors later this week in f0llow-up to the hospital stay. Her legs, ankles, and feet have noticeably swelled up, thus the visits will be timely. We believe it's from the walking with both legs still full of multiple blood clots.
If anyone wishes to visit Karen, just call in adsvance to insure we're home and available.
Love, Bill
.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Life At Home
Happy Father's Day to all you Dad's out there -- including my own!
Life at home is going to take some time before it returns to normal. Mom is having some real difficulty getting out of chairs... but she is so happy to be home and sleeping in again!
Many of you have asked how you could help... home cooked meals for my parents would not be turned away. Dad is too proud to ask -- but I'm not so if you would like to help out this way that would be great. No one should feel obligated but Mom may soon get tired of Bertolli Meals out of a bag!
There won't be as many updates from here on out now that she is home and taking phone calls. If anyone would like to email me at katiechoal@hotmail.com I will send you a personalized update.
I hope this blog was helpful to all of you. It was very helpful to my dad as it saved him a lot of time and repetition at home. Thanks again for all of your support.
Katie
Life at home is going to take some time before it returns to normal. Mom is having some real difficulty getting out of chairs... but she is so happy to be home and sleeping in again!
Many of you have asked how you could help... home cooked meals for my parents would not be turned away. Dad is too proud to ask -- but I'm not so if you would like to help out this way that would be great. No one should feel obligated but Mom may soon get tired of Bertolli Meals out of a bag!
There won't be as many updates from here on out now that she is home and taking phone calls. If anyone would like to email me at katiechoal@hotmail.com I will send you a personalized update.
I hope this blog was helpful to all of you. It was very helpful to my dad as it saved him a lot of time and repetition at home. Thanks again for all of your support.
Katie
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