Chapter 418 - Unstretchable
The boot loaned to us for her left foot is ineffective because when the velcro straps are tightened the soft padded sole comes away from the hard plastic sole, thus there is little pressure on her foot to stretch her leg muscles. Physio A. provided some additional strapping to overcome the problem. Most days I have her do sit-stands while she is on the Sara Stedy; 10 "stands" from the seated position, count to 10 before sitting again. Physio A says the resulting slight breathlessness is good for her.
I had been given an appointment card for 10AM for last Wednesday, actually intended for 9AM except the physio wrote the wrong time as we were debating on the most appropriate time at the conclusion of the previous appointment. Over the phone an appointment was made for the next day, Thursday. Physio A. thought her foot had improved in it's range of movement although I doubt there has been any extra movement. Anyway, with a slightly modified boot and further exercising perhaps by next week there will be improvement. I wonder when a halt will be called or additional botox injections suggested.
Physio A. had noted our challenge using the Sara Stedy to transfer her onto the loo due to the distance she needed to lower herself. On Thursday Physio A. produced a height extension piece to place beneath the seat on the loo as well as a pair of moveable hand rails, all of which are compatible with a bidet. These items are loaned to us to try out. The height extension removes her fear of sitting on the loo from the Sara Stedy, the best thing that has happened since we began using the Sara Stedy because my right arm has begun suffering from RSI symptoms, very painful in the forearm when doing subtle movements like moving a mouse etc. I think my right hip is improving as well. She now accepts being transferred from the wheel chair onto Sara Stedy by her own strength, transported to the loo, transferring from the Sara Stedy onto the loo, again with little assistance from me and then reversing the whole procedure. Her right should has improved; I know because she no longer complains about pain in it; presumably because she pulls/pushes equally with both arms rather than lop-sidedly.
Her Duodopa is maintained at 5mL/hour, connected only between 0600 and 2200 and a Sinemet 200/50 at 2200. Her glaucoma eye drops are applied each night and at times each day her eye lids are sprayed with TearsAgain. Her dry eyes are aggravated by her need to have a small fan blowing on her face throughout the night, although she sometimes remembers to wear eye shades. Body temperature regulation is becoming more of a problem; even now as the weather is cooler she often needs to mop her face of dribbles of sweat and her feet and lower legs alternate between being hot and pink or ice cold and mauve to my touch. Women from Wild Dog Care sympathise with her about "hot flushes" (they are mostly of such an age group; she isn't at 73) without telling them it's the damned PD, just another of the symptoms. I heard someone bemoaning the fact that her aged father, at 80, had just been diagnosed with PD; I sympathise with the father who assuredly has other issues that will cause his death before PD impacts his life greatly, the daughter lacks understanding.
Yesterday afternoon as we were about to change the Duodopa cassette she discovered that the screwed fitting on the tubing had leaked onto her clothes. There seemed no obvious cause. I was concerned that damage may have occurred to the Peg J tubing.
She continues to indulge in impetuous activities. For instance, the card board box the loo height extension and rails came in was left in the lounge room until my order for same arrived in the next day or so. Instead of asking me to take the box to the garage or elsewhere, I found her re-arranging her china cabinet to find space for the box. She diverts herself very easily from an activity to re-arrange the contents of cupboards and the fridge. She is no longer "humming" (tunelessly) as mush as she was and I find when suitable music is playing she stops altogether, or maybe I can't hear her. She finds replying to emails a chore, preferring to ignore questions about her condition.
Time to have her exercise with sit-stands on the Sara Stedy.
I had been given an appointment card for 10AM for last Wednesday, actually intended for 9AM except the physio wrote the wrong time as we were debating on the most appropriate time at the conclusion of the previous appointment. Over the phone an appointment was made for the next day, Thursday. Physio A. thought her foot had improved in it's range of movement although I doubt there has been any extra movement. Anyway, with a slightly modified boot and further exercising perhaps by next week there will be improvement. I wonder when a halt will be called or additional botox injections suggested.
Physio A. had noted our challenge using the Sara Stedy to transfer her onto the loo due to the distance she needed to lower herself. On Thursday Physio A. produced a height extension piece to place beneath the seat on the loo as well as a pair of moveable hand rails, all of which are compatible with a bidet. These items are loaned to us to try out. The height extension removes her fear of sitting on the loo from the Sara Stedy, the best thing that has happened since we began using the Sara Stedy because my right arm has begun suffering from RSI symptoms, very painful in the forearm when doing subtle movements like moving a mouse etc. I think my right hip is improving as well. She now accepts being transferred from the wheel chair onto Sara Stedy by her own strength, transported to the loo, transferring from the Sara Stedy onto the loo, again with little assistance from me and then reversing the whole procedure. Her right should has improved; I know because she no longer complains about pain in it; presumably because she pulls/pushes equally with both arms rather than lop-sidedly.
Her Duodopa is maintained at 5mL/hour, connected only between 0600 and 2200 and a Sinemet 200/50 at 2200. Her glaucoma eye drops are applied each night and at times each day her eye lids are sprayed with TearsAgain. Her dry eyes are aggravated by her need to have a small fan blowing on her face throughout the night, although she sometimes remembers to wear eye shades. Body temperature regulation is becoming more of a problem; even now as the weather is cooler she often needs to mop her face of dribbles of sweat and her feet and lower legs alternate between being hot and pink or ice cold and mauve to my touch. Women from Wild Dog Care sympathise with her about "hot flushes" (they are mostly of such an age group; she isn't at 73) without telling them it's the damned PD, just another of the symptoms. I heard someone bemoaning the fact that her aged father, at 80, had just been diagnosed with PD; I sympathise with the father who assuredly has other issues that will cause his death before PD impacts his life greatly, the daughter lacks understanding.
Yesterday afternoon as we were about to change the Duodopa cassette she discovered that the screwed fitting on the tubing had leaked onto her clothes. There seemed no obvious cause. I was concerned that damage may have occurred to the Peg J tubing.
She continues to indulge in impetuous activities. For instance, the card board box the loo height extension and rails came in was left in the lounge room until my order for same arrived in the next day or so. Instead of asking me to take the box to the garage or elsewhere, I found her re-arranging her china cabinet to find space for the box. She diverts herself very easily from an activity to re-arrange the contents of cupboards and the fridge. She is no longer "humming" (tunelessly) as mush as she was and I find when suitable music is playing she stops altogether, or maybe I can't hear her. She finds replying to emails a chore, preferring to ignore questions about her condition.
Time to have her exercise with sit-stands on the Sara Stedy.
posted by Kilpike | 9:52 am
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