Monday, October 23, 2017

Dad’s Health:

We were very fortunate on our trip in the spring that we had only a couple of issues that were relatively easily resolved. We were also fortunate that Jeanne is so good with dad!

Since being back in Colorado, dad’s had several doctors’ appointments, lab tests including blood work, xrays and urine samples with changing results. 

First, dad’s oxygen needs have increased. It seems that he never really reacclimated to the high altitude when we returned. He’s on 3.5 liters at home and with any activity, he really needs more. On his portable unit, anything less than a level 3 isn’t enough. We’ve had disagreements on this because he worries about his battery life, so I have to ensure we carry the extra charger and that the unit is plugged into the car charger when driving around town so he doesn’t lower the  O2 rate he needs.

The X-rays in the last few months have revealed that he’s had fluid buildup in and around his lungs. Increasing diuretics have helped that but made dad’s daily life more uncomfortable. He’s been a trooper though. 

The biggest concern in my mind is his kidneys. He’s been at Stage 4 kidney disease for some time. However, he’s inching closer to stage 5.  A little over a year ago, he was considering dialysis, if necessary. As of our last conversation on the subject, he won’t go through dialysis.  At 90, some doctors have said it would be too hard on his body. He has a lung doctor appointment tomorrow and a kidney doctor appointment in about two weeks.  Both docs will require X-rays and the kidney doc will have blood work results which will determine his kidney failure “number”.

His blood pressure is good, his appetite is great but he tires easily, which is to be expected at his age. His sleep is easily disturbed with his need to pee often.  He sleeps for a couple hours, wakes up to pee and then turn on the TV in his room and it may stay on for hours. I don’t mind though, as long as it provides him peace and helps him rest. 

Dad has other issues that I won’t put on a public post, but we deal with them daily and get through each day. Someday, I may laugh about some of my experiences, but not today.

(Dentist office, pedicure, leg lotion, shorts and slacks, etc.)

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

It’s been nearly five months since Dad and I returned from our trip and since I last posted on this blog. I will attempt to update to current activity and maybe even continue as this journey of being a caregiver for my 90 year old dad has had some interesting times and events. 

Although Dad turned 90 in March, we (kids) planned a birthday party in mid June.  The party was at Mark and Francine’s home in Lakewood Saturday, June 10th. We invited nearly 100 people and nearly 100 family and friends attended!  Dad was in his glory and was so kind and gracious to everyone who was there and he was treated like royalty by all who attended. He couldn’t have been happier...I actually think he was in a bit of shock.  Those that love him most, who could attend, were there.  From children of his and mom’s kids and grandkids to dad’s siblings, their kids and those kids’ grandkids to friends mom and dad had for over 60 years to more recent acquaintances to favorite restaurant employees to former work alliances. They were all there to celebrate dad. What a glorious day it was for him!

We then had a Schuster family reunion in August planned by cousin Jeff, Uncle Ray’s son. He did a great job and again there was a wonderful turnout with over 100 family from the west coast to the east in attendance. Dad and his sister Arline were the elder members and seemed quite pleased. It was great for me to see cousins I hadn’t seen in at least 40 years. I played golf in the morning before the picnic with a group of cousins and their kin. I was on a foursome with cousin Sheila’s husband Mike and Sheila’s brother, cousin Mike’s son and daughter in law. Even though the golf score wasn’t great, it was a great time!

Otherwise, the summer was filled with dad’s doctors’ appointments, tending to the garden we had to have (more on this) and finding an ever changing routine to live within. 

Gardening - When we returned from our trip, Dad decided he needed to plant a garden on his back patio which is the roof of his garage. Although he had a couple of self contained planters, we needed more! We went to Home Depot in late May and bought these along with some tomato, onion, bell pepper, banana pepper, jalapeño pepper and multiple kinds of squash plants. While outside in the garden center at Home Depot, Dad fell from a sitting position in his walker.  Fortunately he was okay and with help from a couple employees, we got him up.  The next day, my brother David thankfully came over and helped me plant these plants.  One of the days following, Dad fell again from a cheapo plastic chair I’d bought for the back patio.  Again, thankfully David was available to come over and help get dad upright. Then again a few days later, Dad tripped over his o2 hose and fell forward hitting his head on the coffee table, scraping skin off both forearms and bruising his hip and shoulder.  Ugh. When One is 90, it takes forever for a skin adhesion to heal. So most of the summer, we were dealing with those wounds. But the garden was productive and we enjoyed and shared tomatoes, peppers and squash into September! We were all so very fortunate that he wasn’t hurt more seriously in any of these three falls!