Tuesday, March 14, 2006
3-14-06: Willem better, Visiting Angels,
Hi Folks,
Sorry, I've been delayed updating this site: between Sandy's shoulder injury and rehab, tax prep, and our other friend having a bypass operation it's busy. But we are doing fine.
- We finalized Willem's tax info on 3-13-06 (now I have to finish mine)and turned gave it to his accountant..
- Willem is functioning much better with day to day routine. he can answer the phone (though hearing is not good), take care of his needs pretty well, but his mind is not that clear at times - and he knows it. This drives him to frustration when he is trying to do work on his finances.
- He will become fixated on an issue and pursue it until it's been addressed which can be trying on those around him.
I find that it's best not to say "Don't worry," about this or that because that's when he does worry! It's best to show you've solved or at least addressed a question - prove you've dealt with it. Since he doesn't have his files (I do)and I'm diverting mail to me from his investments I hope to relieve his stress.
- I believe strongly that his seizures took place off from a combination of high anxiety and high blood pressure. I tell him his job is to keep calm because he could sustain another attack.
this is where having the ladies from VISITING ANGELS, a caregiver network, around him from 10am-8pm has been helpful for us. They can walk with him, keep an eye on him, take him to meals so he has a companion. I don't worry about him knowing they are around. I just don't tell him what it costs- it would kill him to know!
- Right now he's stressing about Medicare D, and what they pay on his pills or not. Heck, who can figure that program out anyway? But we're working on it with Aegis. But this is his latest focus and source of stress.
- on Sunday, 2-5-06 was when he had his second seizure, though he came home the same day after being in emergency room.
He was agitated most of the time and doing some sleeping.
- Back about 2/13/06 he was very agitated and the Visiting Angel lady called and I had to come down and put him to bed in the evening.
- on 2/15/06 he was reading, shaved himself ( I was doing that for him 3 days before that)...I took him to get blood test in anticipation of meeting with Dr. Mendius.
- On 2/21/06 we had his fractured tooth repaired...
- on 2/23/06 we had seen Dr. Mendius, the neurologist, to follow-up on the his EEG and MRI results. The EEG showed his alpha waves were affected - that involves memory. Well we knew that...The MRI pictures showed he had a ministroke sometime ago in the Hippocantes area (memory) so that would explain some of the memory problems...We taper the Clonopsepan over 3 weeks to see if his memory improves (we check that result on 3/16/06); and he can take Ambien as needed.
Dr. Mendius, may be a very bright doctor, but his bedside manner was terrible and if we had 10 minutes with him , that was it! Pop is not excited to see him again -especially when it's $300/visit!
That old stressing over finances is still very much with him. ...
- On 2/28/06 saw Dr. ROBINSON again in afternoon.. he was happy about change in meds, because Pop needs his anti-anxiety medication, he believes.
- As Willem gets better, my goal is to address the sources of stress, but as some of the family members have said, "You solve one issue and he brings up another"...we want to get the focus off himself and then figure what he does with the rest of his day's routine besides 2 walks/day, showering and eating and reading.
His main concern is finance, and I don't think he believes his cash flow is sufficient. His estate is in good hands with our financial planner, Mike Ricinak, who does a good and caring job...
- On Thursday (3-16-06) we see the Neurologist , Dr. Mendius, again for a follow-up on the change in meds program. We had cut back over 3 weeks his Clonapsapan and Ambien (sleeping pill)
I'll updat you later.
kees
Sorry, I've been delayed updating this site: between Sandy's shoulder injury and rehab, tax prep, and our other friend having a bypass operation it's busy. But we are doing fine.
- We finalized Willem's tax info on 3-13-06 (now I have to finish mine)and turned gave it to his accountant..
- Willem is functioning much better with day to day routine. he can answer the phone (though hearing is not good), take care of his needs pretty well, but his mind is not that clear at times - and he knows it. This drives him to frustration when he is trying to do work on his finances.
- He will become fixated on an issue and pursue it until it's been addressed which can be trying on those around him.
I find that it's best not to say "Don't worry," about this or that because that's when he does worry! It's best to show you've solved or at least addressed a question - prove you've dealt with it. Since he doesn't have his files (I do)and I'm diverting mail to me from his investments I hope to relieve his stress.
- I believe strongly that his seizures took place off from a combination of high anxiety and high blood pressure. I tell him his job is to keep calm because he could sustain another attack.
this is where having the ladies from VISITING ANGELS, a caregiver network, around him from 10am-8pm has been helpful for us. They can walk with him, keep an eye on him, take him to meals so he has a companion. I don't worry about him knowing they are around. I just don't tell him what it costs- it would kill him to know!
- Right now he's stressing about Medicare D, and what they pay on his pills or not. Heck, who can figure that program out anyway? But we're working on it with Aegis. But this is his latest focus and source of stress.
- on Sunday, 2-5-06 was when he had his second seizure, though he came home the same day after being in emergency room.
He was agitated most of the time and doing some sleeping.
- Back about 2/13/06 he was very agitated and the Visiting Angel lady called and I had to come down and put him to bed in the evening.
- on 2/15/06 he was reading, shaved himself ( I was doing that for him 3 days before that)...I took him to get blood test in anticipation of meeting with Dr. Mendius.
- On 2/21/06 we had his fractured tooth repaired...
- on 2/23/06 we had seen Dr. Mendius, the neurologist, to follow-up on the his EEG and MRI results. The EEG showed his alpha waves were affected - that involves memory. Well we knew that...The MRI pictures showed he had a ministroke sometime ago in the Hippocantes area (memory) so that would explain some of the memory problems...We taper the Clonopsepan over 3 weeks to see if his memory improves (we check that result on 3/16/06); and he can take Ambien as needed.
Dr. Mendius, may be a very bright doctor, but his bedside manner was terrible and if we had 10 minutes with him , that was it! Pop is not excited to see him again -especially when it's $300/visit!
That old stressing over finances is still very much with him. ...
- On 2/28/06 saw Dr. ROBINSON again in afternoon.. he was happy about change in meds, because Pop needs his anti-anxiety medication, he believes.
- As Willem gets better, my goal is to address the sources of stress, but as some of the family members have said, "You solve one issue and he brings up another"...we want to get the focus off himself and then figure what he does with the rest of his day's routine besides 2 walks/day, showering and eating and reading.
His main concern is finance, and I don't think he believes his cash flow is sufficient. His estate is in good hands with our financial planner, Mike Ricinak, who does a good and caring job...
- On Thursday (3-16-06) we see the Neurologist , Dr. Mendius, again for a follow-up on the change in meds program. We had cut back over 3 weeks his Clonapsapan and Ambien (sleeping pill)
I'll updat you later.
kees
# posted by kees @ 1:24 PM 
