Suggestions

(1)Rent a hospital bed right away I didn't think of it til I tried Wayne's bed out - you have to sleep upright for 3 weeks - a recliner gets mighty tiresome - no good sleeps.

(2)buy a gel cushion to sleep on- my bum was always kind of numb and the sciatica started acting up-cushion relieved both

(3) have a hair cut you and shower and go - not allowed to shower til 8th day and sponge baths were ok but was dreamy to heat arm and shoulder up under hot water before exercising

(4) have a low bath stool so you can fill tub and soak-just helps mentally to soak
(5) empty your purse of all items except absolute necessities

(6)if you can, sleep during day-a great healer - i still was able to sleep at night

Yeah. good news!

So today i decided to try to get a t-shirt over my sore arm and wear the contraption on top It worked! I feel so much freer and "normal". The doc didn't give me the ok but i did it.

Also did a few minutes on the recumbent bike and a few floor exercises.Feeling liberated.

Ideas

The first two weeks were brutal - even trying to rise from the toilet hurt. Sis brought a commode which helped so much - it fits over the toilet and is higher so the arm didnt pull as much to get up.

Also, she brought a picker upper gadget as leaner forward or bending over was agony.

I used safety pins to clip the ends of a hand towel so I could rub between my fingers to dry them.

Got my hair clipped off so could just let it dry naturally - I miss pinning it up but when I can reach up my hair will have grown enough again.

Sis loaned me some lovely clothes and I bought slacks a couple sizes larger so they were easier to pull up.

December 8/2010 4:30pm

Dropped into my sister's and BIL's for a coffee on my way home. At 4:30pm I cheerily waved goodbye to them - being cold out, I told Sis to get in the house - thank goodness she ignored my wishes for as I walked behind my car, slipped and landed on my right side. Everything hurt, especially my right arm which I held. Remember moaning, "Oh, my God,oh my God." My head and hip hurt but the arm was wicked.

Don't know why but 2 ambulances and a fire truck attended - Sis told me this as I guess I was in shock and not registering anything but my arm. More to come -

Gobble, gobble

So a few days ago I went to Merle Norman studios to have my makeup "done" and supposedly learn how to transform my face. (Insert chuckle here)

The young lady was gracious and instead of noting my eyelids now rest on my nose, referred to my "deep set eyes". After several times it wore a bit thin but the truth hurts:)

When I paid for my purchases she told me that the studio was offering a gift bag with purchase. Inside were lovely items such as lipstick, blush, mascara and "neck and face" cream. I guess it was to treat my turkey neck which is close to the deep set eyes:)

Anyway, it was a generous size sample product so I applied it generously every morn and evening - it works! Still have the wrinkly turkey neck but I no longer gobble.

Thank you, Merle Norman!

Dumb and Dumber

I drive 2 - 4 hours per day except one day a week when Sis and BIL visit Wayne. Most drivers are great but today took the cake!

Driver #1 Big, big fire truck is plowing thru intersection, lights, horns, sirens.Loud, loud. Lady in old '65 Plymouth pulls out in front of them totally oblivious to their presence. They managed to avoid her, how I'll never know.

Driver #2 This driver is making a right turn - he feels it's his right and it would be other than an ambulance is screeching thru a left turn immediately behind said driver. That offence is bad enough but now the car stops to let a passenger out!!! The passenger takes his sweet time and the ambulance driver is now honking and probably saying a few choice words. Idiot driver sloooowly pulls out in front of ambulance til they honked like crazy and he kind of pulled over. (Btw, the passenger also crossed the street against the light causing various gestures by various drivers:)

My Pneumonia Story

So, Sunday October 17th I woke up with a sore throat. thought a cold is coming on so bought sore throat lozenges and cold caps. After 5 days, condition doesn't improve and the caps seem to not be working. Feel ill and it's a very different ill.

Saturday I decide to go to a walk-in medical clinic as I'm coughing rather badly.Doc is kind and says you may have a touch of pneumonia, go to hospital for X-rays and blood tests - see us tomorrow.

Returning Sunday, new Doc says he sees an area on lower left lung and prescribes codeine cough syrup and an antibiotic. After several more days I felt calmly ill and wondered if this is what it's like to die peacefully - I'm not exaggerating.

Six more days and I feel much better. Pills worked! Go out to see friends and got so ill, could barely breathe, thought I'd die, seriously. Rushed to our local hospital emergency. What a bunch of angels, the RN's and the physician.

"Have you ever had a breathing tube inserted,Jean?" I freaked inside for Wayne's sake - my biggest fear has been to get really ill or die before he does.

After 2 hours, magically helped by staff, I am ready to go home. Very afraid but the Doc said get right back here if there's any hint of trouble. Appreciated that.

The KICKER was that the 2nd walk-in Doc prescribed one antibiotic per day and it should have been two according the the emerg Doc. I also visited my own Doc and he had a locum on who gave me another Rx for 1 pill a day. So, I guess over the 6 days, the bacteria got hold and wouldn't let go!

Tonight I'm still coughing but it's manageable and I'm no longer afraid for my life.