Hawkwinds Family - 6/15/08-12/31/09

[dwengland]

I've been reading backwards trying to catch up on the goings on.  Mum has been cleaning houses for over 30 years now.  She started doing that after she was laid off from AT & T making printed circuit boards.  I can assure everyone, the cleaning gene does skip a generation.  Neither myself or my brothers clean.  I will vacuum, clean the kitchen, do laundry, etc. but I'm not into dusting. 

Laurie, hope you are feeling better since you got home.  Hope to see the pictures you have posted.

Lynn, I have read about your squirrel incident but I hope your face is healing.  Mum had some Willie Nelson LPs of his younger days, when he had short black hair.  Looked nothing like when I started to listen to his music.  My dad was a big fan of his older music.  Nice of you to give your friend your ticket.
 
The xray mum had taken shows her lungs are clear, so no pnemonia (sp?).  Still waiting on the flu test results. 

[bobby/tn]

I wish I was one who could put things back, it just doesn't happen.  I am attention deficit, so maybe that is it.  So I join the ranks of the messy here.  I really hate it.

I just came from my internist, to see if he can find why I have had these low grade fevers since July.  I just love that man.  I had a bunch of MRIs not too long ago which showed severe TMJ (totally unrelated to the fevers I think).  Wellll, OK, but, why did the pain on so suddenly when it did, it made no sense to me.  So this guy got me some Altoids and had me eat them and asked me if there was pain.  Nope, no pain crunching on them.  So he says, nope, no TMJ.  THANK YOU.  He asked if narcotics relieve the pain, no, nothing relieves the pain.  He says, nope no TMJ.  He says nerve stuff, which explains why no relief from pain meds.  He showed me where the nerves are and that is where the pain is and he says anyone my age is going to have joint deterioration.  AMEN.  What now, I don't know.  I am getting really tired of getting mis diagnosed.

My face is fine, no open wounds now, just red marks.  But the memory lingers, LOL.

Actually, re noses falling off, I saw a funny TV show where a man was not convinced he was dead and it was not till his nose fell off that he became convinced.
I hate that red, sore nose thing.  Beckie, I hope it goes away soon.

Donna, fingers crossed for your mom.  I kmow that some are prone to bronchitis and it is a real problem.  So glad there was no pneumonia.

Bev, we all know how hard that was.  We just love them so much.

Mak, sounds good for Chip.   I vote trail riding in national forests, LOL.
Shots, get one every week.  I don't think about them much any more.

OK, I have to get out my book on this computer and figure out how my cat darkens the screen when she walks across the keyboard.  There are all sorts of little things in the area above the keys, little symbols with lights, they must mean something, I know one of them is the Dolby, which I do love.

[Sarah`s-Mom]

Good Evening Everyone!

Melanie and April - Still sending prayers  

Betty - This morning I was rushed to get to town and forgot to mention how cute the skiing bunny rabbit is - SOOO cute   So far two have backed out from our trip    Just think we'll need the exercise especially after turkey day  Also, You and your mom are both nurses - how neat! my daughter is an RN. Are you always giving out free medical advice?!? I know Deanna (daughter) is  

Mak - I know Chip will be happy in his new home especially the lady that wants him for trail riding

Pam - Geez, I know how tiring jury duty is But yet very interesting to see how the court system works  

Donna - Glad your mom doesn't have pneumonia. Hope she is feeling better real soon  

Carol - Ouchie! Sorry to hear you fell I have a friend that tripped over her very large dog during the night in the dark and really messed her arm up really bad    Have to be careful  

Have a great evening!

 

[hawkwindsfarm]

I glance through the thread quickly, Donna - sending prayers and thoughts your and mums way that she doesn't have to go into the hospital,

I'm going to go lay down and try to fall asleep early to see if that will help kick this, feel a little better but really tired of blowing my nose and coughing

Sending everyone and lots of

Good Night.

[Jewel]

  Evening all - only Tues. but retirement is looking real good tonight - I had a desk top this morning but it has disappeared under a pile of miscellaneous, crapitory paperwork - between the fax & the phone I hardly had time to  -  Friday the 13th isn't for 3 more days - must have shown up early for me 

Melanie - a nursing home transition sounds like an excellent idea - everything has happened so quickly and so many decisions had to be made it can be overwhelming - we all are here for you and if writing a mini-novel helps than go for it 

 

My nose hasn't fallen off yet  

Glad to hear that - had a former employee (years ago) who was called "No Nose" - not from blowing out but sniffing in 

Donna - 8 sits and 2nd place for Sammy - good news that your mum doesn't have pneumonia - hopefully it's just a chest cold that won't go away.

Off to feed the girls

[hafpints]

feeling really crappy for having let my dad go into the nursing home. His room is small, his bed is small, they left him sit in the depends that the hopsital put him in for the ride, for hours. He says all he wants, is to go home and sit in his chair with his dog and die at home. Mom can't afford home health care. Mom is feeling guilty too and didn't want to leave him there. I hate this. I can't stand the idea of him dying in there. Please keep those prayers coming we are going to need strength and peace to get through this. Melanie

[J BC]

  Melanie.  I believe you have done the right thing.  There is no way you or your family can give your Dad the care he needs at home.  I would ask the staff at the nursing home if you can take his dog in to sit with him.  Some places will allow it.     that he will be comfortable through this time.

[Jewel]

Melanie - like Judy said, maybe they will let you bring his dog in - the first day is always the hardest -  that tomorrow will be better for all of you 

[bettyb444]

Beckie, that was wonderful news about Sunny being found and getting back home . So glad that he was still in fairly good condition . Good that your nose is still in place , although sometimes a nose gets so sore, you wish you could temporarily take it off and put it in a drawer ...Donna, so wonderful that Sammy is succeeding in  school . What a good boy, 2nd place . I've been trying to vote on the 2 animal sites (for free food and the rescue shelter challenge) and have had trouble for the last 3 days or so. Do you know if the sites are aware of any issues .  for your mum not to need hospitalization...Pam, your days sure must feel short when half your time is spent in court ...Bev, Molly and Maggie sounded like they were both very dear to you . It was just such an unfortunate situation that things ended with both gone. Molly did what she could do to protect herself. You can remember the good Maggie, having her final resting spot at your home . Yep, my mom an LPN, I was trained as an RN. Neither of us works at it any more, but we do give a few pointers to others at times ...Mak, sounds like Chip might just get his new home soon . Trail riding in national forests would be such an enjoyable life for him . The shot will be over quickly, then hopefully a healthy flu season for you ...Carol, your kitties should have learned by now that mom is to be avoided when she is anywhere close to a sleepy condition . Hope you get the work disaster straightened out soon ...Lynn, good not to have TMJ but the nerve problem doesn't seem so great ... Judy. Many nursing homes do allow pets in. After all, it is a real home for most of the residents...Melanie, please try to not judge yourself so harshly about your dad. You are doing the best you can. As Carol said, the first day is the hardest, your dad may soon start to get comfortable with the routine of the home. When my grandmother went to live in one, she really disliked it. After a while, when she would visit our home on holidays, she could hardly wait to get back to her "own" place, really .  for all of you...Hope everyone got lots of restful ...

[dwengland]

Morning all.  Doctors office called this morning, no flu for mum, so that is good.  It is probably sinus infection  that is on the verge of bronchitis again. 

Lynn, I have TMJ.  I crashed my bicycle when I was twelve into a dirt pit.  Short version, I was suppose to jump the pit, but didn't pull up on my handle bars when I hit the ramp, went head first into the pit.  First thoughts were, cut tongue, broke nose.  After a couple of days, taken to the hospital because of red streaks going up my neck, and doctors thought, bad infection from all the dirt I swallowed, broken jaw.  After all the swelling went down, found I had no broken jaw so they didn't wire it shut.  They should have because my jaw did get knocked out of alignment but they didn't know about TMJ all those years ago.  Ear, nose and throat dr figured it out because I kept going in to him thinking I had sinus infections with a low grade fever.  Where the joint for the jaw meets there are a lot of nerves which is why I get the pain and headaches in the morning.  I also grind my teeth really, really bad.  I see a dentist that specializes in TMJ.  He fitted me for two acrylic applicances that I wear on my teeth at night.  I had one for a long time, but was getting it adjusted every three months, so it was just cost effective to get a second one.  My jaw "locks" into place at night when I sleep.  He told me that I occasionally get a little cyst type infection in my glands next to my ears.  I really can't explain the actual diagnosis, but if I suck on lemon head candy, something sour, it makes that gland secrete more and it breaks up the cyst and fever goes away.  It is really odd because my primary thought I had a really hard sinus infection that just wouldn't go away at one point.  My current allergist is doesn't understand why I get a low grade fever, but thinks it could be sinus or TMJ related.   Sorry for the long explaination, but maybe it will help your situation.

Melanie, I understand your frustration and guilt about the nursing home.  In the last few weeks of my dad's life, his wish was to come home and pass on.  We were able to get a hospice nurse but only while I was at school and mum was at work.  My dad however, was able to move around with assistance and my older brother was living at home as well.  If my dad had been bed ridden, there would not have been anyway we would have been able to bring him home, even with my brother living there.  It would have been to much of a strain on us to care of him.  Your dad doesn't blame you for this situation, so please try not to blame yourself for it.  I agree with the others, maybe the nursing home will allow his dog to come and visit.  There is alot of therapy animals that go to hospitals and nursing homes, so it is a proven fact it helps the patients who are in the home.  Again, my thoughts and prayers are with your during this difficult time.

[bobby/tn]

Thank you so much, Donna,  PMd ya.  And going to find something sour to suck on.

Oh, Melanie and April, how sad.  I hope someone can spend time there with your dad/grandfather, sort of move in with him.  I am sure that will help all the way around.  The social worker should be helpful, as should the hospice folks, how to handle everything.   As for bringing the dog, there is probably a place where they can be together in the building.  I wonder if it would make him sadder, but you know him.  This has to be tearing you apart.

[dwengland]

Lynn, sent you a long PM.  Hope it helps. 

Betty, I forgot to say, that I'm not sure if the ARS knows about any issues with the website.  I haven't had any problems using it and I click to donate a different time each day.

[Sarah`s-Mom]

  And Good Afternoon To Everyone!!!

Melania - I agree with Bobby, if someone could possibly stay with your dad a few days that would help so much. When my grandmother went into a nursing home she hated it at first. She begged for my dad to take her home and I felt so for him and my grandmother. Then, my mom decided she'd stay a few days and they even let her sleep in the family room area at night. This helped my grandmother SOOOO much and it helped her readjust. Soon she didn't need my mom to be there but someone was there often to help her with meals, etc. A lot of nursing homes will let you bring pets in as around this time I had just gotten a puppy and he was welcome there. All the residents loved this puppy and even wanted to hold him. I'm sure this will help your dad so much if he can hold his little dog. I hope this helps.

Bobby - Sorry you're having a time with a low grade fever and nerve pain. When I had problems with my foot and the doctor though it was a nerve causing this so he started me on a steroid medication, and it worked. My son is now on an eye liquid steroids as recently had an eye injury and may have some nerve damage. Too soon to tell if this is helping him tho. Yes, it was a very hard decision concerning my Rottie. Hope you feel better soon 

Donna, This is a probably a dumb question but what is TMJ? 

Betty - Thank you 

Beckie - Sure hope you are feeling better today! 

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

 

[dwengland]

Bev, it isn't a dumb question.  TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint disorder.  Where the upper and lower jaws met is where there are a lot of nerves.  There is a small opening at the joint.  Your jaw joint is the only joint in the body that goes up/down, side to side, front to back.  Because the doctors didn't align my jaw back after the accident, it healed out of alignment.  The opening on the right side of my jaw is 1/2 the size of the opening on my left side.  During the day your jaw joint becomes inflammed from use, at night it relaxes.  Mine doesn't relax because I grind my teeth so bad, it causes the inflammation to be worse and with those nerves in that area, I get headaches/ear aches and my jaw will hurt in the mornings.  With the night guards that lock my jaw into place at night, this area can now relax.  A TMJ flare up for me will mimick a sinus infection because of the sinus's in the facial area, and usually I will get an earache on my right side. When this happens for a few days, I know to go see my TMJ dentist to get my night guards adjusted.

[Sarah`s-Mom]

Donna, thank you for explaining this. It's too bad they cannot correct this with surgery or can they? I know this doesn't have a thing to do TMJ but my granddaughter has a bad under bite and we are probably looking at surgery after all the permanent teeth beyond baby teeth come in.  We haven't told her this yet. We were told braces may work from an orthodontist and that they 'wouldn't' from another. So in other words I know surgery isn't any fun! I'm sorry you've had such a time with this.