Category Archives: MS related
A very long and hectic day indeed
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After a mere three hours of sleep, I woke to Dear Hubby telling me we had to be at the oral surgeon’s office at 11 a.m. So tell me, why was he waking me at 8? It doesn’t take me three hours to get dressed and toss back a cup of coffee or two. Ack. I tried to go back to sleep for a bit but that didn’t work. I dragged my butt downstairs, foraged for coffee, and told him, “Do not speak to me until I’ve had a second cup or you won’t need to go to a surgeon to have those teeth removed.” Have I mentioned I had only three hours of sleep and I am NOT a morning person?
We arrived on time. They gave him some paperwork to fill out and took him back to check the damaged teeth. Meanwhile, I sat in the waiting room and watched salt water fish swim around in a huge tank. They were lovely, the music was gentle old time jazz, and I almost dozed off. That’s not easy to do in those hard plastic chairs with low backs.
Dear Hubby goes back October 13th. They will knock him out—they have to or he’ll flip out. I think this time I’ll grab a book to read and, hopefully, will have slept a few hours longer than I did last night. No, I didn’t get a nap after we got home.
Then tonight Gavin was acting out of sorts. He even had trouble eating his dinner. I went to look at his mouth to see what was wrong and he yipped when I touched his lower lip. That’s when I noticed that the right side of his face was swollen. That’s something not easy to spot on a BT by the way. I’m praying it’s a bee sting and will be gone by morning. However, Dear Hubby has instructions that if it’s still bothering Gavin in the morning he’s to call the vet and wake me. Geez, I hope it’s just a bee sting and will be gone by morning I’m not up to another hectic day.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, MS related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, Writer, Writing
Off to the oral surgeon for Dear Hubby
Posted by doggonedmysteries
DH has two phobias. His worst one is dentists and some day I might reveal his other phobia.
A couple of days ago he fell and in the process managed to break what few remaining teeth he has. (I didn’t know this until he finally broke down and told me yesterday.) Mr. Chicken didn’t want me to call a dentist at the time so he kept quiet. He finally told me because he’s in a lot of pain. Of course, it’s the weekend when he tells me.
I knew the pain had to be bad when DH asked for the name of the oral surgeon who removed a couple of his teeth a few years back. I gave him the name and phone number and he’ll call the guy tomorrow. Oh, yeah he’s hurting if he plans to call first thing in the morning and not have me do it.
Because of his MS, he’s already on heavy doses of pain meds. They aren’t helping him right now. Another problem with having the teeth broken is that he’s most likely developed an infection, which is causing him to have double vision. That is his usual MS reaction to infections of any sort.
Posted in MS related
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Care giving, Caregiver, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
A do nothing day
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Today was a very good day to do nothing. According to the weather reports, tomorrow will also be a great day to sit inside in the AC. I don’t do air conditioned ‘nothing’ very well. I get restless and I want to be outside. Gavin was content to sit with me in the chair and even relaxed on his back alongside me. Patty preferred the couch away from body heat.
Dear Hubby’s mother picked today of all days to ask him to run some errands for her. What the hell? She waits until the hottest day we’ve had so far this year to ask him. I swear she does this on purpose.
Given that this is a do nothing day, this will be a short post too. Tomorrow I’ll spend another day inside in the AC with DH and the pups since it’s going to be hotter.
Posted in Misc, MS related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Heat, humidity, and MS
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had a couple of days where we didn’t need to turn on the AC. It was nice to have the house opened and all that fresh air. However, the temperature has climbed again, as well as the humidity, and the AC is back on. One of the most unfortunate things about Dear Hubby’s MS is how the warm weather affects him.
He used to enjoy being outside during the warm weather. Now he can’t take it. Only a few minutes outside on a hot and humid day and his legs weaken to the point of collapse. His pain triples and he is exhausted.
It’s during this sort of weather that he becomes most depressed. Yes, he’s on antidepressants. They help some. The pups try to help by doing everything they can to make him laugh. I swear they do. Tonight Patty was hucklebutting it on the couch and had him laughing. Once she’d acquired that reaction, she then jumped up on his chair and settled down next to him. I’ve never seen a more self satisfied look on a dog’s face. Gavin had joined in on her session by racing back and forth from the living room to the kitchen. When she stopped so did he. He crawled under DH’s foot rest for a nap.
Posted in Dog related, MS related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Where were my manners?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dear Hubby was trying to get an electric cart unplugged at the grocery store today so he could do some shopping with me. A very rude man pushed past him and almost knocked him over. I have to admit it now; I did stick my foot out and trip the man.
I grabbed his arm to help balance him. “My goodness! Are you okay sir? You sure did take a nice trip there.”
He shook my hand off his arm. “I’m fine. Must’ve tripped on the edge of the rug.”
“Yes that can happen when you’re in a hurry.”
He rushed away.
I shrugged at DH and said, “I don’t know what his problem was Hon. It seems that lately my manners have become appalling. He mustn’t have wanted my help.
Dear Hubby drove past me and said, “You don’t fool me, I saw what you did.”
“He didn’t. And he quite deserved it.”
DH grinned. “You’re right he did. Let’s see, we want the bread aisle, right?”
Posted in Misc, MS related, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Taking a break for the ROADTRIP!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The suitcase is packed, the car will be loaded tomorrow, and then I’ll be on my way. In the meantime, I hope you all have a good time while I’m gone. I’ll post when I get home.
Dear Hubby is in charge of the house and dogs while I’m gone—I hope to heaven the dogs behave for him. They can be a handful when I’m not around. (When the alpha dog’s away…and all that.) Hey, I even have an ‘Alpha Dog’ T-shirt and DH bought it for me.
I’ve left DH a list—it’s not long, just reminders as to what to do with the dog’s water, the fish, and to remember to water the potted vegetable garden and the flowers in the pots on the front porch every afternoon once the sun is off them. I know him, without a list he’d forget to water the plants. He wouldn’t add the cider vinegar to the dog’s water, which, by the way, has cleared up Gavin’s chronic ear infection. So we don’t want to stop doing that do we? He’d also ignore the fish and they’d have to live on algae—they would not be pleased.
Posted in Dog related, MS related, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Kiss my arse Martha Stewart!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dear Hubby is often frustrated that he can longer do the things he did years ago. Sometimes I share that frustration when I need something done around here.
I’ve found that if I can’t find help, I have to adapt, improvise, and overcome. Today I overcame the broken table out in the yard.
Less than two summers ago, we bought a Martha Stewart table for the outdoors. What a huge mistake! Here we were thinking how great it was that we bought this lovely, large wood outdoor table on sale. Well, kiss my arse Martha…it has fallen apart in less than two seasons. (I’m so glad we bought it on sale for a super cheap price, it certainly wasn’t worth the regular price.) Today, since I couldn’t find anyone to help, I took it apart. It took me a bit of time, some struggle, the right tools, and brute strength, but I managed. Then I had to carry the darned unwieldy thing out of the yard. It is sitting against the side of the house with its removed legs and will go out for garbage tomorrow night.
DH was very surprised and quite pleased to have the table gone because he can now run the riding mower over the spot where it stood. I’m pleased to have it gone because I don’t have to run the weed eater underneath it any more.
Posted in Misc, MS related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
The dogs are turning into AC sissies
Posted by doggonedmysteries
With his MS, Dear Hubby needs to have the air conditioning on as soon as the temperatures begin to climb into the eighties and the humidity begins. The dogs don’t need it. However, Patty and Gavin have decided that they LOVE being cool and comfy. No, these dogs aren’t spoiled…much. When it’s hot outside, they don’t want to stay out in the yard with me, they want to be inside with DH.
If it is humid and hot, they won’t go out unless they HAVE TO GO. It’s not as though they have heavy, long, or thick coats. These two have short coats. You would think I was dragging them to their deaths to watch them. Patty will make a circuit or two around the yard and then she’ll stand at the back door begging me to take her back into the cool. Gavin is worse. He’ll go out into the yard as few steps as possible to squat and pee. Why lift a leg when to find something to lift it on would mean walking across the yard.
DH’s need for AC has turned these two dogs into sissies.
“What do you mean go out there in the heat? We might melt!”
Wimps.
Posted in Dog related, MS related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Keep medication lists handy.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
If you live with an elderly parent, someone who is chronically ill, or have a medical condition of your own, keep a list of their/your medications handy at all times. Dear hubby is on so many medications for his MS that I keep a list on my computer so I can print it out right before a doctor’s appointment. If we had to sit there and write them all down, it would take an hour so under ‘list medications’ we always put see attached. I also keep a print out in my purse, another taped inside a kitchen cupboard door, and one in each car.
The one inside the cupboard is in case of emergency—say needing EMS, then I can hand them the list of medications as soon as they come through the door. I keep his medication list updated monthly or as prescriptions change.
On more than one occasion, having a print out has saved us from forgetting some important medication that a doctor needs to know he takes. The last thing you want to do is forget to tell them about one. With our luck, that one interacts with whatever they decide to prescribe.
Posted in Misc, MS related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Elder Care, Family, Healthcare, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Writer, Writing
Behind the scenes of my conference experience
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dear Hubby and the dogs survived my time away at the conference. However, DH is exhausted from the extra work and I’ve pampered him a lot today. After all, he was the one who made sure that I could attend the conference. It isn’t easy for him to be alone and I did make certain that friends and neighbors kept an eye on him and were ready to lend him a hand when necessary. He can no longer stand long enough to cook a meal for himself. I offered to make and freeze some dinners for him so all he had to do was microwave them but he said, “It’s only 4 dinners, 4 lunches, and 4 breakfasts. We have dozens of places around here who deliver that I can choose from for my meals.”
Tonight DH and the pups were thrilled with the smells of cooking going on after four days of take out/delivered dinners. DH, Gavin, and Patty were doing a happy dance. “Oh, boy! Home cooking.”
Some of us had arranged to go to Pittsburgh on Thursday so we’d have a little time to recover from the looooong drive before the conference began. We went out to Joe’s Crab Shack for dinner. The food was good, the company great, and I do believe it set the mood for the weekend—FUN.
Tomorrow I’ll share some of the fun.
Posted in Dog related, MS related, My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
MS doesn’t belong on the back burner
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Today I received an Email from a former co-worker of my husband’s. She told me a friend of hers was just diagnosed with MS and she asked if it was okay with me if she passed my E-mail address along to her. I told her she certainly could and that I would, to the best of my ability, answer any questions she wanted to fire my way.
Many years ago, when Dear Hubby was first diagnosed, we had no one available to us who we could go and ask questions. DH’s neurologist was a very poor one who no longer practices today. He was bad enough that DH quit going. He essentially put the whole MS thing on the back burner.
Our family physician tried to answer questions but soon ran out of answers. He wasn’t a neurologist and DH wasn’t ready to find another one after the quack he’d been going to did absolutely nothing for him except charge and exorbitant fee for about five minutes of his time.
We didn’t have a computer at the time where I could do research. There were very few books available and of those that were, most weren’t helpful. No one offered us much in the way of answers. We had no support groups available and so we muddled along on our own.
In another post I talked about how that due to a problem I had, I went to a different neurologist for tests and took DH with me. DH found a new doctor there. Suddenly available to him were medications and support that the former (quack) Doctor had never bothered to mention or offer. This doctor answered questions and most important of all, he cared.
Posted in MS related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
MS and the White House connection
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m a hard-core cynic. We’ve heard too many empty promises from politicians, TV and movie stars, and MS organizations.
Empty promises like when they (organizations, stars, and politicians) say they will help us pay for mobility devices and ramps to make our home more accessible, because so far, those have been completely out of pocket expenditures for us. When they say that there are support groups for Dear Hubby, because any we’ve found seem to be for newly diagnosed patients, and those with relapsing remitting MS. He refuses to sit through another ‘I-was-just-diagnosed-and-need-a-shoulder-to-cry-on’ session. It’s not from lack of sympathy on his part; it’s from overload on the subject. We’ve never found one that addresses the long term and secondary progressive MS issues.
When they say there are medications out there, we agree that there are, but again, they are mainly for people with relapsing remitting MS. Sometimes DH feels as though he’s on another planet when it comes to SPMS.
Will the Obamas’ personal connection to MS make a difference? I hope so. What will a White House connection bring to the table? So far, we’ve a promise of a reversal on stem cell research. This does hold promise for DH and others who have MS, especially those who have SPMS and PPMS.
Posted in MS related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
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