Category Archives: MS related
Glorious sleep and other updates.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Without the E-collar on, Gavin slept peacefully last night. I finally slept in my own bed after spending the last 14 days downstairs on the couch or in my lounge chair so I could keep an eye/ear on him during the night. Boy, did I sleep!
Dear Hubby’s mother seems to be doing well. He goes over to the Rehab hospital every day and stays with her while she is doing her PT. He says they have her walking on a strange contraption rather than the parallel bars, her shoulder pain is improving, and she gets stronger each day.
Patty is so happy to have her brother’s company again that her tail didn’t stop wagging all day even when she was napping on the couch with her Daddy.
Things are slowly getting back to normal around here.
Posted in Dog related, 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, 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
I miss Dear Hubby’s cooking
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Today the dogs were in the kitchen sniffing around my feet while I was cooking a leg of lamb. They love the smell and always hope for a scrap or two in their dinner. They were so underfoot I had Dear Hubby call them out of the kitchen and sit with him. It made me think about some of the great meals he used to cook for us on occasion.
DH can’t stand long enough to cook things anymore. We even tried putting a stool next to the stove but with the way our kitchen is set up, it didn’t work well. The outdoor grill, which was where he excelled as a cook, is also no longer his domain.
He used to make the most wonderful omelets. Mine never seem to taste as yummy as his did. However, that could have something to do with food tasting better when you don’t have to cook it. When I managed the pet store, if he was on day shift he was always home before me so he would cook our dinners those nights. The man was not only an excellent cook but he was quite inventive.
Now when I speak of him ‘cooking dinner’ it means he’s ordering from one of the many places around us that deliver. The food doesn’t compare but it is nice that he occasionally does this to give me a break from cooking. There are those days when I’ve exhausted myself and I tell him, “You’re cooking tonight.” His response? “Chinese, cheese steaks, Italian food, hoagies, pizza, what are you hungry for?” Have to love the man!
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
A caregiver’s break
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After Dear Hubby reassured me that he would be fine for a few hours, I got out of the house for a small, much needed break. I scooted off to our local Borders carting my manuscript along. I bought a large coffee, two writing magazines, and the DVD DH wanted. I settled down at a table with highlighters, a notebook, a pen, and my manuscript. I spent the next two hours sipping coffee, marking up the print out, making notes in colors on the pages, and writing out ideas in the notebook of where I can expand certain chapters. It’s the most work I’ve been able to do on the book in weeks.
Feeling more at peace and that I’d accomplished a lot, I left Borders and went to the grocery store. Yuck, I do hate shopping. However our cupboards were running to almost bare so it was a necessary trip.
When I arrived home, DH had the dogs in their crates, and the front door opened, he’d heard me pull into the driveway. It didn’t take long to unload the car.
Posted in 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
Chipping through the looking glass
Posted by doggonedmysteries
To be able to step through the looking glass as Alice did and deal with a strange land of chess pieces and a fearsome Jabberwocky would probably be easier at times than the day to day life we deal with. Heck, another day similar to yesterday and I’ll beg someone to give me a hammer to chip my way through the looking glass. I’d rather battle a Jabberwocky than watch him have such an awful day.
Dear Hubby never knows when he wakes up in the morning if he’ll be able to walk or not. I never know if it will be a good day or a bad day. Today was a good day.
Other than a sore spot on the back of his head where it met the wall yesterday, DH felt well. His balance was even halfway decent. In fact, after spending yesterday limited to his Lazy Boy he was restless today. Nevertheless, after yesterday’s fall I wasn’t taking any chances. Whenever he got up I asked him what he was doing, and did he need me to get him something. I couldn’t help myself. I probably drove him crazy treating him like Humpty Dumpty.
On days like this, I call Patty and Gavin Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee. They were silly and spent the day chasing each other about the house, wrestling over Nylabones, and getting under foot. I think they were happy that DH was feeling better.
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, Snow, Writer, Writing
Secondary Progressive MS kicks Dear Hubby’s ass
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Every day around here is another misadventure in wonderland. Today was worse than most days. Early this morning I awoke from a sound sleep, not sure why, couldn’t tell what woke me, but then I heard Dear Hubby call my name. When I got downstairs the first thing I saw was blood. It was running down the side of his head. I helped him to his chair. I ran to the kitchen, grabbed a clean towel from the drawer, and had him hold it in place. Then I grabbed a bunch of wet and dry paper towels to clean the blood off his head and hand and find out where it was coming from—fortunately, he had only three small cuts on his scalp. The fact that he had wet hair had made the blood run faster. I’m not squeamish, I don’t have the nurse gene, but I know first aid.
I assessed his damage and made sure he was okay by asking him all the concussion questions. Then I asked him if he wanted me to run him to our doctor’s emergency center. He told me no, he didn’t need to go there. Once I him settled, and was certain he was doing fine, I poured myself a cup of coffee, sat down, and began to shake. Having had only about two hours of sleep my body rebelled at the shot of adrenaline his fall had given me.
Right now, now that he’s safely in bed and asleep for the night, I’m angry, angry that there’s no real treatment out there for him. I’m angry that the research being done is spotty at best. I’m angry that although I do daily searches for any new drugs or clinical trials to help him nothing is out there except the same old same old.
I love him dearly and it pains me to see him fall further and further down the rabbit hole. I’m not Alice, and even though I wish I could with all my heart, I can’t rescue him.
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
It wasn’t an easy day for Dear Hubby
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dear Hubby had a pain management appointment today. He’d had to reschedule after last week’s minor fender bender that he had on the way there. He didn’t get the usual late afternoon appointment he prefers. He had to be there at nine in the morning. Not trusting himself to get up on time, and stay awake enough to go, he asked me if I minded playing alarm clock for him. Since it meant staying up only an hour or two longer than I normally do, I said I would.
Before I woke him, I took the pups out, fed them, and made a pot of coffee. This way when he came down there was nothing he HAD to that would tire him out before it was time to leave. I also had him take my car instead of his truck when I saw his windshield had ice on it and mine was clear.
I often drive him to his appointments but he’d already planned to go alone this time. I believe he thinks I need a break from running him to all his doctors and with the cold weather, he feels well enough to drive himself. I kissed him goodbye, told him to drive carefully, and headed to bed.
When I came down later, I could tell he’d had a rough day. The pups were snoozing in their crates, DH kept dozing in his chair, and he avoided walking unless he absolutely had to. It seems that the pups decided today was pester DH day. Once he arrived home from his appointment, they didn’t give him a moment’s rest.
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, Snow, Writer, Writing
MS the drunken puppeteer
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Early this morning we had a dusting of snow. However, that didn’t last long because it changed to rain. The ground is now oversaturated, it is still raining, and my yard is rapidly becoming a swamp. I half expect the Koi to leave the pond and go exploring. The dogs weren’t interested in too many outings today, poor dears. Yesterday was a lovely day but they didn’t get to enjoy much of it.
Dear Hubby is coming down with something and it has aggravated his MS. Yesterday when I woke up and came downstairs, his balance was so far off, that he told me he felt like a marionette with a drunken puppeteer on the end of the strings.
DH was also running a fever and seeing double. Our doctor has a walk-in emergency clinic so I drove him over there. It seems that everyone who wasn’t out shopping was in the waiting room. With that many people ahead of us, I began to wish that I’d grabbed my Alphasmart when we left so I could do some writing while we waited. Luckily, I always carry a notebook and plenty of writing implements.
One and a half hours later, a nurse called DH’s name and we followed her back to the exam rooms. After another thirty minutes, we left with two prescriptions for him and instructions, one of them, that he should drink plenty of fluids. Since we had to pass near a grocery store on the way to the pharmacy, I ran in there for stuff for him to drink. I think the same crowds from the doctor’s office were in the store.
Our next stop was the pharmacy and if we wanted to wait for two hours, we could get his prescriptions then or wait until today to pick them up. It seems the throng had beaten us to the drug store too. By then the sun had set and the dogs had spent a long time alone so we opted for picking up his medications first thing today.
Posted in MS related, My blog, Uncategorized
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Dream home?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I had an odd dream last night. I was in a fabulous new home, I knew it was ours, but I wasn’t sure how we got it. Did we win it, had someone given it to us, or did we have it built? All I know is that in the dream, it was ours, brand new, and it was all on one floor.
The only problem was I wasn’t happy with the décor. Some designer had gone overboard with it. The whole dream probably came about because I fell asleep with the TV on TLC channel with the program “While You Were Out” playing and it steeped into my brain. Either that or it was wishful thinking.
You see, our home isn’t handicapped accessible. It would be nice for Dear Hubby if it were. How wonderful it would be only to have one floor. When we bought this house, we had no idea we might need to be on only one floor someday. Heck, when we bought the house it was supposed to be our starter home.
We had plans to move one day but with job changes, lay offs, and his early disability retirement we’re stuck here.
To make the best of it, I’ve been talking to the young men who live next door to us about building a deck out back that will have a ramp to the yard to make it easier for DH to get in and out of the house.
He’s still able to manage the steps but the time will come where we’ll need the ramps. Our stairs to the second floor are steep and some day we’ll have to put a stair climber in for him too. However, for now we’ll make do with what we have.
Posted in MS related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Dear Hubby MS and cooler weather
Posted by doggonedmysteries
As much as I love summer, I do hate the toll the heat takes on Dear Hubby. Once the temperature soars above the seventies, he can’t stand the heat and spends most of his time indoors in the air conditioning. His MS damaged nerves don’t tell his sweat glands they need to work and he quickly overheats. The dogs and I do miss having him outside with us.
Fall brings with it some relief for Dear Hubby. Now that temperature is cooling down, he has a little more energy, can go outside more often, and he’s even making plans for his yearly hunting trip.
The hunting trip becomes more difficult for him each year as his strength, balance, and health wane but he’s determined to continue going for a long as he can. I tell him to go, enjoy, and have fun. It’s good for him to keep doing it every year.
Winter can be a problem because he feels he must go out and run our snow blower. I do try to beat him to the job as often as I can, knowing he’ll push himself beyond his limits. Thank heavens the neighbor’s sons will take over the job too when they notice him out there clearing the walk and driveway.
No, it’s never going to get easier but we do have plenty of good and very kind friends who help when help is needed. To them I say, Thank you.
Posted in MS related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Fiction, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Diamonds are forever…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Every commercial on TV is screaming, “Buy me! Buy me!” Half of these are the ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ commercials. Handsome men present necklaces that are dripping in glittering stones to attractive wives or girlfriends whose eyes light up with love. They flash these gorgeous nothing-less-than-a-carat diamond rings with breathtaking settings onto the TV screen and tell you, if you love her, you’ll buy her one.
A few years ago, my friend almost lost her diamond because the prongs holding it in the setting had worn down to nothing. Her diamond popped out and, lucky for her, it landed on her keyboard.
Which brings me to the conversation Dear Hubby and I got into about my engagement ring. After watching a trillion of those commercials, I’d taken my ring off to check the setting. We’d had the prongs checked right after my friend’s ring incident but I hadn’t really looked at them in while. The prongs were fine but wow the band sure is thinning. You see I’ve worn it for thirty-five years.
I said, “Hey Hon, look at this.” I showed him the ring.
He examined the ring and said, “Yes, you are wearing a bit thin after all these years.”
“You’d best smile when you say that, boy. I write murder mysteries.”
Lucky for him he was grinning.
Posted in Holidays, MS related, My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Fiction, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Good days and bad, we muddle through.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
When Dear Hubby is having a bad day, it means his balance is off, he’s feeling weak, or he’s having serious trouble walking. He’s not a person to sit back, rest, and relax. He will push himself to his limits, which at times gets him into a bit of trouble. Those are the days where I keep an eye on him and when, if I feel he’s pushed himself too far, I tell him so.
The dogs seem to sense a bad day early on and have the wisdom to spend the morning lazing on the couch making no demands of him. This is not the case once I get up, but I don’t mind. The dogs and I go out into the yard and have several good romps.
On his good days, which unfortunately are becoming fewer and fewer, DH will climb onto his mobility cart and run the dogs around the yard. I get a kick out of watching from the kitchen window. They play a form of tag and the dogs love it. This is their game, no Mom allowed. On some exceptional days, he’ll take the cart outside of the yard and one at a time, they go for a walk. It benefits all three of them. DH gets some fresh air and the two dogs get some excellent exercise.
Now with fall here and winter approaching DH is becoming gloomy about the idea of having to remain indoors more. He can no longer run the snow blower or shovel snow. I don’t mind doing it though I’m hoping for another mild winter. There’s a lot of shoveling needed out there when it snows.
DH hates that he isn’t able to do things he used to do around the house. We have two wonderful young men that live next door who never hesitate when we need their help. I tell their mother daily that they are a blessing. I can’t praise them enough. On more than one occasion, they’ve run to help DH when he’s fallen. They’ve even jumped over a fence to get to him quickly.
Posted in Dog related, MS related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Fiction, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Writer, Writing
Occasional double vision, clumsiness, tingling in hands and feet finally added up…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Eighteen years ago, my husband learned that he had MS. The doctor sent him to a neurologist. That neurologist never provided him any medications or counseling. He refused to deal with our health insurance company and charged $250.00 per visit.
What would Dr. Donothing do for that sort of money, you ask. He’d give him a less than five-minute exam that’s what, and then he’d send Dear Hubby on his not-so- merry way. After less than a year, DH quit going to him.
Years later, I had trouble with my hands going numb. Our family doctor sent me to a neurologist for testing. DH came along. During my tests, I told this new neurologist that DH had MS. He asked DH what neurologist he was seeing. I answered, “He isn’t. I can’t get him to go to one.” The neurologist, while running my tests, began to ask DH a ton of questions and he answered many we had. His evident disgust at the lack of treatment DH had received at the hands of Dr. Donothing gave me hope that we’d found some help at last. We had!
This neurologist arranged for DH to go for an MRI and set up an appointment with his partner, who specialized in MS, before we left the office. He’s been going there for 10 years now. Four years ago, his relapsing remitting MS diagnosis changed to Secondary progressive.
He’s on Avonex, had chemo treatments, and yearly MRIs to track the progression of his MS. Then there are his weekly physical therapy and monthly pain management appointments.
We’d like to hear from other MS patients who are Secondary Progressive, and who have lived with this disease for approximately the same length of time or longer. Secondary Progressive MS is a subject we’ve rarely found discussed on any web site or in support groups.
Posted in MS related, My blog
Tags: Author, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Disability, Life, Multiple Sclerosis, Mystery, Writer, Writing
Doggonedmysteries 