Hi all,

Sorry I haven't been around much lately.  Ever since I started back to work a few weeks ago, I've been feeling so exhausted when I'm home that I hardly ever even turn the computer on!  I do try to check my email at least once a day, so I can usually be reached that way, though!

So anyway - at the end of June, my grandparents moved up here to West Chester, PA from their condo in Sarasota, Florida.  They aren't exactly in assisted living yet, but they moved into a 3-stage community, and they are still in the independent part.  Since they've got up here, it has been a LOT of running around trying to get them to various doctors.  I hate to say this, but the doctor they had in Florida was TERRIBLE, IMHO.  I was so relieved when we found them a great doctor up here, and she wants to totally change the way things have been going.

My grandfather is the current concern.  He's 86 years old, and actually in fairly good health.  When he was a child, he had TB of the bone and was in the hospital for 2 years and has a fused hip.  He's on a few meds, and he had a TIA a few years back, as well as emergency surgery for a hernia strangulating his appendix maybe 6 months ago or so, but all in all, he's in pretty good health.  He's had swelling in his feet for some time, but his doc in Florida had just put him on a diuretic.  As we found out recently, that doctor had identified a leaky mitral valve in the heart, but hadn't done anything about it or pursued it further or rechecked it.

So my grandparents went through the stress of moving up here, and my grandfather's feet had been very very swollen as of late.  At first the new doc just had him restrict his salt, but the feet kept getting worse, so she sent him for some tests.  Turns out, he has very severe damage to the mitral valve with some lung damage and hence some mild heart failure.  They've just gone to the new cardiologist yesterday (whom they liked immensely) and now he's got to go to a CT surgeon.  He needs to have open heart surgery to repair the mitral valve in about the next 3 months.

The docs say that if he doesn't get the surgery, he will decline and probably only have 1-2 more years to live, but if he has the surgery, he could live 5-10 more years.  At 86 years of age, it's always a risk looking at surgery, but he's going to go ahead with it.  Seems as though he is in good enough health, and they will do thorough testing prior to his surgery.  So if anyone has some spare vibes for my grandparents, it will be much needed!!  We don't know when he will have the surgery yet, as he still has to meet with a few surgeons up here.  They said it will be about a week in the hospital, then about 2 weeks in rehab, then he can go home.  My mom and I decided that one of us will probably spend the night there as much as we can once he comes home to help out.  Not sure how that will work, but we'll see!

One other bit of news on my stimulator - had finally a good post-op neurosurgery appointment this past Wednesday!  A couple of weeks ago, I went to the surgeon's for more draining, and they said the neck incision was definitely infected.  So I started on more antibiotics and had a dressing on it for awhile, but it's finally gotten better!  When he first diagnosed the infection, he pushed a lot of the infected fluid out of my neck with his hands, which wasn't the most comfortable of things, but at least it is healing up now!  I am still having good results, especially for CH - still only having 0-2 hits/day most of the time.  I have made 3 weans on my one med, but we are going to hold here for a little bit because I started having increased migraine pain, but it has been better today at least!  I'm very pleased with how it is working!!

Anyway - just wanted to ask for some vibes for my grandparents and give a little upate on the stim!  Hope all is well and that the convention was a blast!!

love and hugz,
Carrie :)

You got it, Kid!  :-*

Watching the ravages of age on our loved ones is indeed hard.

Vibes and prayers for your family coming your way.

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You're a good kid. You know that?

Charlie

Vibes and big hugs to you all Carrie.

Post when you can, you are a busy young lady and we understand.  Your work wthic and commitment to your profession is admireable.  We DO understand.

Luv ya...you go getter you!!

I know it can be hard in all the caring but enjoy them while they're close and relatively healthy.  This situation completely reverses relationships but there is much love and beauty to be found in all the caring.

(((VIBES))) are coming for all of you.

-Dennis-

Thanks you guys!  It really put a smile on my face to come home tonight and read your messages! :)

This week, I oriented to charge nurse at work (means basically you're in charge of the unit), and this weekend they put me in charge by myself for the first time!  Me!  In charge of a whole unit of currently about 13-14 nurses a shift, 1 ancillary staff, and 26 babies!  Scary!!  hehe  Actually it is quite fun.  I've always looked forward to orienting to charge, and I'm quite enjoying it!  Of course, it is a bit nervewracking, never having done it before now - but there are lots of people around to help you out.

So at any rate, as I got home tonight, I was talking to my mom, and she had spoken to my grandfather earlier today.  Apparently he told my mom that my grandma had said to him that she wants to move back to Florida without him.  I know she doesn't really mean this, but she's been making a number of comments like that lately, and it really makes me feel very sad.  It's obvious she isn't happy - but she is being downright snappy about it.  She is also weaning off her PremPro hormone replacement pill that she should never have been on, but has been on for years, and in large part for her mood.  It's just sad hearing her make comments like this, questioning all the docs, and all sorts of things.  I'm starting to wonder if it's not her wean off the medication....

I'm really really glad that my grandparents have moved up here, because it is nice to have them close by.  I've always been very close to them.  But this is a hard time - a number of things are changing in their health, and my mom and I are basically managing it all.  I type up databases of my grandmother's medications - actually created a pretty decent one with the names of all the meds/vitamins/etc, doses, prescribing doctor, times a day to take the meds, special notes, and even a "when to refill" column that has the date of refill plus how many refills are remaining on each script.  This is no easy task.

It isn't easy watching the roles reverse, I guess.  I try not to think about the fact that they are aging.  I cannot imagine my life without them in it.  And hopefully that won't be something I have to face for some time.  And the good thing is, now that they're up here, I can make sure they are getting good medical care and be an active part of making sure they have the best care possible.  Not sitting by on the sidelines as I get half-information passed on to me from Florida.

I know that them being up here now changes everything.  I am very glad that they are here, sad for what they are going through, but hopeful that I can make a difference and make things a little easier for them.

Sorry to ramble!  Thanks again for the kind thoughts and words!

Love and hugz,
Carrie :)

See if Granny might try black cohosh - plant based estrogen supplement.  Maybe if she even THINKS it'll help her mood, then it will.

I'm trying like mad to stay off hormone replacement and so far I'm doing ok with the black cohosh.

Bless you for caring so much.

You have it Carrie...

Ray

Hey Carrie - What hospital do you work at? I am a frequent flyer at Lankenau. Three more nights and I will hit their "Gold Status" and get a free upgrade  ;D.

Prayers are on their way, Carrie. :)

Sanna

Hi Carrie its good to hear from you. I've been wondering how you were doing  :) How are the plans for YOUR move going? We'll have to chat sometime soon, let me know when you are about!

love
Helen xxx