Never thought retirement would be like this

Since last post it has been a roller coaster ride. Most significant event is both my mother and I now have the flu.
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She got a shot this year and a pneumonia booster at the hospital. First time in 20 years I missed getting one. Knew it was just a matter of time. it is not good---even my hair hurts.
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She seems to be about 5 days ahead of me in terms of symptoms and it's not as bad. Maybe it's true that the vaccine makes the symptoms less severe. Most of the health care workers tell me they've already had it also in spite of receiving shots. A few of the other residents are obviously sick too.

So things are on hold for now. I wanted to buy some time to see if her health stabilizes before making a move anywhere else. Having both a bout of dehydration and flu (maybe related) within the last 12 day period sure isn't helping figure out anything. It may take weeks to recover, if ever, fully.
 

　
Good news. This flu is not so bad. I beat it down in just 4 days. It now just feels like a simple head cold. Energy is back. Don't think it's going to morph into a bacterial chest infection, either, like they do sometimes. I think it would have been over in just 3 days, except I had to run a lot of errands every day, and afterward it seemed like it caused a little setback.

1) Rest
2) Lots of liquids, and
3) Don't try to lower the body temp, let the fever persist.

The debate whether reducing a fever is a good thing or not has apparently not been settled, but I'm convinced. This is the shortest article I could find:

http://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/28/s...resses-its-healing-benefits.html?pagewanted=1

and this summary

http://drbenkim.com/articles-fevers.html

1. A fever stimulates your immune system into producing more white blood cells, antibodies, and a protein called interferon, all of which work to protect your body against harmful microorganisms.

2. By raising your body’s temperature a few degrees, a fever makes it harder for invading bacteria and viruses to survive and flourish. The higher your core body temperature is, the harder it is for harmful microorganisms to survive in your body.

3. A fever helps to shuttle iron to your liver so that it is not readily available to fuel the growth of invading bacteria.

[I did take one Aleve the third night because chills and fever were interfering with rest (sleeping)]
 

The only goat who has never been sick a day in his life for 11 years now has an absess on the side of his cheek about the tooth line. This is either from the hay we bought, which has a lot of sticks, or it's a tooth. I doubt it's a tooth because it is too localized. This means I'll probably have to poke a hole in this thing and drain it.
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I don't think it will go away on its own.

He is probably close to 200 pounds (the overweight one). This will not be easy.

(ps. He is the one in my avatar at about a year old.)
 
Update: I misjudged this goat. He was easy to work with. After shaving off the hair the lump didn't look so big---about the size of a nickel, instead of a quarter. Expressed a lot of junk but only felt safe using a 16 ga hypodermic needle to poke holes. One sudden unexpected jerk might have been a disaster otherwise. I probably should try to find one of those surgical blades.

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Anyway I'll see how it looks tomorrow. If it has grown bigger I didn't get it all and I'll give it another go. Now that he knows what to expect, he may not be so easy. But I think it's going to be OK eventually.:)
 
Bless your heart, Nancy. With all the troubles and problems you've had, you remind me of Job, as seen by Stephen King, who said:

When his life was ruined, his family killed, his farm destroyed, Job knelt down on the ground and yelled up to the heavens, "Why god? Why me?" and the thundering voice of God answered, There's just something about you that pisses me off.”

Stephen King, Storm of the Century: An Original Screenplay
 
My mother died Tuesday. She was 93. I've not discussed things here lately because her condition changed so much from day to day---up and down, but generally a rapid decline. Some days it seemed like there was hope and the next day not. The evidence of stroke they found probably happened around the time I first noticed some changes in memory in December. I wrote it off as just progressing dementia or Alzheimer's. And there may have been some small artery damage occurring after that. The doctor also said last week that heart problems had begun.

I think under-hydration had a lot to do with speeding up her decline. This was a problem even before she went into the hospital. All the health care providers said the sequence of events was very typical of the end of life process, particularly that patients would obstinately refuse food and water and just want to sleep. She didn't appear to be in much pain. My mother always said she wanted to go quickly when she couldn't take care of herself anymore, and this was about as fast as it could have gone, short of a catastrophic event, but the last three days were very difficult to watch.

I am trying to accept that this was inevitable, but in truth I'll probably be second-guessing everything forever. And it doesn't help that you get advice from relatives, who haven't seen us for years, about what you should have done. Last night my cousin was even trying to rehash the details and circumstances of my father's death 8 years ago. I am at peace with his passing. It was almost instant.
 
So sorry to hear the news about your Mom, Nancy. You have been a good and loving Daughter, and you remained faithful to her to the end. May God's comfort and peace be your's indeed! God bless you! - Jim
 
Thank you everyone. I really appreciate it. This is a great forum with great people.

(And drifter, I took that quote by King as being sympathetic, not a joking.:))
 
Thanks Ameriscot. :rose:

I'm doing OK. I just have to stop thinking so much and remind myself this is the way she wanted it. I should appoint a person as health care power of attorney for myself. Wouldn't want any friend or relative to have this responsibility. I guess appointing a lawyer would work, if you wrote down the details---Advanced Directives, I think they call it.

While searching for some documents at my mother's house I ran across all our old photos. They had been temporarily missing for a long time. It's clear my mother cared how she dressed when she was young much more than I ever did. My favorite women's dress styles were in the 40s. I'd love to have this coat:

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I really hate complaining about being sick, because it is not that serious in the grand scheme of things. I'm just giving an excuse why I haven't posted lately---I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING!

Started with the flu, then sinus infection/congestion, then intestinal flu, now the dizziness/vertigo is back---all running back to back and overlapping. I'm walking around the house like a zombie, because if I look up or make a sudden move things start to spin. This makes searching for things difficult. If I can't search for things I can't do anything because the house is a mess and disorganized so I can't find anything.
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So, all I've done is move furniture, feed the goats and make one trip around the fenceline to remove tree limbs from all the rain/wind/freezing rain storms we've had lately. Meanwhile there is a disassembled outhouse crowding the basement and the to-do list is getting so long I may need to transfer it to microfiche (do they still make those?) I have a feeling things will be Ok by Monday. More later....



 
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More health comments... {sigh}...

Just did that Epley maneuver thing again with dizzy spinning at only 2 of the 4 steps this time. Wonder if that means I didn't do it right. I hate to do this early in the day because it makes you feel nauseous for hours afterward. I'd rather sleep it off. But if it works like last time, it's over with by morning---at least until next time. This is 3 episodes now. The flu is more pleasant.

Finally got around to seeing the dentist about the bridge that came off weeks ago. The news was not good. One of the anchor teeth broke off below the gum line and will eventually have to be removed. So there are only two options: 1) one of those removable partial things that has a wire around the adjacent teeth, or 2) bridge supported by implants. I've been reading about all the advantages of implants and they are coming up with better ways of doing them. I'm thinking seriously of going for it, even though it is a long process and expensive.
 
I feel for ya Nancy, you have a lot on your plate and all the health problems you're having just intensifies it all. Big decision on the implants, if you can afford them, that's probably the best way to go. I have one bridge that I had to have replaced once, but luckily no major issues with the anchor teeth (yet). Please take care of yourself, hope the dizziness subsides.
 
I would wait and cross that implant when you come to it Nancy. You are the most important job on your list. Take care of Nancy... and remember, you can always use the indoor bathroom. Hope Monday is brighter for you. -Jim

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