Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2006. That weekend we took Mattie to Butler's Orchard in Maryland. It was one of our favorite farms to go to during the fall. They had a wonderful hay tractor ride to a pumpkin patch, in which you could pick your own pumpkin off the vine. As you can see, Mattie and Peter got a wheel barrow and were in search of the perfect pumpkins.
Quote of the day: I love you every day. And now I will miss you every day. ~ Mitch Albom
This morning I took my parents to see their primary care doctor. This doctor sees my dad every three months. Today our discussion was my dad's energy level. When the doctor asked my dad about his energy level, my dad responded that his energy level is great. Literally in unison my mom and I said... It's not! My dad can do an excellent snow jobbing a person and if you don't dig deeper, you may think nothing is wrong with him. In any case, the doctor asked my dad whether he reads or uses his brain. My dad responded no! At which point I jumped in and told the doctor, we do the following to exercise his brain:
1) a daily journal, which I have been upkeeping since July
2) daily brain games that involve word finds, numbrix, reading comprehension, and other brain teasers
3) my dad goes to a memory care center three times a week, which provides all sorts of stimulation throughout the day.
4) a white board and electronic calendars as prompts and reminders of activities and time
Needless to say, when I hear my dad saying he doesn't do anything, I literally want to scream! In any case, my dad is starting Ritalin tomorrow morning and when we see the doctor in two weeks, I am bringing in all of my dad's activities for the doctor to see!
Last week, my mom went to see the podiatrist. At the appointment the doctor couldn't feel pulses in her feet. A few days later, we saw my mom's cardiologist, who prescribed testing. He did not seem concerned however because my mom completed a stress test in April and has no alarming symptoms now. Yet because my mom has coronary artery disease which required a cardiac stent in 2018, she is monitored closely.
An arterial duplex ultrasound uses sound waves to create a color map of the arteries in the legs. It is used to identify (1) narrowing of vessels that may be causing leg pain when walking, (2) Resting leg pain, (3) Foot, ankle, heel or toe ulcers, and (4) Skin discoloration.
What I was concerned about was that she had a vessel blockage which would require the insertion of another stent. The radiology center is close to our home and they are excellent. The vascular tech allowed me in the exam room and explained the test to us. The test is performed while lying on an exam table. Just getting my mom undressed, in a gown, and on the table was challenging. She was also very anxious and a bundle of nerves. Fortunately the tech was lovely and helpful.
The steps of the test:
- The technologist applied warm gel on my mom's legs and arms.
- A transducer, a small device similar to a microphone, was placed over various locations on her arms and legs.
- Blood pressure readings were taken on her ankles, thighs and calves. There was great pressure from the cuff which made my mom very uncomfortable.
- Sound waves bounce off the muscle and tissue of the body and off the blood moving in the arteries. This creates "echoes." The echoes are reflected back to the transducer. A television monitor showed images as the transducer converts the echoes to electronic signals.
- After lying down, my mom was asked to walk on a treadmill for five minutes, with a pressure cuff on each of her ankles. After walking, her pressures were immediately taken.
This is what my days are like. Jumping from one appointment and issue to the other. There is no way that my mom could have navigated alone through any of these visits today. She needs great help moving about and her anxiety levels are high and need to be managed with all testing.
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