Rusty's Ramblings

[Rusty Edge]

That's my suspicion. I've walked a little, but it keeps raining. I tried to do pushups, but my spine was hurting. I think I need to lose more weight before I try that again. I did some yard work for my mom today between rains. My wife tells me I'm losing the belly, but I don't see it yet.

If I'm not able to increase my activity, I may reduce my protein portions to reduce my calories. As my body shrinks, so does my daily need for calories and nutrients, if not my appetite for them.

[Rusty Edge]

Dad update- The therapists think that they have basically peaked on recovery of nerve function. He won't fully recover from the complications of the series of surgeries. So, there will be half as many therapy sessions/week. He can still rebuild muscle. He's happy in the home where he is. But, things are going to shift from Medicare to supplemental insurance, and the allowance will decrease. My parents will shoulder some of the financial burden. He will move to a different wing and a semi-private room on Tues.

To that end we're working on financial paperwork. We plan to keep him there for a month, until the next doctor visit ( when they make determinations about fitting for a helmet, since reconstructing the skull - or any other further surgery is too risky.)
Then we intend to bring him back to the county where they live, to make things easier on my mom, who never did like driving a half hour or more, and he's currently 3 hours away, still close to his specialists. My sister in Florida has offered to come up and be with mom after Memorial Day, and go with her to the brain surgeon appointment. The trouble is my sister had eye surgery complications, which required more surgery, and she still won't be fit to drive then. So my brother will probably take them.

My Dad is also acting stubborn, twice he has fallen while trying to get into bed by himself from his wheelchair. That's really dangerous for a guy missing the top of his skull. He lacks the balance and strength to get up and down by himself, and my 80 something mom can't handle him herself, so he can't come home. Mentally, he's not himself when he's tired, and he tires more easily because it takes a lot of concentration to balance and use his hands. At present he is getting cards and visits from his side of the family, and his busy with therapy. We're pretty sure that when those things slack off, he'll be unhappy with his situation. Bringing him to the home county should put him in easier range of his immediate family and congregation, and more importantly, my Mom.

We'll see how it goes. I may be flying back in July.  To quote Forrest Gump,"that's all I have to say about that."

--------------------------------

Diet-wise, I've passed the 6-8 week mark were a lot of diets are overridden by cravings and reverse course. The book promised it would continue to work. So far, it's been right. I'm still waiting to see some of it's other claims come true, such as skin tags being reabsorbed. Summer is supposed to be the hardest time to lose weight, because your body normally stores fat for the next winter. It's considered okay just to hold steady. Also, while my initial losses were about half a pound/day, from here on I should expect a pound/ per week as a healthy rate. It should allow my skin to shrink-fit, and not stress me with too much heavy metals being released from my shrinking fat cells.

-------------------------------------

Returning home will mean getting back to organizing my basement, preparing equipment for the fishing trip, and going to visit the chosen kitten, among other things. Maybe I'll even get a chance to use my remote control sailboat on the pond before it's choked with weeds. It should also mean going for regular walks after lunch for the exercise, although I enjoy it as much for the chance to think. I should also make time to donate blood after the holiday. I also want to get back to my kitchen and try a couple experiments I have in mind, one soup, the other pizza.

[E_T]

Sounds like things are starting to settle out a bit for you, good to hear...

[Rusty Edge]

Sounds like things are starting to settle out a bit for you, good to hear...

It feels stressful because it's less than ideal, but I guess that's the healthy way to look at it, thanks!

[Rusty Edge]

Made it home, almost unpacked. It was funny to see the snow shovel at our front door, but when we left home last month there was still snow cover. My dad tried to go to the bathroom by himself, and fell again. He's still progressing, and is capable of standing up by himself sometimes now. Last I heard, he hadn't moved to the assisted living wing from the rehab wing, and it didn't sound like his therapy sessions have been reduced. We'll have to see who pays for that....

[Geo]

We'll have to see who pays for that....

The health insurance company I hope?

[Rusty Edge]

We'll have to see who pays for that....

The health insurance company I hope?

It's kinda complicated. Even Medicare ( gov. insurance for old people) has it's limits. The three brain surgeries cost about $900,000. He's been in the hospital and rehabilitation facilities for over 90 days, which is sort of a cut-off point, but it's been covered. My parents have supplemental insurance, and have filed a claim. It should kick in at the 90 day mark, but won't cover the full amount/day. My mother has contacted an attorney who specializes in elderly law. Now some people would likely go on Medicaid , which is for poor people. In my parents' case, they live in a university town, so their home has appreciated in value, so they don't qualify for that.

Anyway, my remarks were about the differences in daily rates between the rehabilitation wing where he has a single room, and the assisted living wing where he shares. They were a few days late moving him from the 90 day mark when doctors had prescribed the full rehab.  In assisted living his rehab is supposed to be limited to practicing what he's already learned to do, and about 3 times/week instead of 6. So he was getting the full treatment for longer than prescribed, but he was still responding and improving.

[Rusty Edge]

Let's see... the dog and I went on a mile walk each of the last two days. Before that we were busy with moving my mother-in-law into a single room in her nursing home, instead of a suite. She's running low on money, but the home will keep her for life.

Weighed myself today. 243.6 pounds, so I've lost exactly 35 so far. I'm going to need smaller pants, but I'm in no hurry to buy. On the bright side, I won't be buying a new suit to wear to my niece's wedding this fall.

[Rusty Edge]

Sunday, which I intend to be my regular weigh-in from now on. 241.1 lbs.

Yesterday I was at the airport and had my driver's license out.  It said 255lbs.  I've never weighed this much less than my license, and my picture is looking less like the current me.  Tried a few pushups again today, but I could hear bones crunching, * and I'm hearing impaired ) I think I'll put that off for a couple months. I have been walking regularly, and my dog is getting to expect it.
-------

My dad is plateaued on walking with the walker at 100-120 feet. He has been working at propelling himself in a wheelchair using both feet and legs. The problem is that his right knee is bad, and his right hand is the weak one with poor motor control, so he tends to turn to the right . On the bright side, he has been working on steps, something he needs to be able to do to return home.

----------------

I'm going to try to set up the Skybell doorbell/intercom/camera today.

[Rusty Edge]

The door bell thing didn't quite go well. It was working, but wouldn't quite close with the wires connected. In the process of taking it apart and putting it together again I lost a miniscule, but critical screw. I had to abort until I can go to the hardware.

I was really tired yesterday for no apparent reason, and today I appear to have a cold.

[E_T]

sorry to hear, hope you get better soon...

[Rusty Edge]

sorry to hear, hope you get better soon...

Thanks. Seems more and more like a cold. I took Dayquill, and that seemed to help. We were in the airport for a couple of hours on Saturday to see my mother-in-law off, so that seems the like point of contagion.

[Rusty Edge]

Yesterday we led the nation in pollen count. I don't know if it was that or the after affects of my cold, but my sinuses were bad. Today is supposed to be record heat for the date. Our only plans are to pick up my MiL from the airport in late afternoon, and take her to dinner before taking her back to the nursing home. So I figured it was safe to take Nyquil and sleep in. WRONG.

Family needed our portable air conditioners which we take to the cabin on the fishing trip. They were suffering, and their fish were dying in their aquarium early this morning. 

----------- ------------
Diet wise, I remain on pace. Surprising, considering that I'm retaining water because my fingers are swelling up like they do when it gets into the eighties in Florida. I can tell by my rings. I checked, I've lost 5 points of body mass index so far. I'm still interested to see what my fasting blood tests look like this fall. I'm expecting a big difference in cholesterols and triglycerides. 

------------------
I gotta give credit to the therapists at the rehab center, as well as my step dad for his determination. I believe I've mentioned that he was moved to the nursing home wing from the rehab wing, because he was peaked out on the Medicare for rehab, and the evaluation was that he had peaked out on his neurological recovery, too. So he's getting half the occupational and physical therapy he did in the rehab wing.

But he's been doing "push-ups" on the arms of his wheelchair in his room, my cousin has been working with him on his days off, and the therapists apparently decided that since his right knee was bad, and the fingers of his right hand are weak
( seriously limiting his ability to steer himself in a wheelchair ), that it was better to teach him to use a cane in his left hand. Granted, it's a cane with 4 or 5 feet, and his current distance is only half that of using a walker, but it's looking like he'll be able to come home some day, once he has a helmet. Probably need some hand rails, too. At this time my mother wants to keep him where he is, simply because he's making progress now, and she's afraid he could go backwards without the motivation to return home, and the rehab sessions.

He was able to "dial" a large key track phone we bought him for the first time, so his dexterity is improving, too.

================

Tomorrow's plan is to get my MiL, and grill burgers.

[Rusty Edge]

I lost another 2.3 pounds this week, even though I did violate the diet for one meal with a second glass of wine and a serving of pasta. I have been taking my dog on a mile long walk daily, except for when it rained and we reversed course. According to Dr. Gundry, an overhanging belly, skin tags near the armpits, and rosacea, are all signs of pre-diabetic syndrome and insulin resistance. He promised that stuff would reverse.  Well, it's been just about 3 months since I started. My belly is now a big bulge, rather than an overhang. I can only see one vein in my nose, even though my veins are reappearing on my limbs. While the skin tags haven't dried up and fallen off as he predicted, they are getting smaller, as if they are being re-absorbed. Rather than conspicuous, I have to turn just the right way to see one at all, and the other is definitely shorter.

I ordered some protein bars to simplify breakfast on the fishing trip. Reviews said they taste like fudge brownies. They arrived today, and I think they taste like chocolate Space Food Sticks. That's great because I always liked S.F.S., but I can't get them any more.

----------------------------------------

My dad has been using the walker, cane, and practicing stairs and transfers into and out of the car. One of my sisters arrives today to support my mom. They are going to see the brain surgeon tomorrow. Hopefully that will result in being fitted for a helmet. After hearing the results of that, I'll probably make arrangements to fly to PA in July and do another shift with my mom.

---------------------------

I seem to be recovered from cold and allergies.

[E_T]

Progress, not perfection...
Sounds great...