Re: Jim in hospital

January 23, 2010

Janet - I'm so sorry to hear that Jim is in the hospital. My thoughts & prayers

are with you. Ultram is the pain med. that Carol used. Here's more to read about

it here:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/message/87559

>

> Hi All,

> Jim was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, he has Pneumonia and was anemic

and they gave him a blood transfusion. His blood pressure was very low and his

oxygen, but they got all that back up to a normal reading. He is feeling better

since put on the antibiotics for a UTI also and yes, he was also dehydrated with

kidney failure, but they got him hydrated and the kidneys are good and working

now. Jim was cheery today and I could tell he is feeling better for the

Pneumonia part anyway, but he is now in the stage of swallowing issues and the

doctor said that Jim has aspiration Pneumonia from his swallowing issues and

that it would not be recommended to keep bringing him back to the hospital

everytime he got Pneumonia, because it is only a bandaid and not really fixing a

problem and his swallowing issues are getting worse and it will be more frequent

to get pneumonia since Jim does not want a feeding tube or any life supports, he

stated in his Health

> Directive. The doctor suggested Hospice now and thought maybe it's only a

matter of a few months for Jim. Although, I knew this time was coming, you can

never prepare yourself for it when it actually does arrive, it's still a

(((shocker.))) They will probably release Jim back to the nursing home tomorrow,

since he seems to be doing well, alert wise. He was making jokes to me today, he

felt so good. That's what makes it tough to know he can not really recover. Let

me make it clear, his voice is whispery and slurry, but I understand him and can

hear his jokes, it's not like his joke are coming out clearly, but the fact that

he still does joke around with me is hard to take knowing what is around the

corner for him, because he still has a personality. He does have a sense that

things are not right of course, and he was talking to me today about his love

for me and that he is dying, so he realizes it. He asked me how much I make a

month and if I will be

> ok, so he does know. I assured him I will be fine. I don't want to put him

into depression with worry. This is the 7th year since he was dx w/LBD and it is

right on schedule, since I have read the average duration is generally 5-7 years

from dx. (diagnosis) I believe Jim started showing signs a few years before the

dx, but it is within the duration frame of time, give or take a few years.

Since Jim will be with Hospice, can anyone tell me the name of the pain

medication that Manatee Carol from Florida suggested years ago instead of HAM

that Hospice loves to give. I do not see how to get into the files anymore,

there is no margin to click in to bring me there, where did it go? Yahoo has a

new format.

> It was my birthday yesterday and I spent it at the hospital, so this is not a

very good birthday gift. I spent last year on my birthday at the hospital too. I

am making up for it all this week by going out to lunch with friends that are

treating me, so I did not lose out on my birthday. Birthdays are a celebration

of life and I am awfully glad that I am here to have a birthday, but I am not

so glad about the age Hahahaha I am also going to focus on my daughter's

wedding coming up in August, it is a much happier event to focus on and I am so

excited for her. It is such a blessing to have that to focus on and not the grim

news I was given today about Jim.

> Have a great weekend and I hope the weather is nice for you. After a

downpouring of rain for days in CA, we finally get a break in the weather with a

sunny day tomorrow. I for one, am going to enjoy the day tomorrow, because a new

storm front is due again on Sunday/Monday.

>

> P. S. Imogene, I was lurking and read about Don and I am so sorry that he is

not doing well either and I hope that you get some rest, so that you can recover

from all that you have been through and pick up your strength. You and Don are

in my thoughts and prayers.

>

> Love and Hugs to all.............................Jan

>

January 23, 2010

Oh my darling Jan, I am so sorry!! I can feel the stress of it with you.

But, it is great that you have family and friends to help you through this.

And my dear we too are here to help.

Jim is still about two years ahead of Don I do continue to believe. Don

has started having occasional Dysphagia. It isn't bad with him yet.

Jan, thank you for thinking of us. Of course I do the same about you and

Jim. You have been a fine teacher for me, and I have always had high respect

for you.

I love you as well, dear sweet lady,

Imogene

In a message dated 1/23/2010 2:33:49 A.M. Central Standard Time,

janetcolello@... writes:

Hi All,

Jim was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, he has Pneumonia and was

anemic and they gave him a blood transfusion. His blood pressure was very low

and his oxygen, but they got all that back up to a normal reading. He is

feeling better since put on the antibiotics for a UTI also and yes, he was

also dehydrated with kidney failure, but they got him hydrated and the

kidneys are good and working now. Jim was cheery today and I could tell he is

feeling better for the Pneumonia part anyway, but he is now in the stage of

swallowing issues and the doctor said that Jim has aspiration Pneumonia

from his swallowing issues and that it would not be recommended to keep

bringing him back to the hospital everytime he got Pneumonia, because it is

only

a bandaid and not really fixing a problem and his swallowing issues are

getting worse and it will be more frequent to get pneumonia since Jim does not

want a feeding tube or any life supports, he stated in his Health

Directive. The doctor suggested Hospice now and thought maybe it's only a

matter of a few months for Jim. Although, I knew this time was coming, you

can never prepare yourself for it when it actually does arrive, it's still

a (((shocker.))) They will probably release Jim back to the nursing home

tomorrow, since he seems to be doing well, alert wise. He was making jokes to

me today, he felt so good. That's what makes it tough to know he can not

really recover. Let me make it clear, his voice is whispery and slurry, but I

understand him and can hear his jokes, it's not like his joke are coming

out clearly, but the fact that he still does joke around with me is hard to

take knowing what is around the corner for him, because he still has a

personality. He does have a sense that things are not right of course, and he

was talking to me today about his love for me and that he is dying, so he

realizes it. He asked me how much I make a month and if I will be

ok, so he does know. I assured him I will be fine. I don't want to put him

into depression with worry. This is the 7th year since he was dx w/LBD and

it is right on schedule, since I have read the average duration is

generally 5-7 years from dx. (diagnosis) I believe Jim started showing signs a

few

years before the dx, but it is within the duration frame of time, give or

take a few years. Since Jim will be with Hospice, can anyone tell me the

name of the pain medication that Manatee Carol from Florida suggested years

ago instead of HAM that Hospice loves to give. I do not see how to get

into the files anymore, there is no margin to click in to bring me there,

where did it go? Yahoo has a new format.

It was my birthday yesterday and I spent it at the hospital, so this is

not a very good birthday gift. I spent last year on my birthday at the

hospital too. I am making up for it all this week by going out to lunch with

friends that are treating me, so I did not lose out on my birthday. Birthdays

are a celebration of life and I am awfully glad that I am here to have a

birthday, but I am not so glad about the age Hahahaha I am also going to

focus on my daughter's wedding coming up in August, it is a much happier

event to focus on and I am so excited for her. It is such a blessing to have

that to focus on and not the grim news I was given today about Jim.

Have a great weekend and I hope the weather is nice for you. After a

downpouring of rain for days in CA, we finally get a break in the weather with

a

sunny day tomorrow. I for one, am going to enjoy the day tomorrow, because

a new storm front is due again on Sunday/Monday.

P. S. Imogene, I was lurking and read about Don and I am so sorry that he

is not doing well either and I hope that you get some rest, so that you can

recover from all that you have been through and pick up your strength. You

and Don are in my thoughts and prayers.

Love and Hugs to all.............................Jan

January 23, 2010

And, dear , love and hugs to you, a positive force to the List.

Imogene

In a message dated 1/23/2010 11:08:51 A.M. Central Standard Time,

stim@... writes:

Oh Jan, such sad news about Jim. We know the decline is inevitable but at

the same time find it so hard to deal with. He had a lot going on

medically. It is a relief he is feeling so much better but the dips get deeper

and deeper. Good you have some positives to look forward to, like birthday

lunch with friends, the Aug wedding.

Keep strong Dear Friend.

Love and hugs to you.

January 23, 2010

And, Bless your heart dear Joan. You are a jewel.

Love you,

Imogene

In a message dated 1/23/2010 1:09:49 P.M. Central Standard Time,

joan_croft@... writes:

Dear Janet,

I am so sorry to hear of Jim's condition. Perhaps he is making jokes and

feeling a little better because he knows that he won't have to suffer with

this disease for too much longer. Live out the rest of his days with all

the love and caring that you have done in the past. Perhaps he will hold on

to see your daughter get married...sometimes milestones get a person

through for a while.

God bless you and Jim,

Hugs and prayers,

Joan

January 23, 2010

Oh Jan, such sad news about Jim. We know the decline is inevitable but at the

same time find it so hard to deal with. He had a lot going on medically. It is

a relief he is feeling so much better but the dips get deeper and deeper. Good

you have some positives to look forward to, like birthday lunch with friends,

the Aug wedding.