Yodit's Back

Yodit came back to her regular overnight shift last night, exactly three months after having her baby.  She also did the dinner shift Monday, which happened to be her birthday.  She'll really only do the overnight shift, though, because that's when her husband can be home with the baby.

Yodit is no longer working at the nursing home where we met.  She told me much of the staff has left, and it's not as good a place as it was.  I may have left at a good time.  Anyway, I'm very happy to have Yodit back with me.

Good News

I went to the urologist this morning to see about my urination problem and got good news.  My doctor said everything is fine.  I just need to drink more liquids, especially more water.

When I was going through the cancer treatments, I knew I needed lots of liquids, so I paid close attention to how much I got each day.  Lately, however, I haven't been too concerned about that.  I guess I'll have to go back to counting fluid ounces.

Back To Myself

I was finally able to urinate about 6 last evening, and it's been fine since.  That's the pattern of whatever this is-- I'll have a tough time, then be good for days or weeks.

It's an odd, even humbling, experience.  One minute I'm reminded I'm an animal.  I'm in pain, trying to get relief, trying to understand.  The next minute, after a success, I'm immediately back to my semi-rational, quasi-civilized self.

Trouble

I haven't been able to urinate in nearly ten hours, and I'm worried and in pain.

Tammy

Last night's shift was the last for Tammy as a regular aide for me.  She'll probably be back occasionally, but she's been transferred to another site.

Tammy is a good aide and a friendly, caring lady.  I will miss her.

Yodit Delayed

Yodit was supposed to be back last night, but she wasn't.  There's been a paperwork snafu-- the company doesn't have the permission papers from Yodit's doctor yet-- and she can't come back to work until that's settled.

Now, she's expected back early next week.

Good News

Johniece told me last night that starting tomorrow night she wll be here every weeknight from 6 to 9.  It's good news.  She's a good aide and a really nice young woman.

Also, Yodit is due back tonight. so maybe we can get a really solid aide rotation established quickly.

Hitting The Button II

My aide was late again this morning, so I hit the alert button as Janeka told me to, to let her know all was not quite well-- and an ambulance was sent.  Luckily, the aide arrived at the same time the parammedics did and quickly straightened things out, but I could've been left trying to tell those guys I really didn't need to go to the hospital even though, yes, I had intentionally hit the button.

True, the person involved in sending the ambulance had no details, only the alert, so you could argue that person acted out of an abundance of caution.  Aides are regularly late, however, and Janeka wants me to hit the button to let her know I'm alone 15 minutes after the start of the shift.  If that alert is going to trigger an EMT run every time, the arrangement quickly becomes unworkable.  We need a better solution.

Hoops

The NCAA men's basketball tournament starts tonight.  It's a wild, fun event.  This year, March Madness is sloshing over into April, which is a little bit odd.  You'd think if the NCAA and CBS were going to spend all that money and effort promoting "March" Madness, they'd try really hard to play the thing out in March.

Anyway, my Final Four picks are Duke, Michigan, Indiana, and New Mexico, with IU beating Duke in the championship game.

Hitting The Alert Button

We had another problem with an aide not showing up today, and Janeka told me I need to hit the alert button if no one is here some time into a shift.  I haven't done that because the one time I hit it accidentally Insights folks didn't come.  Instead, paramedics came charging in here in a few minutes.

So, if taken the button to be an emergency resort only.  However, If Janeka says to use the button to let her know no one has come, I will.

Bladder Spasms

I haven't heard from my doctor yet, but Nurse Danielle thinks the problem is bladder spasms.  She said she could feel my bladder spasming when she did the catheterizatiion.

If that's what the problem is, she said there is medication that will stop it.  I sure hope that's all it is and that we can get it under control soon.

Big Ten Tourney

The Big 10 men's basketball tournament runs today through Sunday, and it should be a wild affair.  The first game certainly was.

I'm looking forward to watching it and hoping IU can pull it out.

Another Aide Problem

I didn't mean for this to be Complain About Aides Week in this blog, but the aide who was supposed to be here this morning didn't come, so Janeka came almost an hour after the shift was to begin.

This particular aide is good when she's here, but I can't count on her completely.  She's regularly late, and sometimes, like today, she doesn't come at all.  She's always apologetic after, and she always has a good explanation, but I need them here on time.  I'm having enough trouble urinating as it is-- having to wait longer for an aide to get here only makes it tougher.

Sleeping Aides

As I understand it, the aides who do the overnight shift are supposed to stay awake to be ready when I need them, but that doesn't always happen.  I never really thought it would, and it's generally not a problem.

Sometimes, however, I have a tough time waking them up.  I'll yell and yell because I need the bathroom, and I can hear the aide snoring away.  When I finally get them up, they do a good job, but getting them up can take several minutes.  You'd think if they knew they were to be on duty all night the aides would try to get naps in beforehand.  Maybe they do-- or maybe they can't.  Who knows.  If they can't because they need to work that much to make ends meet, we are back to a basic weakness in the system that needs to be addressed as part of a larger reform.

Taking A Sample

Nurse Danielle just used a catheter on me to take a urine sample so the doctor can get on with trying to determine what's wrong.  I had another rough day Saturday.

Danielle said my bladder was spasming even as she was getting the sample.  Maybe that's the problem.  I have times when I have trouble urinating, but once I get through that, I can have many days of normal activity before another episode.  That sounds like it could be spasmodic.  It also might connect with my cerebral palsy.

Accident

I had a bowel accident today.  Right after lunch I though I was going to pass some gas, but more than gas came out.  My aide Desma was right there, and she was very good, but I hate it.

Getting old is hell.

Now, Johnice

I lost Jordan as an aide last week, and now Johnice, another aide I've come to trust and count on, is cutting back to only two dinner shifts a week.  I assume it's the nature of the industry-- aides don't make much money, so they are constantly on the lookout for better opportunities-- but it is frustrating.

Hopefully, after Yodit returns in a couple weeks, we can establish a regular rotation of a few aides that will last a while.

Another Big Storm

We had another pretty big snowstorm blow through last night.  I was concerned it might delay my aides in getting here this morning, but both Janeka and Desma made it as usual.

Hopefully this will be the last big snowfall until next winter, but this is Indiana.  I've seen snow here in April, so we'll just have to wait and see.

Alas, It's Official

I got an email from Jordan today, and she said she will no longer be my aide.  Whoever is getting her is fortunate-- Jordan is a competent aide ready to help her client in any way necessary.  On top of that, she's a really nice young woman.  When she smiles-- which she does often-- her whole face lights up.

I hope this move helps in her career, but for me, this development is a bummer.

House Call

My doctor came this morning to check out my urination problem.  He said my prostate seems pretty good, his nurse took a blood sample, and he's ordering ultrasound tests on my bladder and kidneys.

He also wanted a urine sample, but I couldn't go on command-- which is, after all, the problem.  If I could always go when I wanted, I wouldn't have needed to see the the doctor.

Anyway, we'll see what happens.

Jordan

I might be losing Jordan as an aide.  She could be switching to a client who has physical needs more in her area of interest than mine are.

Losing her would be a big loss for me.  Jordan has become one of the aides I count on the most.  She's extremely reliable-- on time even during the blizzard after Christmas-- and I can count on her to do anything I need done.  She is also a realy nice, very kind young woman.  I will miss her a lot if she moves on.