Mental Decline & Dependency/Coping With Aging Loved Ones

Sox--

Crohn's--like other auto-immune disorders--affects each patient on a highly individual basis.

I've had exasperating symptoms for 30-odd years and I've learned to live with--or around--most of them.

The very rapid weight loss is new and may indicate that for the time being I'm not absorbing nutrients properly because of general malaise or because over the years the attacks of my immune system on my intestinal lining have built up scar tissue and/or deep ulcers.

I'd certainly like to be able to "eat by choice" again instead of my present "eating by assignment". I'd like to be able to sleep for more than two hours at a stretch. I'd like to skip some of my wambly bouts of nausea and vomiting and diarrhea.

I'm not sure than any of this is possible. I'll know more after my appointment on May 8.

There is no "cure" for Crohn's, but the patient and doctors can arrange accommodations with the disease.

Izzie--

The all-in-one canned drinks don't taste good and when my Crohn's is acting up my senses of taste and smell.

Up until this point, I've always had a cushion of fat, so weight loss wasn't a problem. Times change. My BMI is probably on the wrong side of the border, but I don't look like a starving refugee.

How goeth the Saga of the Feet?

I am the same as you Noddy - very little! I don't like food too much either which doesnt help!!!!!! (well I like choc and wrong foods!) So I tried the chocolate complan milkshakes. They were OK - but didn't make too much of a difference weight wise.

Will they have a dietician who can help you? Unfortunately tho, when taste and smell are affected - it kind of puts another hurdle in the way, as well as the actual physically managing to eat and keep down AND get the goodness from. I hope they can give you some good advice there - as well as info. on Crohn's.

Oh The FEETSythe Saga is all well right now thanku. Steps forward every day. Will visit my room and update

You take care Noddy - and stay as strong as you are able. xx

Mental Decline
Noddy - I have found that as my taste buds become less sensitive I enjoy the textures of food more. Whether by necessity or coincidence, I don't know, but I more and more often find myself looking at combinations of feel more than of taste and/or smell. I pass this along to you for what it may be worth...

As to my fudge and ice cream suggestions, I find (in line with this change of appreciation from taste to texture) that fudge-y brownies seem too sweet, chewy, and dense - taste no longer satisfying, feel no longer pleasant - but ice cream seems less sweet and the smooth mouth-feel of a good ice cream is delightful.

Izzie--

After 30-odd years of cooking for a diabetic with heart (and now kidney problems) I don't think I could learn much from a nutrition expert. (I've dealt with them for diabetes cooking--they do theory, I do practical).

TomKitten--

I'm nibbling on cake brownies and pumpkin bread.

These days I'm appreciating the texture and taste of Good Bread. Sadly there is no little bakery around the corner, but one of the supermarkets carries a good rye and an acceptable semolina.

***********

Good news this morning. Weight is back to 100 pounds and this bout of anemia seems to be ending. I won't say that I bounded out of bed this morning, but starting the day wasn't the major project that it has been for the last month.

Today Mr. Noddy sees the Neurosurgeon about his B-A-C-K. Tomorrow I see my dentist who will install the second half of a crown. We'll consult on some new bridgework--efficient chewing seems like a good idea for combating Crohn's.

Friday is more work on my incorrigible duck-walking feet.

Next week Mr. Noddy has three appointments and I have two, including the Gastric In Depth Interview.

Such a wild social whirl.

Noddy- I hear you. When I look at my calendar, between myself and Mr. P., there are more damn doctor's appointments than social dates. If I could figure out how to develop some type of business that I could accomplish on a laptop, with the time I have waiting in a physician's office, I could probably make a fortune!

Phoenix--

I color code my calendar. My appointments are circled in blue. Mr. Noddy's appointments are circled in red. The dog and everything else of a practical nature is coded with green.

This means I can see the scope of the week from across the room--provided I can keep the weeks of the month straight.

Noddy- The color coding is a wonderful idea. Thanks for the tip!

Phoenix--

Credit Mr. Noddy who didn't like walking across the room.

Noddy, good to hear from you. Colour coding great idea but did bring a smile to my lips! You take care girl.

Will be thinking of you at your check upsX

Mental Decline & Dependency/Coping With Aging Loved Ones
Well, they do say that many many inventions come from the wish to make things easier and spring from the minds of people who are basically lazy...

Yesterday was hectic, but as a result I was actually hungry for both lunch and dinner. Weight this morning, 100, but I have some energy--and another hectic day.

Hoping, the hectic isn't that terrible .... and again good for your weight/health! :wink:

Thanks, Walter. The 'hectic" is a dentist appointment for the second half of a crown which will involve about 60 miles of driving, twenty of it in heavy, city traffic. I loathe city traffic, but by two this afternoon I should be safe at home.

Apropos dentist:

my aunt had another (still the first) date again this morning.
No-one told her about it.
A went (accompanied by an aid from the home) there, after .... we tried for half an hour to convince her to make a walk in the sunshine - in a wheelchair. (I've seldom heard someone saying so often and so loud 'NO'!)

At dentist's, some more "hectic", but he was able to look at her.
He doesn't think that it would be good to replace the denture (he knows her since some years, and it's already her fourth within those five years [I didn't know that]).

So, he will only pull one or perhaps two of her teeth stumps - not in the practise but in hospital. (Before that, he'll have consultations with her internist and psychiatric doctors).


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Mother is feeling .... bad. She's very confused sometimes, walks worse than ever, has nightmares (?), ...
So she seldom leaves her room (she obviously doesn't want others to see her in this condition) - and that makes her housemates asking me every day, if mother is doing better and still in such bad health.

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I'm REALLY looking forward to the two weeks in in the USA!!!!

Walter--

Could it be that your mother is feeling very frail and unsafe outside her own room?

In any case, I can see why you're looking forward to getting away from all generations of your family for a few weeks.

*****
My new crown is complete, but I have a gum infection. I really feel that a gum infection is unnecessary, but at least I'm afflicted in the Western World where antibiotics are available.

Two weeks ago the garbage company changed the recycling rules and Mr. Noddy is terribly confused about the changes. Mr. Noddy has always disliked the garbage chore, so I'm not sure what I believe.

Yesterday the Neurosurgeon told him that given the condition of his heart and his kidneys, he was not a good candidate for surgery. Surprise. The Neurosurgeon also strongly suggested that Mr. Noddy return to the pain management people rather than writing off his surgically implanted spinal stimulator. A lot of improvements have been made in spinal stimulators in the last three years.

Tomorrow should be a very peaceful day.

A gum infection really isn't nice. (But perhaps a changing garbage rules are worse? :wink: )

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Mother feels unsafe outside her room - but mostly (or only) because she doesn't want others to see her in the momentary situation (I think, sourced by previous experiences).

Walter--

The change in Recycling Rules is definitely worse than the gum infection. Active Patience is much more challenging than Passive Patience.

Hey Noddy


Reading along - wishing I had something wise to say.... but nope - just thinking about you and still amazed at your courage and strength in facing whatever is put before you.

Hope the gum infection resolves soon and the antibiotics don't cause more digestive problems (salt water rinse????? for gums)

Take care.

Izzie x

Izzie--

You make me blush. You don't see my petulant times.

All the same, thanks for the kind words.

You don't do so badly yourself in the Grace Under Pressure Department.