Caregivers

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Many of us are caring for aging parents, either in our own homes or long distance, spouses or children with medical issues. This group is a place to vent, to share experiences and wisdom, ask and answer questions.

Members: 28
Latest Activity: Jan 3, 2018

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A Prayer for Caregivers

Lord,
You have chosen each of us to an important task in this world and that is why you have chosen me as a caregiver. Only you know what the plan for my life is and what road I will travel because of my mission here. You have an unfailing faith in me that I my not always have in myself. Through all the things I deal with on a daily basis you always manage to give me Mercy and Grace and the strength I need when I don't know how to take another step. I know you have chosen me among all the others.. Please keep your hand upon my life, my health, my sanity and my loved one that I care for. Give me rest and Peace. Give me guidance and let me humble myself before you and remember that each day new Mercy and Grace will show up to get me through another day. Bless my caregiver friends as well as we all walk together on this same path.
Amen

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Tags: Caregiving, Stroke

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Comment by Linda Koller on January 3, 2018 at 5:12am: Welcome Michelle! 2017 wasn't such a great year for you either. Let's pray that 2018 is a better year for all of us.

Update on Indy....Finally was able to get Indy an ultrasound in August. They discovered that he did not have pancreatitis after all and probably never did. He had been diagnosed with it since he was a puppy. Turns out Indy has a thickening in the stomach wall/lining that produces an enzyme which mimics pancreatitis. After he was put on a diet of boiled chicken, sweet potato, peas, carrots, brown rice, and tuna, the vomiting stopped. Then it took a while to find the right mix of medications before the diarrhea to stop. Indy will be on antibiotics, acid reflux, and anti-anxiety medication the rest of his life. He has permanent damage to his esophagus from the constant vomiting and has a cough. So he now wears a harness to attach his leash rather than attach to his collar. Otherwise, he is back to his self playing, barking at the squirrels and the mailman, making sure his mom doesn't sit or stand more than 30 minutes at a time, and he's even starting to cuddle again and roll over for belly rubs. And he does his best to trick me for extra treats! It's so good to have my buddy back. God is good.

Happy New Year!

Comment by Michelle Trumble on January 3, 2018 at 4:11am: Good morning all. My name is Michelle and I just joined hour group. I love the beginnings prayer. I am the caregiver to both my parents who live with me and my husband. We also just lost my husband's parents in 2017. My husband became guardian after his mom passed to his Dad who had Luis Body Dementia. My dad has brain damage caused by UTIs and my mom is well but is legally blind. Quilting has been a life saver for me. I am a retired teacher of 34 years. We have 2 sons one who is getting married in June. I am in the process of making them a quilt. Looking forward to being a member of this group. God bless you all! Michelle

Comment by Kathy Koehler Holm on July 4, 2017 at 3:01pm: I agree..!!it feels so good to talk to each other!!, instead of sit in our houses with a heavy load to deal with..we need to stop in much more often for a cup of coffee and a chat....getting together is like being in my garden and caressing all the blooms...each one of you make up the fragrant flowers in my bouquet...colorful and sweet!...you bring sunshine to the blossoms and color to the garden!

Comment by B J Elder/WA on July 4, 2017 at 11:32am: Isn't it amazing that our attitude towards the challenges we face makes all the difference in the world. We are all dealing with tough things, yet can see the positive and don't let the tough tear us down. You are all Super Women!

Thanks for checking in and getting us back in contact with each other.

Comment by Kathy Koehler Holm on July 4, 2017 at 10:48am: Wow, that is a lot of heavy information to take in!..First of all Lori, you are amazing!..so strong and calm!..so much going on in your life!...we will continue to lift you up in prayer...the Lord is good and He knows how much we can bare!..I too have glaucoma and take my drops faithfully and have had the cataracts removed..now I have to deal with severe osteoarthritis and am care taker to dear husband with Alzheimer's ...it is all in a day's work!...I am so looking forward to heaven and my new body, the Lord will give me..no more pain!!....the Lord has taken such good care of us!..our days are filled with joy, and I hope your are too!

Comment by Linda Koller on July 4, 2017 at 9:23am: Wow, Lori! Like you said life goes on and on.

Slowly I'm getting my life back in order after that 1-1/2 nightmarish year. However, in January Indy (my therapy dog) got seriously ill and I nearly lost him in February. He's been sick off/on since. He's not responded to treatment and/or diet changes for the pancreatitis. At this point he will not eat his kibble, but only the soft food and treats. So the vet has ordered an ultrasound to see if there is something else wrong. I'm currently fundraising to get the $400 needed for the test plus $1k to pay his vet bill. His vet bill is only going to go up since we can't figure out what is wrong with him. He just turned 7 years old a couple weeks ago. Havanese can live to be 17, so he has a lot of years ahead of him. I'd like for them to be as pain free as possible. The vet has put him on pain medication which makes him sleep quite a bit. I would be devastated if anything should happen to Indy. He's my constant companion and he keeps me calm during PTSD moments.

Comment by Lori/MD on July 3, 2017 at 6:21pm: Good Evening Everyone. I suppose it's time for an update. Wow I haven't been on here since January. ALOT has happened.

Lou Ann has made tremendous strides in recovery. She has moved into her own Apartment. Yes by herself. Her house was too much and her son will be selling it, but she is living on her own again, and loving her new place. It's not too far from me so I still get to see her at least once a week.

Well, life is life and it goes on and on. In April my husband suffered something, and we're still trying to figure it out. At first they thought it was Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and that's the diagnosis we went home with. The neurologist thinks he had a stroke. Regardless of what it is/was, he is getting better slowly, was out of work a month, and is back to work now. He still has some paralysis on his right side, which makes writing difficult, and walking a little trippy sometimes, but otherwise he seems to be making a full recovery.

And if that's not enough.....Mom's estate is finally settling, just in time for my siblings to get "their money" makes me so angry....long story that I won't go into, but you have all heard them before about siblings.

In June, I went for my annual eye exam and was delighted that my vision had improved, right before the eye Dr sent me to the specialist to be diagnosed with glaucoma, cataracts, thinning retinas and corneas. I go next week for a test to see if I have the beginnings of macular degeneration. Okay one, or the other, but not both. My Paternal grandmother was blind by the time she was 60 but I know she didn't do anything they told her if she even went to the doctors.

Having said all that, I am doing fine. What will be will be, and He has a greater plan for me than I know, and He will guide me through this new adventure in my life. Everything happens for a reason, and I know that very well.

Hope all are doing well.

Comment by Kathy Koehler Holm on January 16, 2017 at 12:09pm: Oh Lori, I am so sorry to hear about Lou Ann...I was just thinking about her the other day and wondered how she was doing...poor soul!..she has had enough pain in her life for one person to bare...and now this!..this is just over the top!!..we will remember her in prayer!..thanks for letting us know..!

Comment by Linda Koller on January 15, 2017 at 10:01pm: Lori, praying for your friend LouAnn.

Comment by B J Elder/WA on January 15, 2017 at 9:03pm: Oh Lori, so so sorry to hear this about Lou Ann. I'll be praying for her. What a special lady she is.