Dec 24

mom did her physical therapy this morning. She did the pool manually as the treadmill was broken and then she did the land-based treadmill. Legs still hurt.

Dec. 22

This morning we went to see Dr. Iatris. He x-rayed Mom's lungs and proclaimed her in great shape. She still has a little fluid on the left lung but nothing to be concerned with. He also said she has made a magnificant recovery considering what she has been through. Mom told him about her cough and runny nose so he has prescribed a round of Flonase (a steroid inhaler) for the next month. We will get that prescription filled momentarily.

Went to the water therapist this afternoon and did about an hour in the water. Actually, other than being a bit warmer, it was the same exercises that Mom and I have been doing at LA Fitness. Nevertheless, the PT has a leg up on where to massage Mom's thighs etc. and it made her feel better the last time so we shall continue with Wed. and Friday appt.s. After she massaged Mom she put an icepack on her back and let her lie there for awhile. I forgot to check how long but it was probably about 15 or 20 minutes. Mom says her back now hurts when she walks but we haven't been home for more than 2.5 hours and often you feel worse immediately after therapy before the good sets in. At least that is what we are told.

December 18

Today we went to the water therapist in the morning. We were very impressed. She asked Mom all kinds of questions relating to symptoms and her legs and pain levels etc. Then she tested her legs for strength and mobility and pain points. She did the same with her back. She said Mom probably has a bone spur on her spine, showed me where the curvature is, tested the musculature around the curvature and determined that she could help Mom with massage, onland exercise and water therapy. She massaged muscle notes in her hips and in her spine and Mom was painfree while walking for quite a while. Mom felt she had a great improvement in just one session. We will see the therapist again next Monday and Wednesday.

We then went to see Dr. Ryan Cantwell regarding Mom's feet. They are swollen like sausages. Last Thursday she began to take the diuretic that Dr. Cohen prescribed a week or two after her pacemaker when Mom felt so horribley fatigued and breathless. After the pneumonia went away she wasn't breathless anymore so we all agreed that Mom might not need the diuretic. Anyhow, I advised Cohen that Mom was taking the diuretic and that her feet were swollen and he said the Cantwell could do an equally good job on this subject and we didn't need him. Naturally, when we got there today the swelling was 50% down which could be a result of the diuretic, the massage and relief in the back and hips. He said it could be the daily Advil that causes this but is still waiting for the reports from the neurologist and the spine man. We filled out new forms requesting this data to be sent which they faxed. Otherwise, he is recommending nothing until he gets the reports.

Mom also had low bloodpressure which might account for her lack of pizzaz. We forgot to ask Cantwell what you do about this but left him a message in this regard. It was 92 over something.

Dec. 10

We saw Dr. Reuben Sloan the spine doctor. He took 4 xrays of Mom's spine. Needless to say, her spine does not look good. It is full of arthritis, L2 and L3 have slipped which makes the nerve passage tight. She has pretty severe curvature of the spine in the nether regions as well. He thinks that when she fell she caused an arthritic flare up. Because she is on coumadin and can't be off it he can't give her any shot to remediate the pain. He has prescribed water therapy which is different than water aerobics so we will be looking into two places. Apparently water therapists aren't readily available so which ever place has what we need is where we shall go.

December 8

We began the morning by going to the coumadin clinic and getting instructions on how to measure Mom's blood with the coumadin machine. I'm sure it has another name but hey... that's what it does. It isn't any more difficult than taking blood to measure sugar except that the little place that collects the sample is finikky.

This afternoon, we went to the bone man to check out Mom's arm. Today he didn't see that the elbow had been broken but he thought he could see where the wrist had been broken. Seems there's a new story with each visit. Mom and I are really wondering about this fellow's ability seeing as he keeps suggesting that she is 90. I wonder if a broken bone looks different in a 90 year old??? Anyhow, we are supposed to see him on Jan 5, but we are thinking we will cancel it as long as Mom is progressing.

Dec 5

The coumadin monitor has arrived so Mom and I will go to Piedmont on Monday for an 11am appt. to get our instructions as to how you use it. I observed the week before and it is quite straight forward and doesn't require any genius. Works like a glucose thingy.

From there we go to Dr. Schneider, ostensibly to sign off on Mom's arm and wrist. Good riddance to this twit.

Mom made an appointment for next Wednesday, Dec., 10, with Dr. Rubin Sloan at Resurgens, the same "company") that did her hips, knees, my knees and wrist. So, they have all her data at hand and can use the Xrays that were taken on the 4th. Resurgens has specialists for every joint in the body and, other than Schneider, do a very good job on same.

December 4

Today we saw Eddie Bean, Dr. Kress's PA. He shot a lot of Xrays of Mom's hips and knees and determined that there was nothing wrong/compromised with any of these joints. He then sent her for an xray of her spine. She has scoliosis (curvature of the spine). He also discovered that L2 had broken at some point and has healed. He thinks that because she has no disks left between her vertabrae that when she fell she jossled something and that is what is causing her pain. He recommended that we see a spine specialist and gave us his name. An appointment has been made for next Wed.

December 4

December 3 we visited with Dr. Seiden, a neurologist. He did a complete neurological assement of Mom to see what the problem is with her legs/walking. His conclusion is that neurologically she is just fine. He also said there was nothing he could do about the neuropathy in her feet. Dr. S. suggested that the problem with Gram's legs might be orthopedic or rheumatic and that she should see a doctor in either/both fields for assessment. We are going to see Dr. Kress' PA on Dec. 4 for an ortho-assessment.

November 17

Mom awoke in the middle of the night and said her right leg was numb. I massaged it for a bit and then decided that we should return to Kennestone ER as I thought it could be another stroke. The ER doctor said it was probably neuopathy and suggested we find a neuologist. This I did with the help of Dr. Cohen. We are scheduled to see a Dr. Seidon at Piedmont on Dec. 3

October 26

Mom fell in her bedroom and hit her head on the dresser. She was taken to Kennestone ER where a CTscan of her brain was done and x-ray's of her arm. It was determined that she had broken her elbow in three places. The arm was "set" and an appointment was made with Dr. Schneider at Resurgens.

Dr. Schneider reviewed the x-rays, took some of his own and set the arm in a half cast.

Mom also developed fluid on her lung as a result of the fall. Dates of Dr. I are to follow.

October 21

On 10/21 - Mom had a small stroke on the left side. She went to Kennestone ER and was admitted. She was released on 10/22 after she was seen by a physical therapist, occupational therapist, neuologist, swallow specialist.