[Jochs]

I forgot to update everyone on her angiogram. Not enough blockage was found for her to need another angioplasty. (In the last 19 years, she has had 3 stents put in her heart, one in her leg, and artificial valve replacement surgery in 2014.)

She got sick at the end of dialysis today, so she is still trying to get used to it. She has been going to dialysis for about 10 weeks now.

I'm not sure how much longer she will be staying in the skilled nursing section (Coventry House) at the Caretel Inns. She'll be in the Coventry House until sometime in early January, so she won't be home for Christmas, but at least she is still with us, so that's a blessing.

Thank you for your continuing prayers.

[Jochs]

Yesterday she was moved out of the Skilled Nursing section (Coventry House) back to the room she had at the Arlington House (assisted living) at the Caretel Inns of Lakeland in St. Joseph.
She has been taking Zofran before dialysis, which has helped with her nausea. After dialysis, she is now keeping food down more than she was before.
I'm hoping she'll get a little more strength in her legs and arms so she can at least get around in a walker.
Now that she is out of skilled nursing, she is no longer receiving medicare-covered therapy. My brother (who works at night) has her get out of her wheelchair and take short walks to get her some exercise.

Thank you for your continuing prayers.

[Jochs]

My mother is still staying at the Arlington House at the Caretel Inns of Lakeland in St. Joseph.
She usually doesn't get nauseous after dialysis, but yesterday she did.
My brother noted that she seems to only get nauseous if she eats something with beef in it.
She's okay with fruit or pasta, but beef often gags her when she tries to eat it.
Is this sometimes a side-effect of dialysis?

[BikerDude]

My wife hasn't had that issue, nor have I heard of it from others at the unit.
Some meds can really affect the sense of taste; that could be possible cause.

If she's having trouble getting adequate protein, check out ZONE PERFECT protein bars. They were recommended by the dialysis unit; I use them myself for a balanced carb/protein snack. Quite a variety of flavors. I but them at Meijer & Walmart.
Amazon has larger size packs at a good price if you find some that she likes & tolerates.

Hang in there,
Jim

[Jochs]

As for protein, she has these thick shake-like stuff that comes in a box. I believe it is Nestle Novasource Renal formula.
Her protein levels have been good for awhile now.

[Jochs]

My mother is doing well this week.
She actually ate meat loaf on Wednesday after dialysis and kept it down.

She is still at the Arlington House at the Caretel Inns of Lakeland. I'm not sure when she will really be ready to go home.
One thing I didn't mention a few weeks ago was that they did an MRI when she was in the hospital and found that some time in the past she had suffered a minor stroke.
It could have happened during one of her fainting episodes, or sometime long before she first went to the hospital in October.
I know, for the last several months, she has trouble with short-term memory, but can remember things from the past.
Her memory hasn't gotten any worse, so that's a positive thing.

Thank you for your continuing prayers.

[BikerDude]

Good to hear she's doing well.
Continuing prayers.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Hang in there.