Among Friends

[Bird mama]

Hello all - the fog was so thick this morning it was ridiculous.  I usually don't leave for work until 9 am thereabouts and I was surprise the fog still hadn't lifted.  I passed wreckage (cars) who must have made the attempt earlier in the morning.  I don't know why people just won't slow down in these conditions.  I could tell by the rumpled metal that speed was definitely a factor.  My car is a color called arctic blue and I know it doesn't show up well in fog so I am careful. 

This is not my actual car, but this is what it looks like - I blend right in during fog

I received a call from the younger of my two nieces last night around 7:30.  When I saw her name pop up on my caller ID on the cell phone I knew something was wrong.  Her mother (my eldest sister) was in the hospital. 

You may remember me asking all of you if you had any experience with gabapentin (sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas).  My eldest sister took it for a couple of weeks starting in December for her fibromyalgia.  Christmas Eve, my sister commented that she'd had a weird experience when taking her INR.  She also takes coumadin.  The INR was so high, the coagulation clinic thought my sister's machine was broken and told her go to the hospital to have the INR checked.  The machine at home registered something like 8.5, the hospital registered something like 5.6.  She was advised to lay off the coumadin for a few days and she never gave it another thought.

So, fast forward to January and she is having serious weakness in one of her legs.  She and her doctor decide to quit the gabapentin, thinking the strength will come back to her leg.  The pharmacist concurs that since she took the gabapentin only a couple of weeks that it would work itself out of her system in 1 to 3 months.

My sister has been falling backward at least once a week because it's not like her leg is numb, she just can't control it.  So, she sees her RA doctor last week who becomes really concerned about this and gets my sister into a neurologist the next day.  Neurologist thinks she might have had a bleed from the coumadin in December that did this to her leg or she might have a pinched nerve.  He tells her he wants her to have an EMG today and then a CT scan on the 19th and then an MRI on Holy Saturday, the 26th. 

Apparently my sister fell (this time with a cane) on Saturday afternoon in her kitchen and smacked her head.  She fell again Saturday night on carpet, at which point she calls her eldest daughter and says, I'm having a problem getting up.  They call an ambulance and she's taken to the hospital.  As of last night, when my younger niece called me, there is no brain bleed, just a large hematoma (orange or grapefruit size) on her head.  They didn't admit her, they hydrated her (apparently she had a flu or virus) and consider it observation.

My middle sister, who talked to younger niece first told me after I finished talking to younger niece that my first great niece, that just turned 5 - I went to her party a week ago Sunday has pneumonia.  That nearly stood my hair on end.

If you are inclined, can you please say a prayer for my great niece and my sister - that branch of the family has got it going on right now.

[mousiegirl]

---

@Bird mama wrote:

Hello all - the fog was so thick this morning it was ridiculous.  I usually don't leave for work until 9 am thereabouts and I was surprise the fog still hadn't lifted.  I passed wreckage (cars) who must have made the attempt earlier in the morning.  I don't know why people just won't slow down in these conditions.  I could tell by the rumpled metal that speed was definitely a factor.  My car is a color called arctic blue and I know it doesn't show up well in fog so I am careful. 

This is not my actual car, but this is what it looks like - I blend right in during fog

I received a call from the younger of my two nieces last night around 7:30.  When I saw her name pop up on my caller ID on the cell phone I knew something was wrong.  Her mother (my eldest sister) was in the hospital. 

You may remember me asking all of you if you had any experience with gabapentin (sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas).  My eldest sister took it for a couple of weeks starting in December for her fibromyalgia.  Christmas Eve, my sister commented that she'd had a weird experience when taking her INR.  She also takes coumadin.  The INR was so high, the coagulation clinic thought my sister's machine was broken and told her go to the hospital to have the INR checked.  The machine at home registered something like 8.5, the hospital registered something like 5.6.  She was advised to lay off the coumadin for a few days and she never gave it another thought.

So, fast forward to January and she is having serious weakness in one of her legs.  She and her doctor decide to quit the gabapentin, thinking the strength will come back to her leg.  The pharmacist concurs that since she took the gabapentin only a couple of weeks that it would work itself out of her system in 1 to 3 months.

My sister has been falling backward at least once a week because it's not like her leg is numb, she just can't control it.  So, she sees her RA doctor last week who becomes really concerned about this and gets my sister into a neurologist the next day.  Neurologist thinks she might have had a bleed from the coumadin in December that did this to her leg or she might have a pinched nerve.  He tells her he wants her to have an EMG today and then a CT scan on the 19th and then an MRI on Holy Saturday, the 26th. 

Apparently my sister fell (this time with a cane) on Saturday afternoon in her kitchen and smacked her head.  She fell again Saturday night on carpet, at which point she calls her eldest daughter and says, I'm having a problem getting up.  They call an ambulance and she's taken to the hospital.  As of last night, when my younger niece called me, there is no brain bleed, just a large hematoma (orange or grapefruit size) on her head.  They didn't admit her, they hydrated her (apparently she had a flu or virus) and consider it observation.

My middle sister, who talked to younger niece first told me after I finished talking to younger niece that my first great niece, that just turned 5 - I went to her party a week ago Sunday has pneumonia.  That nearly stood my hair on end.

If you are inclined, can you please say a prayer for my great niece and my sister - that branch of the family has got it going on right now.

@Bird mama  OMG, birdmama, nothing like when it rains, it pours. Your poor sister, so much to deal with.  I sincerely hope your sister and greatniece recover quickly.  How does a five year old get pneumonia, probably a virus first which progressed.

 I brought My Mother back from the hospital after a hip replacement, and good thing I was walking behind her while going upstairs, because she began to fall backward and I was there to put my hand on her back to move her forward.

---

[Bird mama]

Well, I texted my niece to ask her if her Ma was still in the hospital.  My niece said her Ma was not being discharged.  I called the hospital, got the phone number and dialed my sister.  I was surprised that niece answered the phone, lol.

My sister couldn't even make 5 mins on the phone.  Her head is busting, understandably.  Her BP is low, her stomach hurts and the thought is that a virus or flu is kicking her butt.  I will get more info from my niece.  Don't want to make my sister feel worse with 20 questions.

[Epicurean]

Bernie,will think good thoughts for your family. I had tried the same med. For my Fibro,and boy,it knocked me foe a loop. I could hardly get out of bed. Hope everyone is soon recovered.

This weekend was so nice we got the deck all ready to go.vacumed the floor,furniture cushions and washed down the furniture. 

Winifred,I always have a book.e reader nearby.like you I like to read the newspaper,exct for the sports section I read every page...

[Bird mama]

I'm still trying to get an update on my sister but at least I know my great niece is doing much better.  Thank God.

[yock]

We woke up to dense fog this morning.     It came in during the night.    Merle brought home his truck with a trailer with a lawn tractor on it.   It was too long for the driveway so he parked in the street and blocked our drive.   I was sure someone would turn the corner and run into it but that didn't happen.   I hate it when he does that.   He had to be somewhere early this morning.  It's bad enough when he parks his truck there but then when you add fog. . . .    

Bernie hope your sister keeps improving.   

Epi and Freddie I always read the newspaper cover to cover too.    I made a deal with my carrier years ago that if he couldn't deliver it before I went to work, forget it.   I, like Freddie, am an early riser.   My paper is at my front door every morning by 4 am even tho I retired.   I still get up at the same time, get a headache if I don't.    I like to be done with it before Merle gets up.   

I also have have my Kindle nearby.   I always have it with me in the car.  But never read the local paper on it.   

Hope we get some sun today.   

[Bird mama]

I was able to speak to my sister briefly this morning.  She had her first solid food this morning since last Thursday.  When she stands up, her BP drops like a rock and doctors are thinking it's orthostatic hypotension (something vascular) which is common for diabetics and former smokers (she quit in 2007).  Sounds like she will be moved out of observation and into a room (real admission) today.  She was going for a head cat scan so I just got the high points.

While I am sorry there is one more 'system' in her body having issues (vascular) I am glad she is where she is and the doctors are taking this seriously. 

[meuw]

Sue we share anniversaries in /february.  Ours was the 4th and 55 years. A belted anniversary wish for you.

[meuw]

Sue I meant belated anniversary wish.  Geesh my spelling.

I got my time for surgery Thursday and it is noon. They want me squeakie clean from head to toe showering twice with antibacterial soap, fresh washed bedding and clothes.  Geesh I am not a dirty person.  I had one of my rings cut off today as I couldn't get it over my arthritic knuckles. 

We had  doozie od a wind/rain storm Sunday so our yard is littered with fir branches again.  I hate the wind storms because we have so many tall fir trees. and we hope one doesn't fall on the house.  

Bernie I sure hope they find what is wrong with her and can correct her problems.  Glad your grand neice is better.  That seems pretty young for pneumonia.

Yock what are you reading now?  I am reading a local author but I am not enamored with her book so far.Our poor sheltie is a mess.  Went to the vet Monday and he has more sores on his back so got shaved again.  He looks pathetic.  We have to rub betadyne on hsi spots each day and are giving him antibiotics and a series pf prednisone as he has been scratching on anything he can. His whole back plus more is shaved.

I will keep up with you ladies but may not be ble to respond.  I will know more after my little surgery. 

[Bird mama]

@meuw

Best wishes for a favorable outcome to your hand surgery.  I am sorry you had to have a ring cut off.  My Ma couldn't get hers off but they taped hers.  I see the logic in removing a ring on your hand if it's the hand being surgically repaired.