SLEEP SLEEP AND MORE SLEEP. I just slept for an entire week. Sam roused me occasionally to take pain medications (he hears me moaning) but I conk out immediately afterwards. Thank you, Sam.
THE “VITAL SIGNS”. For the last few days my blood pressure has been averaging 90/52 and` my oxygen level is about 90. Both readings are very low, the oxygen in particular, especially s1ince we boosted the level of my oxygen concentrator last week to eight liters (that’s a lot of oxygen!), which is high enough to hear it rushing through my cannula from 10 feet away. It sounds like Niagara Falls in here. Also, an oxygen reading from my oximeter needs to be 92 or higher to be considered normal. I’m currently at 90. Before we raised my oxygen concentrator to eight liters my oximeter readings were in the upper 80s. I’m definitely not breathing well.
CHRONIC PAIN. I absolutely, positively CANNOT move my legs without screaming. Moving is a complete horror for me. Whenever I need to use the bedpan and Sam has to roll me onto my left side, I let out a terrifying blood-curdling scream that would make Bigfoot turn tail and run. The pain of the century is my right knee. I’m okay as long as I don’t try to move, and my Hydrocodones and Xanax keep me relatively pain-free. From now on when I have to roll onto my left side I’ll add an oral dose of Hydromorphone to my regular pain meds. Trust me, with Hydromorphone Sam could amputate my head and I wouldn’t feel it!
TREMORS. In both hands and all ten fingers. There are times that typing is nearly impossible … but I persevere.
MY VOICE HAS DISAPPEARED. Squeaky, rattly, raspy. My voice varies from “cartoon character” to a “100-year-old woman,” and after the first few words it usually vanishes entirely.
THE “VITAL SIGNS”. For the last few days my blood pressure has been averaging 90/52 and` my oxygen level is about 90. Both readings are very low, the oxygen in particular, especially s1ince we boosted the level of my oxygen concentrator last week to eight liters (that’s a lot of oxygen!), which is high enough to hear it rushing through my cannula from 10 feet away. It sounds like Niagara Falls in here. Also, an oxygen reading from my oximeter needs to be 92 or higher to be considered normal. I’m currently at 90. Before we raised my oxygen concentrator to eight liters my oximeter readings were in the upper 80s. I’m definitely not breathing well.
CHRONIC PAIN. I absolutely, positively CANNOT move my legs without screaming. Moving is a complete horror for me. Whenever I need to use the bedpan and Sam has to roll me onto my left side, I let out a terrifying blood-curdling scream that would make Bigfoot turn tail and run. The pain of the century is my right knee. I’m okay as long as I don’t try to move, and my Hydrocodones and Xanax keep me relatively pain-free. From now on when I have to roll onto my left side I’ll add an oral dose of Hydromorphone to my regular pain meds. Trust me, with Hydromorphone Sam could amputate my head and I wouldn’t feel it!
TREMORS. In both hands and all ten fingers. There are times that typing is nearly impossible … but I persevere.
MY VOICE HAS DISAPPEARED. Squeaky, rattly, raspy. My voice varies from “cartoon character” to a “100-year-old woman,” and after the first few words it usually vanishes entirely.
In hospice terms, all of this — the sleeping, the vital sign numbers, the tremors, the voice — is called a “decline.” And I’m fully aware that one of these days I’ll fall asleep and simply not wake up any more …
I’ve got a yoooge pile of terrific free fonts for you today! There’s something for everybody here. Scripts, display fonts, hand-drawn fonts, some wonderful picture (dingbat) fonts, and a lovely variety of layered fonts, too. I don’t have download links for a couple of them (“Love & Romance” and “Lucky Fortune”) so just shoot me an email and I’ll send you the files, okay?
In case you’re interested, the 18 Christmas Marble Foils and 12 Tropical Florals are from Digital Curio. The designs are absolutely breathtaking. I’m planning to use the Tropical Floral for bathroom products … vanity ceramics, hand towels, bath mats, and night lights.
I think I’d better wrap this up and pubilsh it already or it’ll be another whole week. I can’t seem to stay awake again! Thank you for reading this and thank you for your patience. Shalom, howdy and happy Sunday morning.
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