Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[flyingdumbo127]

Thank you dear Lynn so much. You and all of my Quacker family have been such enouraging and kind lights in my life sent by God. I am so blessed to have you all as my family in Christ. Please stay warm and well! Crazy weather indeed.

New roommate was yelling at our 7am to 3pm nurse and a charge nurse. She claimed her oxygen machine was used and that no one (she never asked or spoke up when a nurse was in here) would change/clean her. Last night our 3pm to 11pm and 11pm to 3am nurses were regular staff here who especially the ovenight nurse who I have had a lot lately, provide kind care. I will let the charge nurse know that when I'm out of the room later for pt.

Dad and I will definitely be inquiring about other room options. A charge nurse last night did promise me if my new roommate was given an oxygen machine (if she uses it, it is loud. She turned it on very briefly three times) I would be accomodated. I don't like the idea of moving from this room until Tuesday when God willing my regular room will be rrady for me but I may need to do so. Update to come.

Extra hug to all.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I had two pt sessions that went fantastic. Both therapists were so pleased with and proud of my progress. I am truly so blessed.

My new roommate has her LOUD oxygen machine. I pray it offers her good support. One of us will need to move! I won't be able to sleep with that racket!

Meantime I went by my old room 207 (the one I was told yesterday I could go back to on Tuesday). Two bed rooms are labeled A bed and B bed. A bed is always closest to the door. I prefer B bed by the window. The man in my room who is contagious was by himself in the room where my bed would be. Last night I heard a page go out for a CNA to 207A. Sure enough there are now two people in there. This is getting me back in that room

Dad God willing will be here within an hour. We will enjoy lunch and work on getting me out of this room or my new roommate moved, either way. I also want to talk with my regular 4 morning a week nurse who I've befriended to make sure 207 is still one of her rooms and what rooms she may know of that are empty right now. As always one step at a time.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28 NKJV). He indeed also makes all things including each of us, new. Have a good afternoon, dear friends.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Waving hi from much warmer than room 218, room 108. Dad and I went to talk with Jenny the admissions lady earlier. Long story short is I'm now in an overall quieter area than where I was in room 218 . I also know from a few days ago that my mom friend who works here is sometimes assigned this section. She and her daughter are rarely in the area where room 218 is.

I now have the elderly Chinese lady back as my roommate. She was thrilled to see dad and me when we first came to say hi and even happier to know I'm her roommate again. She may have some memory issues that can impact my sleep but a known person (who doesn't smoke, watch tv, or curse and generally is quiet) is a no-brainer especially here! Dad felt much better leaving today than he did yesterday.

The other afternoon positive was that I actually got to talk to the director of this horrible place. I was able to personally compliment my mom and daughter CNA friends to him. I let him know that the two of them have touched my life especially in this often dismal place. He also promised to do what he could to remind the scheduling pople to assign me mom or daughter whenever possible. He said he would pass on my praise and do something like treat mom and daughter to lunch. Yay. Something small God blessed me to do for my two friends.

ETA I pray all of you are sleeping peacefully. I feel so frustrated. It's midnight. My roommate is asleep, the tv blasting down the hall is wide awake I did twice ask a new to me nurse who came to tend to my roommate to please ask whoever has the tv on to turn it down. In regular housing there are noise ordinances. Praying to get some zzzs. As a p.s. Yes I called the front desk. I'm in 108. The person who answered paged a nurse to room 158. I need to go home! Even moreso by God's love alone how blessed I am to be closer to my escape from here.It's quieter! Going to try and sleep.

Good evening hug and love to all.

 

[Snowysmom]

Mona Glad you are in a better room and got to speak with the director. More progress with PT! Good for you!

Bobbiwoz Hope you are continuing to feel better each day.

Pea Thinking of you and sending prayers.

Taz Hope your Dad is getting the care he needs and is comfortable at home with family.

Good morning. It is 39 here now with temps going to around 48 but rain coming back. The Museumof Science was nice last night, not crowded at all. The ride into Boston was awful with so much traffic. It was nice to be with most of the grandkids. Luke was sick and couldn't come. We saw a show called Bugs 4D. When they showed a praying mantis devouring a fly that was it for me. I wanted to leave. Thankfully Ethan felt the same way so we left. He actually yelled out, I want to go now. So we did. Jeff and my DGDs saw it earlier and did not like it at all. We went around and saw their favorite exhibits. They love the space capsule. I told Jeff that Chris and I went to the Museum on our 4th date and he loved the space capsule. Chris was very interested in the space program especially Mercury and Apollo missions. When I see the capsule it brings back memories. Today I am off for a haircut and then hope to walk at the lake before the rain comes in.

Have a good Saturday.

 

[PollyannaMom]

@Snowysmom, I loved taking DS to the science museum when he was little!

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning . Chance of thunderstorms later, temp of 76.

Have a good day everyone!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Dear Snowysmom and dear Pollyannamom I have the memory of often going to the Museum of Science and Industry as a kid. I don't have specific memories other than I loved going to see Blue Planet at the IMAX.

This place is HORRIBLE! The tv is still blasting outside my door. My elderly roommate does have some memory issues. Dementia really is so cruel. Grandma as I have shared suffered from it for a few years before she went to be with grandpa, Champ, and God.

Back to my roommate. She will press her call light repeatedly until she gets tended to and changed. The charge nurse (new to me) told her after she pressed it twice that if she did so again, she (the nurse) would take it away! My roommate was told this in our other room once before by a CNA. Bad enough but from a supposed supervising nurse? :/

Meantime I am being kept up from all the coming and going of the above nurse plus the tv and my roommate. I asked the nurse to please close the door (this was before my roommate was changed). Her reply to me was she needed to leave it open because my roommate would be changed soon. Not even a Hollywood movie could come up with the daily happenings here. When the charge nurse (before I knew she was the charge nurse) came back again to rudely yell at my roommate that there are other patients not just her and to wait, I asked for the charge nurse. Sigh. I wanted the door closed but also remind them I am in this room too. The door did get closed as the charge nurse took God's name in vain! After all that when a male (roommate has no nurse gender prefererence only I do) nurse comes in and also yells at my roommate that she's not the only person here. He did change her though and close the door.

Dad and I did spend quite some time yesterday in the admissions lady's office trying to get the accommations I was promised the night before if my new roommate ended up requiring an oxygen machine. Remember we had to move when the pipe burst in our other room. My roommate was moved in here against her wishes on Monday night. I just want peace and quiet. Admissions lady but more so the social services supervisor who was in the admission's lady office too made it known that this change was a favor and the last time. As though I had asked the pipe to burst or to be moved from the now short term rehab room! All I had asked was to go back to 207 as promised. That room is directly across from the male resident who plays the animal cd repeatedly and calls out a handful of phrases all day too. Compared to the cursing near 218 that was a better choice. To be fair they did switch me with the lady who was in here. Not many people would be willing to move in this room (roommate's memory issues) either. All I know is I have to get proper sleep and be treated professionally. I need to go home!

Being Saturday I doubt the admissions lady will be here. Plus she made it clear yesterday that all the 2 patient female rooms are taken. I never again want a 3 person room which ead my very first room here for two days.

A (new to me) man apparently is wandering the hallway. The charge nurse (I know her voice now) keeps telling him to go back to his room. Another male resident was cursing at someone (I think a worker here) to leave his room. I'm surrounded.

Yesterday it only tentatively sounded like room 207 really would be available to me Tuesday. None of the nurses here who I talked with thought it would be. Monday is supposedly the last day of the two male residents in there. Even if I could go back I would have an unknown roommate. Admissions is adamant that my elderly roommate's family wants her in this 108 room.

Again all I want is sleep and to be treated respectfully. A familiar kind nurse would be so welcome this morning too! I have a new to me nurse until 7am (11pm to 7am). She did her job just not more personally as someone I know would have.

Bottom line is I don't think it's asking too much for the blasting tv resident (my door is closed. Tv still blasting) to be asked to turn it down overnight or for me to be treated professionally and respectfully. My roommate too of course.

Love to all.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

THIS is a first. My nurse, Genevieve (the new one), is seated in a chair right by my bed texting. The door is now wide open. Genevieve sat down saying, "I want to sit a little bit." Oh my goodness! I hope she (sincerely I do) is relaxing? Her shift ends at 7am. But she certainly should not have invited herself in here to bide time until her shift is over. Remember I only met her last night. It's not as though we have a relationship! Dear friends truly stay FAR from this place please!

God willing I will update more positively later. At least the new shift (new nurses) will start soon at 7am. Genevieve is STILL sitting in the chair by my bed almost 20 minutes later. At least she is quiet. Outside, this room sure is noisy. And so is inside. A, My roommate, just told Genevieve to change her. Genevieve replied, "no I just changed you right now." (She didn't) A keeps saying, "Sir (she thinks Genevieve is male perhaps from her voice) help." Genevieve keeps making "um hmm," noises and saying she will change A but she doesn't move! A, God Bless her, keeps thanking Genevieve. I think A is hoping to stop being ignored and finally helped. Genevieve once again firmly told roommate to calm down." Genevieve needs to get out! Only here would this happen.

I just asked Genevieve if she was going to change her. She said yes but is still not moving. She did agree that she is (I hope so) going home in 7 minutes now. A is still saying, "Sir help." Genevieve repeated to A to "calm down. I clean you before I leave." 6:56am. Another nurse peeked in here and said nothing. So WRONG. 6:59am Guess who hasn't move. FINALLY at 7:01am A is being changed NOT cleaned. Hooray. Genevieve left. I'm in shock still. Crazy!

A just pressed her light again. A male nurse is yelling, " A, A. I can't change you now. I have no diapers, no towels, no nothing!" 10 minutes later he (maybe) put a new diaper on her but I don't think so.

Oh my goodness. I HAVE to escape. A strange man crept by my bed! I asked him who he was. He said, "The ear, nose, and throat doctor!" No name. He loudly asks if I can hear him. I politely but firmly said no thank you. Meaning leave! I am blessed with perfect hearing. He finally left yelling at ME to be nice to those caring for me! HELP! :/

Thank You Jesus! My nurse is my mom friend! Wow. That is a relief after the above.

 

[lynxstch]

@flyingdumbo127 Those people all need to be reported. That nurse has no business 1-sitting on your bed, 2-sitting there for any length of time texting, and 3- ignoring the calls for help
And if that man wasn't a doctor, tell him to get out and call someone for help. That place seriously needs to be investigated.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Hug dear Lynn. If Genevieve was sitting ON
my bed, I would never have stood for that. I apologize for not originally being clear that she was sitting in a chair right beside my bed. My phone is charging now. I will try to take a picture later or ask my dad to take it tomorrow. Meantime I did ask Teresa, one of the 7am to 3pm charge nurses who is lovely whether her mother who I often have as my 11pm to 7am CNA is working here tonight. Teresa said she thought her mom would be here and that she would put in my request to be assigned her.

My mom friend L who was my morning until 3pm nurse told me she is working a double shift today until 11pm. She said she would check who I am assigned and try to switch with them. The one exception to switching is if I'm assigned my friend A, L's young daughter who along with her mom are my two very favotite nurses here always. If I have one of them, I know they would keep an eye on the overnight schedule for me. The problem is assignments are often not out until a half hour before a new shift and sometimes later at times like today when this place is short staffed.

As far as the super creepy doctor that was scary. I did share about him and Genevieve with two charge nurses. On Monday, I will do my best to report him to the director of this place. Depending on his reaction (I have sadly heard he doesn't care or do much) I will report it to an Ombudsman. I don't think after the fact calling the non emergency police # would do much? Should anything similar ever occur again with any strange person not leaving I will call 911!

Extra hug to all.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

An early for me, and later for most of dear you, evening post to share that all has been calm this afternoon. No unwelcome trespassers! Just the opposite in fact because my CNA right now until 11pm is A

I pray for an easier and much more complete night sleep later. I truly hope I also am assigned my regular overnight nurse R. No more Genevieve, please! I wish her the best of course.I just have no desire to repeat last night and this morning.

A is going to be leaving this awful facility in a week or so to work at a much better one. I pray it truly is better. She is so young and that's why her exemplary care stands out even more. As I just told her if I'm too young to be here, she (I am over twice her age) then she for sure is. I pray once I go home that her lovely mom, my friend L, is able to move on from here one day, too. It's awful how patients and some staff alike are treated.

Sweet dreams later with love to each of you

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Had a rough week post chemo but am starting to feel better the last day or two, thankfully. We did have new flooring installed all throughout our main level when the opportunity came up to finally get it done. It was a lot of work but we had a lot of help. No doubt it was a good distraction for me and I am so in love with them. We’ve been waiting at least 20 yrs to get those done! I also did some shopping therapy and got some new furniture, rugs, and a new refrigerator! So those things made me happy despite the physical complaints.

Bobbi, sending hugs. I hope everything is ok with you now. Saw your post here from a few days ago.

Mona you are making good progress. I sense your frustration, and I also know it’s hard to deal with all the things that are going on in a place like that when you work there, too. Look up something called Alarm Fatigue. If call lights are on all the time, no one will know when someone has a real emergency, and someone could die. Sounds like almost everyone is under the gun there. (Excluding the staff who get to sit and watch TV.)

Taz, sending good thoughts for your Dad and your family. Good mouth care is essential for good health in someone in his condition, as you know. I hope you can find some of the mouth care supplies you need. VNA should be able to supply them, or even Amazon.

I hope everyone has a good Sunday.

 

[bobbiwoz]

@Pea-n-Me , glad you feel a bit better! Thank you for your hugs, I can feel them!

Our son, Greg, visited from Houston, and it was great seeing him! He reminds me that recovery isn’t linear, there are ups and downs. I appreciated his remarks.

I wish everyone a happy Sunday.

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning. It rained again overnight, but I beat the weather, and mowed after dinner while everything was dry. Second time since Monday that I have to cut the grass. At least mine looks better than everyone else's, lol. No one else has taken their mowers out around me, except for that one guy up behind me. It's going to be 65 today, then the temps start dropping. Will only be38 overnight compared to the 60 degrees it's been the last 2 nights. Won't be sleeping with the windows open the rest of the week.

Going to put a roast in the crockpot for dinner tonight.

I started watching "Pulse", which started on Netflix on Friday. It's kind of Gray's Anatomy'ish. I'm 4 episodes into the 10, and I'm liking it so far.

Have a good day everyone

 

[Pea-n-Me]

@Pea-n-Me , glad you feel a bit better! Thank you for your hugs, I can feel them!

Our son, Greg, visited from Houston, and it was great seeing him! He reminds me that recovery isn’t linear, there are ups and downs. I appreciated his remarks.

I wish everyone a happy Sunday.

Your son is very wise to say that! (And so glad you got to see him!) I have to remember it, too! It’s hard when you’re not feeling well, it feels as if you’ll never feel better again! I felt that way myself last week, too! (Steroids had me crazy, and the bone pain is temporary (few days) but severe, from one of the medications, all besides the GI issues.) I think it’s easier to be objective about it when you’re not the one experiencing it. But yes, definitely ups and downs!

Glad you can feel my hugs because they’re real.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Big hug dear Pea and prayers always. Please PM me if ever you would enjoy some happy mail Thank you always my friend. I did Google, "alarm fatigue." Sadly that is what goes on here intentionally daily. I just had an hour and a half wait to be tended to. I do get concerned about A my elderly roommate. God forbid what if something happened and she needed immediate assistance? Thank you and your daughter extra again for always giving out care both at the hospital and everywhere else.

Dear Bobbi, I'm so glad your son visited you. Greg is a wise man. I sure have learned that recovery is a process. As Susan, my favorite therapist, often says, getting stronger is step by step. Each day we are blessed to build on where we were the day before. Cheering you on always!

Dear Lynn, please do enjoy some r and r!

Good Sunday morning to all with love. I will check back later.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Big hug dear Pea and prayers always. Please PM me if ever you would enjoy some happy mail Thank you always my friend. I did Google, "alarm fatigue." Sadly that is what goes on here intentionally daily. I just had an hour and a half wait to be tended to. I do get concerned sbout A my elderly roommate. God forbid what if something happened and she needed immediate assistance? Thank you and your daughter extra again for always giving out care both at the hospital and everywhere else.

Dear Bobbi, I'm so glad your son visited you. Greg is a wise man. I sure have learned that recovery is a process. As Susan, my favorite therapist, often says, getting stronger is step by step. Each day we are blessed to build on where we were the day before. Cheering you on always!

Dear Lynn, please do enjoy some r and r!

Good Sunday morning to all with love. I will check back later.

Where we are we do not let the lights ring for very long for that very reason. (There has been a lot of nursing research about alarm fatigue.) But we are blessed with enough help to get them. Not everywhere is.

I grew up working in long term care and I used to have 15 patients by myself to put to bed every night - as a teenager! Thankfully there were no call bells then or they probably would’ve been going off constantly too, and that would’ve been it for me. You cannot work in a job where that’s continuous all the time, it causes physical and emotional effects just having a light on for a few minutes that you can’t get to when you’re with another patient. But somehow I got to all of my patients, no one was unhappy, and everyone was cared for as I got to them. This, of course, was in the 1970s, and I still fondly remember some of my patients from there. They helped me build my foundation of caregiving, and they’ve stayed with me all these years. One of them used to take cigarette butts out of the ashtrays and smoke them! Quite the fire hazard when many homes from that time were converted old houses. And sometimes she would leave without us knowing and we’d have to call the police and go after her, usually finding her quite a ways down the road! Times have changed, supposedly for the better. Sounds like that could be questionable now. Maybe we were better off when things were more quiet and less frenetic.

Thanks for the prayers, Mona! I bought a card holder yesterday to save all the nice cards I’ve been getting. A medical crisis often somehow brings out the best in people.

I know these two have been by my side. They are enjoying the new sofa.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Btw if anyone wants to follow my medical updates I’ll be doing some more detailed posts here and there on my breast cancer support thread, going strong for 20 yrs now!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Extra hug dear Pea. A card holder sounds interesting. Does it display your cards? I PMed you

My friend A is my nurse this morning. She's even wearing her Mickey sweatshirt. Dad will bring her card for me to fill out along with wrapping paper for me to wrap her surprises. I got her a Stitch (her favorite character) lunch bag. Her mom, my friend L, told me A has been wanting one. L has made sure A didn't buy one on her own once she knew I had. I will put a couple of our favorite puddings inside the bag

L is also here today. A said she would tell her mom I have something to tell her. I sure do! :d I want to ask L if A would be okay with being surprised (I am not an on the spot surprise person). If so, would L like to be here when I give A her gift.

Neither L nor A have a clue that I also have a lunch bag/pudding gift for L. I got her a tie dye print bag. L and I were talking about rainbows yesterday. We both like them. We agreed that a real rainbow reminds us of God. God has absolutely graced me with A and L. They are both, as are you bigtime dear Pea, kind nursing lights of Christ. The tie dye colors made me think of lovely L.

I will update on the above and in general later. Extra Sunday hugs to all.

 

[Snowysmom]

Pea Glad you are feeling better. Your 2 doggies are so sweet and cute. They know when you are not feeling well and give you extra love and attention. Nice to have the house renovation to look forward to.

Mona Sadly nursing facilities do not generally treat staff the best and there is a big turnover. It is nice that you have found some CNAs and nurses who are kind and giving to make your day better. You are making great progress. You are moving forward day by day.

Bobbiwoz Hope you are making progress. Your DS is indeed wise. Recovery is a journey and not linear.

Taz Thinking of you, your Dad, and family.

It is a cold rainy day here with temps in the 40s. I was watching the weather at the gym this morning and it showed the dreaded pink and purple for snow and ice just to the west and north of my area for tomorrow morning early. Keep it there! It is a quiet weekend. The kids and grandkids are busy so I am by myself. I made a new banana bread recipe yesterday with chocolate chips added. It was so good! I froze 2/3 of it as I could just keep eating it. I think I will make one for Easter brunch. Today I am making Creamy Chicken Chili with white beans. It is a stove top quick recipe that I can eat for a few days this week. First time making it so hoping it is good. I did some retail therapy at Kohls. I got a light blue pair of capris that is out of my comfort zone but they look pretty good on me. I usually wear dark colors or a dark tan for pants. I got some new travel PJS for my trips this year and a couple of shirts. I am starting to plan for the cruise at bit.

I had my haircut yesterday and love to chat with my hairdresser. She was very helpful with some issues I have been having with my hair and scalp issues likely due to stress, anxiety, and possibly genetics. I have been to the NP at the dermatologist my PCP recommended. I have a med I have been using and she has a plan but I am not going a long way down the road. There are some really way out treatments out there and I am not going there!

Have a good Sunday!