Physical Therapist
David, Physical Therapist, made home visits to Linda on February 4, 8, 10, 15, 17, and 22. Linda is still successful in using the wheeled walker to navigate from the bedroom door into the living room and then sit in a cushioned dining room chair for her exercise routine with David. Earl (the PT supervisor) visited Linda on Friday, the 25th. It sounds like he wants to do another 6-visit regimen.
Home Health Care Nurse
Nurse Beverly visited on February 10 and removed the 24 staples from Linda’s hip incision. She said it was healing nicely. She visited again on February 17 and said it was her last visit unless something else comes up that Linda would need her for.
Linda’s Experiments with Sitting Up
Linda had me rearrange things in the bedroom and bring in her black desk chair and put in the corner by the closet. She purchased (and assembled) an overbed tray table, which she plans to use while sitting in the black desk chair. And, later, she plans to use the tray table with the recliner in the family room. For now she can spend up to 30 minutes working at her computer while sitting up in the chair.
On February 22, I helped Linda rearrange “stuff” in the family room so she could sit in her recliner with her overbed table and her work computer. And then move the black desk chair from the bedroom back to the dining room.
Linda and Walking
Linda’s physical therapist, David, is giving her increasingly difficult leg exercises and assigns her to walk every day with the walker, at least to the kitchen and back. By the end of the month, she was willing to try walking with just a cane, but she’s not quite ready for that yet.
Linda and Food
Linda is back up to two eggs fried in butter with melted cheese on top. She drinks only half of her mug with coffee and half a paper cup of kefir twice a day to take her medicines. She usually has Dole Mandarin Gel and sometimes with a cheese stick. Otherwise, she doesn’t eat anything for supper unless I cook meat (chicken, hamburger, tuna, etc.). On Sunday, the 27th, Aaron brought over some tri tip, which we all enjoyed.
Linda and Medicine
Linda has resumed taking meloxicam, but is trying to wean off oxycodone as soon as possible. She is taking extra strength acetaminophen but not tramadol (by the end of the second week). By the end of the month, she is back to taking a “gummy” before bedtime but has to be careful when getting up to go to the bathroom in the night because she feels a little unsteady.