My Diary part fourty Long Story

My Brother wrote
All
Managed to complete a few things today :
1) speak to Dr Tay of TTSH
- she says that mum's condition (DVT) is stable - no change from previously, although feet swelling still there particularly on left foot
- mum now has UTI (urinary tract infection) again!
- possible causes Dr conceded could be soiled diapers (not changed frequently enough) and
- Dr advised that when discharged and at at home, we will need to try not to use diapers too and leave only for use at night. Auntie Mala thinks mum is able to tell her when she needs to use restroom - we will need to try
- Dr advised us to look for our for general symptoms on daily basis
- loss of appetite
- fever (37.5 deg C is the goal)
- blood pressure - but do expect to be at lower range
- irregular bowel movements and unusual stool condition - diarrhea or constipation
before seeking physician advice (Dr Mahtani, at SG Clinic - the local clinic here in Serangoon Gdns. Dr Mahtani also makes house calls if need be and he has a graduate dip in geriatric medicine. He is also our family doctor attending to Candice, Nicole and also dad the other day for his arthritic attack. So far, her has been good with us)
2) also managed to speak to TTSH Physiotherapist, Vernetta Wong
- mum should continue wearing clinical socks
- more activity on left limb and also right limb will certainly help to
- started mum on"wiping" her table top with paper ....with her right hand while sitting upright (without left had support; left hand was all the while resting on her left thigh). she continued doing this for almost 5 mins and changed paper as it got wet
- mum also bent her head to try and see the wet areas (as the lighting was throwing contrasting shadows on the surface); all good signs the she is diligently wanting to finish her task properly and 100%. she did eventually cleaned the little puddles of water we purposely split on the surface.
- Vernetta suggested we do this everyday and see how she progresses, all the time letting her sit upright (and up righting her backbone when she slouches and about to keep over or backward) independently and without left arm support against mattress.
- will need Vernetta to draw up a baseline for us to work from - a status report of mum's condition and progress so that we can share same with physiotherapist at Ling Kwang Home
3) Other specialists
- I have also asked for TTSH and AMK speech therapist to revert on usage of the false teeth - what to do with existing ones and when to introduce them again or not at all and do new ones?
4) Ling Kwang Home physio session
- we can do physio therapy sessions here between 8 am and 3 pm with lunch and tea thrown in, all for S$30 each time (S$20 for session and meals + S$10 for two way transport within Serangoon Gds)
- we will need mum to met with the physio therapist there to determine her baseline and work a program (x times per week, types of exercises etc)
- convenient as it is very ear home (10-12 mins slow walk with wheelchair from home - Crowhurst to Berwick and to Tavistock, just behind the church kindergaten. if we stayed at Farleigh Ave, even nearer - probably 5 mins walk
- good for dad and Auntie Mala to walk there for every session at a later stage; we can start with transport service first and when all are stronger, can then walk there regularly
5) acupuncture
- missed sessions from Tuesday (Apr 1) to Mon (Apr 7), I have asked for refund and we will replace with home visits (at night) from same TCM Dr Lee Ai Kong
- I need to book his time on regular basis. It will be cheaper this way too as he will charge S$70 per session while the AMK TCM place will charge S$30 persssion but still need to get ambulance (which is S$70 two way). This way, we hope more personal and less "rushed" service in more relaxed familiar surroundings will all help.
- lets try this in coming week or so when mum is finally discharged
6) Equipment
- all equipment arrived. wheel chair was wrong type, so they had to re-deliver right one tomorrow.
- we now have
- commode for shower and toilet use
- a 3-inch high ramp we can use from room to toilet or from dining hall to kitchen
- toilet non slip matt is in place
- rubber matress protector
- 20 plastic sheets for washing up and plenty of gloves
- posey brand comfy overlay on mattress - useful thinner piece on the main matress to prevent pressure sores - washable and comes in 3 parts (so that you do not have to stuff a single-bed sized comforter object into washing machine!
- a transfer belt that goes round waist and around legs as well with the straps just under buttock cheeks for easy and confident transfers from bed to wheelchair/commode, transport car/van etc and vice verse.
- thanks to Candice, we now have a good house made better!! she helped select all the stuff and had to shoo off the delivery man to tomorrow to deliver the right wheelchair
- we are also doing up a back awning in backyard so that dogs can also spend time out there in nights (cooler for them too) leaving more space for mum to wheel around safely in home!!
7) billings
- settled the bills at AMK
- Kirsty - look out for the credit coming via the Amex bill (you may want to check very 2 to 4 weeks).
- AMK's Daphne (patient services) explains that as mum's claims also has insurance claims enmeshed, any refunds, adjustments take some more time as both the insurance company and CPF will need to sign off.......ok, bureaucracy we will need to live with
- for TTSH bill, remaining one is the current stay - will know on Friday, Apr 11 - tentative discharge date
All
Our number one mum-cheerleader, Seh Hui is having consonants exam today. Please wish him well and pray for his success. He should already have finished it by now (its about 11 pm here now)
Kristy
sorry had to end this afternoon's conversation abruptly as the physiotherapist was looking a little impatient just now waiting for our conversation.
Many thanks for continued moral support and prayers for us and mum. We will journey this well!!
love
see hong

My Sister wrote

Thanks very much for the detailed email â€" really great to learn all the details. Wow, the light is at the end of the tunnel â€" at least this tunnel. I wish there was more I could do to help€¦..Several of my friends that I’ve spoken to whose parents have had stroke tell me that progress can be seen months after and even over the first year or so. As we all well know, much depends on mum€™s determination and will. If she does not try, it will not happen.
I just spoke with mum and dad. Mum seems to be in good spirits, perky and was mostly talking about something that was repetitive and bothering her/making her fed up??? Not sure what it was â€" maybe food I think. I spoke to dad after and he did say that she had mentioned that she was bored with her limited meal choices. He also mentioned that Seh Hui got a job with Coke and is getting his paperwork done for that??? Wow, that is also great news. So many blessing to be thankful for€¦
As for our summer plans, girls and I are tentatively going to Singapore around July 11 and returning August 9. I’m waiting on John to check his calendar â€" he is thinking of joining us also, but on latter part of our trip (last two weeks). Will let you all know when plans are confirmed. I’m also thinking that it will be good for Jade to get do some type of volunteer work while she is there â€" gives her something to do. She is good at organizing things and also good with helping out with kids. So keep your ears and eyes open for any opportunities for her.
Chui