Diabetes Testing

Dad resists doctors.  Or, more so, resists leaving the house, but also resists doctors.  And the dentist.  He proudly takes his low-dosage aspirin daily, and his fish oil, and his multi-vitamin.  Some years he'll ask me to take him to get an influenza "flu" shot, some years I have to remind and encourage him; last year he refused.  Sigh.  His hospital doctor said that there isn't really much that I can do if Dad refuses to go.  In part, it's not as if Dad's dementia is that bad, yet, where he can be forced to go.

Doctor and I talked about a few things today, after first clarifying that we were talking about my father, and not my brother (Doctor was looking at Doug's name).  My father just "keeps getting better and better."  Glad Doctor's assessment is the same as mine.  The "stopped breathing" appears to have been caused by too much water buildup albeit it "remains a bit of a mystery."  I know about how many liters of fluid they'd drawn out each day, and know it's a LOT (over 3 liters each Saturday and Sunday). 

The new floor in the hospital comes with a new social worker, who is also new there, who will talk with me on details about the physical rehabilitation center and future and all that.  The social workers didn't wish to talk about that while Dad's in ICU.  He's getting moved this afternoon.

I asked if they'd tested Dad for diabetes, as I'd heard it mentioned and, heck, he's had all sorts of tests.  I do like this hospital.  (I think.  Wondering if they should have been more proactive on drawing out fluid before his breathing failure, but second guessing won't change it, now.)  His blood sugars have been high and they've given him some insulin while he's in there (oh, that's news!), but the doctor said something about how it's not a normal state of things for Dad right now (meaning, he may not have diabetes normally).  He also was not on a regular diet some of his days.  I mentioned how Dad seems to crave his sugars sometimes, and that *I* think his frequency of urinating is rather often.  Doctor said he'd look into it further, which was clinched when I mentioned that my dad's father had diabetes.  Beth had reminded me of that one.  Here I was thinking prostate cancer (oops, my uncle had that, could have mentioned that one, too).  Doctor will run a test that'll show Dad's blood sugar levels for the past 3 months.  Wow, now that is interesting that it can go back that far, and it sounds quite accurate. 

Ha, Dad, now you can't refute it:)

On other news, I finally got a huge start on cleaning out M's room, AND, the financial aid application filled out for her school for next year (online, once I found the name of the place again, better late than never).  I have some other big things going on (including where Dad will go, and work on his home, etc., etc.), yet, with how well Dad was yesterday and such, I finally felt as if I could relax.  He's getting good care and is doing well.  M did great at the feis and was really happy with that, and it just seems as if life is moving forward again perhaps. 

After a mismash dinner, I ate a bit of that good dark chocolate N brought me back from his last trip, Daisy and I finished off the last of some good Irish cheese.  I enjoyed 2/3rd of a bottle of Samuel Adams Summer Ale (last bottle from last summer?? it takes forever for me to drink 6) which tasted so good, had a few lime tortilla chips, and actually slept through the night.  I woke up early, I still have a few nights of NOT sleeping to catch up on, but, I slept.

On another note, N's friend, Mike, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery today.  N wrote me back in the wee hours that for once I was NOT awake in, following my expressions of support and sympathy to him.  (He knows I'd have been willing to go with him, except it'd have been more awkward for him if I had, his kids and all going and they've not met me, etc.)  Sometimes things don't seem to make sense, like Mike's motorcycle accident.  I'm hoping that seeing Mike's wife and kids last night, and the honorable funeral ceremony today, will help N with some bit of closure.  I'm so sorry, N.  I'm so sorry.  Virtual hug to you:)  (I wear black today in remembrance.)

Tags: eldercare, diabetes, funeral