April 3, 2012

  • Change In My Treatment Plan

     

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    Early today, the HH nurse called to tell me the doctor had changed my treatment plan on the foot wounds to a change of bandages every day.  She had to come over, not just to change my bandages but also to make sure I knew how to re-do them.  I told her I knew how to do that much but had a need for the calcium alginate so she came and brought me enough so that I could do it the four days that they (or the doctor) didn't change them.  I said I would do that because I don't want Medicare to stop the HH visits for over usage.  I know they can do that regardless of what the doctors order.  They can be much like an HMO at times.

    So, she showed up here around noon and I did the cleansing and cutting of the alginate plus putting most of the bandaging on them.  She sure did bring me enough supplies, I'll say that.  Not just more of the sterile water for the cleansing but also more sterile 4x4 gauze plus a big pack of regular 4x4 to use for cleaning the wounds.  She also left me a couple large sheets of the good adhesive to cover the wounds.  It's the silk stuff that allows the whole thing to breathe but is sturdier than the paper tape.  I still love that paper tape because it's so easy to either cut or tear and it does hold well.  Unless, of course, you don't have it covered and you rub your feet on the sheets while you sleep.    It's why I keep socks on my feet all the time since I discovered that.

    Oh, I forgot to mention just WHY the doctor changed my treatment plan.  It's because I had told him I am on my feet more than I had been.  After thinking about it, he decided it would be a good thing AND help the healing process (since the alginate helps dry up the wounds) to change the bandages every day.  The alginate helps the wounds drain away all the crud (dead white cells, I think he meant) after he spoke with the HH nurse and found out how much they had done with a two day change.  On Mondays, after 3 days without a change, it was kind of nasty looking although the wounds look good.  In fact, today I noticed that the toe is damn near healed.  **Grin**

    I also started being more responsible about keeping my BS diary (that's BS for Blood Sugar, not what you might be thinking....LOL).  I've found it CAN help me spot trends when I *cheat*.

    The Beast rented the movie *War Horse* today so we watched it this afternoon.  Not a bad movie at all.  Not quite what I expected and I DID cry.  It could have been a little better if they had chosen to expand on it a bit but it didn't keep me from enjoying it.  There are some very exciting scenes in it and some amazing ones, too.  If you see it, you'll know what I mean.  I'm not fond of war movies but this one was different because it centered around the horse, not the carnage.  

    The Beast agreed with me when I said war had to be created my men because there is no way that any woman would have allowed it.  But it started wayyyyyy back when women didn't have any control.  We would not have wasted our husbands or children in that senseless way.  Nowadays we are all so vulnerable to the fact that men are in control of those things and it's possible to have an enemy far away strike us with bombs, there just isn't much we can do except respond in a like manner.  Sad but true.

    I'm hoping to be healed enough soon to get to a store or two to buy Chewlee some birthday gifts that I have in mind.  I also need some birthday gift paper and need to talk to the Princess about her plans for a party for Chewlee.  I am wondering if we should celebrate it a few days beforehand so the paternal grandfather can join us (over that weekend).  He loves Chewlee and he could give us a chance to get this house ready for a kind of surprise for her.  I'd like to get some helium balloons to put out on the porch, the deck and in the house.  I know that would tickle her.  I would also like to see if the pool is anywhere in the barn or garage since Chewlee has specifically asked if she could swim on her birthday.  If not, I may see if Tara still has hers and borrow it from her.  One that blows up is what we need and I'm not anxious for a deep one.  Just one that's going to do more than cover Chewlee's butt when it's filled.

    We should be getting another thunderstorm in a few hours, which is why I am doing this early.  I made us up some English muffin pizzas for dinner.  We hadn't had those in quite a while so I really enjoyed them.  So did the Beast who made me glad I made up more than normal.    I'm going to enjoy a nice apple and maybe an orange for my snack a little later.  I also picked out a movie to watch later if I lose my television like we often do in a bad storm.  There's nothing exciting on later anyway so I might watch the DVD even if I DON'T lose the satellite. 

    Love you all and I wish you a great *Hump Day*.  The week is half over (Yay!).