Many thanks to you all for sending good wishes and kind comments. Keith has slept much better and had a little more energy, and has started doing his upper body exercises and walking more. He is walking a little more confidently too, since the nurses proved he could. Even more water has been drunk today :) A walker will be arriving over the weekend.
I have had a walk up the hill (benefit: it's downhill all the way home!) and feel so much better for that. I need to keep walking as that does really help.
I discovered a programme called Viking Dead on tv today so have that to look forward to tonight.
My new top from Seasalt (through M&S) arrived too and is lovely - much prettier than in the photos. I'm delighted with it.
I'd love to see your Seasalt top. I am such a fan but cannot afford and no US store. The peacock is so unusual!
ReplyDeleteGood news about your husband, and yourself. Walks are so important. Have you tried filling an aluminum water bottle [flask/ thermos] with water that he can sip from all day. Or fill w UK version of Gatorade/ Pedialyte/ electrolyte replenishers? My friend helped her MIL with this method, once she got in the habit of sipping a cool drink all day it really helped her drink more and stay hydrated. If elevated blood sugar is an issue , watch the sugar counts in the electrolyte drinks tho.
lizzy
I will take a photo of it. The colours are brighter in true life. I shall definitely look out for their sale again.
DeleteI've not seen a Peacock in light grey before either. (Or perhaps he is a dirty white!)
Keith has a glass of water beside him all day long. It was a pint mug, but now I've changed to a half pint glass so it's not so daunting. I ring the changes with fruit juice too. He eats bananas which are a good source of electrolytes, plus dairy.
So glad to hear Keith is a bit better today - I’m just catching up! I think he has had a boost in his confidence from the visit to the nurses. Often advice from outside the family is obeyed!! Hope the rain and floods are not too dire, we have had 60% of January’s rain already with more to come tonight. Oddly enough the valley in front of us is not flooded yet. Viking Dead eh, I must look out for that, it sounds interesting. Keep on keeping on.
ReplyDeleteI hope he will keep improving in energy levels - the extra Levothyroxine has helped, but still only lasts about 4 hours.
DeleteWe've had plenty of rain too, though other areas hit harder than us with flooding. It's difficult to keep on keeping on, but we have to dojust that.
Glad to hear Keith is better today. Yes, do keep walking. It sounds like you are also doing better today. I've never seen a white peacock.
ReplyDeleteWow, I have never seen a peacock that colour. How wonderful that the nurses were able to help Keith gain some confidence about walking. I hope to hear that he is walking more and more, having the walker will help.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It's unusual that's for sure. First time I've seen it (perhaps there's a 2nd too) as we normally just hear them announcing it will rain soon!
DeleteThe walker is helping and practice makes perfect.
My father-in-law suffered from PD and often didn't drink enough. My daughter discovered jelly drops, which he loved. They ARE expensive and not something you would want to rely on for hydration, but were a useful top-up for him and perhaps something to keep in mind for future use. I am pleased that things sound more positive today.
ReplyDeleteI've seen those advertised. Thank you for the tip.
DeleteSo glad to know there has been a good change !!
ReplyDeleteJust hoping we can keep up the momentum.
DeleteYou've had a lot of happies today. I am glad to read this post!~
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so much better for Keith. It's surprising how just a little movement and lots of water can make a difference. I hope you both have a good weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteWell, we are getting good support right now, so I am glad I asked for help. The water does make a difference.
DeleteI like Seasalt, their latest catalogue dropped through the post a couple of days ago, and I fancied the long denim jacket. Will not buy of course, already bought a tunic which are very handy. Glad that Keith is responding to treatment and the nurses, Do get some outside care though, it will help you both.
ReplyDeleteWe have all sorts of aids now - the pillow raiser to help him sit up is being delivered today. Will save me having to give him a shove! I am glad we got the Careline pendant. That will allow me some outings.
DeleteHad not heard of Parkinsonism, but have just read about it on the Parkinson’s UK site. Worrying times. I love Katherine Mansfield’s short stories and I think you would too. ALL her short stories are available on-line, She died very young in her 30s and was good friends with Virginia Woolf. I am enjoying getting back to VW. I have always loved her writing (which reads like poetry to me) but now I am older I am finding more and more depth in her work. This weather is atrocious and I think I may have a spring in the garden. I intend to do some hazel rod dowsing when it’s not so squelchy underfoot. I also had an interesting customer in the bookshop yesterday. She was a huntswoman and was looking at our history of the Charlton Hunt, which was the first hunt started by the Duke of Richmond at Goodwood. Anyway, I had heard that our house (built in 1970) was built on the footprint of the stables belonging to the very old (c. 1400) Sussex Hall House next door and that between the wars a rich South American family living in London leased the house from the Leconfield Estate (who owned the house and land until the early 1950s) and used it as their base during the hunting season. I can just imagine wonderful hunters arriving by train. The hunt is still active around here. I can see there is a lot more research to be done and might book a session at Chichester Records Office. Have a good day and best of luck in persuading K to move more, drink plenty of water and eat his greens! Will he eat soup or how about a veggie shepherds pie made with Puy lentils and lots of veg diced up very small? I forgot to say that the photo of you two atop the Skirrid is lovely. We last climbed it in September 2021 (pre-PD diagnosis, but I knew something was wrong). Sarah x
ReplyDeleteIt would appear Keith has the MSA type, which doesn't really respond to normal Parkinson's medication. PD nurse didn't comment on this.
DeleteI will try to familiarise myself with Katherine Mansfield's work. Years since I last read VW. She did write beautifully.
I had to smile when driving home recently, as the rain had caused an arc of water to spring from a mouse's hole in the field bank, and it reminded me of the Mannekin Pis!
How interesting a history the footprint of your house was. We are in the stables and carriage house of the original Big House, and the footprint of that is on the bank beside us. There is still a low section of wall and the original stone door jambs are (sadly in broken state) stuck in the ground like small standing stones.
Keith will have tinned chicken soup, but nothing I made in the soup line would tempt him. Puy Lentils would be under the cover of Foreign Muck I'm afraid. He tries to avoid veg where possible . . .
The view from the Skirrid is terrific. I'm glad we went up there.
I'm pleased Tracy mentioned Jelly drops, I had forgotten about them but that's a good tip. Easily available online , they can be useful.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I will save those for Dire Needs I think . . .
DeleteGlad to hear Keith is a little better. My wife gets Seasalt clothing and finds it can be cheaper on their website. I don't ask how much she spends on it but I do have a seasalt Parka
ReplyDeleteI wasn't intending to buy Seasalt as they are a bit pricey but in the Sale, I can afford a top. I bet your Seasalt parka is smart.
DeleteHopefully there will be more positive days when Keith is doing better. Difficult to keep some sense of normalcy when there have been so many variables. Its interesting that so often 'outside help'--as in the PT nurses--can simulate and encourage when a family member's efforts seem of no avail.
ReplyDeleteHe is in a bit of a decline of positivity. If I am not here to encourage (or should that be nag?) he will just sit. He will try for the PD nurse, but not so much for me.
DeletePleased to hear Keith is a little better and I hope the improvement continues.
ReplyDeleteHave you been watching Digging for Britain on BBC 2 I think? There was a super episode with details of the excavation at Arthur's Stone which you might enjoy.
He can only manage movement in the morning, whilst the Levothyroxine is working. It's downhill after that.
DeleteOops, pressed publish too soon. Yes, always watch Digging for Britain and loved the Arthur's Stone episode recently . That is a very important site.
ReplyDelete