Word of the day: Incontinence

If you are new to incontinence caused by MS, you will want to take note:

• Never go anywhere outside the home without protection in place.
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• Never buy period protection instead.  I have a bad memory of a trip to a local restaurant where my sister gave me a period pad.
• 
  
• The bulky pads may hide well, but if your leakage is major, they don't work well enough.  Trust me on this.
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• Sometimes a cranky bladder really means that you need to empty your  bowels.  Better listen.
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• If you must self-catheterize, use a fresh one each time, or disinfect the catheter before you put it away WHERE IT CAN FULLY DRY.
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• Bladder infections are your worst enemy.  Stay home and take those little pills that turn your urine orange or blue.

• Blue bladder infection pills can affect your eye color.  They are prescription.

A bladder infection is no joke, but it is even more unfunny when a MSer has one.

Free kindle book from JJ Leander for Advent!

CELEBRATE ADVENT!

In honor of the days leading up to His birth on Christmas Night, MEN SHALL DREAM will be offered FREE, so that you can enjoy my reverent and rather down-to-earth retelling of the event. Check on Amazon under the name JJ Leander or the title MEN SHALL DREAM  for your free kindle copy.

 December 5-9!

Two cleaning machines you must have

1--oreck xl, with or without hepa bags.

This is the lightest vacuum I've ever found.  The bags, even the cheaper, non-hepa ones, help filter the dust a lot more than bag-less anything.

Warning, the suction is impressive, but bothersome on those sticky, muggy days, when it causes more drag.

2--Dyson V6 Hepa

Handheld vacuum for cleaning up on furniture and walls, window sills, etc.  Very lightweight and extremely well set up for simple cleaning of filters and canister.  Cordless with three speeds, according to your suction needs.

Warning, when they say 6 minutes on the highest setting, they aren't kidding.  The lowest setting is enough for 16 minutes and seems to be enough for the amount of energy I can bring to any job these days.


Warning again.  The ad that shows them emptying the canister again and again is true, especially for those of us who fill our house with pets of varying fur length.


Prices:  The Oreck usually advertises at about US$300, but I found my latest one at Big Lots for $99.  US$299 is the current sale price on the Dyson cordless.  I went through Paypal, and got a bunch of attachments for free, most of them not really necessary.

Both Oreck and Dyson offer payment plans.

Pricey?  Yes, but lightweight and manageable, even if using a cane or walker.

http://www.amazon.com/Men-Shall-Dream-Josephs-Story-ebook/dp/B018WORCSI/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1449491846&sr=1-2&keywords=j.j.+Leander


Please accept a free copy of my book:  12/7/15 to 12/11/15

Now what?

This time last year I was recovering from ulcers and bleeding hemorrhoids.  I needed to take time to rest and recover, while still coping with all the changes wrought by the conditions.


I also needed to lose weight gained during a difficult summer of gut pain.


This did not happen.  In fact, in the springtime, I had the opportunity to hire dog walkers.  Two little girls came around to ask if we had a dog.  I said yes, but I walked her myself.


Then I realized that was a sort of lie.  I was walking Sarah, but not nearly enough for a dog.  Her growing belly confirmed this.


I called the kids' parents and arranged for the both of them to walk my dog.  I paid a tad more then they asked, in hopes that they would continue coming.


They not only came, but they were escorted by a parent, who saw to it that their girls were not exploited or in danger.  On top of that, they often brought siblings, because my Sarah gets balky when her routine is interrupted.  She had preferences, and they had security needs.


Well, I got rid of the worst of the excess pounds by cutting calories.  Yesterday, the walkers informed me that next week would be their last of the year.  I want to get them a little present to thank them.


They were not always prompt, and didn't call to let me know, but for elementary school kids, I thought they did pretty well.


The proof?  Well, Somebody has to walk Sarah this winter.  No other kids are coming forward, because Daylight Savings Time will make the streets dark and dangerous.  For little kids.


For a grown woman, it is time to step up and take the leash.


pb

The Sandwich is Going Bad

Wow.


I was wondering just when this "Sandwich Generation" thing was going to become unmanageable.  We have our answer: 


After years of doling out cash to help our money-strapped kids, THEIR kids now need expensive dental work.  The sort of thing our generation would have let go.  After all, those baby teeth will fall out.  There is no way my parents would have spent thousands of dollars on bad baby teeth.


Of course the answer is simple:  no more cash to give them.


Now for the upper crust of the sandwich.


My MIL is losing it.  Really, really losing it.  I don't think it looks like Alzheimer's, but more like dementia.  On the other hand, there are no outside influences to look into for her memory loss.


She can't hear, and cannot manage hearing aids.  She fears the neighborhood is too quiet, so she can't rest at night.


We are finding lunches and suppers left in the microwave.  She loses anything that isn't nailed to her hands.  Even her stories, which we've heard a million times are starting to suffer from her memory loss.


The only good thing is that others notice it too.  Now family is starting to come forward to help.  Goodness knows I am stretched beyond the limit.


After two weeks of nonstop coughing, snotting and just feeling gawd-awful, I no longer am able to stop by.  I dread what I will find.


It's time to call her, and I am afraid to dial the number.  What new problem is waiting?  And will it be another unsolvable one?  Or will it be another indication that medical intervention is needed?


Will I be able to handle it?


How long will I be able to handle her?


pb
Little Pond

Well, we seem to have sorted out most of my physical troubles.  But I still have MS and I still have reflux and pain in my duodenum (upper gut). 


It's six am and I have been awake since four.  It's my own fault, because I ate hot dogs and macaroni and cheese.  I feel like my fingers turned into the hot dogs.


Today I will return to my low sodium diet with a vengeance.  Watch out, zucchinis!


Helpful tip:  it's easier to take the time to put on those nail gel tips, than to try to use nail polish.  And they last a good week or so.  Just be sure to massage them after dishwashing or showering.  I use a towel.


Also, if your doctor warns you about gaining weight with MS, take it to heart.  Put on about 10 pounds this last winter, and can hardly climb stairs, even while dragging myself up by the arms.


Love the way the fat fills in the wrinkles on my face, though.