Today's Stats:

BM Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1230     Reading:  84

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  1340  & Meds What she ate:  21 hard over eggs, heavily peppered approx 4 oz roasted hame 1 Costco croissant 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
250 mg Levaquin	2 hours after morning dose of iron	to address UTI
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	with Levaquin

    Normal breakfast, normal everything.
    Her Bowel Movement was a bit of a surprise, happening, once again, while we were bathing her. Easy elimination, minor volume, more a final cleaning from yesterday, I think. Easy clean-up, too.

Non-stat Lunch

Lunch:  1815  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 8 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
tolterodine tartrate ER/4 mg	Once per day	4 week trial to see if it inhibits her incontinence

    Easy lunch...she was only "middling" hungry. She'll be eating her dinner a bit closer to lunch than usual, though. About a half hour ago she announced her late evening hunger.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2050     Reading:  169

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2054     BP:  117/52     Pulse:  60

Dinner:  2115  & Meds What she ate:  The last of the beef pot pies, with lots of rib eye steak and vegetables in it
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    There wasn't much time between lunch and dinner, today, for my mother, which accounts for the high blood sugar reading. Her blood pressure, though, is right on target.

Today's Stats:

Non-stat Breakfast

Breakfast:  1530  & Meds What she ate:  2 hard over egg, heavily peppered 2 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
250 mg Levaquin	1 tab between breakfast and lunch once a day (today: 1630)	to address UTI

    Well, you can read all about it in one of my posts for today (later today), but breakfast wasn't served until about 1530 or so. Mom and I awoke (both of us in her room) at 1420, due to a minor bout of nausea I had from about 0900 until we both awoke later in the day.
    She has another UTI, as well, although I didn't address this until later when I turned in the Rx for Levaquin. This time, med mixing shouldn't present med scheduling problems, as the Levaquin can be taken without food, so I can administer it to her between breakfast and lunch. Today she received her dose at about 1630.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1940     Reading:  96

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1940     BP:  130/60     Pulse:  59

Dinner:  ?  & Meds What she ate:  approx 3 oz roasted ham with approx 1.5 oz yellow sharp cheddar, two slices of onion, a slathering of mustard on two slices of deli corn rye bread, grilled in a skillet with approx 2 Tbl Fleischmann's margarine approx 1/2 cup left over potato salad approx 3/4 cup Starbucks Mud Pie ice cream
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Mom wasn't up much, today, so Lunch became Dinner. I was only a little concerned about serving her dinner meds so close to her breakfast meds and did it anyway.
    You'll notice we had a dessert. Mom asked for "a little something sweet" and I really had to look for something. We still had some several months old Starbucks Mud Pie ice cream in the freezer; about a third of a carton. We split what was left. She was satisfied.
    I was surprised at her blood sugar. Excellent reading. I may take it in the morning, just to see what happened to the ice cream.

Today's Stats:

BM Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  0956     Reading:  99

Blood Pressure:     Time:  0959     BP:  154/73     Pulse:  66

Breakfast:  1050  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 3 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant

    Yes, I took full breakfast stats, today. I was curious, after two days of midday desserts. Anyway, I'm sorry I took the blood pressure. She was already agitated because she awoke on her own very early (for her) and I was just heading out to Costco. I didn't have a problem stopping everything and doing her and my morning instead of my morning. But, she had a problem with my slowness. All the small things I set up before we bathe, as she rises from bed and shuffles into the bathroom, have to be done while she's sitting on the toilet and I'm trying to convince her that she'll be warmer if she takes off her soaked pajama tops. Stripping and spraying her bed, starting the bacon, putting on water to boil, administering her 1st-thing-in-the-morning pills, beginning the bath, usually she's moving herself into a vertical position while I'm doing all this. She wasn't very patient and had worked herself up into a lather of me refusing to get her toilet paper and my insistence that (as usual) I would be cleaning her ass. Then, I took her blood pressure. Stupid move.
    Her blood sugar looks good, though.
    Her Bowel Movement took place first thing for her 'this morning'. The urge to eliminate is what awoke her, at about 0940. Good volume, good consistency, very light clean up, very easy elimination.
    She still water shedding as normal, but dealing with that has become routine for both of us.

Non-stat Lunch

Lunch:  1430  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 8 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
tolterodine tartrate ER/4 mg	Once per day	4 week trial to see if it inhibits her incontinence

    Although she is having an off schedule day which may be introducing us to a new schedule, when she laid down for a nap it was within the typical lag between breakfast and nap, around 1230. I left for Costco immediately, expecting to be back, with only one side trip, no later than 1430. I arrived home at 1403 and Mom was up, sitting at the kitchen table with a glass of water, reading her book.
Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1827     Reading:  123

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1829     BP:  138/61     Pulse:  63

Dinner:  1855  & Meds What she ate:  approx 6 oz roasted ham w/curry-maple glaze 1 small nuked yam with who knows how much butter a dinner salad with greens, carrots, olives, shredded Parmesan, Bermuda onions and radishes 2 Tbl home made ranch dressing
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    She ate almost the whole thing! She's been up and lively (for her) all afternoon. I've been very pleased. Her stats look good.
    Good day. Not much sunshine, but good day.

Today's Stats:

Non-stat Breakfast

Breakfast:  1255  & Meds What she ate:  1.5 eggs, heavily peppered scrambled with approx 2 oz ground sage sausage, chopped Bermuda onions and green peppers with dried tarragon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant

    It is very odd not to be looking at stats before breakfast. I think, for awhile, I'll take full stats at dinner. Then, after a period of time, switch to breakfast for a period. Then lunch. As the FNP said, when taking limited stats, remember to compare apples to apples and pears to pears.
    She roused herself at 1100 then asked for another hour. When I entered her bedroom at 1205, she was working at getting herself in a sitting position at the edge of the bed. Although it's a rainy day, she seems pretty spry and sprightly, although, now, at 1415, she is already making unspecific "nap" noises, despite having her nose buried in her gossip magazines.

Non-stat Lunch

Lunch:  1650  & Meds What she ate:  1/12 of a piece of Costco pumpkin cheesecake with approx 3/4 cup raspberry-maple sauce
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
tolterodine tartrate ER/4 mg	Once per day	4 week trial to see if it inhibits her incontinence
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Mom wanted something sweet and I was cleaning out the freezer and the two dovetailed. We polished off the last two frozen pieces of pumpkin cheesecake and the last of the raspberry-maple sauce. We'll return to our regularly scheduled lunches tomorrow but, well, with the rain and all, today seemed like a good day to get rid of the last of the holiday sugar.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2019     Reading:  209

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2022     BP:  118/55     Pulse:  60

Dinner:  2045  & Meds What she ate:  1/6th of a Costco sized chicken pot pie
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    Yes, I know, the blood sugar's a bit high, but I expected it to be higher, frankly. The blood pressure blew me away, though...right on the money! I'm thrilled.
    I might stick her one in the morning, just to see if she's back to normal, then not worry about it for several more days.

BUN/Creat/Sodium Stats:

BUN/Creat/Sodium Stats
Date	BUN	BUN/Creat	Creatinine	Sodium	State of Health
9/2/04	28 H	21.5	1.3	135	Anemic
8/18/04	31 H	31 H	1.0	141	Anemic
8/12/04	36 H	36 H	1.0	141	Anemic
8/9/04	46 H	41.8 H	1.1	139	Anemic
8/5/04	33 H	33 H	1.0	134 L	Anemic
8/4/04	29 H	29 H	1.0	135	Anemic
8/3/04	22	22	1.0	136	Anemic
8/2/04	20	22	0.9	130 L	Anemic
8/1/04	20	25	0.8	126 L	Anemic
6/29/04	24	20	1.2	135	Anemic
6/10/04	22	22	1.0	136	Anemic
6/9/04	26 H	26	1.0	130 L	Anemic
6/8/04	27 H	27	1.0	125 L	Anemic - Blood Transfusion
3/5/04	23	223	1.0	137
2/10/04	19	19	1.0	136	Anemic
1/12/04	23 H	25.5	0.9	138	Anemic
8/08/03	24	24	1.0	139
7/18/03	31 H	28.2 H	1.1	138	Anemic
7/07/03	32 H	26.7	1.2	138	Anemic
7/3/03	26 H	21.7	1.2	139	Anemic
5/22/03	19	21.1	0.9	144	Barely anemic
4/10/03	34 H	34 H	1.0	139	Anemic
4/9/03	34 H	24.3	1.4	138	Anemic
4/3/03	42 H	32.3 H	1.3	140	Anemic
1/23/03	29 H	26.4	1.1	141
12/20/02	27 H	24.5	1.1	141
10/22/02	23	23	1.0	140
9/17/02	30 H	30 H	1.0	141	Anemic
12/21/01	25	27.8	0.9	144	Hemo & Hema Above Range
8/1/01	24	21.8	1.1	139
12/13/00	22	24.4	0.9	146 H
7/27/00	29 H	29 H	1.0	140	Anemic

    This was a table I devised and used when my mother was at the skilled nursing facility. I used it to question a doctor about the history of high readings BUN/Creatinine-wise in an effort to solicit information. He pointed out the uniformly normal Creatinine readings and said, "She runs high." A medical shrug. Now, I know that she runs high because she is the preparatory stages of Chronic Renal Failure. From the way I see it, now, she's actually pretty lucky, considering everything, and her long history of anemia, which was unaddressed until 2002 but, as the lab tests show, she was continuing her history of anemia, not initiating it. She believes she has been anemic all her life. She also remembers, though, not taking well to iron supplements when pregnant. It would definitely be interesting to know if she has always "run anemic" and thus her kidney stats have run half and half high. Probably, the story will be visible in how her Chronic Renal Failure and her Anemia of Chronic Disease play out.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1004     Reading:  76

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  1115  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 2 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 3 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant

    She was up-'n-attem on her own early this morning; bright eyed, good color, hungry, in full recall of last night, including her nausea from what she's decided was simply motion sickness; my point being, of course, that although she is prone to motion sickness, especially as a passenger, she was also smoking at least a half of her known day and churning up stomach acids galore, on both an empty and full stomach. No wonder she upchucked at the end of the journey.
    She was hungry but "not that hungry" which I took to mean normal breakfast, one egg, etc, although the bacon was quite shrinkable, this morning and she complained about the size of the pieces.
    Although I gave my word to Mom's FNP yesterday that I would back off dramatically from poking and buzzing her, I was curious to see how her blood sugar would settle out after yesterday's magnificent dinner. I was pleased.
    Since the plan is that we will have the German Chocolate cake for lunch, and I'll begin her DetrolLA samples (which will last four weeks) with today's lunch (yes I researched it; it may or may not work, there is a low risk of deleterious side effects in her case, so we're going to try it), and, I may decide, just for fun, to see how the cake shakes out before dinner, but, well, I may take her blood pressure too; the FNP told me that I would probably suffer stat withdrawal. I didn't believe I would but I must admit she's right. Already I'm slobbering with anticipation over the added monthly blood tests and urinalyses, of which I spoke in either this post or this one, all of which, with this, will be linked to a variety of posts regarding our trip yesterday, another of which I will be publishing shortly.

Non-stat Lunch

Lunch:  1445  & Meds What she ate:  A pretty big slice of German Chocolate cake with a fair amount of icing
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
tolterodine tartrate ER/4 mg	Once per day	4 week trial to see if it inhibits her incontinence

    You'll note the inclusion of detrol (tolterodine tartrate Extended Release - 4 mg) at lunch. We have 4 weeks' worth of samples which we're trying to see if they help. I've already noticed that her mouth becomes dry, so I am encouraging "gentlewomanly sipping" throughout the day to "keep her whistle wet", to which she responds by whistling after sipping.
    She was, of course, thrilled with the cake.

BM Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2036     Reading:  165

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2039     BP:  151/74     Pulse:  69

Dinner:  2058  & Meds What she ate:  buffalo steak salad with approx 3 oz chopped buffalo steak on a bed of greens with carrots, Bermuda onions, green pepper and chopped olives with approx 2 Tbl home made ranch dressing approx 8 oz augmented potato salad (extra onion, extra egg, extra potato)
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    Well, the FNP was right, it's going to be a hard habit to break. I was a little surprised at her blood pressure. I think I might check into amending the new lisinopril prescription to 2.5 mg X 3/day.
    Her blood sugar surprised me but only because it was so low. I expected it to be soaring a bit above 200. "The diabetes will take a vacation. Your mother's blood sugar is already under easy control with less than half the medications being used previously."
    Some of the literature I'm reading stresses the overall importance of regular Bowel Movements, one of which she had today, sometime between 1916 (when I arose from a fierce nap which overtook me) and dinner: Good consistency, good volume, excellent early reconnaissance, easy elimination, very easy clean-up. And, so far, we're accomplishing this with very occasional help from a very mild laxative, Phillip's Milk of Magnesia.

By the way, when the FNP...

...pointed out to me that my mother's diabetes was, indeed, checking the brochures and planning a get-away, this is when reality hit. I realized, okay, now I understand this pattern we've been in...it's not my fault, it's the pattern of a woman who is at an age where her body is determining how it will fail. Actually, it's the pattern of an already settled determination.
    The FNP added that, just as with her own mother, who died at the age of 81 after having been diagnosed with chronic renal failure, unless my mother contracts pneumonia, her heart isn't going to take her out. Which is true.
    "It's a pleasant way to die." Her mother thought so when confronted with the reality of her physical situation.
    And, always, guard from falls. I will continue as my mother's faithful dog, at her side almost to a fault.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  0700     Reading:  107

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  0755  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 1 4 oz slice sugar cured lean ham 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant

    No, I didn't take my computer with me...I'm just randomly dating today's stats because I'm actually entering them tomorrow. She, of course, pronounced 0700 much too early to be awakened, but she absolutely got into the spirit of 'tripping', when I reminded her what we were doing, today, and our typical 'awakening, bathing, pilling, and working toward eating' time was neither breached nor much affected.

Lunch

Lunch:  1200  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 8 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    Yes, we had her normal lunch...I brought it all. I thought to check with the motel as to whether we could get a room with a microwave...all the rooms with universal access and equipped with microwaves were booked. So I popped her corn before we left and transported it.
    Her thirst has been interesting to behold on this trip. I did not push it, but, when she started smacking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, I'd simply open a water bottle, hand it to her and say, "Wet your whistle," and she would. On her own she requested and drank two diet sodas while at MCF's house. Although she was incontinent the entire day, because she ran a touch dry, she never leaked through. MCF and my mother were in teasing cahoots against me because I was "so comfortable" discussing and scheduling Mom's underwear checks and changes "in front of God and everybody". Everyone had a good time at my expense over my publicity of her urinary habits, including me.
    I don't think she ever became overly dry during the trip. I know, from observing her body before she retired, tonight, that she was not overhydrated...no signs of fluid rentention or CHF retention. Her blood pressure at the doctor's taken around 1520, was 134/84, bizarre because I can't recall when she was much above 75, diastolically speaking. So, I'm thinking that was a fluke. My mother was alert, animated and chatty throughout the whole, unexpectedly but pleasing long doctor's visit. She might have been talking through the taking of her blood pressure.
    I will be discussing more about our trip from a medical perspective in my upcoming post, as well as cross referencing this journal, so check for that link to activate within the next 12 hours.

Non-stat & Delightful Dinner

Dinner:  2000  & Meds What she ate:  approx 5 oz exquisitely tenderized, marinated and grilled buffalo steak approx 8 oz creamy but not too sweet potato salad less than 1 oz Nachos Doritos chips approx 6 oz cottage cheese
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative
metaclopramide/40 mg	at about 2330 with water, about a half hour previous to going to bed	isolated dosage to quell nausea, when needed

    She had no aloe vera gel this evening, and no cranberry juice at all today. She was healthily hungry, not ravenous. Since she hasn't lately had stomach problems she ate heartily of each course. German Chocolate cake was offered for dessert but we both declined and were sent home with piece for later.
    She became suddenly nauseated as we pulled into the driveway and vomitted a small amount of well digested stuff. I have my own theory as to why this happened, this link to which this should activate within 12 hours. Reciprocal links will be established to all posts pertaining to our trip. Just to remind myself to talk about it at The Mom & Me Journals dot Net: Some vague concern was expressed in regard to overdosing my mother on iron, but none of the risks was addressed, perhaps because we were too busy talking about other things. It turned out that both us and them forgot the prescribed flu shot. Anyway...buffalo steak is an excellent source of iron, better than beef.

Today's Stats:

BM Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1051     Reading:  102

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  1200  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 3 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant

    She was already awake when I peaked in on her at 1045 and ready to get out of bed. Very good mood. Breakfast was normal. Except that I decided not to serve her decaf instant coffee today, on the out chance that it may be promoting the flushing in which her body seems to be involved and to help cut back on her fluid intake. She's so funny! She reacted as though I was rationing caffeine!
    Her Bowel Movement was easily eliminated, good volume, good consistency, happened about 1120 while we were bathing her. I'm relieved, actually, that she had one today. That means I don't have to wonder if she's going to have to eliminate tomorrow and possibly have an accident. Which reminds me; I should go flush her toilet. It's had a couple of hours to soften and should go down without hitching in the pipes.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1604     Reading:  149

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Lunch:  1615  & Meds What she ate:  approx 3 oz cheese, including Gouda, Butter Kase, Vermont White Cheddar and yellow sharp Cheddar
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    So, she varied her menu, a little. Didn't feel like eating anything but cheese. Didn't want popcorn, no olives, no soup, didn't want sauerkraut and polish sausage leftovers, didn't even want crackers with her cheese...just cheese. So, that's what she got.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1945     Reading:  99

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1946     BP:  141/66     Pulse:  58

Dinner:  2000  & Meds What she ate:  1/6th of a Costco Chicken Pot Pie 11.5 oz V-8 juice
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    By dinner she was pretty hungry. She ate well, and more quickly than I've seen her eat in a long time. She even guzzled her V-8 juice, which is unusual.