Mom's Daily Tests & Meds: 2004 - 2006

Daily postings of Mom's in-home tests, administered medications, food eaten and the relationship among the three and her life.

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Today's Stats:

BM? Non-stat Breakfast
Breakfast:  1315  & 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: 1215 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
levaquin/500 mg 2 tablets 2 hours after taking iron & breakfast supplements: 1420 to address UTI
acetaminaphen/1000 mg 2 tablets with antibiotics standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water with antibiotics standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    She was hungry again, this morning. Could be that 2 eggs will become the norm for her.
    The reason there is a question mark after the Bowel M acronym in the title is that I'm not sure if she had a bowel movement. When I returned from the feed store and picking up some movies for the weekend, she was sitting "funny" at the table, out of whack with the alignment of the chair, so I knew she'd walked about while I was gone. I asked her if she went to the bathroom.
    She responded, "Yes."
    "Did you take off your underwear and throw it away?"
    Sometimes she does this and doesn't put on new underwear.
    "No," she said. "Where is the toilet paper, by the way?"
    "Did you have a bowel movement?"
    "Yes."
    "Okay, well there isn't any toilet paper in there, so I need to clean you. Let's head back into the bathroom."
    "I cleaned myself."
    "What did you use?"
    "I tore off some of that paper by the toilet and used it."
    Since I always empty her garbage after her bath and make sure a liner is in there without any paper underwear, I interpreted this to mean that I forgot to empty her garbage and, as she is wont to do when it is possible, she must have ripped apart a wet diaper and used it to wipe herself, and must have flushed it down the toilet.
    "Did you flush?"
    She looked at me as though I was mad to ask such a question. "Of course!"
    The toilet was not backed up, nor was there anything in the garbage. When I cleaned her she was a tiny bit soiled, but it was unclear if she'd had a bowel movement. Sometimes she thinks she has when she hasn't and vice versa. Today would have fit in with her new schedule, and I did think about that this morning, intending, in fact, to put toilet paper in the bathroom before I left to go to the feed store, but I forgot.
    I guess everything turned out okay.
    She was complaining of stiffness and soreness just before she laid down for her nap, so I gave her 2 extra strength acetaminophen and "gave her permission" to "nap as long as you want, we don't have any plans tonight."
    "Good," she said.

Non-stat Lunch
Lunch:  1700  & Meds
What she ate:  8 oz artificially sweetened, low fat strawberry yoghurt with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
approx 1/4 cup MCS's home made bread and butter pickles
11.5 oz V-8 juice
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

    Yoghurt has become a regular part of her lunch. She considers it "refreshing". I put cinnamon in her yoghurt, now, as this makes more sense. She's drinking her V-8 juice more easily, now, even though she swore, previously, that she couldn't taste the cinnamon.
    She's snuffling like she might have a cold, but nothing else. She isn't moving as stiffly as when she laid down. I think we're up for the evening.

Dinner
Blood Glucose:
    Time:  2022
    Reading:  125
Blood Pressure:
    Time:  2026
    BP:  121/52
    Pulse:  58

Dinner:  2045  & Meds
What she ate:  approx 6 oz leftover More than Mac & Cheese
approx 6 oz Easy Ham & Bean Soup
approx 4 oz sauerkraut with chopped Polish sausage and caraway seeds
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

    This evening, even after her nap and a light lunch, she complained of tiredness; not shakiness, not lightheadedness, "I'm just tired." She surprised herself that she was ready to head for bed at 2130. Although her normal bedtime, for the last several weeks, has been around 2200, still, 2130 seems "awfully early" to her, but she went to bed anyway.
    Her urine seems clear. We have one more day, I think, on the antibiotic. Then we'll see if this UTI is gone or if it's simply been masked by the antibiotics. She might have something that actually has to be approached in a different manner, although I wouldn't know what that would be.
    At any rate, her appetite has remained good, her stats remain good, I think she'll survive, as she often says about herself.

Friday, February 04, 2005

Today's Stats:

Non-stat Breakfast
Breakfast:  1315  & 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: 1215 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
Levaquin/500 mg 2 hours after iron: 1415 to address UTI
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water with antibiotics standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Pretty much on schedule this morning. I decided to double up her last three days of her Levaquin, although I wasn't able to observe whether her urine was cloudy. She is pretty sluggish. Went back in for a nap at 1445. I didn't stop her.
    I can guarantee she's not overhydrating. I can't guarantee she's not underhydrating. I'm doing what I can. The Detrol LA has no apparent effect.
    She was hungry this morning. Asked for two eggs and got them.

Non-stat Lunch
Lunch:  1700  & Meds
What she ate:  8 oz artificially sweetened, low fat blueberry yoghurt
approx 1/4 cup MCS's home made bread and butter pickles
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

    She was hungry immediately upon awakening but satisfied with little. That's fine with me. She hasn't been moving much the last few days. I hope the double dosage of Levaquin helps.

Dinner
Blood Glucose:
    Time:  1958
    Reading:  109
Blood Pressure:
    Time:  2002
    BP:  120/59
    Pulse:  59

Dinner:  ?  & Meds
What she ate:  approx 1¾ cups Easy Bean and Ham Soup
1 slice grilled garlic/Parmesan sourdough bread
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

    Her stats are excellent. She's eating well, but very slow today. I think her UTI and the antibiotics are still bothering her.

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Today's Stats:

Non-stat Breakfast
Breakfast:  1310  & 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: 1215 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
Levaquin/250 mg 1 tablet 2 hours after iron: 1415 standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water with antibiotic standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Although up a little late everything was fine, normal.

Non-stat Lunch
Lunch:  1740  & Meds
What she ate:  8 oz low fat, artificially sweetened peach yoghurt
6 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

    A normal day, just a litte later than usual.

BM Dinner
Blood Glucose:
    Time:  1954
    Reading:  114
Blood Pressure:
    Time:  1957
    BP:  109/59
    Pulse:  60

Dinner:  2045  & Meds
What she ate:  approx 1.5 cups of my home made Mac & Cheese
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

    Everything fine as far as dinner was concerned. She ate well, didn't drink much but I sensed she may have been feeling overhydrated so didn't bother her about liquids.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at 2020, just as I was mixing up all the ingredients and readying dinner for eating. Consistency was good; volume was such that she will probably have another bowel movement sometime tonight or tomorrow; elimination was easy, the second time. About 20 minutes previous to her bowel movement, she felt the urge, sat in the bathroom for about 10 minutes and finally left, frustrated, although she said she didn't strain and she probably didn't. It was a clean movement, though.
    From now on, by the way, when a recipe exists over at the food part of this journal for something I've served my mother, instead of describing the dish I'll link to the recipe, as I have above.

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Today's Stats:

Non-stat Breakfast
Breakfast:  1230  & 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: 1130 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
Levaquin/250 mg 2 hours before and after iron supplement: 1330 to address UTI
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water with antibiotic standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Everything seems to be fine. She was in the bathroom when I entered the driveway from my shopping trip. Appetite good, but a little slow and "cold" this morning. No fever. I checked her temperature: 99.1 arterial.
    Although I was curious, I held off. No poking, no strapping, no stats. NO PLAY-YING!

Non-stat Lunch
Lunch:  1750  & Meds
What she ate:  8 oz artificially sweetened, lot fat lemon yoghurt
4 ;imiento stuffed olives
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

    A little different lunch, today. Totay we initiated yoghurt. She loved it. We'll probably be eating yoghurt pretty regularly, now, for lunch.

Dinner
Blood Glucose:
    Time:  2015
    Reading:  113
Blood Pressure:
    Time:  2020
    BP:  131/68
    Pulse:  59

Dinner:  2045  & Meds
What she ate:  4 baby back ribs with doctored hoisin barbeque sauce
1 small baked potato with margarine, sour cream, sald and pepper
a cabbage based dinner salad with carrot, Bermuda onion, green pepper, radishes and chopped pimiento stuff olives
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

    Everything thing is fine, nothing to report.

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Today's Stats:

Breakfast
Blood Glucose:
    Time:  1210
    Reading:  89
Blood Pressure:
    Time:  1215
    BP:  154/75
    Pulse:  55

Breakfast:  1310  & Meds
What she ate:  3 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon
2 slices 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 @ 1210 today 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
Prilosex/20 mg 1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal standard pre-breakfast med/substitute for Protonix, of which we're out
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
Levaquin/250 mg 2 hours after and before iron ingestion given at 1410 today
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water with antibiotic standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    I know, I'm not supposed to be taking stats for breakfast. I thought of a good "experiment", though, that would certainly allow for the blood pressure stats and, well, you can't have BP with BG, right, folks?!? Anyway, it's true, I am going through stat withdrawal. Not as bad as some, I imagine, but bad enough.
    So, the experiment was an Answer This Question Experiment: What is my mother's blood pressure when she's just waking up and her hand is lolling off the bed (the "wrong" hand for blood pressure measurement, albeit)? The answer is above. I think, actually, that is her blood pressure when she's just waking up out of annoyance that I'm not letting her sleep longer and her hand is lolling over the bed because I've told her I'm going to take her blood sugar and she's sighing. Calm (her pulse rate) but annoyed (her blood pressure rate).
    We ran out of eggs. I haven't gone to Costco, yet, although I plan to either late today or tomorrow early. Probably tomorrow early, since today is coming onto "late", Mom's down for a nap and I have Other Plans.
    Ran out of Protonix, too, so I substituted Prilosec, today.

Lunch
Blood Glucose:
    Time:  1734
    Reading:  197
Blood Pressure:
    No longer taken at this
    time unless necessary

Lunch:  1740  & Meds
What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn
6 pitted pimiento stuffed olives, approx 1/4 cup MCS's bread and butter pickles, 4 mini dills
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

    Now I understand the problem of stat withdrawal. If I'm not going to do anything, I really don't want to know what's happening. Actually, I do, because I can do things with menu. Today, for instance, when she decided she wanted a ham sandwich, I suggested that maybe she might want popcorn, a pickle bowl and V-8 juice, instead. She thought that was a good idea.

Dinner
Blood Glucose:
    Time:  2037
    Reading:  141
Blood Pressure:
    Time:  2041
    BP:  122/55
    Pulse:  62

Dinner:  2055  & Meds
What she ate:  1/8th of a Costco 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
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

    Well, all I can say is that her diabetes doesn't appear to be planning on a vacation anytime soon. But, her blood pressure is nice.

Monday, January 31, 2005

Today's Stats:

Cheater Breakfast
Blood Glucose:
    No longer taken at this
    time unless necessary
Blood Pressure:
    Time:  1226
    Pressure:  150/69
    Pulse:  58

Breakfast:  1310  & 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] at 1220 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
Levaquin/250 mg 1 tablet to be administered at 1420 w/cranberry juice to address UTI
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

    I don't know why, exactly, maybe because of the UTI, but I thought it would be interesting to take her blood pressure this morning, especially since she seemed to be serene on the toilet. Well, I was wrong. She wasn't serene, she was steaming, irritated that I didn't hear her when she first awoke in her bedroom; irritated that I insisted, upon discovering her already beginning her day that we'd begin her bath, which she'd decided not to take, today; irritated in general.

BM Non-stat Lunch
Lunch:  1710  & Meds
What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn
6 pitted pimiento stuffed olives in brine with four mini dill pickles and the pickled detritous, about 1/3 cup, from MCS's home made bread and butter pickles
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

    She received her Levaquin w/cranberry juice on time, today: 1420. She was, indeed, insterested in napping after receiving her medication and drinking the juice. So, there has been a good interval between her antibiotic and her recent iron supplement.
    Her Bowel Movement today happened just before she headed in for a nap: Excellent (even extraordinary) volume; floating some (usually her bowel movements sink like stones); very easy elimination, very messy clean-up; very good consistency.
    This almost-every-day regularity is both surprising and appreciated. It's been about a month, I think, since I've felt the need to give her a dose of Phillip's Milk of Magnesia. Good track record.

Dinner
Blood Glucose:
    Time:  2012
    Reading:  119
Blood Pressure:
    Time:  2015
    BP:  132/62
    Pulse:  56

Dinner:  2030  & Meds
What she ate:  7 garlic & cheese tortellini covered with approx 1.5 cups the leftover, smoky marinara from some nights ago sprinkled with approx 1 oz. freshly shredded Parmesan
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

    Her blood sugar looks good, tonight. So does her blood pressure. She's still moving slow, but she's alert and her energy level is game, if not up. She headed into the kitchen to throw away Kleenex a couple of times. She also insisted, at 1844, that she was going to make dinner, "...it's about that time."
    "Are you hungry already?!?" She'd eaten lunch a little over an hour previously.
    "No."
    "Well, neither am I. Who are you planning on cooking dinner for?"
    "Well, this is about dinner time."
    I laughed, gently. "It hasn't been dinner time for a long time, Mom, not since your breakfast time traveled to around noon."
    "Oh! Well. I guess you're right."
    "If you're a little hungry I can make you some more popcorn."
    She waved away the offer. "No, no. I'm not hungry."
    And, I was sure she wasn't.
    Old habits aren't just hard to break, they remain within memory for decades...possibly centuries.

Sunday, January 30, 2005

Today's Stats:

Non-stat Breakfast
Breakfast:  1230  & Meds
What she ate:  2 hard over egg, heavily peppered
4 oz sugar cured lean roasted ham
2 slices 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: 1130 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
Levaquin/250 mg 1 tablet 2 hours after iron ingestion: 1330 to address UTI
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water with antibiotics standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Her urine is still a bit cloudy, but she's no longer bleeding. She ate a very hearty breakfast. Asked for two eggs, two pieces of toast and got them.
    I am, by the way, getting the hang of noting times without the help of medical measurement instruments.

Different Non-stat Lunch
Lunch:  1645  & Meds
What she ate:  a ham and cheese sandwich made with approx 4 oz lean roasted ham, 1.5 oz yellow sharp cheddar cheese, maybe 1.5 tsp stone ground mustard and 2 slices oat bran bread
approx 1/4 cup of MCS's bread and butter pickles
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

    She awoke from her nap knowing exactly what she wanted: "A ham sandwich". That's what she got.

Dinner
Blood Glucose:
    Time:  2033
    Reading:  147
Blood Pressure:
    Time:  2038
    BP:  136/62
    Pulse:  69

Dinner:  2045  & Meds
What she ate:  approx 1.5 cups homemade Easy Bean and Ham Soup
over maybe an ounce size piece of Southwest Corn Corn Bread
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

    Dinner was a stat dinner, but nothing unusual cropped up. Her appetite was a little fey, but she'd given me mixed signals. Although it wasn't that many hours since she'd eaten a filling lunch, she began complaining about being hungry again at 2015...so I dashed about making dinner, which I'd planned on for around 2100 or so, anyway, then, when I managed to put it in front of her no later than 2045, she only ate about half. This is the first time in a long time she hasn't eaten everything, but it's also the first time in a long time that she's had such a filling lunch.