BM A Bit More than Stats:

Blood Glucose:     Time:  0945     Reading:  130

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

    I was expecting her blood sugar to be a bit higher than usual in the morning. It always is when we have hamburgers and fries because of the amount of ketchup Mom insists on consuming when she eats these. Her reading was a little higher than I was expecting, but I chalked that up to the fact that she her appetite was roaring yesterday and she assuaged it more often than usual.
    Meds as usual. Breakfast was again two eggs. Lunch? Hmmm...oh, yes. Pretty hearty. Some left over More than Mac & Cheese and mandarin oranges in light syrup, drained. Dinner was, at her request, ham and eggs, two eggs, and V-8 juice.
    As you can see, she was up earlier than she's been in a long time, on her own; finished with breakfast long before noon. Lunch was served at 1515, dinner at around 2000. She asked for a snack once, about an hour after breakfast. I gave her a limited choice of very, very low carb snacks, nothing that she wanted, so she refused it.
    Short nap. Retired at 2200.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred about a half hour after lunch: Small but not awfully small volume, so easily expelled that she didn't realize she had to have a bowel movement until it happened; excellent consistency, very easy clean-up. I still have no idea what caused her extremely runny fecal accident a few days ago, but I am relieved that we're back to normal eliminations, again.

Again, Just Stats

Pre-dated. Actually recorded on 2/26/05.

Blood Glucose:     Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1547     BP:  134/59     Pulse:  61

    I only took blood pressure today. I was concerned about this because of her rather low reading, yesterday. I was relieved with today's reading.
    All meds dispensed according to normal schedule. Typical breakfast. 1 egg instead of two. Today, though, she was hungry throughout the day. She ate a little here and a little there every 3 hours or so: Yoghurt, a dish of olives, I think she even got some popcorn in. Dinner? Hmmm...let me think. Oh, yes. We had cheeseburgers and french fries. Homemade. Haven't done that for awhile. Delicious. Again she arose and had finished breakfast before noon.
    One short nap, stayed up until about 2200, couldn't get to sleep, so came about out and remained up until about 0100 2/26/05.

Just the stats, m'am...

...and a brief review. Pre-dated but actually recorded on 2/26/05.

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1538     Reading:  156

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1535     BP:  117/48     Pulse:  62

    If you've been keeping up with The Mom & Me Journals dot Net, you know that I been doing so little recording of our days and Mom's stats you could say that I've recorded nothing. Time to put in the stats I took and the little I remember about what she ate.
    No changes in medication. Everything in this area is normal.
    Breakfast was the typical breakfast. 2 eggs this morning, I believe. Can't remember what we ate for lunch. Dinner was a repeat of last night...the left over KFC chicken, mac & cheese and green beans. She awoke and finished breakfast before noon, although I can't remember exactly when she arose.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1053     Reading:  132

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  1115  & 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
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 couldn't help it. I sneaked a stat this morning, just to see if the sweet rolls from last night were still surfing her blood stream. Obviously, they are, but conservatively. Good.
    Back to one egg, today. Although she awoke on her own again, which seemed to prophesy good things for her energy level, she was not at all pleased with the weather, grumbled through the morning, complained about being cold even though the house seems warmer than usual to me, today, and decided she needed to nap early, at 1330. Oh well. Following the life of an Ancient One is always full of surprises.

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1549     Reading:  113

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1554     BP:  116/54     Pulse:  67

Lunch:  1600  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 6 pitted, stuffed (w/pimiento) olives 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
none at the moment

    Good stats. Normal lunch (although it looks like no yoghurt, today). Good mood. Good day.

BM Non-stat Dinner

Dinner:  1915  & Meds What she ate:  1 KFC original recipe thigh approx 3/4 cup KFC green beans approx 3/4 cup KFC macaroni and 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
Niferex-150	1 150 mg tab 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 was fine with dinner; appetite, readiness, etc.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at 2130 this evening in the form of a diarrheaic accident. We were playing a late evening Sorry tournament. Halfway through the second game I smelled, well, I asked Mom if she had gas. She said no. I asked her if she had to go to the bathroom. She said no. I asked her if she thought she might have to go to the bathroom "soon" (I do this because it isn't uncommon for Mom to think she can wait when she can't). She said no. In a couple of minutes the odor convinced me that she must have no idea what her colon is up to. I had her stand and, sure enough, she'd had a bowel accident that was so loose it leaked through her underwear, her flannel pants and the chair cushions. Her bowels performed quite a cleaning. Despite all the fecal material she'd expelled before making it to the toilet, she let go once she was in the bathroom. She continued to eliminate for a good 20 minutes and I monitored her and cleaned her path from the dinette to the bathroom for another 10 minutes just to make sure she was "done". Afterwards, we continued the incomplete game and went on to play a third. When she decided to retire after the third game, about 2300, even though she didn't think she had to go to the bathroom, we decided it might be a good idea to check her underwear, anyway. She had, indeed, expelled a bit more, but just dregs. I think she'll be okay in bed tonight, although I'm pleased that I'll be up for quite awhile, doing two more loads of wash, drying one and starting the drying process on the other. This way, I can keep an eye on possible comings and goings between her bedroom and the bathroom.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1011     Reading:  118

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  1115  & Meds What she ate:  2 hard over eggs, 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
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

    Still checking on her blood sugar, as you can see. Seems a little high for morning, but I thought about this and realized that she's been arising earlier than before. Her schedule is changing; notice what time she awoke this morning. I didn't prod her, she was up on her own. We haven't yet adjusted dinner time to this new schedule, primarily because her early risings seem to also include either longer naps or an extra nap during the day, so lunch continues to be served 'late'. For instance...today, she's napping now. Has been since about 1330. I tried suggesting a variety of activities to keep her up: Doing her hair; Then, maybe, going out for lunch; Going to a store to replenish some sheets I finally had to consign to the quilting pile...but she was visibly tired. I remembered what the FNP said and relented.
    She had an excellent appetite, though. Two eggs, again. I think this is going to be her normal breakfast, for awhile.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1634     Reading:  95

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1613     BP:  133/65     Pulse:  63

Lunch:  1645  & Meds What she ate:  approx 1.5 cups Marie Callendar's Beef Pot Pie Soup with lots of added beef (in the form of jerky), peas and onions approx 4 oz variety cheese including Butter Kase, Vermont White Cheddar and Yellow Sharp Cheddar
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
none at the moment

    Okay, now this looks much better, blood sugar wise. I fed her a particularly hearty and nutritious lunch because, between breakfast and lunch I cleaned out the freezer with Mom propped on a chair behind me, helping me inventory what we have and deciding what we've had too long. I found 3 more sweet rolls, probably a couple of months old, from over the holidays. Mom wanted to consume them immediately but I suggested a nutritious lunch to keep her blood sugar in check, then a Just Desserts dinner in order to get rid of the last of the holiday treats. She agreed.

Non-stat Dinner

Dinner:  2100  & Meds What she ate:  1.5 good sized danish, one blueberry and half a cherry; can't remember where they came from
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Niferex-150	1 150 mg tab 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

    And, here it is, the last Just Desserts meal for awhile, I think. The last of the holiday sweets.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1115     Reading:  129

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Breakfast:  1140  & Meds What she ate:  2 hard over eggs, 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
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

    That's right, I took breakfast stats today; took stats all day long today. I wanted to make sure that Mom's blood sugar was coming back to earth after yesterday, and it is. Slowly, but it is.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1540     Reading:  112

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1544     BP:  139/62     Pulse:  65

Lunch:  1550  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
none at the moment

    She wasn't very hungry, that's why she didn't eat very much. I tried to coax her to eat more, but she wasn't having any.

BM Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1922     Reading:  120

Blood Pressure:     No longer taken at this     time unless necessary

Dinner:  1940  & Meds What she ate:  approx 2 cups More than 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
Niferex-150	1 150 mg tab 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

    I was a little surprised that her blood sugar went up between her very light lunch and dinner. I know she didn't have anything to eat and, usually, this kind of lunch tends to bring her right back to normal just before dinner. I guess sweet rolls are sticky little devils.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred around 1830. Good volume, considering that she is eliminating about every 36 hours or so, now (which means that "good volume" is now about half the volume it used to be when she was eliminating every 4 to 5 days); good consistency, easy elimination.

No stat day:

    If you check in over at February 21st's Mom & Me post [Ooooh...twilight zone...I'm leaving a link for what, according to the date, is a yet non-existent post] you'll see what happened regarding stats, food and meds, today.