Let's Post our Daily Exercise

ruthbru

I would definitely have the meds monitored. I don't suppose you dare water the wine? I would do the UTI check. I have heard of several elderly people who were tested for all kinds of problems which turned out to stem from undetected UTIs. It is hard when you have to be the parent to your parent.

badger

Agreed on both counts: UTIs and reversed roles. Mom likes ice in her wine so she waters it down herself LOL.

I have access to mom's electronic medical record and can check past test results as well as message the doc. Prefer to do it with her, though; she's regressed but still competent and I want to treat her as such for as long as possible.

Snickersmom

Good that you have access to the medical records but the UTI check needs to be current.

Girl after my own heart - I water down my wine with ice, too

DancingElizabeth

Hi Everyone!!!

Sounds like lots of us are getting in some great workouts despite this crazy weather!!!

Wonderland - I didn't even realize it - but - now that you mention it - I realize that I am meditating on the bike - no wonder why I love it so much!!!

Perigrinelady - Congrats on your boring appointment!!! Now you can relax and feel good about getting that over with!!! :-)

Ruth - I love your WWW group photos...always good to know and see more BC and other cancer survivors...that are doing well and thriving.

Cheryl - those master Sprint classes sound amazing that must've been so exciting having a master trainer teach the class!! How cool that you got to work with him so much!!! And, good for you on your Grit workout. I tried one Grit class (Grit Pylo) & barely survived it and am too chicken to come back and try it again! (Maybe if the instructor didn't keep coming over to me and telling me I'm doing things wrong - it was just really really embarrassing - but I know she was probably just trying to do her job!!)

Heidi - Great article!!!

Runnermum - I'm taking Arimidex. I haven't had any issues with my eyes, but my mouth and nose feel dry... But, agree, it doesn't help that the furnace is on most of the time!!

Badger - sorry about your mom!! Nice hard and sweaty workouts and making yummy zucchini bread sound like a great idea to deal with all this stress!!! You are such a wonderful support to your mom...

Trmtab, Snickersmom and Twohobbies - try to find a way to stay warm!!

As for me, I took a day off of working-out - as my leg muscles needed the rest. But, I'm already feeling very antsy and can't wait to get back to the gym!!!

DancingElizabeth

From my January calendar:

BucsGirl

Not much to report again. Reached my goal of 10000 steps combines with 25 minutes of elliptical activity.

Badger - My mother is 90 years old. We had to get her a La Crosse Atomic Full Calendar Clock with a weekly pill organizer. She has been doing very well with that. The digital calendar has large numbers and displays the day and date. We have it sitting on her kitchen counter with the pill organizer in front of it. She has been losing track of time since she went under general anesthesia this past year. The fog hasn't cleared up yet for her. They say it could take a year.

We got the clock from Amazon. The link is below:

La Crosse Technology Atomic Full Calendar Digital Clock

2FUN

in the older, geriatric population one of the only symptoms of uti can be confusion. No pain, discomfort, uregency etc. My active, tennis playing auntie died from a uti in her mid 70's. They thought it was acute onset dimentia.

Snickersmom

My mom lived to the ripe old age of 104 and got UTIs frequently after she hit 100. You are right - there aren't any darned symptoms but confusion, and that's how we automatically knew that she had an infection.

Tampa - staying warm over there? We are freezing up here in The Village, but I did manage to hit almost 7000 steps yesterday. Took a decent walk finally even though it was windy. Today I have a lots of errands to run and a hair appointment (finally!!!) at noon, so that kind of eats up the day. And then we are off to dinner tonight with our couples golf group and they all want to go for Italian. Great for packing on the calories!!! My husband and I both struggle with weight - his is just plain eating, mine from Arimidex and eating. We try to eat mostly at home but when we go out, we tend to split meals and that does help a bit. But if I order just a salad, he will get a full meal and eat the whole thing, so sometimes it's really hard for me to do the "right" thing!

Hope all of our northern gals are staying inside and staying warm and safe. My daughter in Franklin, Massachusetts said they have just over 19 inches of snow. SO glad we moved to Florida!!!!

BucsGirl

Yes, I'm trying to stay warm. I've been walking inside the house. That keeps me pretty warm. The doggies try to keep me out in the back yard but it's too darn cold. They see me walking around the house. I can see it in their eyes. They think their mother has lost it.

My mother & I go out every Friday for dinner. It's our date night. I'm enjoying her for as long as I can. 

Have fun tonight & stay warm! You have to eat, right? Just walk it off later. I know, I can't stand it when I've gained weight after eating out. I know it's just water weight. The inches around the waist will eventually go down. I'm noticing a difference just by making my 10000 step goal every day.

2FUN

We had a snow day, so I am working from home! That, and getting frustrated with college girl. ARGH! I am not looking forward to graduation this spring. Love her but she is like "pig pen" in the Charlie Brown comic strip. She could benefit from some aerobic cleaning! LOL

ruthbru

Subbed today & going to Zumba at 5:30.

Runnermum

20 min run on treadmill and a 30 min circuit workout. TGIF!

Wonderland

Heidi: That's so cool that you made your Christmas tree into a New Year's tree!

Snickersmom: Hope your dh's cough is getting better.

Castigame: Did you find your activity tracker?

Badger: Thinking of you and especially your mother. It certainly isn't easy. We had to water down my mother's port wine. She didn't know we did it. One time it didn't get watered down - she thought it was the best tasting port she had had in a long time!

Scared: Love the cartoon!

TampBay: That's a fabulous clock. I will have to remember it. My cat also thinks I've lost it when I walk in the house. Sometimes she'll lay down in the middle of my path!

2FUN: I can "see" your dd's mess in my head. ARGH is right!

Luckily we missed the snow but it's still very cold. It was too windy yesterday to walk outside. Today was much better so I was able to walk/run outside.

tessu

I hate getting winded so easily Yesterday decluttered almost all day, then just barely got through classic Pilates class. Today just got done taking down our Christmas tree; got winded even though had lots of help (husband, son, and his girlfriend). Women in my local bc support group say it’s the Letro that saps energy, but this has only been noticably bothering me since I started the once-a-week bone pill about 6 weeks ago. Oh well. So glad to have this group for motivation to keep going!

Have fun this weekend!

2FUN

tessu, if it is something new, and persistent, it probably doesn't hurt to mention it to your dr.

badger

Hi all and thanks for the support. Spent last night at mom's after a trip to the ER. Got to her apartment at 5pm and found her lying on the floor. She remembers nothing but one of the staff had seen her around 2:30 pm so it wasn't more than a few hours but still freaked us both out - me and the CNA who checks on mom every afternoon. I asked the ER doc to test for UTI which he did and result was negative. We are still going Monday for the ESI (epidural steroid injection) and a follow up app't with her regular doc in a few days. I talked to my brother and he's on board with assisted living even if it eats through her money faster or we have to chip in. Mom needs help and I can't be here 24/7.

Mom's asleep and I'm having coffee waiting for her to wake up. Once she does, will get her situated then head home and work out to shed some of this anxiety and stress!

Snickersmom

Yes, unfortunately it sounds like it might be time for assisted living. Do they have any idea what caused her to collapse? Low BP? Or maybe she took the wrong pills, wrong combination, etc.

Don't beat yourself up. You have done everything you can and sometimes we just have to say okay, I need to get more help than I can give. My mom lived with my sister until she was 102 and was totally bedridden. And my sister still felt guilty about having to put her in a care center, even though we knew that really was the best thing we could do for mom. Remember that you are dog all of this FOR her, not TO her.

Hang in there, and breathe

Snickersmom

Okay that should say you are DOING all of this for her! I hate when I send something and then read it and find a stupid computer error!!!!

BucsGirl

Oh, Badger. I'm so sorry this is happening. Those late night ER visits are so draining. Hope mom is feeling better today. It's a tough decision, but you're doing the right thing. Safety comes first.

Wonderland - My first beagle (Wilbur) used to do something similar to me. It was always during my yoga session (the corpse pose). He would come over and lay his snout on my face. I think he wanted to make sure I was still breathing. I guess I was too still for him. Yes, the clock is awesome. It has really helped my mother. I set up her pills in the organizer every week. My husband is actually the one who came up with the idea of getting a calendar clock.

I got in another 10000 steps yesterday. I'm not so sure I can do it today. I have so many chores to do around the house. 

tessu

2FUN thank you, I will mention it when I go in for my check-up in March. Hoping it will be gone by then. I used to walk tons every day, but have essentially stopped since my toe operation in November, even though my toe is ok now. I think I’m just badly out of shape from laziness!

badger

Got back home, showered, and relaxed in savasana for a good long while. Then looked at the 2017 AL rate sheet and got my HR back up. It's more than double what she's paying now. Will meet with a sales rep Monday but not making any decisions at this point. Want to see how mom does after the ESI and also check out the place down the block from my house. So hard to balance financial resources against life expectancy.

The atomic clock and automatic pill dispenser ideas are great, thanks!

Snickersmom

Badger - yeah, I get what you are saying about the financial aspect and life expectancy. My mom and dad were always extremely healthy and so they bought the cheapest medical insurance they could find. Then it turned out to be a nightmare when my dad had to have 2 prostrate surgeries when he was only in his late 60's. My sister and I ended up having to bail them out several times. And then he lived to be 96 and mom 104. They never dreamed they would live that long. We were thrilled to have them for so long but it was a tremendous drain on them and on us.

It's really hard to know what to do. Just look around and see what's out there and what feels comfortable for you for her placement.

Now go have another glass of wine

badger

Wine sounds good :-) but just back from 60 mins @gym and opting for a tangerine Sanpellegrino water. 45 min TM, 15 yoga stretch. Weights 2moro.

Snickersmom

Very excited - I hit 9760 steps today!!! I wanted to get to 10,000 but it was getting dark when I came back from my walk and realized how close I was to 10,000. Maybe tomorrow.....

Have a great rest of the weekend, everyone

Falconer

Badger, my heart goes out to you and your mom and brother. I read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande recently. What a fascinating book; so relatable. One thing he does describe is how assisted living came to be from the failures of the traditional nursing home protocol. Perhaps when we are all old and in need there will be a newer, better way, the way AL came to be in our parents' generation.

Took two yoga classes this week. This morning I was actually sweating in class even though it was so cold outside the doors. Though maybe it was a hot flash.

ruthbru

Badger, this is such a tough time. We went through the same thing with my dad. Eventually, he needed nursing home care for his own safety and we moved him to a good one a couple blocks from my house. That worked out as good as possible because we could take him out & about, I could stop by after work and/or after dinner every day; meeting his needs better while still being able to have a life of my own.

It was a super busy day here. I went to early bird yoga, then we met a bunch of friends at a sports bar and watched the big football game (which our team won in a very exciting and close fashion), then visited our old lady friend for coffee, then stopped by DS's house as he was having car problems, THEN met some friends for dinner, and THEN went to the high school for some basketball games. Since none of these activities involved much movement from me, I jumped on the treadmill when I finally got home and stayed there until I got up to the 10,000 desired steps.

Since Saturday Night Live is a rerun, I'm off to bed!

Vargadoll

You ladies are all so active! The wins chill has us in the below zero temps. I ventured out to volunteer 3 days this week and have been inside since. To cold to take my girl out. (Multiple handicapped child) she gets respiratory illness very easily. I am still getting about 15,000 steps inside. Would love to be part of the Fitbit group but can not find it.

Stay warm!

TwoHobbies

Badger, sorry about the difficulties with your mother. Perhaps after she gets her back fixed up, she'll be back in better shape. My mom is 90, and sounds like similar back issues. They were able to get her fixed up with some injection maybe 6 years ago - can't say for certain what it was, but she is back to getting around on her own.

Wonderland, laughed about your mom's "best wine ever".

I went to yoga Thursday, did nothing Friday. Yesterday DS and I went to walk at the mall. He lasted 28 minutes before demanding lunch. I felt like I ate too many carbs so when we got home, I bundled up and went for a 20 minute walk. We have a real warm-up headed our way - I even see 40s in the forecast. Looking forward to being able to get outside more!

Pets when you exercise at home. This is how my attempts look too:

badger

LOL TH that was great! Thanks, I needed that!!

Mom called last night, upset that she lost control of her bowels and, in her words, shit all over the living room floor. She was in her recliner and couldn't get up fast enough to make it to the bathroom. Housekeeping staff cleaned up the mess with sanitizer, but she was humiliated. I'm going up there today with some Depends and to check if she got cleaned up too. Fingers crossed the ESI helps.

Ordered a memory care clock from Amazon, should be there 2moro.

Will hit the gym this afternoon, lots of motivation for strength training 2day.

ruthbru

Vargadoll, go to Fitbit Login which will take you to your fitbit dashboard, in the options section (which scroll across the top of the page on my laptop) click 'Community' a couple options pop up, click 'activity groups'.....our BCO group should show up there & you are in it.

If anyone else wants to join, PM Patoo (or me, anyone else in the group) your email address and we can get you in.