One day is good, next day is bad. We started off with Matt being in howling pain at 3 a.m. I was given pills to give to him when this happened as it has done a couple of times before. It's pretty awful and he was beating the bed and crying in pain. Tossing and thrashing around, etc. so, even though I knew it was pointless really, I called the ambulance. Eventually they came one guy protected up to the hilt with a breather type mask and a plexiglass shield over his face and the young woman with him just had a simple throw away mask. They were both wearing gowns and hazmat type trousers. The result of this was, I had trouble understanding the young man, let alone Matt. I couldn't get through to him to speak slowly and clearly. I certainly couldn't get him to say less. They took all his readings and such and were preparing to take him to the hospital but double checked with me. I said to Matt did he really want to go to the hospital, spend 5 or 6 hours on a very hard and uncomfortable bed waiting to see the doctor when he was obviously so much better by that time. In the end he agreed he didn't want to go so I signed their computer and eventually off they went. I persuaded Matt to go to bed and then did so myself. Of course, I had trouble getting back to sleep.
I had set the alarm for 7 as the PSW said he would be here for 8:30 to 9. I mentioned that to Matt when I called him. He crawled out of bed and said he would NOT go anywhere with anyone. I kept assuring him he was not going anywhere. Unfortunately, but the time the PSW arrived, he had decided he was NOT going to let him help him in any way Not to shower, dress or anything else, he was quite capable of doing it himself. The PSW kindly got rid of my recycling and then left. The result was, no shower and of course I had to supervise dressing. Some help that was.
10:30 I had a conference meeting on line with several Alzheimer spouses so I made my salad before it started. We chatted for 1 1/2 hours and discussed all kinds of things. I was pleased to see two of my friends from the session I attended some while ago. In fact today we had a pretty full house. We use Zoom and it seems to work very well although we do have an odd glitch or two at the beginning, none of us are electronic whizz kids LOL.
Then, I finished making my lunch and did Matt's. I had several jobs to do online and finally I got to sit down on my lounger and have a nap. Not sure how long I slept but as expected, a delivery came of another pair of slippers. Matt insisted on putting them on and wore them for a while. They are the kind you need to wear a bit to get your feet used to them, but he decided they were pressing down on his toes and hurt. They actually looked fine to me, but then I guess I am not wearing them.
Later I did some Spanish and then hunted up a new recipe for supper, had an email with some Instant Pot Dump and Go recipes so I decided to try one. It was pretty good but it did want some salt. I did not have Balsamic dressing so I used Italian. I have ordered some Balsamic to try another time.
You worn out yet? I was/am.
Instant pot 2-ingredient balsamic chicken
Tender, moist bites of shredded chicken flavored with balsamic dressing. With literally only 2
ingredients and the fact that it’s made in the Instant Pot, this recipe couldn’t be easier to make. This balsamic chicken tastes great on salads, over rice or with a baked potato.
2 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs trimmed of excess fat
1 cup balsamic salad dressing
1. Add chicken into the Instant Pot and top with the salad dressing.
2. Cover the Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure the valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 15 minutes for fresh thighs or breasts or 18 minutes for frozen.
3. When time is up let the pot sit for 10 minutes and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid.
4. Shred the chicken and serve it drizzled with sauce.
Servings: 6
Author Notes
Chicken: you can use frozen or fresh boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts for this recipe. You can also use bone-in chicken pieces with the skin removed.
Salad dressing: substitution ideas are zesty Italian salad dressing or any other salad dressing that is thin and not cream based. For example, raspberry vinaigrette, catalina, greek vinaigrette, asian sesame dressing, etc.
Pot in pot rice: You can cook rice at the same time using the pot in pot method. To see this demonstrated watch the video. For white rice, converted rice, basmati rice use 1.5 cups of water to 1 cup of rice. For jasmine rice use 1 cup water to 1 cup rice. Brown rice would not work in this recipe since the cooking time is too short.
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. You can make this in your 8 quart or 3 quart pot with no change
Have a great day, stay well, stay safe.
I had set the alarm for 7 as the PSW said he would be here for 8:30 to 9. I mentioned that to Matt when I called him. He crawled out of bed and said he would NOT go anywhere with anyone. I kept assuring him he was not going anywhere. Unfortunately, but the time the PSW arrived, he had decided he was NOT going to let him help him in any way Not to shower, dress or anything else, he was quite capable of doing it himself. The PSW kindly got rid of my recycling and then left. The result was, no shower and of course I had to supervise dressing. Some help that was.
10:30 I had a conference meeting on line with several Alzheimer spouses so I made my salad before it started. We chatted for 1 1/2 hours and discussed all kinds of things. I was pleased to see two of my friends from the session I attended some while ago. In fact today we had a pretty full house. We use Zoom and it seems to work very well although we do have an odd glitch or two at the beginning, none of us are electronic whizz kids LOL.
Then, I finished making my lunch and did Matt's. I had several jobs to do online and finally I got to sit down on my lounger and have a nap. Not sure how long I slept but as expected, a delivery came of another pair of slippers. Matt insisted on putting them on and wore them for a while. They are the kind you need to wear a bit to get your feet used to them, but he decided they were pressing down on his toes and hurt. They actually looked fine to me, but then I guess I am not wearing them.
Later I did some Spanish and then hunted up a new recipe for supper, had an email with some Instant Pot Dump and Go recipes so I decided to try one. It was pretty good but it did want some salt. I did not have Balsamic dressing so I used Italian. I have ordered some Balsamic to try another time.
You worn out yet? I was/am.
Instant pot 2-ingredient balsamic chicken
Tender, moist bites of shredded chicken flavored with balsamic dressing. With literally only 2
2 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs trimmed of excess fat
1 cup balsamic salad dressing
1. Add chicken into the Instant Pot and top with the salad dressing.
2. Cover the Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure the valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 15 minutes for fresh thighs or breasts or 18 minutes for frozen.
3. When time is up let the pot sit for 10 minutes and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid.
4. Shred the chicken and serve it drizzled with sauce.
Servings: 6
Author Notes
Chicken: you can use frozen or fresh boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts for this recipe. You can also use bone-in chicken pieces with the skin removed.
Salad dressing: substitution ideas are zesty Italian salad dressing or any other salad dressing that is thin and not cream based. For example, raspberry vinaigrette, catalina, greek vinaigrette, asian sesame dressing, etc.
Pot in pot rice: You can cook rice at the same time using the pot in pot method. To see this demonstrated watch the video. For white rice, converted rice, basmati rice use 1.5 cups of water to 1 cup of rice. For jasmine rice use 1 cup water to 1 cup rice. Brown rice would not work in this recipe since the cooking time is too short.
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. You can make this in your 8 quart or 3 quart pot with no change
Source: Karen from 365 Days
Have a great day, stay well, stay safe.
Only worn out? I would be exaustipated (too tired to give a crap).
ReplyDeleteSigh on the PSW. Am I right in thinking that the first was the most successful?
I hope tomorrow is a better day for both Matt and you.
No Sue, three of the visits have been OK, admittedly the first one he only had a sponge bath, but the other two he showered.
DeleteThanks.
Hi Jo - it does sound very difficult ... and I can hear you're exhausted ... all I can say is - I hope things ease up for you ... but take care - and thinking of you. All the very best ... Hilary
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilary, difficult is possibly an understatement LOL
DeleteI can only say, Jo, that this reinforces how much I take for granted our normal life. Yesterday I got up early, as I always do, made the coffee and had my bowl of cereal. Miriam followed. I got ready for a day of birding along the north shore of Lake Ontario between Hamilton and Toronto. Miriam had three friends over for lunch, on the patio, with chairs appropriately distanced from each other. I returned home late afternoon and she and I chatted over a glass of wine, had chicken souvlaki with rice and greek salad for dinner - with another glass of wine. She sewed a little, I downloaded pictures, we both read for a while, went to bed, both read a while longer, kissed each other goodnight, turned over and slept soundly. I can only conjecture what it might mean for you to have a day like that!
ReplyDeleteYou are making me jealous David. However, I am not the only one who has days like that, I was talking to 6 other spouses all of whom have days like that. Although I think most of them are fit in themselves.
DeleteYes, I am worn out. I feel bad for you having to deal with your health issues and Matt. Sounds like he is more ornery than actually physically sick. Do they know if he is really in pain or something else?
ReplyDeleteHe is definitely in pain Denise but it would have been better had he moved around more at the beginning. No expert but it might now be too late. There is no doubt his pain at night is really bad. It is definitely muscular and nobody seems to be able to do anything about it.
DeleteUse or or lose it. My friend's husband is the same way. Bought an expensive exercise bike, then he stopped using it. Now he barely shuffles along. Muscle pain is bad.
DeleteYou're right it is bad. Matt is the same.
DeleteI wonder what that pain is that he has ..muscular? I know my mom would have leg cramps and that restless leg syndrome. When it would act up the PSW's would massage her legs and that seemed to work.I would do this for my mom as well. She would fall off to sleep. Next time....don't tell Matt the PSW is coming because, despite the dementia, they are very cunning on how to stop anything the PSW is to do. You let the PSW handle it because that is supposed to be their expertise. Saying this some are better at it than others as some could not get my mom to move at all while others she was ok with. I think I told you of the time tht they asked my hubby to play bad cop? He came there on her bath day and said she needs to have a bath...you would have thought he told her she needed to swim in acid. She was yelling and running down the hall crying..It was Oscar worthy. The PSW-the good cop, took over and calmed her down and got her in the bath.
ReplyDeleteIt is muscular Birgit, and constant. The extreme pain only happens now and again (3 times so far I think) and once the Robaxacet (sp) starts working it is OK. They don't seem to be able to do anything for him. Being mobile might help but he won't move more than he has to.
DeleteThe PSW that came Monday didn't seem able to do anything and yes, I should leave them to do their job and yes, I shouldn't tell Matt they are coming.
Jo. I am so sorry that Matt is going through this and that you are as well. I wish I lived closer to help. What you are doing in sharing this story with us, I have to say thank you. So many people deal with these things and it doesn't seem easy. Hugs & Bugs, Me.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ivy, one saving grace is my Instant Pot it is so much easier to cook with it. One of the reasons I am sharing the story is because so many of us don't know the first thing about living with dementia, since I discovered it, I have always felt guilty that I knew of one woman who had a husband suffering from this and "I passed her by" to coin a phrase. If anyone has the opportunity to assist anyone with a similar problem, I do hope they will do so, As a friend in like case said to me yesterday, nobody knows what it's like until they are living with it.
Delete