Update for those paying attn to my plight: Dad is sitting up right fucking now.

[LaydeeBug]

It started with Dad sitting up on the side of the bed for 10 mins. Then 15. Each time he's had PT, he has become very agitated that I was there.

Today, he said he wanted me to be with him and I got to wheel his wheelchair downstairs to the PT gym.

He can't stand just yet. We are still unclear how much of his eyesight he even has left, but "bright" bothers him, and I have been certain that he is trying to focus on things.

He said he got dizzy (by nodding, mind you) while in PT, but he got his legs stretched out and his tech said he did a GREAT job.

It is also the first time I've been able to kiss him on the cheek in more than 3 months.

So I have the Thom Hartmann show streaming for him right now, and he is about to doze off, but, like our awesome veep would say, "This is a pretty big fucking deal".

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Good

Say hi to him and tell him he has a bunch of strangers rooting for him too

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. good news

[okaawhatever]

3. So glad to hear it. Sounds like he's turned a corner. nt

[greymattermom]

4. bright lights

It's fine for folks to wear sunglasses. If bright lights are bothering him, that makes everything else harder. It's certainly worth a try. I work with PTs and have heard this recommendation.

[myrna minx]

5. I'm so happy for you and your dad!

[TxDemChem]

6. That is great!

Tell him to keep up the good work, slow and steady.

[Uben]

7. Hey, LaydeeBug!

Glad your dad is doing better. I have been going thru an ordeal with my step-dad as well. He is doing hyperbaric oxygen treatments for damage to his bladder done by radiation treatments for prostate cancer.
Forty consecutive weekdays in a pressurized chamber. Doesn't sound too bad until you figure in his claustrophobia, which makes it difficult. He is 83, feeble as hell, and it took months to persuade him he had to do it. It's a hundred mile round trip every day and he spends two hours in the chamber. We did number 27 today, 13 to go. He does a Xanax before he goes in and sleeps almost the entire time.

From one care-giver to another, I know it's tough sometimes. I lost my wife two years ago to cancer and almost immediately started caring for my mom and step-dad. I'm all they have until they can no longer stay at home, and I am trying to help them remain at home as long as is reasonable. Doesn't make for much of a life for me, but hey, you do what ya gotta do.

[juajen]

8. Wonderful! PT is marvelous these days. I have needed it myself.

[Exultant Democracy]

9. I haven't been following your story, but it sounds like a stroke?

If I am right then I would like to make a suggestion. My father had a stroke and I reached out the the national stroke association. There is a woman who works there Laura Beving who is a real nice lady and super helpful. She is on the cutting edge of treatment an her father also had a stroke so she knows what we are dealing with first hand.

[winter is coming]

10. Glad he's making some progress. n/t

[840high]

11. Good news.

[LibDemAlways]

12. I'm glad your dad is making good progress.

He's fortunate to have you! You sound like a very loving, caring daughter. Best wishes for continued steady improvement.

[we can do it]

13. Great news, baby steps will go a long way!

[ladyVet]

14. Yay! Doing the happy dance, office chair version, for you both.

@Uben: Hope your dad gets better. My daddy is also 83 (birthday next month). Even with his health issue (bone marrow disease), he's still working. Retirement is a dirty word to him!

[LaydeeBug]

15. THANKS EVERYONE!!!

He is very strong, but not talking as much. His teach is bothering him, but too many secretions for them to take it out...he *is* breathing completely on his own.

Baby steps through these woods that we're not out of yet. We're headed in the right direction though.

[Sissyk]

16. Good news, LaydeeBug!

Make sure you take some time to be sure that you are alright!!

Hang in there!

[Cha]

17. Happy for you all, LaydeeBug!

[riqster]

18. Progress is awesome! Pass this along:

[LaydeeBug]

19. So his bp dropped when he stood up today, but I wasn't at the session

He is sitting up, but pretty worn out. He shook his head no when I asked if he was in pain, but the orderly is having the Rn come in anyway. Don't get me wrong, I love my Dad more than anyone in the wooooooooorld, but I don't want them medicating him unnecessarily.

He is coming out of a pretty decent fog, and I don't want him numbed back into it.

Wait, the Rn is here....

I agreed to tylenol since he did have PT today and he is grimacing a little, but no morphine unless he absolutely needs it.

I want him *back*

on edit: typo in the header

[malaise]

20. How lovely