October 9th, 2021 - 06:16:37
Applesauce Definition: any substance or semi-edible food product (natural or unnatural) derived from any combination of processed fruits or fruit-like products (not necessarily apples) that maintains a certain pre-established consistency/viscosity (thicker than water, thinner than molasses) and contains at least one vitamin (or a few minerals), while containing no greater than 50% sugar (or artificial sweeteners) and is capable of maintaining a semi-identifiable color or recognized shade that falls within an ever-widening range of indefinable parameters -
Downgraded
Based upon Friday alone, it appears as though the weekend shift is .. to put it kindly, not as high-functioning. Three plus hours to get my morning formula feed. Then my afternoon nurse started on my formula change (late), abruptly walked out of the room, then didn't come back until her shift was nearly over.. five hours later. Luckily, I was able to improvise on my own.
They neglected my roommate for three hours today, regarding his needed maintenance issues. Of course, Jeff pushes the Red Button between three and five times per hour, so perhaps the nursing staff is just plain irritated by his neediness. Well, yes they are - everybody is, but is that a reasonable excuse?
And the poor guy (seriously) is out of pain pills (although, ever since they've upped his dosage, he's been relatively quieter). Apparently there is a long standing issue with the pharmacy they use, meds taking days (and possibly up to a week) to appear. So if I ever need drugs of any stripe, I may ask that one (or several of you) mail me my prescribed drugs from… wherever. Norway, Indiana, California, Texas, Lithuania.. hmmmm, I'm not remembering where everybody is established. Oh, Canada. Yes. We need Canada onboard. All the best drugs pass through Canadian Customs.
Or perhaps we need to establish a Phoenix Rising Drug and Supplement Exchange? Or more so, a sort of fancy-shmancy roulette wheel. A random assorted delivery system to appease the masses, our massed self-experimenting crew.
Anyway, I push the Red Button six times per day. Three times each for my tube feeding needs, and three times attempting to acquire applesauce. Tonight the CNA shot me down before I could even ask.
"We don't have any applesauce, not in the entire building."
She's from Jamaica. We have a lot of Jamaica here, a little bit of Eastern Europe, and a well-established sect hailing from South Phoenix.
Social Studies
Besides the social worker (on the phone), I did not have any human interactions today. But I explained to the social worker that I get sad sometimes. Yes, I know. Everybody does. But I asked if there was anybody to talk to, a professional of some sort. Somebody with a related designation. And she mentioned that counselors were standing by… just not particularly close to me. Cue that Police song!
These folks in the field stop by the facility every two weeks or so. It seems that's the available option.
Heck, sometimes I just wanna talk to somebody.. have a regular conversation with a live body. I'm getting better conversationally, but I still need practice honing my skills. What else is there to do, besides bettering myself, advancing my skill set, or encouraging/motivating others?
The staff here is just too busy for extensive talk. I get it. I'm a big boy. So I write a lot. That's where it all comes out. Unfortunately, so too do the emotions. And I don't suppose I am supposed to be writing this way, out in the open. It seems that emotions are uncomfortable for all, right? But I'm needing to figure out how best to embrace them. Avoidance no longer works. And it never really did.
There likely exist rules, when it comes to blogging. But my filter (if I even have one) is broken. Both ways. In and out. All at once. Everything establishes footing. Competes for attention.
But then things like the following occur to me ---
Purpose
Thank you for offering help with the supplies! Although I DO seem to need certain items, my wife is responding in a manner which leads me to believe that she's okay with me asking for her assistance. Once I have all the bases covered (almost there), I'll simply send off a text if/when I require occasional maintenance drop-offs.. maybe twice each month?
Misnomers
The administrative staff insisted that I needn't bring supplies.. which clearly runs contrary to the reality of the situation. They almost seem to be able to manage the supplies they have here, yet they do not have the proper amount or types of supplies to manage properly.
Heck, I'm not necessarily good at things, but I almost want to offer my talents as a logistics coordinator for this establishment. I understand systems.
Argh! Refocus -
But it makes me smile inside and out, knowing that people care enough to offer assistance. Life is better this way, helping each other out. And I hope each of you has support, or are being supported wherever and whenever possible. Despite being a loner, I probably hadn't spent a lonely day in my entire life, up until this whole illness/bedbound scenario came into being.
The bottom line? Applesauce may be the last thing I am needing for a while.
About Last Night
My overnight nurse was both personable and easily impressed. She was fascinated by my J-tube, having never seen one before (somewhat surprisingly, none of the nurses have). So I give lessons each time, explaining the do's and don'ts. But it's not for me that I do this. It's to help the eventual elderly others (with J-tubes) who cannot speak up for themselves. When my tube was new (and I didn't quite understand), inexperienced nurses did wrong things… things okay for the far more common G-tube, not the J (gastric versus jejunum).
So the nurse asked me all sorts of questions. Which I rather like. Sometimes we (I) need to feel useful. So here's hoping you feel appreciated, at least, every so often.
Take care, y'all-
H
It's been a few days, but upon awakening I am not feeling poisoned, which helps make everything better!
Applesauce Definition: any substance or semi-edible food product (natural or unnatural) derived from any combination of processed fruits or fruit-like products (not necessarily apples) that maintains a certain pre-established consistency/viscosity (thicker than water, thinner than molasses) and contains at least one vitamin (or a few minerals), while containing no greater than 50% sugar (or artificial sweeteners) and is capable of maintaining a semi-identifiable color or recognized shade that falls within an ever-widening range of indefinable parameters -
Downgraded
Based upon Friday alone, it appears as though the weekend shift is .. to put it kindly, not as high-functioning. Three plus hours to get my morning formula feed. Then my afternoon nurse started on my formula change (late), abruptly walked out of the room, then didn't come back until her shift was nearly over.. five hours later. Luckily, I was able to improvise on my own.
They neglected my roommate for three hours today, regarding his needed maintenance issues. Of course, Jeff pushes the Red Button between three and five times per hour, so perhaps the nursing staff is just plain irritated by his neediness. Well, yes they are - everybody is, but is that a reasonable excuse?
And the poor guy (seriously) is out of pain pills (although, ever since they've upped his dosage, he's been relatively quieter). Apparently there is a long standing issue with the pharmacy they use, meds taking days (and possibly up to a week) to appear. So if I ever need drugs of any stripe, I may ask that one (or several of you) mail me my prescribed drugs from… wherever. Norway, Indiana, California, Texas, Lithuania.. hmmmm, I'm not remembering where everybody is established. Oh, Canada. Yes. We need Canada onboard. All the best drugs pass through Canadian Customs.
Or perhaps we need to establish a Phoenix Rising Drug and Supplement Exchange? Or more so, a sort of fancy-shmancy roulette wheel. A random assorted delivery system to appease the masses, our massed self-experimenting crew.
Anyway, I push the Red Button six times per day. Three times each for my tube feeding needs, and three times attempting to acquire applesauce. Tonight the CNA shot me down before I could even ask.
"We don't have any applesauce, not in the entire building."
She's from Jamaica. We have a lot of Jamaica here, a little bit of Eastern Europe, and a well-established sect hailing from South Phoenix.
Social Studies
Besides the social worker (on the phone), I did not have any human interactions today. But I explained to the social worker that I get sad sometimes. Yes, I know. Everybody does. But I asked if there was anybody to talk to, a professional of some sort. Somebody with a related designation. And she mentioned that counselors were standing by… just not particularly close to me. Cue that Police song!
These folks in the field stop by the facility every two weeks or so. It seems that's the available option.
Heck, sometimes I just wanna talk to somebody.. have a regular conversation with a live body. I'm getting better conversationally, but I still need practice honing my skills. What else is there to do, besides bettering myself, advancing my skill set, or encouraging/motivating others?
The staff here is just too busy for extensive talk. I get it. I'm a big boy. So I write a lot. That's where it all comes out. Unfortunately, so too do the emotions. And I don't suppose I am supposed to be writing this way, out in the open. It seems that emotions are uncomfortable for all, right? But I'm needing to figure out how best to embrace them. Avoidance no longer works. And it never really did.
There likely exist rules, when it comes to blogging. But my filter (if I even have one) is broken. Both ways. In and out. All at once. Everything establishes footing. Competes for attention.
But then things like the following occur to me ---
Purpose
Thank you for offering help with the supplies! Although I DO seem to need certain items, my wife is responding in a manner which leads me to believe that she's okay with me asking for her assistance. Once I have all the bases covered (almost there), I'll simply send off a text if/when I require occasional maintenance drop-offs.. maybe twice each month?
Misnomers
The administrative staff insisted that I needn't bring supplies.. which clearly runs contrary to the reality of the situation. They almost seem to be able to manage the supplies they have here, yet they do not have the proper amount or types of supplies to manage properly.
Heck, I'm not necessarily good at things, but I almost want to offer my talents as a logistics coordinator for this establishment. I understand systems.
Argh! Refocus -
But it makes me smile inside and out, knowing that people care enough to offer assistance. Life is better this way, helping each other out. And I hope each of you has support, or are being supported wherever and whenever possible. Despite being a loner, I probably hadn't spent a lonely day in my entire life, up until this whole illness/bedbound scenario came into being.
The bottom line? Applesauce may be the last thing I am needing for a while.
About Last Night
My overnight nurse was both personable and easily impressed. She was fascinated by my J-tube, having never seen one before (somewhat surprisingly, none of the nurses have). So I give lessons each time, explaining the do's and don'ts. But it's not for me that I do this. It's to help the eventual elderly others (with J-tubes) who cannot speak up for themselves. When my tube was new (and I didn't quite understand), inexperienced nurses did wrong things… things okay for the far more common G-tube, not the J (gastric versus jejunum).
So the nurse asked me all sorts of questions. Which I rather like. Sometimes we (I) need to feel useful. So here's hoping you feel appreciated, at least, every so often.
Take care, y'all-
H
It's been a few days, but upon awakening I am not feeling poisoned, which helps make everything better!
