Lilaclady
Lilaclady's JournalCan dog sense death
Our 8 yr old Maltipom is behaving strangely this morning. No matter how I try to appease him, holding him, taking him out, talking to him, he constantly goes to my husband’s (who isn’t up yet ) bedside. He’s most insistent I follow him. I checked on my husband and he is sleeping. But several months ago he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at his dr office and was resuscitated by his dr. He hasn’t had a second event and wears a life vest ( wearable defibrillator) that will sound an alarm if my husband stops breathing. MoJoe is accustomed to the initial sound when one of the contacts is out of place or not completely touching skin. That is a bong sound. He has heard the siren sound that happens when the defibrillator is about to give a shock. My husband was just up and using the bathroom, then went back to bed. This is when the behavior started. I’m thinking of waking my husband.
ZOLL LifeVest
On my husband’s first visit to his cardiologist he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. He didn’t have a pulse for 45 seconds. His doctor administered CPR and he was taken to the hospital where he stayed for several days. He was sent home wearing a ZOLL LifeVest, a wearable defibrillator. The device sounds a bell like alarm, similar to those in elevators when you arrive at your floor. He has 15 seconds to push the buttons to deactivate the defibrillator before it administers a taser-like shock.
We learned most heart problems happen between 4 and 6 AM. His defibrillator alarm sounded this morning at 3:54. When we hear it we don’t know how many seconds have passed already. It’s dark, we’re half awake and he’s searching for the buttons on the purse-like battery carrier to deactivate the device to prevent getting shocked while awake. The alarm sounds if a pulse cannot be detected or if one of the four sensors loosens its attachment to the skin. I’ve been up since the alarm sounded, trying to stay calm, having some decaf green tea and toast.
Bank of America
Had to take some cash from BoA today. I’ve had a debit card for more than two years but hadn’t used it until Sept 1 at Aldi’s. I didn’t have the correct pin so I just hit the green button and the transaction went through. I tried to use the bank’s ATM but my first try my number didn’t work, entered it again, nothing. I thought it could be my husband’s number, no good, so I tried an old number, nothing. I went inside to explain the situation and was told someone would help me soon. After almost 15 minutes I said I needed to leave, but the woman asked me to wait a bit longer. When I first sat down to wait a young man in his 30s came from a hallway behind a locked door and stood not too far from me. He wore a black suit, black shirt, black tie and black shoes. I couldn’t read his name tag. I thought he was a new employee in training waiting for the same person I was waiting to see. When the young woman finally came to escort me to her office she introduced herself, but said nothing about the young man. She went into the office first, then I did, then he did. The entire time he never spoke. I went through the process and got a new pin, went to the teller and left. After I got home it dawned on me, who was he? I think he was security - and I did feel a bit intimidated that she never introduced him, he never spoke and he entered the lobby from the employee area shortly after I sat down. What do you think?
Grateful
Last week you helped me through a medical situation concerning my husband and I thank you all. Our children visited for the weekend to help with things that needed to get done. One was helping me take the 6 pound monster who lives with us, Mister MoJoe, to the groomer. Later Friday we went to pick him up and I left my money at home- just one more upset. The owner told me to take care of things at home and bring the money Tuesday. Sunday she called to ask how Gary was feeling, which was completely unexpected. This morning I stopped at the store for cupcakes and of all things they had cupcakes decorated with puppy faces and puppy paws. And the puppy face looked just like Mister MoJoe. I brought the groomers the cupcakes and the money. They were very happy with the ‘pupcakes’ but refused my money. They said the bill was covered and to go home, rest and take care of Gary. We’ve had the same groomer for two years and Mister MoJoe was her first client. What a wonderful blessing. Gary’s doing well with his restrictions and will most likely get a Pacemaker in late October.
Cardiac arrest
Yesterday my husband visited the heart doctor for the first time. He had an EKG last Tuesday and his doctor made the appointment for him. A few minutes after he saw the doctor as he was walking to the exit he passed out. He woke up to find several doctors and EMTs around him. He was taken by ambulance to the emergency, which was actually just two blocks away. Shortly after I got to the hospital, a doctor came in and told him that he experienced a cardiac arrest. Two cardiologists couldn’t detect a pulse for 45 seconds. They were performing CPR. He recently started meds to lower his blood pressure which hovers in the high 140/100 range. When I first saw him his BP was 196/118. At the hospital, after the doctor told him his heart stopped for 45 seconds, his blood pressure was 200/124. He’s having a test today and they are putting him on Beta blockers. We’ve been married for 51years. We are both 76. We have no family here as one is 3 hours away and one is 4 hours away. We do have some very close friends. I read only 10% of people who have cardiac arrest survive and one reason he is still here is that he didn’t make it out of the office to the truck, Thank God. I’m hoping he comes home today. We are just starting to absorb this event. I think we’re still in the “I can’t believe this happened “ frame of mind. Thanks for letting me vent.
100 years young
My mother celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday. My daughter and I traveled from NC to NY for the celebration. I hadn’t been able to travel since 2020 due to Covid, then breast cancer shortly followed by a broken back. Over the next few days I realized how much care my sister-in-law provides. She calls her twice a day, makes her meals, does her laundry, takes her to all her appointments and spends all day Friday taking her to her hair appointment, then lunch, and a stop at the store. This enables my mother to live in her own house which is very important to her. This has opened my eyes to the amount of care and time and attention it takes to be a caregiver. I feel guilty that I can’t help out and any help you can give me regarding how I can contribute more I would appreciate it.
Visit
Friday our son (48) visited for the first time in 18 months. Our daughter (53) drove with him. She visited in the driveway in October bringing our grandson who was on leave from the Navy and the oldest who lives in Virginia. In May she brought a cooler with ten ready to bake dinners and our third grandson. And the fourth grandson visited on his way to college in September. We were fully vaccinated on April 13, having had our 2nd Pfizer shot March 30. They live 3 1/2 and 2 1/2 hours away respectively. We had an outdoor visit since neither has been vaccinated. I was overwhelmed by my reaction upon being able to hug them, they wore masks. I just held them and didn’t want to let go. My husband had a picnic table set up complete with tablecloth and they brought pizza. We were happy beyond words. The visit lasted 3 hours and we had a group photo and I wore my mask for it. I realize last year was difficult for all of us, and so far we’ve held together. I was diagnosed with breast cancer March 20, 2020 and had successful surgery May 28, the day before our 48th wedding anniversary. My family was my support group and I didn’t go to any stores until Tuesday. Who knew grocery shopping could be such a joy? We’re still very careful only shopping in the early morning and not going in if a store is too crowded. It’s a different way of life and adjustments have to be made. Our son decided to get the vaccine because then he could stay the weekend and help my husband with the yard work. Our daughter is an anti vaxxer and is most at risk for COVID as she works outside the home, leads church worship, holds painting classes and teaches voice lessons. I hope she thinks about it. We all have our stories about the last year and how we have been affected. This is mine.
So happy for you!
My husband and I got our first shot on the 5th. They almost didn’t give me mine because of a recent cancer diagnosis. They had me call my doctor to get approval. If you have any condition that you think might need your doctor’s approval you should call your dr before you go. Best wishes and congratulations.
Profile Information
Gender: FemaleHometown: Rochester, NY
Home country: USA
Current location: North Carolina
Member since: Thu Nov 28, 2019, 10:48 AM
Number of posts: 71
