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147426 tn?1317265632

I'm not where it's at.

Hi, Guys.  I'm having a hard time focusing on the forum right now.  First, I'm in another of those "Sleep around the Clock" things.  I thought it was just a phase, but it's been going on so long now that I fear it will become an era.

My sister and I are suddenly in a push to finish my full basement so that my parents can live with us.  My house is perfectly situated to be like a vertical duplex.  She and I don't have the $$ to do it, but my parents do, sort of.  However, we have to cut corners wherever we can.  My mom is much more limited in her mobility than I, and we both have the potential of becoming wheelchair-bound.  None of us think we can do this without installing an elevater @ approx. $20,000.  She's too wobbly to handle a stairway chair lift.  (She ignored severe cervical stenosis for a few years too many and lost a great deal of leg strength and feeling.)   I could handle it now, but who knows what the future brings as my right leg gets weaker and weaker.  I think the project is beyond all of our finances, but we have little choice given the current and expected economic climate.

If any family should do this, it is ours because we are all such good friends.  I'm looking forward to having them.

We are in the architect - finding a contractor or builder phase now and it's absorbing all of my mental energy.  Once we get some things priced out and my parents consider their finances, then I can stop obsessing about it.

I'm working with Shell and others to get some more Health Pages up and running.

I saw Kathy's and my urogynecologist.  She thinks I may just have garden variety "Overactive Bladder."  But she says that the "MS bladder is a terrible historian," and wants to get urodynamic studies to make sure.  I am going to go through pelvic physical therapy to see if there is anything we can strengthen to stop the incontinence.

I had my yearly MRIs and will see my MS neuro in 7 weeks to hear about them and get the result of the OCT.

I found a one-stop-shopping place to check out all sorts of stuff for disability adaptation, like the elevators, hand controls for the car, and such.  It's right here within a few miles of me.  You can look up "All in One Mobility" in Portland, OR.

And I perfected the art of making chocolate caramels.  What a hoot!

All the news that's fit to print.

Quix

10 Responses
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405614 tn?1329144114
Chocolate caramels?  What, did you have some chocolate covered caramels in a ziploc, they slipped down into your recliner as you napped, and Voila! you had chocolate caramels?  :o)

Honestly, with all that you have going on, you had time to measure ingredients, cook the stuff to the right temperature, and all that?  I've never made caramels, and I've made a lot of goodies.

It must be nice to have a family that gets along so well together; makes me happy for you all.  I hope you find a contractor that's eager to do good work and at a decent price, too.  

Take care of you, too.

Kathy
Helpful - 0
378497 tn?1232143585
Quix, it's nice to have the prospect of all living together, especially since you get along so well, but the money worries while getting there are no help. I hope you can find affordable ways to achieve your family's needs.

And I have to say, you're pretty much always where it's at!

Bio
Helpful - 0
429700 tn?1308007823
Please take care of yourself!  You've got a lot of things going on that would stress out a person that doesn't have MS.  Be sure to listen to your body and don't over-do!

Take care,
Deb
Helpful - 0
559187 tn?1330782856
You sure have a full plate these days.  But all the hard work you are going through, finding a contractor and modification devices are worth the time and money.  You and your sister seem to have a great relationship with your parents, as we all would love to have as well, so the new living arrangement sounds like it will work out great.  

Keep focused on your goals and stop in and check on us too when you can and I hope your sleeping saga will end soon.  

Julie
Helpful - 0
486038 tn?1300063367
hi there, that sounds like alot is in your life right now, but i'm happy that you can all 'survive' in one house... many families would pull each other's hair out. :) I hope that yummy dessert turns out that you were making when you posted... it was chocolate carmels? :) hmmmm... they sounded heavenly.

I've slept for about 17 of the last 24 hours trying to recover from this week.... i washed my hair with my body wash, and put the ice-cream in the fridge and melted half of the container yesterday... and cried over both of them....so all that sleeping will hopefully? help me regain a bit of my sanity. I hope that your "era" of sleepiness will be over after a while... but if not know that were are here whenever you are awake. :)
~Sunnytoday~
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Quixxie,

Wish we were closer to you, and you wouldn't be having to find a builder!!  If you have any questions, just call and talk to Sammy he will be glad to help.

I'm sorry about the fatigue and hope after all the stress of the building gets settled that it will ease off.

I know you are excited about having your parents there with you.  I loved it when we built the apartment on to our home for my mom.  It takes some of the worry away knowing you can check on them whenever you want and that if they need you, you are only steps away.

I'm praying for all this to work out smoothly and for the finances not to be a problem.

Please take care, and rest when you can.

Love & Hugs,
doni
Helpful - 0
572651 tn?1530999357
Dear Q,
All these choices and life issues we are faced with at times make me want to crawl into bed and sleep the troubles away! Here's hoping that once the decision making process is done the fatigue and sleep issues will lessen.  I really don't want to think of you moving into the next phase of MS.  

Not a neurogenic bladder?  I'll wait to hear about your overactive bladder - I too just saw my urogyno on Friday and her verdict was there's nothing else to do for me unless I want to try the stim therapy with the implant -not yet because it eliminates MRI's for me and I'ld rather see my brain and cath/urinate all the time.  

Take it easy and pop in when you can but we've got it covered as best to our abilities.
rest,
Lulu
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You still have a lot on your plate, don't you? I hope things settle down in a good way soon.

I had been wondering what a home elevator would cost. Can't do one here for many reasons but I wish I could. Actually, compared with a lot of options, such as moving, that's not so bad. And it would help both you and your parents. In my city quite a few older people living in high, narrow townhouses have put in elevators, and thus managed to stay in the homes they love. I don't know whether the cost would be recovered if you were to sell your house, yet for the right buyer it would be perfect.

Architects and contractors probably are not doing much business these days, so I hope you connect with people who will give you a break, yet be honest and reputable.

ess
Helpful - 0
293157 tn?1285873439
Hi there, I hope you feel better soon, you sure have a tough time with this fatigue.. it sounds like your going to have a busy home for awhile as well.  Well, I want you to take care of yourself too.... we need you hear, but we want you feeling alright.

Good luck with the home changes and hope it goes well.... hope your therapy helps too... take care and talk soon

Hugs
wobbly
undx
Helpful - 0
199980 tn?1233797404
Hey quix,
  sorry to here the fatigue is on you right now, I hope it doesn't stick around long....
I just want to thank you for talking about the 3Tesla mri machine on here.
believe it or not my ms specialist is setting things up for me to have one at the one hospital here in cincinnati that offers that machine. i have all the signs of lesions on the spine but they wont show up on the mri's I've had. I hope this works.
good luck with your basement......
april  
Helpful - 0
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