About noon on Saturday, we left to see if the church was having a yard sale. No, they were not.
We continued to drive and it turns out Tommy was going to take me to pick up records I need. As it turns out, the place has been closed for a year.
Well, I saw a store I wanted to go into, so I did. Then, I went to into another place and bought things I wanted, not necessarily needed. Then, I only got a few things and we started home. But, Tommy wanted to get food, so a burger was ordered. I was hungrier than I thought. Okay, I did need the items I got!
We were near the bargain bread store, so I got one loaf, not as much as I wanted. But, they did not have the kind I like and am not allergic to. I may not be able to eat this !00% wheat bread. If I cannot, Tommy can. My plan was to buy more bread and put it in the freezer. I should have thought that late Saturday, there would not be a good choice.
I was exhausted. A nap was in order. I told Tommy to wake me at 7 pm. He did and I wailed, "Nooo, I don't want to get up." At 6:40, I came in to him and asked him why he woke me so early. He swore he did not. He only went to the bathroom. And, he is so quiet. So, this makes about the third nightmare this week about being awakened.
I forgot to tell the doctor and say to you that at one point I thought I had swimmer's ear in my left ear. The doctor examined the ear and saw nothing at all, no reason for my distress. Now, all the symptoms are coming back, the symptoms of shingles. I wonder. I looked back in my posts and this has been going on for months.
I wonder how it is that I had such a light case of shingles when others suffer so horribly. I wonder if the massive doses of Vitamin D2 have helped or the large doses of synthroid. And, I take B6. I just read that Vit D helps with shingles pain.
At any rate, the symptoms seem to be returning, but no worse than before.
Tommy used his stimulus to lower his debt. I think I will get a lift chair for me. But, I don't feel like shopping, all the walking.
Now, on Sunday morning, I finally had enough sleep. Since it is warm today and I feel well and we have no place to go, we will be putting things (box of Christmas ornaments) into the unheated bedroom. I do have other things to organize, too, like food going into the other bedroom. I found Ragu spaghetti on sale and purchased only two, just what I have used in the last several months.
It is time to get busy. And, it is time to get chicken from the freezer to thaw for cooking tomorrow. If I can remember to thaw sausage, we will have sausage balls.
Do you have any recommendations or warnings about specific lift chairs or lift chairs in general? Do you have one in your home?
My sister now has the lift chair that we bought my mom in 2007, then my dad used. I can't remember what it was but all appreciated it.
ReplyDeleteI hate a recliner, hate hate hate, but I suppose now is the time!
DeleteNo lift chairs here. I hoe you can find what you need and want.
ReplyDeleteBelinda,
DeleteThanks. Me too.
I don't have a specific rec. for a lift chair, but my dad has one and it is wonderful. Sending you best wishes for healing.
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
DeleteI know I will enjoy one, even if I don't want it...lol.
I have a lift chair but no big recommendations. The only real thing to watch for is to make sure it is wide enough to sit on comfortably as a lot of the chairs, at least where I live are quite small. We purchased the chair for my mother many years ago and finding one wide enough to sit comfortably and also with enough padding was a challenge. In the end we got one that is a bit hard but it didn't seem to bother her and she stayed in it all day and sometimes night. It just sits in my living room in case it's needed.
ReplyDeletejoyful,
Delete"Fit" is why I don't just order one. I don't want one with huge wide arms. But, I do want the seat to be long enough front to back. Extremely soft would hurt my back worse that firm/hard. I doubt I will ever sleep in it, but I want one that will go flat since I like my feet straight out and not bent at the knee. When I had knee surgery, keeping my leg straight was the most important instruction I was given. Thanks.
Yes it is good if you get one that reclines fully. I actually use it to lift my legs and feet when they are swollen from lack of sleep and it helps a lot. Best of luck with finding one you like. If you have medical supply stores there they will have many models for you to try.
DeleteOh I guess it would help if I told you that the one we purchased was made by Pride. They also made the motorized wheelchair we bought.
DeleteJoyful,
DeleteWe have medical supply stores, but I have not found one with lift chairs to try. Everyone is willing to order one for me. I am going to call my orthopedist office. They have medical supplies, too. Big Practice.
Joyful,
DeleteThanks for that name.
Oh gosh I hope you aren't getting shingles again. I had them 3 times in a year and a half. Luckily they never scarred me. My doctor said after I got them the second time that some people just get them if they are stressed or their immune system is low after they have had them once. I didn't like the pain at all. I would take the anti viral but said no to the med for nerve pain. My brother was on that and it made him a blithering idiot for about 6 months and when he went off it he had horrible withdrawls. His doctor then said it was like going off heroin. What??? That's crazy. It was Lyrica. Hope you feel better soon and you get your lift chair. I hear they are nice to use if you have trouble getting up and down. Sounds like it might be a wonderful use for the extra money. Take care.
ReplyDeleteCrystal,
DeleteThe symptoms are back, but not as awful. My immune system was low the first time, I thought. But, I am sure the stress and the immune system could have something to do with this time! I don't want anything like he took. My friend takes Lyrica and loves it, but has never tried to get off as she take it for fibro. I struggle each time I get up!
I have a lift chair recliner from Golden. It had some problems with the first one and they replaced it, because it was under warranty. The replacement was the same model and size, but for some reason the chair back had too much stuffing in it and when I sat in it, it was like I was doing a back bend. The seat and mechanics were all fine but the overstuffing in the back was not at all like the first one I bought. It was very uncomfortable. So they took the back section and took out a bunch of the foam. It was good for a while, but it is less comfortable as it gets older. The Golden Recliner lift chair is electric plug in, with battery back up. Be sure any chair you get has the battery back up in case you are caught reclining in it when the electricity goes out. I got my chair at a medical supply store they had a nice selection of them. I wont hesitate to shop around and check out other brands when I need a chair again. I think if it is still possible to do with Covid around, it is very important to sit in the chair in a store and see how it feels.
ReplyDeleteThey also have lift chairs at Walmart and some of the other furniture stores. I first got one at a regular furniture store and it was so nice and comfortable, but it continued to outgas terrible fumes that gave the effect of being trapped in the exhaust pipe of a school bus. The damn chair stunk up our whole house, and made me wheeze. We had to keep the living room window behind it open the whole time we had it. I called to return it and had to do a lot of convincing, finally they came and took it away. So be sure and do a sniff test of any chair you buy , too. I don't even know if you can actually do all of that during these Covid days. Good luck getting a comfy chair. The commenter was right about making sure it is plenty wide to put your arms whatever way is comfortable for you.
My recliner lift chair was wonderful before and after my knee surgeries. I sleep in it, too. I'm more comfortable than in a bed. I only needed the lift part of it for a little while after each surgery, but I have used it other times when my back had a spasm.
Susoe,
DeleteThanks. Golden was the name my friend said was so comfortable. But, since she died, I could not ask her. Overstuffed would be horrendous. Actually, I can rise from a chair but Tommy's love seat is low to the floor, worn out, and has a seat that is too short front to back. He will not allow me to get a better sofa or an ottoman for my legs, but I suppose he thinks the lift chair is more of a medical thing. Silly, i know. Smelly chemicals in a chair would suffocate me. It would go back before the delivery guys left...lol. I need the seat wide so I don;t feel like I am crammed into it and hot. Even as a skinny person, I hated tight anything, chairs, clothes. I need the lift because of my back. My fatness and hurt knee make it painful on my knee and back.
Really unless you have to have it this will just make you weaker. My moms doctor told us, that doing the stairs and getting up out of a chair by yourself w are very important.The less you use the muscles the weaker they get.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a chair that was more than 14 inches off the floor, I could manage. But, Tommy objects to a chair coming in. And, he wants no ottoman in HIS house. So, I suffer and feet swell beyond belief. I do a step or two but not stairs because of my back.
DeleteI have foot and leg swelling issues too. I would recommend you buy a foam wedge for your bed and put it under your knees when you sleep (assuming you sleep on your back at least some of the time. If that doesn't work you could lie down and use it during the day for 20-30 minutes so your blood can flow down and that will bring you some relief. You can also buy a machine to circulate your blood in the lower extremities (a whole body vibration machine or a circulator that you just put your feet on or something like a cubii (see all over television now) to peddle your legs like on a bike but while you are seated). Any of these used consistently will really help you. Personally I use a hole Body Vibration machine and it has really helped. One final thing, as an interim measure, the medical supply stores sell a lift seat. You put it on your regular chair or sofa and when you get up it help to lift you by virtue of a spring in the seat and it helps a bit. Of course it isn't as good as the recliner itself. The lady who said walking and sitting and using muscles is good for you is right. The more you can do that the better as if you don't use it, you lose it. But you still need supports and those can help you so you don't get so run down.
DeleteI was wondering about the cubii. I see cheaper things like that, but the cubii supports the whole foot. I sleep on my side always. My back will not allow back sleeping. I lie down on the loveseat and put feet up often but it does not seem to help as much as I would like. I saw the foot vibrator thing, too. I am going to look up the whole body thing. Yes, I realize that I cannot just sit or give up on doing things. I actually have an appointment to have someone show me things to do to restore my muscle tone and help with specific areas that are weak. I seem to remember those seat lifters. I am glad you mentioned them to me. Thanks for all the suggestions.
DeleteI purchased a lift chair years ago for my mother and now use it when needed. Make sure you get leather.....definitely not fabric as if you would have to go into assisted living or such, fabric chair not acceptable....needs to be able to wipe down to clean. Get a wider one than you think you need for comfort. Make sure it can go into sleeper/ bed mode . I e used it after my mother died....especially good with my 2 bad knees but you don’t have to use it to stand you up...agree that you need to keep your leg strength by getting up and down ......my last knee replacement surgery will be this Friday had first knee done in September......what relief.....now just working on strength and stamina....should have done this 20 years ago. It was too scared. A real game changer. Have my life back with even only have one good leg. I purchased from a medical supply. Look into your physician giving you a script for one with all diagnosis that would apply and Medicare will give you some money toward it. If you have AFLAC accident, they will give give you money also, so check any insurance you have. I was told to get the seat to foot part that is continuous.....no gap in that area ( think dentist type chair) this is so you can elevate or use pillows under legs to elevate legs if needed. If a gap the pillows will fall through. Also, there is a battery back up in case you are reclined and have a power outage. The battery back up will get you into a sitting position.......change batteries after anytime this happens as they drain after basically one use. Good luck
ReplyDeleteKaren,
DeleteThanks. This is all good advice! My mother died after a fall from Daddy's chair caused by getting her foot caught in the gap between chair and foot rest part. This morning I have tried calling my doctor for the script. Medicare will help! I will have to go in for doctor to do this. Thanks.
My friend Linda has a lift chair and her opinion says it's more of a pain in the butt than anything . She says they are hard to get out of.. But if you need one, you need one right?..Do you wear support socks or stockings? When my husbands feet swell he puts on his socks and by morning the swelling is gone.. I don't know what makes your feet swell so I was just throwing that out there..
ReplyDeleteSorry to read about the shingles again. I've heard they can be very very painful but I am glad to read that for you they weren't and I hope this will be over quickly . XO
I am not eager to have a recliner of any kind because I just don't like them. No, never wear compression socks or stockings. Thanks. I hope the shingles goes away soon, too.
DeleteWe chipped in with Dh's siblings to get his parents a lift chair several years ago. I can't remember now what brand it was but it was ordered from Goedeckers, online
ReplyDeleteOne,
DeleteThanks. I will add that to list and will call this afternoon.
I bought DH a life chair when he broke a lot of ribs and it was really good. The only problem was that it doesn't go back far enough to sleep comfortably. I bought it online so we couldn't try it before buying. So if you can try it out first, or if you get it online check if you can return if needed. Other than that it was great. Tommy is being a bit selfish not wanting an ottoman. I hope the shingles clears up soon.
ReplyDeleteJan,
DeleteThanks. If I find an ottoman, I will buy it! Yes, selfish. I will make sure to check how far it goes back.