Today I took Dad to a physical check-up with Dr. Gee. Anna was working, so she traveled with us to assist with the transfers. Dad had to skip breakfast for the blood work so he was a bit lethargic. He complained when he got "stuck" for the blood test, but after I gave him the snack I brought for him, and he had some juice, he seemed to be happier and woke up a bit. He did well getting in the car for the ride home, and after we got back, he walked from the driveway into the house. He doesn't seem to be experiencing any leg pain when walking.
Dr. Gee said Dad looks good. We made an attempt, but were unable to get Dad up onto the table, so the doctor did his checkup with Dad in the wheelchair. His BP was 122/66, right ear a little waxy, no wheezing. These are his current meds:
Aspirin 81mg, 1x day
Amlodopine 5mg, 1x day (blood pressure med)
Metoprolol 50mg, 1x day
Aricept 10mg 1x day
Namenda 10mg 2x day
Prozac 10mg 2x day
Lisinopril 5mg 1x day (bp and heart med. Prescribed by Dr. Lai in hospital)
Senna Tablet 2x day
Colace 1x day
Anna told me that Dad is usually taking walks a couple of times a day now, making several "loops" through the halls in the house. She also said that for the past few days, except this morning, he was initiating getting out of bed in the morning, without them having to prompt him. In general, it sounds like there is still occasionally some complaining with this morning get up routine, but nothing unmanageable. Apparently he has been sleeping well, and has made no attempts to get up in the middle of the night, except once when they heard him, and he needed to have a bowel movement. Anna also said they still use the Hoyer Lift to get Dad into his bed at night, to get him placed properly and that he no longer complains about it.
Anna also said that Dad is very talkative, and talks to some of his housemates quite a bit. When I visited this past Sunday, they were celebrating one of the ladies' 101st birthdays! Perhaps there's something special in the water at that house....Dad is almost the baby. 105, 103, 101, 95, 94, 93.
