Today's Routine Dr. Visit

All told -it was a delightful morning! The wheelchair is a god-send for this type of day. Whipping Dad from an airconditioned car into the airconditioned building and up to the Dr. office -- swift and smooth.

The day started well as Dad was up and dressed when I arrived at 9. Lots of laughs and confusion as I "bullied" him into changing his shirt.

I'm continually amazed and delighted at the way the doctors and nurses treat Dad -- total respect and caring. No matter how long or boring his story, they always let him finish. They provide him with complete information regardless of the fact that I'm also in the room. Dad just laps up all the attention.

Bottom line -- he's doing extremely well on his current treatment plan, and no changes were made. His weight is back up by 6 pounds - but that's due to a return of a gusto-appetite.

Lots of tests, mental and physical. Dad's mmse (memory) score is 22/23 (on a scale of 1-30). Last Oct, after his TIA, Personious tested Dad at a mmse of 25/26. Dr. Brooks told me today that Dad is so competitive during "testing" that he made up answers, then gently chided the doctor for "changing the rules."

Dad told the doctor and nurse that he wanted to go back to giving himself his medications. He has been questioning why he's taking so many pills, and he suspects 2 of them are sugar pills. Dad indicated that he would take the pills only when he thought he needed them. Ooops. Dr. explained it was best if the Atria nurse continued doing it for a while. Dad continued to question this even after we got back to his apt. I got his morning dose of pills from the nurse. Then I took each one of them and explained to Dad what it was by name and what it was for. He quickly came to understand that most of them are vitamins! Only 3 teeny ones are what the doctor called "your smart pills and your happy pill!" But all together, they sure fill up that little pill cup!

I've got to remember that when Dad keeps bringing something up again and again - it's only because he has not yet received an answer he can accept.

We had lunch-to-go back in his apt -- Buddy's bar-b-que with slaw -- only this time they put the slaw on the sandwich instead of on the side. Not bad. . .

As I left, Dad had just finished his slice of Key Lime pie, drained his cup of ice tea, and was heading for a nap.

A good time was had by all.