what are you doing right now?

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Is 186 Tylenol a month a lot? I feel like that is a lot. 500 MG each.

That is what my grandma's prescription bill says. I emailed with questions.

That's on top of two tramadol a day.

[finnime]

That's 6 a day, Drama. May or may not be "too much" but it is associated with liver damage when taken frequently/at high doses.

[finnime]

We're back from Edinburgh. My cold is substantially better, a relief. This ancient town is worth visiting and spending some time. Going to jump into the hot tub once I move laundry to the dryer.

Gourmet Italian for dinner tonight.

[minnesotapaintlady]

That seems like a crap ton of Tylenol to me, but according to Mayo Clinic you should not exceed (8) 500 mg tablets in a day, so it's under that.

[minnesotapaintlady]

I exclusively breast fed both my kids, but mainly because I was cheap and lazy.  I didn't want to pay for formula and I didn't want to have to get up at night to make bottles or pack bottles to take with places. Although I did end up pumping for Carrot to go to daycare so that negated some of the convenience factor.  Still 100% cheap though.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

My grandma is even tinier than I am which also makes me concerned.

Liver damage is my main concerns. Yeah she's old and probably not long for this Earth but I don't want her going out cause of liver damage.


I want to know does she really need that many if she's also getting tramadol or are they handing them out like tic tacs.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Isn't it just a "take as needed" thing?  They're not really telling her to take every 4 hours round the clock are they?  They give me way more migraine meds than I need in a 30 day script especially since I typically break them in half.  I just fill the script a few times a year.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Jun 6, 2023 8:45:02 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Isn't it just a "take as needed" thing?  They're not really telling her to take every 4 hours round the clock are they?  They give me way more migraine meds than I need in a 30 day script especially since I typically break them in half.  I just fill the script a few times a year.

IDK that is what I want to find out.

Also is it she requests them or they just hand them out anytime a resident gives a hint of discomfort or is 6 a day built into her care plan?.If so why?
I don't want her potentially suffering liver damage if 6 a day really isn't necessary and it's just an aid handing them out like tic tacs to residents.

It's so hard to navigate all this there is a care plan but there is a lot pf discretion too and too many people to keep track of.

My mom was really good at all this. I'm really missing her expertise.

I suppose I could ask my SIL for help reading through everything she does the same work my mom did.

[Opti]

Jun 6, 2023 8:29:52 GMT -5 finnime said:

That's 6 a day, Drama. May or may not be "too much" but it is associated with liver damage when taken frequently/at high doses.

Doctor told me my bloodwork shows liver stuff slightly elevated so more bloodwork for me in the near future. I prefer Tylenol but am going to back to having Advil part of the time just in case. Do they check Grandma's bloodwork to see how she is doing?


ETA - I only take 6 a day, the max, when things are really bad. I worry if I am at the max more than a week. Right now I am only taking at most one or two at 500mg, but the liquid nighttime Mucinex has some as well. Hoping that puts me at most the equivalent of 1500mg Tylenol a day. 

[Opti]

Jun 6, 2023 8:32:38 GMT -5 finnime said:

We're back from Edinburgh. My cold is substantially better, a relief. This ancient town is worth visiting and spending some time. Going to jump into the hot tub once I move laundry to the dryer.

Gourmet Italian for dinner tonight.

Did you go to the monster castle there?

[Opti]

Jun 6, 2023 8:39:56 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

My grandma is even tinier than I am which also makes me concerned.

Liver damage is my main concerns. Yeah she's old and probably not long for this Earth but I don't want her going out cause of liver damage.


I want to know does she really need that many if she's also getting tramadol or are they handing them out like tic tacs.

Find out how the scrips are written and ask what each shift gives out. Do they always give her X or is it an as needed med. Its not unknown for prescriptions to be charged at a level considerably higher than what is actually give out. One of the many parts of Medicare and insurance fraud. 

[Peace77]

It depends on how the prescription is written whether a medication is given on a scheduled basis or as needed.  Or it could be that the staff is just handing it out instead of asking if it’s needed.

[daisylu]

I did not breastfeed. My boobs are huge and it was very uncomfortable for us. Luckily both kids were took to powdered formula, so as long as we has access to warm water we were good.

[daisylu]

Sinus headache is gone. Whew.

Former coworker who is still at the facility finally reached out today. I had forwarded an email from a vendor to her about an invoice issue. She said she will take care of it, and sent a followup to me about how miserable it is there. I was telling DH yesterday that I have meaning to reach out to her because I hope that she is still looking for work outside of the facility. I sent her my personal email and she has my cell number. I encouraged her to call soon, when she is outside of work. 

Another former coworker reached out yesterday just to chat because she misses me. I told her about updating my resume on Indeed and already being contacted by more than one person. I told her that if I see anything suited for her I would send it on. She is having a tough time, going from $22/hour to $14 working a desk at a medical facility. Her once VLCOLA  has exploded into a MCOLA, but wages there have not changed. 

Good reminders today to count my blessings.

[skeeter]

Jun 6, 2023 8:39:56 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

My grandma is even tinier than I am which also makes me concerned.

Liver damage is my main concerns. Yeah she's old and probably not long for this Earth but I don't want her going out cause of liver damage.


I want to know does she really need that many if she's also getting tramadol or are they handing them out like tic tacs.

If I'm not mistaken, I'm pretty sure Tramadol also contains 325mg. of Acetaminophen (same ingredient as Tylenol).

Really good idea to check what's going on and why.  They "might" be indeed harming her liver.

[susana1954]

Gee, I try not to take a tylenol - as in ONE - every day for my back.  I have arthritis, which the fall didn't help.  But I'm so scared of stuff like liver damage.

[TheOtherMe]

One of the tv shows I like to watch in Canada is called Border Patrol.  I watch it after I've let the Toddler to get some quiet before falling asleep.  I have learned a lot about how to get turned away at the border--like the DUI.  

[wvugurl26]

Ask for her plan of care and medication records drama. Also CMS has a recommended limit on total Tylenol amount per day across all products due to the potential for liver damage. I'll see if I can dig up that number.

[TheOtherMe]

Jun 6, 2023 8:32:38 GMT -5 finnime said:

We're back from Edinburgh. 

I had the privilege of being shown around Edinburgh by one of my Beatles friends.  She made sure we walked the Royal Mile. 

She was working so she gave me a list of things she suggested I should see.  One was a place that showed how long ago poor people lived below ground level, many levels down.  Very eye opening.


Also told me not to eat the blood pudding. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I forgot about the care plan meeting but they called my dad.

He wanted to know why we got a bill for PT. They said she isn't getting PT.

Well SOMEONE is billing her and Medicare for PT. We know they aren't doing it by looking at her.

They got put in their place because my dad still retains medical POA. Yes we know beyond doubt the lawyer confirmed he was only banned from financial.

The bill will be written off.

That got me looking closer at her prescription bill.

[countrygirl2]

 I can say my DIL read to little guy from the time he was tiny. She said it helped her to read english in the childrens books. I'm not sure if she read russian to him or not. But she also had all kinds of books with pictures. She wanted me to every night when he visited, but sometimes I did and sometimes not. Seems like I was always so busy. But I think it really paid off, as he is on a 6th or 7th grade reading level, the kid can read anything. He is doing well at match. Hubs and I are both good at it, son not as much but just because he doesn't use it that much, but he does fine. I don't know about DIL.  I know FIL was really sharp, I think the military wanted him to stay in but he did not. I think the man was miserable because he did not use his potential.  My dad must have been good from the job he had but honestly I just don't know and mom's education was limited but she read to me all time I was little too and I still love to read. I think it helps.

DD and I are going to the show today and eat lunch. Then I'm picking up a few veggies and fruits in the city, plus water softener salts and kitty litter. Running way low. So we are getting ready.

Hubs said he is still masking off and painting. They had to quit yesterday wind was blowing and it got to hot. DIL will be there to help today, he said she was totally worn out yesterday. She will have a hard time keeping up with hubs, LOL! That guy is like an energizer bunny!  

I hope it really looks nice, I'm sure it will, he does a great job.
Later all.

[swamp]

Jun 6, 2023 8:23:19 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Is 186 Tylenol a month a lot? I feel like that is a lot. 500 MG each.

That is what my grandma's prescription bill says. I emailed with questions.

That's on top of two tramadol a day.

roughly 6 per day, 2 every 8 hours.  

No, not really. 

[CCL]

Jun 6, 2023 10:29:51 GMT -5 skeeter said:

Jun 6, 2023 8:39:56 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

My grandma is even tinier than I am which also makes me concerned.

Liver damage is my main concerns. Yeah she's old and probably not long for this Earth but I don't want her going out cause of liver damage.


I want to know does she really need that many if she's also getting tramadol or are they handing them out like tic tacs.

If I'm not mistaken, I'm pretty sure Tramadol also contains 325mg. of Acetaminophen (same ingredient as Tylenol).

Really good idea to check what's going on and why.  They "might" be indeed harming her liver.

I was pretty sure it did, too. According to NIH it does. I'd definately be looking into it. You'd hope the pharmacist and nurses might wonder, too.

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=e452ccfc-5ebb-4b6f-9c06-5b0feb835911#:~:text=Tramadol%20Hydrochloride%2037.5%20mg%2FAcetaminophen,in%20liver%20transplant%20and%20death.

ETA: Article does state that most cases of liver damage occur at dosages exceeding 4000 mg per day.

[CCL]

Jun 6, 2023 11:04:41 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I forgot about the care plan meeting but they called my dad.

He wanted to know why we got a bill for PT. They said she isn't getting PT.

Well SOMEONE is billing her and Medicare for PT. We know they aren't doing it by looking at her.

They got put in their place because my dad still retains medical POA. Yes we know beyond doubt the lawyer confirmed he was only banned from financial.

The bill will be written off.

That got me looking closer at her prescription bill.

So they are charging for the 6 per day + the Tramadol?

[CCL]

Jun 6, 2023 11:04:41 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I forgot about the care plan meeting but they called my dad.

He wanted to know why we got a bill for PT. They said she isn't getting PT.

Well SOMEONE is billing her and Medicare for PT. We know they aren't doing it by looking at her.

They got put in their place because my dad still retains medical POA. Yes we know beyond doubt the lawyer confirmed he was only banned from financial.

The bill will be written off.

That got me looking closer at her prescription bill.

In addition to writing it off for your grandma, they should never have billed Medicare for it, either.

[Opti]

Jun 6, 2023 9:23:09 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Sinus headache is gone. Whew.

Former coworker who is still at the facility finally reached out today. I had forwarded an email from a vendor to her about an invoice issue. She said she will take care of it, and sent a followup to me about how miserable it is there. I was telling DH yesterday that I have meaning to reach out to her because I hope that she is still looking for work outside of the facility. I sent her my personal email and she has my cell number. I encouraged her to call soon, when she is outside of work. 

Another former coworker reached out yesterday just to chat because she misses me. I told her about updating my resume on Indeed and already being contacted by more than one person. I told her that if I see anything suited for her I would send it on. She is having a tough time, going from $22/hour to $14 working a desk at a medical facility. Her once VLCOLA  has exploded into a MCOLA, but wages there have not changed. 

Good reminders today to count my blessings.

I can relate. I was up to $22/hr in 2009 with what I call my half job. Because of my raise, I am now at $16/hr. Grocery stores pay $14hr. starting here unless it is night shift, or you have experience. My job prior to this one was a medical facility - many desks, many masters. I hope hers goes better than mine did.

[wvugurl26]

NomoreDramaQ1015

There's 2 forms of Tramadol, the 50 MG doesn't have acetaminophen. The 37.5 MG does. You would need to verify which version is being billed. The tramadol should be billed to her Part D drug plan first.

The CMS edit for cumulative acetaminophen isn't going to catch this because OTC drugs can't be billed to the government. Their edit is at the 4 grams per day level.

6 Tylenol per day is 3 grams. If it's the tramadol with acetaminophen that would have to be added in.

Considering she is tiny and elderly, I don't think it's unreasonable to consider if it's appropriate.

The nursing home is required to maintain medication dispensing records. Have your dad ask for them. Compare it to her plan of care. No one wants grandma to be in pain but nursing homes have a long history of drugging patients.

[andi9899]

Jun 5, 2023 21:44:34 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Jun 5, 2023 20:56:05 GMT -5 Opti said:

I think Mister likes the comfort of the unconditional love he's gotten from Boy and before that OG?

You need to be very clear on what you want. I think you want to insure the dogs do not sleep with you.
If that's your ultimate goal, I would go for that scenario and maybe allow for him to occasionally sleep in a guest room with Boy and leave the bedroom to you. And then consider how you are going to get rid of the carpeting in your bedroom etc.

You are not sleeping well if what you post is reality. Getting a King-sized bed would just open the door even wider for Boy to keep sleeping in the bed you share. MO. Take my unsolicited advice with a salt block if needed. 

Mister absolutely does enjoy the comfort of Boy’s unconditional love for him and how Boy shows it.

The comfort Boy has given him as his family fell apart is why I haven’t made a big deal about Boy sleeping on our bed. I’ve been a dog lover for as long as I can remember, and I’ve had dogs since I was in elementary school, but I’ve never allowed a dog on my furniture, and most definitely not on my bed.

Even though my last allergy tests results say I am allergic to dogs and cats now, I still can’t imagine life without a canine friend. In my mind, that means that I just have to be more diligent about doing everything possible to reduce whatever aggravates my allergies in my home.

Having dogs that love me unconditionally and will try to protect me, matters to me enough that I am willing to try to figure out how to live with them, despite my allergies.

I say king sized bed it is. I have one as the twins sleep on my bed and I'll never go back. Even after the twins are gone.

[bean29]

Jun 5, 2023 20:21:31 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Mister has been out of sorts all day, because he’s been so sleepy. When he first told me that, I sent him this picture and asked where the hell was I supposed to sleep last night.



Boy’s head is on my pillow. I got up a few minutes after midnight, turned the lights on, and took this picture because I was barely hanging onto the edge of the bed. I tried to move Boy, but he’s heavy now and when he sleeps like that, he is sleep, sleep, so he didn’t wake up to cooperate. So I just dragged him by his rear legs, lower in the bed. And as soon as  I turned the lights off and got back in bed, he woke up enought to crawl his ass right back to the same place. 

I told Mister again today that we have to get Boy out of our bed. Today I said if he wants Boy to keep sleeping with us, he needs to buy a king sized bed. He said “ok” and waited for me to react. Which I did, because all the times I’ve said we need a king size bed, he said we didn’t, but nowwwww, because of Boy, he says okay?! He thought it was funny, because he already knew I was going to go there when he said okay, and I did. 

When he got home from work today I told him that seriously, we need to get Boy out of our bed. I like how he lays as close as he can get to me, but he disturbs whatever little sleep I might get, when he creeps up to the head of the bed. I already have a lot of sleep issues, I don’t need anything adding to that. I told him that it’s true what my PCP told me years ago, that if I don’t get good sleep, it’s going to eventually affect my physical health. I told him that doctors say that my allergies may be one of the reasons I don’t sleep well, and the latest allergy tests I had done a few years ago said that I am allergic to dogs now, when I never was before. So it’s already bad that we have carpet in our bedroom with all my allergies, then the dogs have beds in our bedroom, and now there’s a dog sleeping on my bed. 

As much as I love Boy and how he is so cuddly, I also have to be realistic. Which is what I told Mister today.

We have 2 small dogs.  20 and maybe 27 lbs.  They used to both sleep with us.  One of my dogs does not seem to like to jump up in bed with us, so I got an extra dog bed just for the bedroom and I changed out the bedside table on one side of the bed so that the dog bed could slide underneath the table (purchased on FB marketplace for maybe $20).  for a long time, the dogs ignored the dog bed, but now I see both of them laying in it.  The small dog often sleeps with me at night, but in the am when his Dad is getting ready for work, he is laying in the dog bet waiting for Dad to finish getting ready.  The other dog often lays on my side of the bed for a bit, then will go lay in the dog bed.  I don't really have room in my bedroom for 2 dog beds.  They don't seem to fight over the bed, so this is working out fine.  I often think of getting a king sized bed too.  I saw a king sized frame on FB marketplace earlier this week, but I forgot to mention it to DH.  

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Speaking of beds Bingo and Wilbur found out they can fit under my dad's bed.

It is now their clubhouse.

If you put your head under there one or the other takes it as you want to play too and comes charging at your face.

They also know how long my arms are and the optimal distance needed to stay out of reach.