The day didn't start out quite as we had planned. Mom experienced dizziness last night and she suspected the reason—dehydration. When I picked her up this morning she no longer felt dizzy. But, when we arrived at Froedert they ran her vitals and confirmed—dehydration. They gave her the option of trying to rehydrate at home or to receive a couple hours of fluids intravenously. We both felt most comfortable going the IV route.
Although Mom has been working really hard to stay hydrated, and sips on water all day, the diuretic that she received earlier in the week to help reduce water retention worked a little too well. So, it may be a balancing act for a while to get her right where she needs to be.
While at the hospital today, they gave Mom a shot that will stimulate blood production. A common side effect with this medication is achiness in the bones, where the blood is created. Of course, not everyone experiences this pain and we are hoping that Mom won't. But, if she does, she has some medication she can take.
We are building up a huge stockpile of foods that Mom can graze on. She has never been a big eater, so we decided that small meals several times a day are the best. Today at Whole Foods I picked up some more superfoods. Pat Mangi suggested Almond butter, so almond butter is now part of the cuisine. (Thanks for the suggestion, Pat.) I also got Mom some protein powder that she can add to smoothies and shakes, some acai powder (Mom is not keen on fruit, so I thought the powder would be a nice option), some green tea, and bananas.
Other than today's dehydration, Mom is doing very well. Even the clinician commented on how good she looks. Kevin said the same thing today when he came home from work. As I was leaving, Mom said that she was going to take a nice nap. I am very proud of her for taking such good care of herself.
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