Mom has been doing so well. Her physical therapy is going so well...she is even able to outside, down their steep driveway and walk up and down their street (with the therapist, of course). She has been doing her pt exercises on the days the therapist doesn't come which is great, too.
Dad is substitute teaching again and Mom is doing great on her own. For her own safety, she doesn't not shower if she is home alone but last week she was telling me that she really wanted to wash her hair in the kitchen sink. She was concerned that she wouldn't have time after Dad got home and before my nephew's orchestra concert. I suggested she place a kitchen chair in front of the sink so she could sit down immediately after and she did. It was very freeing for her to be able to do that for herself without help. Dad said her hair looked great, too. :)
She saw an orthopedic surgeon recently who did a bone scan, checking her bone density. He was pleasantly surprised that her bones were in better shape than he expected--considering how long she has been on steroids. He has suggested that she go on a drug called Forteo. She will give herself injections every day for the next year. It has been shown to be the only drug that can repair bone loss. Since Mom is still on steroids and will be for a while longer, he feels this is her best defense against future fractures.
Mom will see her neurologist and vasculitis specialist today. We are hoping they will decide to reduce her steroid dose even more. She has done so well with the dosage decreases lately. She will also learn how to give herself the Forteo injections. I will post again tomorrow with details of today's appointments.
Dad is substitute teaching again and Mom is doing great on her own. For her own safety, she doesn't not shower if she is home alone but last week she was telling me that she really wanted to wash her hair in the kitchen sink. She was concerned that she wouldn't have time after Dad got home and before my nephew's orchestra concert. I suggested she place a kitchen chair in front of the sink so she could sit down immediately after and she did. It was very freeing for her to be able to do that for herself without help. Dad said her hair looked great, too. :)
She saw an orthopedic surgeon recently who did a bone scan, checking her bone density. He was pleasantly surprised that her bones were in better shape than he expected--considering how long she has been on steroids. He has suggested that she go on a drug called Forteo. She will give herself injections every day for the next year. It has been shown to be the only drug that can repair bone loss. Since Mom is still on steroids and will be for a while longer, he feels this is her best defense against future fractures.
Mom will see her neurologist and vasculitis specialist today. We are hoping they will decide to reduce her steroid dose even more. She has done so well with the dosage decreases lately. She will also learn how to give herself the Forteo injections. I will post again tomorrow with details of today's appointments.
