you have been busy waves I hope you slept tonight.
bizi

Dear Waves,
Your parents count on you and trust you to take on these duties.
You are doing well so far collecting info.

I can see why your father wants to go -- with or without the approval from the doc.

M.

I'm sorry that your Uncle passed away. BF ((((Hugs))))

(((Collinsc, Di, Steve,)))

thank you all for your support. means much to me.

(((Beth & Mari)))

thanks for staying with me. i appreciate that, too.


DiMarie
how sad that you have lost so much of your family. i cannot imagine. it scares me.

as far as medicine containers, there aren't half the contraptions here as there are in the US. my mom bought a day pouch for insulin but it doesn't stay cold enough for long. it may, possibly, save us 1 dose. for the rest, we will have to buy the medication, use it and toss it at least a couple of times. looks like there are enough pharmacies at least.

Beth
i did get some sleep. although my dad woke upturned on bright lights in my room and had the fax/copier going beeep beeep beeep beeep. he couldn't wait! he wanted to copy something to give his brother. we are not leaving until tomorrow. but he is mister do things yesterday, and forget who stayed up till when doing what, just wake everybody up with light and sound. made me so mad, and then i also felt bad for being mad.

Mari
yes, i understand him wanting to go regardless. i really don't think there is a problem. i think if there were, the post-op instructions would have been more explicit. i think my mother will feel better hearing it from the surgeon though. that is ok. she is freaking out about this, and how to get medication and keep it cold and administer it 4 times a day too. this is "her thing."

i booked us a room at a bed and breakfast that has a fridge. it has ADSL too, but for a night, and with such murky plans and possibly having to carry our bags around a lot on foot, i don't think i'll bring the laptop. the place is walking distance to the subway, to the church, and has a private bath. the photos of the rooms look nice. there were no reviews on this one, but other suitable ones were booked. well, no reviews are better than bad reviews. i really hope it is clean!!!

my parents just left to pick up the train tickets. i am frankly glad for a few hours of solitude/peace, and at the same time terrified of never seeing them again. i want a lorazepam. i can't have one.

now i have to go wash dishes and myself, and figure out clothes. oh yeah and iron pants.

~ waves ~

Dear Waves,

If you have time and you have a trusted pharmacist-type person check again about the requirements for keeping the medicine cold.
You are not dealing with August temperatures and you are not going to be outside the whole time (you'll be in a train, . . ).

Insulin is one of the medicines that people are told to keep refrigerated when it is not entirely true:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/diabetes/fa...section-8.html

http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-...ou-travel.html

I'm not going to take this off topic but when I see news stories with reporters carrying on about people who are in dire straits and without refrigeration for the meds, I want to call the show for misinforming their audience. At higher temps for looong periods, it looses strength. That's all.

(If I am totally wrong about insulin not having to be kept cold, I'm sorry. This is the info and experience I have with insulin.)

I don't know about other meds and the recommendations that go with them but it could be the same case --- no tight cooler for half a day or so of travel might not be a big deal.
And you can probably jury rig something close to a cold pack that will work close enough.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...3154053AAWpis6

Put some ice in waterproof zip lock bags inside a tupperware-type container. That would work for half a day or more.
Here one could stop at a fast food restaurant and get a cup of ice to refresh the old ice. If you don't want to carry leaky ice, then put some cut up carrots in the freezer over night and then pack them. They will stay cold for several hours.


Again, if I am not being helpful then forget I said anything about this topic.

You found a good room. I like rooms with fridges. I would not want to carry around a lap top either. You might have Internet access at a cyber cafe -type place a long the way.

Will you be seeing family members you have not seen for a long time?
I find being around family to be affirming.
(And yet, I don't travel or make arrangements to see them.)

At any rate I hope that the trip goes well and that your travel companions do well.

Here is one of my techniques for travel: I make a packing list a day or two before I leave. Then after I pack and am heading out the door I check the list. This cuts down on anxiety.
And truthfully, the only thing that needs to be packed 100% is meds. Everything else can be bought at destination and even the meds can be bought with a little hassle.

So bring your comfortable shoes and take care of yourself.
I'll be thinking of you.

Mari

Im so sorry to hear about your uncle...sending gentle hugs your way

OOPS. i caused confusion with the insulin pouch (best container mom could find). the med is not insulin. it is a post-op cortisone/antibio solution. i can only speculate that the refrigeration might be for sterility, but the pharmacists did confirm it needed to be stored as spec'd on the box, at 2-8 C.
hehe. i always do this too. usually on paper - once in excel. this time in my mail, since my laptop is like Plan Central right now. funny how just doing that really does defuse anxiety, doesn't it?
ordinarily yes. in this case no time for shopping. we will HAVE to buy dad's med periodically - i have already prepped the pharmacy map.

but my meds are on that list! the only psych one is my benzo and i might skip it. i am down to 3 drops qd anyway. i might just bring a lorazepam tab and take smidgeon of it to help sleep that night instead i think i could use it.

WAAAAHHHH... shoes are a problem. the ones i would want need repair. i will be using a pair that need less repair, so won't have irreparable damage done with my using them. at least they are comfy enough.
thank you Mari. you are a dear.

~ waves ~

yes. in fact, folks i have not yet had the pleasure of meeting in person, in my adult life! i am actually very nervous about it! i have wanted to meet them now for ages, but, my uncle too, you know?!

Thanks soxmom!!!

~ waves ~

You have worked quickly to get everything lined up!
You can be very proud of this.
You are a great daughter for dealing with all of these details.
Have a safe trip tomorrow!
(((((HUGS))))
bizi

Waves
Everyone has stated things so well . And there is not much left for me to
say.

I am sending good thoughts for a safe trip. Know that I am also sorry
too.

Donna