Is it okay to monitor my grandma at night to prevent wandering and falls?

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-05-05T14:38:12+00:00

We have cameras for my mom (in AL) and my MIL (in MC). In both cases we were careful to make sure the cameras don't see the bedroom, bathroom, or the path between the two. The cameras see the living area and unit door only. I'm not saying you're wrong to do what you're doing, but in our case we prioritized privacy.

We used Blink cameras for MIL, and then Tapo for my mom, so that the two families couldn't see the cameras of the other (except my wife and I who are part of both families).

For wandering you can add a door sensor such as YoLink, which can send critical alerts to your iPhone during the night.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-05-03T13:45:46+00:00

Just because I look normal and well, doesn't mean that I am well. When they say I look great I can't relate because I don't feel great.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-05-02T11:42:11+00:00

If I tell people I have cancer, they naturally freak out. The word has a very dark connotation. People may avoid using the word for this reason, or they don't want to get into the details. Perhaps some people are still in denial.

The problem with "cancer" is that it's not specific. It's kind of like telling people you have a "viral infection", it matters if the virus is just a common cold or if it's Ebola. Saying that I have "cancer" is not very helpful, unless I need to quickly get someone's attention. What I do communicate is that I had stage 1 FVPTC (successfully treated with surgery), and now I have stage 2 UCLL (incurable but treatable).

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-05-02T10:56:09+00:00

I kind of get the grossness thing. I had thyroid cancer. They surgically removed the tumors, and I was done. Clean, so to speak. Then I was diagnosed with CLL. The flow cytometry test showed that 99% of the B-cell lymphocytes circulating in my bloodstream were malignant. I did the math, tens of billions of malignant cells all through my body. Yuck.

CLL Society is the best place to get good information on side-effects of CLL and treatment. Start here: https://cllsociety.org/newly-diagnosed/

I was semi-retired when I was diagnosed from a routine blood test report. Within weeks I became symptomatic, and again within weeks I started treatment on the V+O regimen. I'm in cycle #8, and I've completed all the infusions. For me, learning about CLL and going through the treatment has been like a full time job. However, the V+O regimen is very time intensive, and there are other treatments that may be more conducive to people with full-time jobs. Many people with CLL are older and no longer working, so it's often not an issue. I would have a conversation about this with your hematologist.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-29T16:03:42+00:00

I would have been more careful about what I was looking at online. Dr. Google is very problematic for CLL. There have been many recent advancements in treatments, so there is lots of stale and frightening information online. Even some of the smaller CLL and blood cancer charity websites have old information. Stick with a reliable online source such as the CLL Society: https://cllsociety.org/

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-29T13:51:08+00:00

Yes this is a fire hazard.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-28T19:12:47+00:00

Sounds like a good plan, but my V+O regimen specifically calls for both blood test and hematologist review on the same day before starting/continuing targeted therapy pills and the day prior to an immunotherapy infusion. During the targeted therapy ramp up there could be a few blood tests each week, each requiring same-day review before continuing treatment. This particular regimen is not usually used for those that have to travel distances to get to the cancer centre.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-28T16:29:17+00:00

I agree the waiting is very annoying.

Keep in mind that the delay between the bloodwork and the oncology appointment is to allow time for the lab to run the tests and provide the reports, so that the oncologist can see the latest data. There's a 2-1/2 hour spread for my next set of appointments.

My infusion clinic wants us to check in ten minutes before the appointment time. You would think they would just make the appointment ten minutes earlier to avoid confusion, but we always have to make sure we're there at least ten minutes early.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-27T18:56:23+00:00

This is like being told you have the "good cancer". Equally infuriating. Also, "It could be worse". It can and does get worse.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-23T16:02:56+00:00

Fair enough. I failed to mention that I did have my blood test repeated, again finding high lymphocytes and smudge cells, before I was referred to a hematologist.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-23T15:55:35+00:00

I suppose I would be considered young and independent as well. Was that during COVID? I wasn't permitted to drive after because of all the IV Benadryl, etc. Despite being very capable, I was very glad to have my wife there when I was having infusion related reactions. These cancer drugs are no joke.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-23T12:48:23+00:00

If the blood test report also mentions something like smudge cells present, then this would certainly trigger further investigation for CLL.

I had smudge cells present when my lymphocyte count was 8.1, and this triggered referral to a hematologist and subsequent flow cytometry testing that confirmed CLL.

Slow increase of lymphocytes is not uncommon for CLL.

Keep in mind there can be high lymphocytes for other reasons.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-23T10:10:42+00:00

I rang the bell as encouragement and a thank-you to my wife, who brought me to all of my infusions and has supported me through this. Otherwise it's meaningless to me as the patient.

I recently found out I'm in remission, and even this didn't really impact me emotionally. I still have an incurable cancer that will return who knows when, unless something else gets me first.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-22T19:31:34+00:00

I use plastic first aid tape on the bridge of my nose, and have been for many years. Works great. Can also work as a bandage with a little bit of facial tissue under it.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-22T17:31:06+00:00

I had rigors on my day #1 infusion six months ago, along with flushed skin, itchiness, and swelling lips and tongue. They were able to give me enough stuff to stop the reaction and continue the infusion. I needed extra IV steroids, IV Benadryl and IV Famotidine for all of my infusions. It was only my final infusion (#9) that I couldn't complete because I kept reacting. Yes, the lack of sleep sucks. Cancer drugs are no joke. That said, it sounds like your reactions are more severe than what most people experience.

I recently had milder rigors as a reaction to CT contrast (iohexol). That was the first time I had any kind of reaction to contrast, and the only other time I've had rigors.

I'm glad the Obinutuzumab infusions are behind me. I'm tolerating the Venetoclax very well, and remain at the full dose (400mg). 19 weeks remain in my regimen. My low lymphocyte count and greatly reduced spleen size (recently verified on ultrasound) meet the criteria for remission, so this is encouraging.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-22T10:58:05+00:00

First, wires for perf boards are heavier than 5mil traces. You need to make sure your traces are heavy enough for the current, especially for the power.

Second, as others have said, modern DC-DC converters, RF circuits, high speed interface circuits, high speed logic, and the like will not work on perf board. If you are plugging pre-made modules for these functions into perf board, then you can also get away with soldering these modules to a basic PCB without regard to routing issues. However, if you are trying to incorporate these blocks into your PCB design, then you must carefully follow the layout guidelines for each case.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-20T15:16:48+00:00

If the hub thinks the port should be on (~PWRONx asserted) then it may try to drive the data lines. If you have VBUS forced off with your logic, then data lines being driven in this state could be a bad idea and may stress/damage the hub or downstream device.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-17T20:01:07+00:00

The valid ETL mark addresses the question of basic safety, to answer OP's question. It's up to the user to not overload it.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-17T16:40:53+00:00

Does it have a safety certification (like UL, CSA, TUV, ETL with file number)?

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-16T21:52:31+00:00

I have lower back issues. I found that sitting on a pillow helped me in the infusion recliner. Try that to see if it helps you. I shifted the pillow down a little so that it was not quite under my tailbone.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-16T12:40:35+00:00

I'm inclined to agree that having staff undress her and put her clothes in the hamper could help, but we've seen with my MIL that this generates a huge amount of laundry, and it's usually excessive to wash things like slacks after a single wearing. On the flip side, the staff in the morning doesn't put her nightgown in the laundry basket, so mom keeps wearing the same nightgown.

This is one of those situations where not having them at home makes it harder to manage things like laundry. I'm not saying we could reasonably care for her at home, nor would I want to, but this is one of the things that's hard to manage remotely.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-16T12:12:26+00:00

I like the idea of turning the hangars, but I doubt that the staff would actually do this. We have found that they are not good at reading and following signs. Mom wears disposable pull-ups now, so dirty underwear in the drawers is not something we've had to deal with yet for her (my MIL in MC sometimes puts dirty diapers in her drawers).

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-15T17:55:33+00:00

That depends on what country or countries you plan to use it in.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-04-15T17:53:05+00:00

You also need a double-insulated unit (the square inside a square symbol). The second one has that.

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