Each day has been a blurr, especially more recently! My man was hospitalized on May 2,walking with difficulty with a walker, continent, in control of most of his faculties, able to understand doctors and make decisions.
Today, he is very stiff, sore when moved, eating yoghurt spoonfed to him, barely able to communicate, and drinking so very little.
He stares at me with wide open eyes and becsuse of this website, I think I understand him! I recently read a post tslking 'a terrified wide open stare' and it struck a chord. That is what I am seeing in his face! And he constantly puts a hand to his forehead like running fingers through hair (but he no longer has any there!) and I interpret thiscas worry. I have seen these actions daily for the past three days while at the same time seeing various stop working.
So I made sure I told him that I knew he was still there even if he cannot speak. When I kissed him, I felt his immobile mouth try to form a moue to kiss me. Just enough to give me an answer!
He is now eating mostly smooth yoghurt and being fed without trying to help. He blows bubbles with a straw and can only lift the drink partway up the straw, so it is no use any longer. After 2 days when the nurses got good evening meals into him, he now eats very little, and mostly mashed soft vegies with cream - I have left out the meat as he is not moving the food around his mouth much and the other day when he chewed, it stayed in his mouth long after it should have. So it is a choking hazard! Tablet taking is slso becoming difficult as he finds them difficult to move in his mouth to swallow them. At least the nurse tonight is as aware of the new problems as i am, not that she can do much to help!
Dietician came a few days ago at my request. She has promised 2 yoghurts each meal tray, so he can eat something. They started arriving today, hooray! We talked about difficulty swallowing, but at that time neither she nor the physio could see a problem - so they will review Monday! Meanwhile my man needs well mashed soft food to eat NOW 2 days later!
The lovely nurse came back with the suggestion to get a sipper cup, so I am off to get a Tommee Tippee cup and some baby food tomorrow! Should tide us over the weekend!
There has slso been an issue with the IVs administered. Apart from all the bruises, thecdrs are now wondering if he was being over hydrated as he has had problems with fluid on lungs, stomach, knee and swollen feet. They have given fruisimide to reduce fluid and have left instructions over weekend to oncall dr to hold the dose if he gets dehydrated. Meanwhile he has drunk about 200ml today and passed about 1 litre.
By the way, got the nebulizer scripted Tuesday by ward dr, after a frantically busy registrar saw him over long weekend and said nebulizers were old hat and not used now - or words to that effect!!! Hope a message has been passed to him that my man suffered several days for want of old hat meds that immediately improved his breathing! After a couple of days, his breathing is easier, though by no means 'normal'.
Two weeks ago, - no, only 10 days ago - he was unresponsive with temperature and dementia. Now he is here, unable to speak clearly or feed properly and sleeping heavily - and we have an assessment appointment on Monday to get him out of hospital and into his restcare room on Tuesday! And I wonder, what might go wrong this time!
Last time it was suggested that assessing him when unresponsive might give a unrealistic result. I cant see what difference it will make if the same happens this time. He is already hospital grade care, 2 nurses and full sling hoist needed, his room is chosen to accommodate all that, so...... I shall be pleading his case to get out and settled so he can have a private single room where he can rest peacrfully, and all my sweet nothings don't have to be overheard!!
Wish us luck!
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