Hi All. Thanks for helpful replies reference Nigel 'seizing up'. Although it was the middle of the night I immediately felt support. The Occupational Therapist kept him on the small admissions ward and he was transferred on a rehab pathway to Glastonbury Hospital (about 30mins away) on Friday arriving early evening. I wrote a 'This is Me' electronically in great detail and a friend who lives near the hospital was there when Nigel arrived so the staff could have it to read and refer to. One nurse was in opposition to some of it but was overidden by the Matron luckily. He is still there and not progressing much mobility wise and is now on a textured diet and thickened drinks, which he hates, but the family took in a load of Yogurt drinks and Mango juice which hopefully he will drink. There are not enough staff to supervise him when eating and drinking so eating little of the main meals.
The neurologist himself emailed me back in the absence of his admin lady and says that anything even diarrhoea can now knock him off his base line, but that as he thinks Nigel has other brain deterioration issues, not just full blown CBD, rehab should still help, so that email has also gone to the hospital and the PSPA booklet for OTs is there too.
In the meantime, 1 hour after he arrived there, I stretched my leg and my new hip dislocated completely !! Absolute agony. Luckily I could reach the phone and my sister came round and I was taken in by ambulance 45 minuts later and went down for manipulation under general anaethesia on Saturday morning, which was luckily successful. I came home Sunday night and my daugher from Wales is here with me and keeping me in line as I am now on strict precautions for at least 8 weeks. The surgeon does not know why it happened but maybe when Nigel was so poorly on the Tuesday night I helped our 'sleep in carer' too much. Anyway I am on the mend again but lost a lot of confidence. Luckily I am able to use all Nigel's aids and even his hospital bed. Funnily enough I observed that when I was in hospital and in a hospital bed I felt so much safer with the rails up and was able to use them to reposition myself once I was no longer in pain. Hopefully we will both become more mobile soon and he will be able to come home. I must remail positive and do realise I must make the most of this 'non carer' space but I do miss him and feel very helpless. Love AliBee1
Oh, Alibee
You have both really been in the wars.
I do hope he keeps his baseline and that you get mobile and share together again soon.
And, can your daughter really keep you in line?
Warmly
Kevin
Thank you Kevin. He is very agitated which always affects his mobility so there is no way he will be home just yet. I do miss him.
My daughter says it is a very hard job but she is having a dam good try! She goes back to Wales tomorrow and my other daughter and grandaughter are coming for 2 nights. Sh eis much more bossy !! Love AliBee1
Oh, Ali
I do hope he settles soon... I hate seeing my Liz when she is in one of her non normal states... I have some sense of the anguish you must be facing. Can I offer you a virtual hug?
As for the daughter replacement thing... I read that as, "They are sending in the hard corps."
Some tips:
Put yourself up in a hotel for a couple of days.
Or
Get you friends to ring them and to make lengthy calls involving checking things upstairs... Have Taxi outside with it's engine running.
As if you need tips at all.
I really feel for you and this hip dislocation on top of all. You've made no mention of the pain. I expect that is not slight at all. So damned typical of a carer. 😾
I'm sending you good vibes and a daughter proof invisible suite... not that you really need it... I think they might just be chips off the block. (Chuckles).
Do keep us all up to speed... You are quite a presence here and we care.
Warmly
Kevin
Thank you Kevin for a wonderful chuckle and the tips. By the way the pain was excrutiating and two generals in 10 days and all the manipulation amkes my body feel like it has been used as a punch bag !! Thank you also for the virtual hug. It is greatly appreaciated x Alli Bee