Chapter 89 - A Night Out
She didn't wish to go. She wanted me to go on my own, and that I want to avoid as it seems to me as a first step away.
Some weeks ago we were invited to a birthday celebration for an 80 year old friend, to be held last evening at a local restaurant. At a starting time of 7pm, her scheduled meds time. We discussed attending/not attending almost on a daily basis. Several times we went looking for the restaurant without success because we lacked the address details & did not wish to ask & raise awkward questions. We wanted to inspect the place to see how cramped it was, how flimsy was the seating.
On Tuesday we concluded we would not attend. Then while she was completing a little embroidery for the friend's wife (a delayed birthday present) the lady visited, then the other friend who was organising the party popped in as well. I muttered that we were not attending the party. The ladies were disappointed. The organiser, a widow, said that her crippled husband wheel chair bound never had problems at the restaurant in question. We decided to go.
Then yesterday the birthday friend rang to say they would pick us up in their car. I suspect this was to guard against the possibility that he & I may have consumed too much merlot. She was then in turmoil that she would not be able to get into & out of their car. Remember that we have a 4WD into which she can pull herself with some assistance, a car tends to be more difficult for her. By 5pm she was in tears, regretting her decision to go. I convinced her to take her 7pm meds at 6pm.
Our friends called for us at 6:45pm. I collected the black plastic sheet from our 4WD for her to sit on; it helps her slide in & out. After we arrived at the restaurant our friend said "You are doing well, hardly a shake." (or words to that effect) I muttered "If only shaking was her only problem." Once inside the restaurant an enormous sense of relief - solid, wrap around chairs at small firm tables arranged into a square to seat perhaps 20 persons in a private room. She was able to sit at a corner where her right hand side was not crowded, for I sat on her right hand side but around the corner of the table. Sound complicated? The food was fantastic (except servings were unusually large!) and courses were separated by plenty of time. I ate far too much, finishing with sticky date pudding because it was on the menu. The mud birthday cake was far in excess to requirements at the end of the party. She was able to enjoy a protein free warm pumpkin salad for her main course; I didn't look too closely.
Back home we both went to bed feeling somewhat uncomfortable, myself more so. She had a very bad night; restless, waking and sometime before 5am I connected the TENS machine to her lower back to relieve the pains going down her legs. After her 6am meds I suggested we sleep through, not shower till well after her 9am meds had kicked in. So around 10am she rose & showered.
She called my name on the CB, by the hollow sound of her voice I could tell she was in the bathroom. I hurried to her to find her dripping wet bent over in the bathroom. She was unable to dry herself; she clung to a grab rail while I rubbed her down all over. Then holding her I walked backwards into our bedroom where I dressed her. After that she became sufficiently mobile to move under her own steam. Even had breakfast. I avoided having any at all.
She wants no lunch. Sits shaking in her chair in front of the TV doing her puzzle magazines. The penalties of having a good evening, once in a while or two.
Some weeks ago we were invited to a birthday celebration for an 80 year old friend, to be held last evening at a local restaurant. At a starting time of 7pm, her scheduled meds time. We discussed attending/not attending almost on a daily basis. Several times we went looking for the restaurant without success because we lacked the address details & did not wish to ask & raise awkward questions. We wanted to inspect the place to see how cramped it was, how flimsy was the seating.
On Tuesday we concluded we would not attend. Then while she was completing a little embroidery for the friend's wife (a delayed birthday present) the lady visited, then the other friend who was organising the party popped in as well. I muttered that we were not attending the party. The ladies were disappointed. The organiser, a widow, said that her crippled husband wheel chair bound never had problems at the restaurant in question. We decided to go.
Then yesterday the birthday friend rang to say they would pick us up in their car. I suspect this was to guard against the possibility that he & I may have consumed too much merlot. She was then in turmoil that she would not be able to get into & out of their car. Remember that we have a 4WD into which she can pull herself with some assistance, a car tends to be more difficult for her. By 5pm she was in tears, regretting her decision to go. I convinced her to take her 7pm meds at 6pm.
Our friends called for us at 6:45pm. I collected the black plastic sheet from our 4WD for her to sit on; it helps her slide in & out. After we arrived at the restaurant our friend said "You are doing well, hardly a shake." (or words to that effect) I muttered "If only shaking was her only problem." Once inside the restaurant an enormous sense of relief - solid, wrap around chairs at small firm tables arranged into a square to seat perhaps 20 persons in a private room. She was able to sit at a corner where her right hand side was not crowded, for I sat on her right hand side but around the corner of the table. Sound complicated? The food was fantastic (except servings were unusually large!) and courses were separated by plenty of time. I ate far too much, finishing with sticky date pudding because it was on the menu. The mud birthday cake was far in excess to requirements at the end of the party. She was able to enjoy a protein free warm pumpkin salad for her main course; I didn't look too closely.
Back home we both went to bed feeling somewhat uncomfortable, myself more so. She had a very bad night; restless, waking and sometime before 5am I connected the TENS machine to her lower back to relieve the pains going down her legs. After her 6am meds I suggested we sleep through, not shower till well after her 9am meds had kicked in. So around 10am she rose & showered.
She called my name on the CB, by the hollow sound of her voice I could tell she was in the bathroom. I hurried to her to find her dripping wet bent over in the bathroom. She was unable to dry herself; she clung to a grab rail while I rubbed her down all over. Then holding her I walked backwards into our bedroom where I dressed her. After that she became sufficiently mobile to move under her own steam. Even had breakfast. I avoided having any at all.
She wants no lunch. Sits shaking in her chair in front of the TV doing her puzzle magazines. The penalties of having a good evening, once in a while or two.
posted by Kilpike | 12:33 pm
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