Chapter 107 - Bloody Monday
No, the chapter title does not refer to Monday-itis. I woke yesterday morning to see blood splattered down her night dress, bed sheet, mattress cover and sprayed onto several patches of the carpet. She had risen without realising her nose was bleeding, then looked for Kleenex. We rolled a tissue into a plug for her nose, like a Tampon thingy used at the hospital the last time this happened. To hold the tissue plug in place I used sticky tape. She even had a shower while I attempted to remove the stains on the carpet. The bedclothes were thrown into the washing machine after some soaking. The bleeding stopped within an hour so we didn't go to the hospital this time. She spent the day with tissue in her nose, removing it in the evening but on going to bed a little blood so she spent the night uncomfortably plugged. This morning she has decided to sleep until 10am. She just called me on the CB; she was "stuck" half way back onto the bed after going to the loo and needed pulling down & straightening for her to be comfortable.
Anyway, back to last week or so. Sunday 7th October was a dreadful day. At 6am she was OK but by 7am very shaky & stiff. She rose at 8am not capable of showering. By 10am her shakes were bad, sweating, chest tight, stressed, in tears. Several Panamax calmed her down an hour later so she went to the bathroom to attempt a shower; shaking discouraged her. Shaking peaked late in the afternoon, much milder by the time she went to bed. Like an iceberg, much of the shaking is below the surface.
On the Monday pain down to the ankle on her right leg prevented showering early. While eating breakfast I connected the TENS to her leg for several applications, then she sat on the whoopy cushion to encourage action in the bathroom. With Wednesday approaching, she was motivated enough to overcome her difficulties to have her hair trimmed late morning, a little shopping then lunch down the street.
Tuesday a shower with only a dull ache in her lower back & right leg which she then had me rub with a yukky cooling ointment, after which she dressed herself. A short walk in the park in the afternoon.
Several applications of the TENS before we left on Wednesday to meet her sisters for her birthday lunch. She seemed well all day, although after we were home again she told me she had had a pain down her right leg all day. She did not need to move much, an hour each way in the truck and seated for some three hours in the club. A pleasant day.
Thursday she showered & washed her sitting down; strict instructions not to lift her leg to avoid worsening her pain; then sat in her dressing gown while I applied the TENS to her right leg. We attended the monthly PD group, continuing at the club afterwards with lunch with friends for her birthday. When we arrived home about 2pm she needed bed, was very tired & shaky. She slept until 4pm when she had a good phone chat with a rellie, after which she was very shaky, flushed & so warm that she needed her small personal fan. Later, after going to the loo, she said her shakes were very bad, she was sweating so badly that her glasses fogged, yet there was no pain in her back or leg. In the evening we walked our village. Later, as I pulled up her jeans again (three or four times today) she was still hot, sweating & shaking badly. Then at 10:30pm the shaking stopped.
On Friday a good day dawned. Showered, although needed drying & dressing as usual this past week or so. No pain. A walk in the park. Intermittent tremors during the day.
Saturday much the same, showered and dressed herself, no pain all day although her back felt "thick" at times and by evening the shakes were noticeable. A slight nose bleeding in the morning before rising.
Sunday less to report other than she felt slightly unbalanced when rising from her chair. On thinking about that, I realise that I have been needed much less to assist her rising from the chair as I was during the last week plus. She was often calling me on the CB for help. It's strange how these small problems quickly become accepted as the norm, are not noticed, just disappear into the boring routine of day to day living.
A few minutes ago a friend called with a bunch of flowers for her. When he saw me at our village hall yesterday collecting our mail, he invited me over for a coffee which I declined saying she was not all that well (remember, her nose was plugged so I did not want to stay away too long). She is still asleep. She will wake soon to see the flowers. The world is good, as are many of its residents.
Anyway, back to last week or so. Sunday 7th October was a dreadful day. At 6am she was OK but by 7am very shaky & stiff. She rose at 8am not capable of showering. By 10am her shakes were bad, sweating, chest tight, stressed, in tears. Several Panamax calmed her down an hour later so she went to the bathroom to attempt a shower; shaking discouraged her. Shaking peaked late in the afternoon, much milder by the time she went to bed. Like an iceberg, much of the shaking is below the surface.
On the Monday pain down to the ankle on her right leg prevented showering early. While eating breakfast I connected the TENS to her leg for several applications, then she sat on the whoopy cushion to encourage action in the bathroom. With Wednesday approaching, she was motivated enough to overcome her difficulties to have her hair trimmed late morning, a little shopping then lunch down the street.
Tuesday a shower with only a dull ache in her lower back & right leg which she then had me rub with a yukky cooling ointment, after which she dressed herself. A short walk in the park in the afternoon.
Several applications of the TENS before we left on Wednesday to meet her sisters for her birthday lunch. She seemed well all day, although after we were home again she told me she had had a pain down her right leg all day. She did not need to move much, an hour each way in the truck and seated for some three hours in the club. A pleasant day.
Thursday she showered & washed her sitting down; strict instructions not to lift her leg to avoid worsening her pain; then sat in her dressing gown while I applied the TENS to her right leg. We attended the monthly PD group, continuing at the club afterwards with lunch with friends for her birthday. When we arrived home about 2pm she needed bed, was very tired & shaky. She slept until 4pm when she had a good phone chat with a rellie, after which she was very shaky, flushed & so warm that she needed her small personal fan. Later, after going to the loo, she said her shakes were very bad, she was sweating so badly that her glasses fogged, yet there was no pain in her back or leg. In the evening we walked our village. Later, as I pulled up her jeans again (three or four times today) she was still hot, sweating & shaking badly. Then at 10:30pm the shaking stopped.
On Friday a good day dawned. Showered, although needed drying & dressing as usual this past week or so. No pain. A walk in the park. Intermittent tremors during the day.
Saturday much the same, showered and dressed herself, no pain all day although her back felt "thick" at times and by evening the shakes were noticeable. A slight nose bleeding in the morning before rising.
Sunday less to report other than she felt slightly unbalanced when rising from her chair. On thinking about that, I realise that I have been needed much less to assist her rising from the chair as I was during the last week plus. She was often calling me on the CB for help. It's strange how these small problems quickly become accepted as the norm, are not noticed, just disappear into the boring routine of day to day living.
A few minutes ago a friend called with a bunch of flowers for her. When he saw me at our village hall yesterday collecting our mail, he invited me over for a coffee which I declined saying she was not all that well (remember, her nose was plugged so I did not want to stay away too long). She is still asleep. She will wake soon to see the flowers. The world is good, as are many of its residents.
posted by Kilpike | 8:11 am
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