Chapter 360 - Just Routine
I have not been religious about keeping notes these last two weeks; just a few about the unusual. I can't recall how much tingling, burning she has experienced; perhaps she does not comment, perhaps I don't listen about such ordinary matters. I notice that her left foot continues to "turn in", her feet often feel large and heavy, she often has back ache especially when getting out of bed.
Anyway, from notes I did make. Monday morning 22nd September she had taken herself to the loo, pushing her trolley, and on leaving became light headed, some difficulty navigating her way through the living area so she sat on the large shoe box we keep near the front door. She was unable to figure out how she could find her way to her sewing room. She said she felt as if she had been hit on the back of the head. After she called me I helped her back to her recliner. If I had been rational about this perhaps I should have taken her to the hospital. That night at 2100, on her way to bed after machine sewing, she became stressed in the middle of the bedroom, sweating, breathing quickly and noisily.
On Tuesday 23rd she delayed her 0600 meds by an hour hoping to make the stress of another MRI more bearable at 1245, again at West Beer, to which we were driven again by our helpful Wild Dog driver. I removed the Apo infusion and pump in the car park at the hospital and did not refit it until home again around 1730. This MRI was on her lumbar region and was not as difficult for her as the previous MRI. She makes comments that she has been surprised that her mobility, especially getting in and out of cars, improves when her medications are disturbed, stopped or delayed for these MRI's and the "Monday 9am" assessment at West Beer. Strange indeed.
The next day she felt strange at 1430 and on attempting to stand from her recliner was dizzy, then wished to sleep, felt sick and her eyes became cross-eyed (she said).
Then a little after 0300 on Thursday she decided she needed to sit on the commode rather than rely on the pads she had on in another type of pants given to her by physio N. The wet pad was replaced. I decided to turn the face of our T-hub (tablet phone system) which displayed the time in large glowing numerals, towards the wall so that she was unable to watch the minutes in the early hours tick away. I think this simple manoeuvre has helped her sleep better, then a few days later I remembered experts' instructions not to have glowing screens in the bedroom at all for better sleeping so I removed the screen to the kitchen. Now to find the time of night she needs to press the button on her bed-side clock; I think we both sleep better without the glowing. That evening she was unable to eat much of her evening meal; unable to swallow much of a pork chop and vegetables. Then on going to bed she decided not to take any more of the half sleeping pill; I objected but she has not had wakeful nights since, or at least not sufficiently so to wake me. I am beginning to feel the benefit of less broken sleep. Thinking about it makes me feel tired, and I yawn, as I think about the matter as I type, made worse by daylight saving having kicked in this morning.
The next day, Friday 27th, her left leg failed, almost fell, while physio N was here (she continues to visit on Wednesdays and Fridays). That evening a strange event. I did not have my CB radio with me while I made an on-line supermarket order when the phone in my dungeon rang. I ignored it, assuming she picked up the call on another extension. Half an hour later I went to check on her; she was marooned in her sewing room, too much sewing bits and pieces around for her to get out of there; she had been unable to raise me by CB so called the land line by the VOIP phone (and I didn't answer) and for some reason her calls on the CB echoed from our second bathroom (adjoins her sewing room) where she assumed I had collapsed and was laying on the tiles. I had left the CB on the kitchen bench top. She was stuck in her chair for over half an hour, thinking the worst, until I ambled in. An example of how simple, every day ordinary matters become disasters for someone with disabilities.
We bought a new underlay for her bed; her bed is now a little more comfortable since fitting it this last Monday. A leak, first in ages, on Thursday required it washed sooner than hoped.
A very interesting vision problem last Wednesday. She was "cleaning up" her email when she called me, complaining that her monitors were bad. Letter combinations of "ll", "il" and "ill" in any words on her screens displayed, to her, as fuzzy red whereas all other letter combinations were normal. All text looked OK to me, as did printed text, monochrome text on an ebook reader and text on her Surface Pro (new device for her to read emails etc while she is out on her recliner) looked OK to her.
Last Sunday we went shopping for some clothes and shoes for her; she seated in the walker the whole time. A pleasant outing for her.
This coming Thursday she has an appointment to see neuro Dr F at West Beer; she hopes he will give her an explanation of why her legs are so bad.
I am reading more about neuropathy.
She is concerned about how we will cope in a month's time when I am scheduled for a colonoscopy; just a day event at the local hospital.
Anyway, from notes I did make. Monday morning 22nd September she had taken herself to the loo, pushing her trolley, and on leaving became light headed, some difficulty navigating her way through the living area so she sat on the large shoe box we keep near the front door. She was unable to figure out how she could find her way to her sewing room. She said she felt as if she had been hit on the back of the head. After she called me I helped her back to her recliner. If I had been rational about this perhaps I should have taken her to the hospital. That night at 2100, on her way to bed after machine sewing, she became stressed in the middle of the bedroom, sweating, breathing quickly and noisily.
On Tuesday 23rd she delayed her 0600 meds by an hour hoping to make the stress of another MRI more bearable at 1245, again at West Beer, to which we were driven again by our helpful Wild Dog driver. I removed the Apo infusion and pump in the car park at the hospital and did not refit it until home again around 1730. This MRI was on her lumbar region and was not as difficult for her as the previous MRI. She makes comments that she has been surprised that her mobility, especially getting in and out of cars, improves when her medications are disturbed, stopped or delayed for these MRI's and the "Monday 9am" assessment at West Beer. Strange indeed.
The next day she felt strange at 1430 and on attempting to stand from her recliner was dizzy, then wished to sleep, felt sick and her eyes became cross-eyed (she said).
Then a little after 0300 on Thursday she decided she needed to sit on the commode rather than rely on the pads she had on in another type of pants given to her by physio N. The wet pad was replaced. I decided to turn the face of our T-hub (tablet phone system) which displayed the time in large glowing numerals, towards the wall so that she was unable to watch the minutes in the early hours tick away. I think this simple manoeuvre has helped her sleep better, then a few days later I remembered experts' instructions not to have glowing screens in the bedroom at all for better sleeping so I removed the screen to the kitchen. Now to find the time of night she needs to press the button on her bed-side clock; I think we both sleep better without the glowing. That evening she was unable to eat much of her evening meal; unable to swallow much of a pork chop and vegetables. Then on going to bed she decided not to take any more of the half sleeping pill; I objected but she has not had wakeful nights since, or at least not sufficiently so to wake me. I am beginning to feel the benefit of less broken sleep. Thinking about it makes me feel tired, and I yawn, as I think about the matter as I type, made worse by daylight saving having kicked in this morning.
The next day, Friday 27th, her left leg failed, almost fell, while physio N was here (she continues to visit on Wednesdays and Fridays). That evening a strange event. I did not have my CB radio with me while I made an on-line supermarket order when the phone in my dungeon rang. I ignored it, assuming she picked up the call on another extension. Half an hour later I went to check on her; she was marooned in her sewing room, too much sewing bits and pieces around for her to get out of there; she had been unable to raise me by CB so called the land line by the VOIP phone (and I didn't answer) and for some reason her calls on the CB echoed from our second bathroom (adjoins her sewing room) where she assumed I had collapsed and was laying on the tiles. I had left the CB on the kitchen bench top. She was stuck in her chair for over half an hour, thinking the worst, until I ambled in. An example of how simple, every day ordinary matters become disasters for someone with disabilities.
We bought a new underlay for her bed; her bed is now a little more comfortable since fitting it this last Monday. A leak, first in ages, on Thursday required it washed sooner than hoped.
A very interesting vision problem last Wednesday. She was "cleaning up" her email when she called me, complaining that her monitors were bad. Letter combinations of "ll", "il" and "ill" in any words on her screens displayed, to her, as fuzzy red whereas all other letter combinations were normal. All text looked OK to me, as did printed text, monochrome text on an ebook reader and text on her Surface Pro (new device for her to read emails etc while she is out on her recliner) looked OK to her.
Last Sunday we went shopping for some clothes and shoes for her; she seated in the walker the whole time. A pleasant outing for her.
This coming Thursday she has an appointment to see neuro Dr F at West Beer; she hopes he will give her an explanation of why her legs are so bad.
I am reading more about neuropathy.
She is concerned about how we will cope in a month's time when I am scheduled for a colonoscopy; just a day event at the local hospital.
posted by Kilpike | 9:50 am
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