Chapter 370 - A Crap of a Week
I don't think she has had a reasonable bowel motion for several weeks; always saying that she feels like going but nothing comes. A result of her recent dose of antibiotics?
About 0839 last Monday she became dizzy and faint, her BP on her wrist device was 93/63 65, on my brand new cuff model 74/50 64, so I wheel chaired her to bed, raised the foot end of the bed then pressed the emergency button and asked for an ambulance, which took about 10 minutes to arrive. Her BP had risen when the Ambo's measured it and an ECG showed normal. She did not wish to be taken to the hospital and signed on their laptop accordingly. I took her to the GP for a 1530 appointment. I really can't remember what transpired at that appointment, although he did say the extra urine sample I submitted for her was clear..
Between 0200 and 2200 on Tuesday I had to assist her onto the loo 23 times, mostly for piddle and occasionally for poop but very little of it. Her BP was around 180/90 all day. She did not attend respite.
On Wednesday her BP was again low, 106/51 52 while feeling sleepy lying on the bed at 0715 and similar readings were recorded during the remainder of the day. She had difficulty eating breakfast of toast so I gave her some feta cheese on soft bread and later some prunes. She had a slight headache above her eyes most of the day. Several times she attempted a bowel motion without doing anything more than a few "pebbles" as she calls them. I photographed her efforts in the toilet bowl for Monday Tuesday and Wednesday to show medical people.When physio called she thought she looked rather pale. She had the sensation that "poo was just sitting there" but would not come out. Her stomach felt bloated and full. I made an appointment for her to see the GP, Dr I, on Friday because we wanted to attend our Parky group Xmas lunch on Thursday.
We didn't get to that Xmas lunch.From 0400 she was verging on a panic attack; dry mouth, breathing fast, feeling sick, stomach churning, leg pains, excessive tremor, BP 171/98 73. I had her use the 3 ball breathing exerciser then breathe at a 4-6 rate that someone mentioned. She was feeling hot without bedclothes on and wall the fan was operating. Then her toes cramped. I vibrated Tiger Balm on her legs to ease the pain. Following her 6AM meds I assisted her onto the loo, where she asked for warm water to ease her stomach; a few pebbles. I decided to shower and dress her prior to the arrival of the Wild Dog care lady arrived at 8Am so that I could take her to hospital as soon as possible. A triage nurse attended to her by 0830, and about an hour later a Fleet enema was administered followed by an Xray. The doctor in attendance recommended more enemas and an increase in Movicol, up to 8 per day for 3 days once back home. At home I requested advice from District Nursing about using an enema, so the nurse came to our place at 1630 by which time the chemist had delivered the only two Fleet enemas they had in stock. The nurse administered one enema, a seemingly simple job. After having her remain on the bed for about an hour as advised I then discovered the more difficult, messy side of the job. I wheeled her from the bed to the loo on the wheel chair which required some cleaning afterwards. She also missed a Xmas afternoon tea at Wild Dog.
Next morning, Friday, I administered another enema after which I needed to strip the bed sheets (even though a small Kylie sheet had been placed beneath her) to the washing machine and hosed down the commode beneath the shower. Obviously the follow up to the enema is the tricky part. Although I had measured her BP low at 104/56 58 when we left for the doctors appointment he measured it was around 135/80. He advised against further enemas and to maintain the Macrogol (Movicol) at 2 per day, then he prescribed Lexapro 10mg for "irritable bowel" syndrome. I don't know about the irritable bit but perhaps this will reduce her minor panic attacks; I see Lexapro under other names is frequently prescribed for depression etc for Parkies. He also requested another Xray of her stomach and that was done at 1500 the same day.
Yesterday, Saturday, she remained home from respite, she had some successful bowel motions, somewhat urgently, so wished to stay close to her favourite bidet. I bought two large washable kylie sheets for $60 each; sufficiently large to improve the outcome of my next enema job.
Today we were to attend a Xmas lunch in our local hall. Again she wished to remain home so the meal (which we paid for) was delivered to us by some kind people. Our non-attendance there caused some friends to pop in afterwards to see how she was. I needed to retrieve her off the loo. She also rang back two numbers which had left messages.
To place all the above in perspective, keep in mind that 90 % of the time she needs assistance to go to and from the loo; her underclothes need removal and replacement. Her bra often needs to be undone or removed.Her legs frequently ache and burn and tingle, usually requiring pillows or stools beneath her feet. Her feet turn inwards making shoes uncomfortable yet she is unable to stand or shuffle forwards without them on her feet. Her bottle of water frequently needs filling; even so, she needs to drink more. And other trivialities. Day and night.
Tomorrow I must collect the stomach Xray from the hospital for the GP Dr I. to compare before and after shots around the enemas. I also promised to report to the District Nurse on Friday, but I forgot.
Shit happens, but in her case not well enough.
About 0839 last Monday she became dizzy and faint, her BP on her wrist device was 93/63 65, on my brand new cuff model 74/50 64, so I wheel chaired her to bed, raised the foot end of the bed then pressed the emergency button and asked for an ambulance, which took about 10 minutes to arrive. Her BP had risen when the Ambo's measured it and an ECG showed normal. She did not wish to be taken to the hospital and signed on their laptop accordingly. I took her to the GP for a 1530 appointment. I really can't remember what transpired at that appointment, although he did say the extra urine sample I submitted for her was clear..
Between 0200 and 2200 on Tuesday I had to assist her onto the loo 23 times, mostly for piddle and occasionally for poop but very little of it. Her BP was around 180/90 all day. She did not attend respite.
On Wednesday her BP was again low, 106/51 52 while feeling sleepy lying on the bed at 0715 and similar readings were recorded during the remainder of the day. She had difficulty eating breakfast of toast so I gave her some feta cheese on soft bread and later some prunes. She had a slight headache above her eyes most of the day. Several times she attempted a bowel motion without doing anything more than a few "pebbles" as she calls them. I photographed her efforts in the toilet bowl for Monday Tuesday and Wednesday to show medical people.When physio called she thought she looked rather pale. She had the sensation that "poo was just sitting there" but would not come out. Her stomach felt bloated and full. I made an appointment for her to see the GP, Dr I, on Friday because we wanted to attend our Parky group Xmas lunch on Thursday.
We didn't get to that Xmas lunch.From 0400 she was verging on a panic attack; dry mouth, breathing fast, feeling sick, stomach churning, leg pains, excessive tremor, BP 171/98 73. I had her use the 3 ball breathing exerciser then breathe at a 4-6 rate that someone mentioned. She was feeling hot without bedclothes on and wall the fan was operating. Then her toes cramped. I vibrated Tiger Balm on her legs to ease the pain. Following her 6AM meds I assisted her onto the loo, where she asked for warm water to ease her stomach; a few pebbles. I decided to shower and dress her prior to the arrival of the Wild Dog care lady arrived at 8Am so that I could take her to hospital as soon as possible. A triage nurse attended to her by 0830, and about an hour later a Fleet enema was administered followed by an Xray. The doctor in attendance recommended more enemas and an increase in Movicol, up to 8 per day for 3 days once back home. At home I requested advice from District Nursing about using an enema, so the nurse came to our place at 1630 by which time the chemist had delivered the only two Fleet enemas they had in stock. The nurse administered one enema, a seemingly simple job. After having her remain on the bed for about an hour as advised I then discovered the more difficult, messy side of the job. I wheeled her from the bed to the loo on the wheel chair which required some cleaning afterwards. She also missed a Xmas afternoon tea at Wild Dog.
Next morning, Friday, I administered another enema after which I needed to strip the bed sheets (even though a small Kylie sheet had been placed beneath her) to the washing machine and hosed down the commode beneath the shower. Obviously the follow up to the enema is the tricky part. Although I had measured her BP low at 104/56 58 when we left for the doctors appointment he measured it was around 135/80. He advised against further enemas and to maintain the Macrogol (Movicol) at 2 per day, then he prescribed Lexapro 10mg for "irritable bowel" syndrome. I don't know about the irritable bit but perhaps this will reduce her minor panic attacks; I see Lexapro under other names is frequently prescribed for depression etc for Parkies. He also requested another Xray of her stomach and that was done at 1500 the same day.
Yesterday, Saturday, she remained home from respite, she had some successful bowel motions, somewhat urgently, so wished to stay close to her favourite bidet. I bought two large washable kylie sheets for $60 each; sufficiently large to improve the outcome of my next enema job.
Today we were to attend a Xmas lunch in our local hall. Again she wished to remain home so the meal (which we paid for) was delivered to us by some kind people. Our non-attendance there caused some friends to pop in afterwards to see how she was. I needed to retrieve her off the loo. She also rang back two numbers which had left messages.
To place all the above in perspective, keep in mind that 90 % of the time she needs assistance to go to and from the loo; her underclothes need removal and replacement. Her bra often needs to be undone or removed.Her legs frequently ache and burn and tingle, usually requiring pillows or stools beneath her feet. Her feet turn inwards making shoes uncomfortable yet she is unable to stand or shuffle forwards without them on her feet. Her bottle of water frequently needs filling; even so, she needs to drink more. And other trivialities. Day and night.
Tomorrow I must collect the stomach Xray from the hospital for the GP Dr I. to compare before and after shots around the enemas. I also promised to report to the District Nurse on Friday, but I forgot.
Shit happens, but in her case not well enough.
posted by Kilpike | 6:41 pm
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