Chapter 387 - Things Happen
Yesterday our very good friends from Steel City visited for the day and evening before heading down to the sand sun and sea. We began eating pizzas early afternoon, several bottles of red and oddments were consumed before they left about 2200. I forgot to bring out the sauerkraut and marinated herrings often consumed on such occasion. Then I forgot to take my handful of pills (yes I now take more than she does!), we went to bed late, I woke at 0400 then slept fitfully until after 0700 so she was fitted with the duodopa late and I had no time to shower before the Wild Dog lady came to shower her. Yesterday morning and again this morning I found small patches of brownish stain on the carpet between bathroom and bedroom. To my horror I found lumps of brown stuff solidly concreted to one of the wheels of the commode used for transporting her from bedroom to shower and back; obviously the result of a known "accident" in the bathroom many days ago. I'm pleased to have a quantity of rubber gloves on hand (was that a pun?).
Thursday last week we planned to be at our local PD group but she came over weak, somewhat faint and lethargic. One instance BP reading dropped to 92/55 before rising again, so I took her to the doctor who suspected a UTI. So early Friday I took a sample to pathology. No calls about results yet.
At the doctor's I alluded to what I see as her obsessive tendencies in regards to re-arranging cupboards and her sewing room and her multiple time consuming efforts attempting to construct a vest with a pocket for the Duodopa pump without comment but I suppose a UTI may give such symptoms.
This morning I had her reduce her morning dose of Deralin from 40mg to 20 and we will monitor her blood pressure through out the day. It was 122/72/70 at 0840. Just now at 1045 her BP was 114/71/60 while sitting down sewing.
By Google searching I learned that the "raspberry jam" stuff around the stoma a few weeks ago was "granulation", part of the healing process. A shame the experts fail to name such things and explain matters in more detail when we cretins suddenly assume in the role of at home nurses after surgery. Although morning and night when I inspect the stoma there is a small quantity of gunky stuff which I remove with the aid of cotton buds and alcohol swabs, signs of redness are fading so there is less to keep me half awake at nights worrying about nasty complications.
For the sake of an extra hours sleep (or simply laying in bed) I attach the Duodopa pump around 0700 while she remains asleep the take my own shower. So she has the pump attached between 0700 and 2200, with a cassette replacement between 1500 and 1700, while she remains asleep.
I'm sure her afternoon dyskenisias have reduced although her left foot is often seen rolled over more at the ankle. One quite little surprise is the lack of incontinence urgency, as evidenced by her not asking to be wheel chaired to the loo immediately we arrive home in the car. And most times she is able to take herself to the loo and get on and off it herself.
When I collected the first month's supply of Duodopa from the chemist I was told to be sure to place an order at least two days before requirements. Well, I placed an order last Tuesday, receiving a call from chemist staff that there had been trouble contacting the supplier until Thursday so the stuff would not arrive until tomorrow, a week after I requested the stuff. Fortunately, there were some supplies left from West Beer Hospital with a use by date of today, so we have enough left until Wednesday. I had not wished to use the supply from West Beer because the box suffered a 2 1/2 hour trip home by car in its cardboard box not refrigerated. I do hope there is no need to raise my blood pressure tomorrow.
Thursday last week we planned to be at our local PD group but she came over weak, somewhat faint and lethargic. One instance BP reading dropped to 92/55 before rising again, so I took her to the doctor who suspected a UTI. So early Friday I took a sample to pathology. No calls about results yet.
At the doctor's I alluded to what I see as her obsessive tendencies in regards to re-arranging cupboards and her sewing room and her multiple time consuming efforts attempting to construct a vest with a pocket for the Duodopa pump without comment but I suppose a UTI may give such symptoms.
This morning I had her reduce her morning dose of Deralin from 40mg to 20 and we will monitor her blood pressure through out the day. It was 122/72/70 at 0840. Just now at 1045 her BP was 114/71/60 while sitting down sewing.
By Google searching I learned that the "raspberry jam" stuff around the stoma a few weeks ago was "granulation", part of the healing process. A shame the experts fail to name such things and explain matters in more detail when we cretins suddenly assume in the role of at home nurses after surgery. Although morning and night when I inspect the stoma there is a small quantity of gunky stuff which I remove with the aid of cotton buds and alcohol swabs, signs of redness are fading so there is less to keep me half awake at nights worrying about nasty complications.
For the sake of an extra hours sleep (or simply laying in bed) I attach the Duodopa pump around 0700 while she remains asleep the take my own shower. So she has the pump attached between 0700 and 2200, with a cassette replacement between 1500 and 1700, while she remains asleep.
I'm sure her afternoon dyskenisias have reduced although her left foot is often seen rolled over more at the ankle. One quite little surprise is the lack of incontinence urgency, as evidenced by her not asking to be wheel chaired to the loo immediately we arrive home in the car. And most times she is able to take herself to the loo and get on and off it herself.
When I collected the first month's supply of Duodopa from the chemist I was told to be sure to place an order at least two days before requirements. Well, I placed an order last Tuesday, receiving a call from chemist staff that there had been trouble contacting the supplier until Thursday so the stuff would not arrive until tomorrow, a week after I requested the stuff. Fortunately, there were some supplies left from West Beer Hospital with a use by date of today, so we have enough left until Wednesday. I had not wished to use the supply from West Beer because the box suffered a 2 1/2 hour trip home by car in its cardboard box not refrigerated. I do hope there is no need to raise my blood pressure tomorrow.
posted by Kilpike | 11:19 am
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