Chapter 624 - Another Issue with the Duodopa Pump

I sent a note to the West Beer nurse asking whether other Duodopa patients accidentally activate the buttons on their pumps, and whether there is a simple way of prevention becuase my piece of Tupperware is not an ideal solution for the problem.

About 1930 last night she asked for the loo, which now means the commode. As I set up the sling lifter for the transfer from wheel chair to commode I discovered Duodopa solution on her left leg and the "bluey" mattress protector she sits on in the wheel chair. The threaded coupling between the cassette tubing and the stoma fitting was cross thread allowing the solution to escape. I had last handled  the coupling when I routinely replaced the cassette at 1600 so I assumed I was at fault, even though this was the first time such a problem had occurred in six (?) years. Then she told me she had  "tightened" the coupling and thought the leak had stopped. She had not called me because I was on the phone at the time. I now wonder whether she had undone the coupling herself then attempted to reconnect it. She remained silent about that. I will ensure the coupling is screwed together more tightly in future.

When I checked on her at 0600 this morning I found her bed light on and she was uncovered on the bed and not even a pillow beneath her head. All such things had been tipped over the side rail on the far-side of her bed. When asked why she had done that she replied "I was trying to get away" but was unable to say from what.

I have started giving her one teaspoon of benefiber again in her breakfast fruit juice because her poop is now only soft and very small pieces.