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Speaking from experience, I imagine that by now you've settled into a routine of sorts. You know, when and where you park or have your lunch or help the staff figure out the way she likes to have her bed set up, how and when to dispose of the flowers that have seen better days, when rounds are made, what nurses (good and bad) are on what shifts and when those changes take place, and on and on and on. You've become a veteran.

I hope that perky smile of yours hasn't been lost, that you've found a way to refresh yourself when necessary, having learned that this is not a sprint.

Love ya, girl. Hang tight.
Love, Ima

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:Speaking from experience, I imagine that by now you've settled into a routine of sorts. You know, when and where you park or have your lunch or help the staff figure out the way she likes to have her bed set up, how and when to dispose of the flowers that have seen better days, when rounds are made, what nurses (good and bad) are on what shifts and when those changes take place, and on and on and on. You've become a veteran.

I hope that perky smile of yours hasn't been lost, that you've found a way to refresh yourself when necessary, having learned that this is not a sprint.

Love ya, girl. Hang tight.
Love, Ima

Yes, you've got the description down pretty well! The continuing rotation of staff means I often have to reiterate various points lost in the huge volume of information now available. One wonderful constant is the doctor overseeing the rehab program. The social worker has been a viable conduit for raising questions and getting information requiring follow up, especially pertaining to length of stay and some procedural concerns. Some of what I observe makes me think briefly about returning to work and using my Duke management training to improve a few rough spots in staff coordination and staff interaction with/within hearing of patients and their families.

i find myself on the verge of tears at unpredictable times, but try to fit in some exercise along the way to relieve the stress. Yesterday I finally got in to see the dr. myself and now am being treated for the sinus infection that's been dragging me down. Tomorrow I'm going to do something that's fun!

DitBD, continued vibes and prayers for your Mom.

Have a wonderful, happy, stress-free tomorrow!

Back from the hospital and playing the role of ombudsman. Turns out that one heart med was being given at too high a dose.... dose cut in half today.

I remember being told that Mom was being fed through the PEG tube only at night now. That change occurred about the time of the surgery last week. A resourceful nurse, the one who ID'd the dosage problem, noticed this and also noticed that Mom was being given about half the nutrition an adult should receive. Hola! Side effects of not enough to eat day after day plus not eating during the day at all? Fatigue, difficulty completing PT, drowsiness, cognitive impairment.... all of which I have observed this week. Today Mom went back on regular intervals of being fed during the day and is being fed sufficient nutrition for an adult.

I hope these adjustments bring some immediate improvement!

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:Back from the hospital and playing the role of ombudsman. Turns out that one heart med was being given at too high a dose.... dose cut in half today.

I remember being told that Mom was being fed through the PEG tube only at night now. That change occurred about the time of the surgery last week. A resourceful nurse, the one who ID'd the dosage problem, noticed this and also noticed that Mom was being given about half the nutrition an adult should receive. Hola! Side effects of not enough to eat day after day plus not eating during the day at all? Fatigue, difficulty completing PT, drowsiness, cognitive impairment.... all of which I have observed this week. Today Mom went back on regular intervals of being fed during the day and is being fed sufficient nutrition for an adult.

I hope these adjustments bring some immediate improvement!

Oy!! I hope she improves. At least the nurse ID'd the problems! Megavibes!!

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:Back from the hospital and playing the role of ombudsman. Turns out that one heart med was being given at too high a dose.... dose cut in half today.

I remember being told that Mom was being fed through the PEG tube only at night now. That change occurred about the time of the surgery last week. A resourceful nurse, the one who ID'd the dosage problem, noticed this and also noticed that Mom was being given about half the nutrition an adult should receive. Hola! Side effects of not enough to eat day after day plus not eating during the day at all? Fatigue, difficulty completing PT, drowsiness, cognitive impairment.... all of which I have observed this week. Today Mom went back on regular intervals of being fed during the day and is being fed sufficient nutrition for an adult.

I hope these adjustments bring some immediate improvement!

A good nurse is worth his/her weight in gold! Major kudos to the nurse, and strong vibes that the improved nutrition helps bring your mom further down the road to recovery.

Vibes!

And tips! ;) Nurses seem to be quite fond of hot/fresh Krispy Kremes.

Continued vibes, prayers & Hugs! to you and Mom both!

PS: Nurses like homemade cookies too - like you have time to do that!

I've started this post over several times. I keep writing down what I really think about lack of sufficient communication among staff in hospitals -- especially Duke since we've had such extensive experience there. Then I backspace, not trusting myself to keep my cool. I'd better just shut up.

Just let me say I'm glad somebody finally noticed and took care of your mom's diet.
Love, Ima

Thursday's the big day for the next swallow study. Lots of prayers and positive thinking needed for this one. It's my hope and prayer that the dilation worked and that Mom can begin to ease back into eating and drinking normally. If she is unable to so, she will not be able to return to assisted living after a transitional stay in skilled nursing.

It also looks as if she'll transition to skilled nursing on Thursday afternoon. If she's not requiring oxygen, she can ride in my car. If she continues to need oxygen (as she does now), other transportation will be necessary.

Continued vibes and prayers for you and your Mom.

lawgrad91 wrote:Continued vibes and prayers for you and your Mom.

I echo my sister lawgrad's sentiments.

Continued prayers and vibes from Kansas.

More prayers and vibes to your mom and to you.

You and your mom are still on my radar screen. Checking on you regularly and sending cyber energy and love. Good luck tomorrow. Keep us posted. Sure hope she gets to go "home".
Love, Ima

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:You and your mom are still on my radar screen. Checking on you regularly and sending cyber energy and love. Good luck tomorrow. Keep us posted. Sure hope she gets to go "home".
Love, Ima

That's good work you're doing, Ima!

Today was the best since August 9, when Mom rolled back over to the hospital for the ENT procedure. She laughed and had some humorous things to say while staying upright in the wheelchair in the late afternoon.

(1) No more barrier gowns or gloves
(2) Not on oxygen
(3) No dips in blood pressure or heat beat during therapy sessions today

Adjustments are being made to reduce dosages of some of the heart meds. Mom is feeling much better and functioning better. The pain from the shingles is difficult to manage. As the sores have healed,the pain's continued to increase.

An X-ray will be done, perhaps tonight, to see how much healing has occurred. We all hope Mom's ribs have healed enough to get rid of the thoracic brace which she find very painful.

Tomorrow the swallow study will be done. Discharge to go to sub acute care is scheduled for Friday.

Vibes and prayers that the swallow test goes well tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you both and checking here for an update.

captmojo wrote:

Thank you, captmojo! This weekend is the quiet before the move.

The X-rays are done; the orthopedist concluded that Mom must stay in the very painful brace another 6 weeks... Monday I'm getting in touch with our primary care physician to try to determine if my recall of a previous injury to that part of the back was identified within the past 3 years or so. If this is a previous injury, the X-rays will not change and the brace is not needed. I think the pain following shingles had made the brace almost unbearable at times.

In the swallow study, the problem that could lead to aspiration pneumonia is no longer there. Not sure what the results were on the second part of the study, but Mom was allowed ice chips yesterday... an upgrade from nothing by mouth.

Monday Mom will ride in my car to the skilled nursing facility where the next step of her recovery begins. This will be her first time outside the hospital campus since July 16.

She's looking and sounding better, but has a way to go. You've all been a part of the continuing support which is central to making good progress!

YAY! It sounds like your mom is making slow, but steady progress. She continues to be in my prayers, DitBD.