Posted on 11/25/2008 7:26:45 AM PST by STARWISE
Lunch time he was anxious because he was out in his chair but very alert and allowed me to encourage him to eat with me helping 2 small yogurts, bowl of strawberries and cream and also a boiled egg and salad cream and half slice of smoked salmon.
I arrived later at the hospital about 5.15pm and he was still asleep from the afternoon.
He was in a very deep sleep but I managed to wake him enough to get 2 more small yogurts down him and from the food trolley cauliflower cheese and broccoli and carrots.
He then went sound asleep apart from rousing slightly when the nurse took out the clips from his wound which is virtually healed apart from a small part right at the bottom in the crease but even that was not enough to pack only have the large sticking plaster over it. The first 2 inches at the top has healed enough including where the clips came out now to be uncovered.
As he was so tired I asked for a doctor to check him out. All his ops were stable when roused he answered questions fine but just said he was tired. Dad said that as he had not slept well for several nights he thought he was just catching up. They took blood, tested his chest, did an ECG though they did not think anything was wrong, they also said they would discuss with his doctor's team the possibility of tomorrow doing a chest xray to see if that shows anything.
I have just rung and blood results do not appear to be back but the ECG was clear and the doctor who checked him again did not seem over concerned so maybe he is just tired. He was still sleeping.
I will take in another boiled egg with salad cream tomorrow lunch time along with banana and cream as the nurse said not a cause for alarm but his potassium levels were slightly low in the morning blood tests and I will also put salt in with the boiled egg. I will also take some more strawberries in as well.
Sounds like some good progress there, snugs. So glad to hear this. God continue to be with you both.
Great news, snugs! Since your dad is eating and drinking much better, and they are moving him in and out of bed on a regular basis, it may be that a combination of that along with the restless nights he was experiencing (as he said) has worked together toward his sleeping more deeply and resting more. This may be another phase in his getting those things regulated. Hope so!
Keeping y’all in prayer.
Up and down day. I think the summary is that he is beginning to realise what he has been through and how much there still is to go.
On the up side he is fairly cheerful and does not refuse to eat what I give him. He cannot quite manage all of the food the hospital give him but he tries to eat about half of it and did drink at least one resource drink and possibly 2.
On the downside with his eating being up his drinking has gone down.
They are concerned that he maybe slightly dehydrated but of course they have to measure urine/stoma/sweat output against intake not just urine output so in fact he maybe drinking/taking fluids through food such as milk/yogurt etc so they are going to monitor hourly for a while. Originally they suggested some fluid via IV but on reflection the overnight duty doctor thought less trauma to dad to see if he can pick up his drinking through sips during the night rather than canulating him again but if still concern tomorrow they may re-condsider. I will discuss this with the sister tomorrow lunch time.
Prayers for encouragement to dad to see how far he has come and a lot of the really hard work is done, chest is clear (Xray showed normal), passed major concern for stroke/blood clots, clips out and healing of the scar well on the way with just the bottom in the crease to fully join.
Once again many thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
Prayers being said.
I'll keep praying.
Hoping to hear that your dad was right and that his sleepiness means he is catching up on much needed rest.
He has been through a lot, and, speaking from a spectator’s viewpoint, from reading what’s happening rather than living the daily struggles as y’all are doing, he really has made good progress as well - all things considered in the amount of time it has taken to accomplish it.
He certainly has a cheering section here, and prayers in case of setbacks. Sending cyber hugs to you both and keeping you close in prayer. God bless.
Prayers continue for your dad! I hope he continues to be
making baby steps in improvement!
God bless you and him! (((hugs)))
Just visited dad at the hospital. Though it is me still encouraging and feeding him he is eating more.
Lunch he had steak and onion pie and most of it apart from the thick crust where the pie is in the pie dish. Followed by a banana I brought in with a bought trifle which is about 350 calories in total. So with food supplement they gave him as well be must be up to about 900 calories including drinks today. So tonight need to try to get at least 400 - 500 calories in him plus hopefully another food supplement.
He was in the chair and hopefully will be able to do some physio this afternoon on his mobility. I will be visiting again about 5.00pm UK time.
Prayers at this stage that he will be able to stand being in the chair for about 4 - 5 hours a day in total and be awake and alert enough for physio at least once a day. Also that he will sleep better and continue to eat as much each day.
Sleep is still a problem with him not really going off to sleep until the early hours and then sleeping through breakfast and the early drug run. So this is still not ideal.
Once again many thanks for your prayers/thoughts and support
Love
Eleanor
Praying about the things you mentioned, snugs.
Saw this about Norovirus “sweeping Britain”: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/75741/Killer-virus-grips-Britain
Praying that y’all don’t get that awful stuff. God bless.
Prayers said and also for you to have the strength you need
to support and care for your dear Dad.
Please get rest when you can...you clearly need it! (((hugs)))
It was on one of the medical wards a few months ago but thankfully not the surgical one that dad is on.
Prayers continue for your dad’s strength, proper calorie intake and healing, snugs. I pray you also have strength, rest and comfort.
UPDATE ON DAD
He continues to battle on eating even though he still does not feel full. His progress is continuing but not so noticeable to me or him though his consultant said he looked better than he did at the weekend when he saw him today.
I was present at his physio today there is a bit of a clash with one of them who goes by the book and does not take people as individuals or age into consideration. Dad needs encouragement and instruction not this modern how do you feel you are doing and what are your goals and we are here to do what you want etc.
To be told that it is not just the physio that is important but the general overall impression he gives of helping himself shows he want to go for full rehab is ridiculous. My dad is old school and also was spoiled by his mum and later my mum. They would always pour his drink out for him hand him and handkerchief etc. To tell him he should show Independence and struggle to reach and do these things and get a sense of achievement from this will not work with him. He is not going to see reaching for a glass attempting to fill it with water or struggling with paper handkerchiefs in a box an achievement but just a chore he does not want to bother with when feeling unwell seeing as he rarely does it at home when feeling OK. This woman does not appreciate to a certain extent dad sees this as part of the duty of care of the nurses to help him so he can conserve his energy to getting well and doing physio. Also he is constantly doing leg and hand exercises even if they do not notice this.
Prayers that they will find the best way to encourage him and realise that often when he asks for assistance this is because he is conserving energy especially after one of his sweats that they still cannot find the course of.
They have sent blood away and so far all tests are negative but it does hamper the rehab because if he has one just before physio he is not physically able to do it and they often put this down as a refusal not appreciating the sweating problem.
Once again thank you for your thoughts prayers and support
Love
Eleanor
Thanks for the update, Eleanor, and of course you have my prayers that your Dad continues in his improvements and can
be encouraged by his baby steps.
I think you need to tell that physio person exactly what you
just told us. Maybe they would have more understanding and
compassion...and I pray to that end, too.
Take care and please get your rest! (((hugs)))
So glad to hear that y’all aren’t having to contend with the virus.
I know what you mean about your dad constantly doing hand and leg exercises. My dad was the same.
The fact that he is doing hand and leg exercises on his own is indication that he wants to do the things that will be most beneficial toward regaining his strength and mobility.
I pray they find the cause of the sweats and get that resolved. In the meantime may they take into consideration the effect the sweats have on his strength and ability. Praying also that they take into consideration the generational differences and viewpoints in their approach to his therapy. May there be mutual respect, clear communication, and good understanding of the things most needed to achieve his best progress, so that your dad will be encouraged, his confidence will grow, and his improvement will become more and more noticeable.
Continuing to pray for you as well, snugs. God bless and keep you in His loving providential care. Hugs to you and your dad.
I tried but she does not seem to understand older people or people like dad.
Praying all goes well for y’all, snugs.
Some ups and downs over the last few days. I have just rung the ward this morning and they are saying he does not seem so bright today. He is very tired and has a cough, as a precaution they are going to do a chest Xray, I do hope and pray he has not picked up anything as this could delay plans to get him home in the next couple of weeks but so many people visitors and staff alike have been coughing and have obvious colds over the last couple of weeks.
He also is low on potassium and they have canulated him again to give him some fluid, it could be that that is leading to the tiredness but they need to double check regarding chest infection to be prudent.
I was advised that potassium levels can be a problem with people who have stoma's so I am hoping this is the cause.
Your prayers and thoughts would be appreciated though.
Star can you advise the folks on the dose.
Thanks a lot
Eleanor
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