Posted on 02/06/2023 10:19:24 PM PST by Jim Robinson
I'm still flat on my back. The pressure sores that sent me to the hospital are almost healed, but still too painful for me to spend much time in my power chair, so I spend all my time in bed. The nurse says the wounds are now just superficial, and should be healed very soon. I do have a new spot on my bottom and on my back, but they haven't become sores yet. Hoping to spend more time in my chair each day until completely healed and to prevent more sores on my back.
My hands and arms are already very weak from muscular dystrophy and they're even weaker now after lying in bed for six months. A physical therapist is working with me on range of motion exercises to get my arms stronger again. And that's very painful, but has to be done.
I can't type on the computer while lying in bed, so I'm using speech recognition software to control the computer. The software allows me to navigate by clicking on any link on a page using voice commands. I can do almost any function using voice commands, like opening/closing files, tabs, etc. I can also click on a reply button and enter short replies, however it's almost impossible to enter anything more than just a few words, because the software makes many errors and it takes a long time to clean that up. Consequently, if I have a long post to enter, I have to call Chris in to type it in for me, as he's doing right now.
But I can do most functions in maintaining the website, and the abuse system. So I spend a lot of time now reading and bumping threads to breaking or frontpage news, and handling the abuse reporting system. One thing I cannot do is cut and paste. For example, when I receive an abuse report and a true title needs to be copied from a source, I need to call in Chris to do it for me. Chris has been a real trooper. Not only is he my primary care provider, but he's been doing all my banking/bill-paying/bookkeeping as well as my entire job while I was in the hospital, and a thousand other chores since I went to the hospital.
For about a week before going into the hospital, I was in a lot of pain. I couldn't focus on my work, couldn't eat, sleep, sit/lay in my chair for very long without excruciating pain. I was also constipated for an entire week, and I knew I was in trouble.
The evening before going into the hospital, I asked Chris and John to lift me into bed because I was in so much pain. But even in bed, there was no relief. I kept calling the boys in every five minutes or so to adjust my position, but I still couldn't get relief. They became concerned, so they decided to take me to the VA emergency room.
In the VA, they suspected that I had blocked bowels and were considering surgery. They put tubes in me to feed me and take out the waste. They also found that one of the pressure sores had gone all the way through to the bone, and that I had a sepsis infection. I don't remember very much about that period, because I was literally out of my mind. These things were told to me later.
Chris says that for the first couple weeks, the VA wouldn't allow visitors or anybody to even talk/see me. This hospital had very strict rules because of Covid. John, Chris, and Amy even considered getting a lawyer so that they could talk to me. The VA finally relented, and allowed them to visit me so they could find out what was going on - they literally had absolutely no idea what was happening to me.
I was pretty much out of it that first week and couldn't remember much, but I remember talking to the surgeon and some doctors. They were actually considering surgery for my blocked bowels, but then they decided let's try an enema. Sure enough, cleared that shit up! No surgery was required.
I also remember I couldn't sleep in that first week, and they were begging me to go to sleep, but every time I drifted off I had a repeat of some recurring nightmares. While I was having these nightmare, I knew they were nightmares, but couldn't wake myself up. I knew how they began and how they ended. And once one began, I couldn't wake myself up until it went all the way to the end.
One of the nightmares concerned a pit bull that was released in the hospital, and I could hear him running from room to room, attacking people and chomping on their bones. I knew when he got to my room (which he never did), he'd start chomping on my feet first and work his way up.
Another recurring nightmare was about being in a hospital run by terrorists, and it had a public side and back side. On the public side, they were nice as can be and took real good care of you. But on the back side, they were mean as hell and liked to torture people.
I also became very paranoid, and while slipping in and out of delirium. I had suspicions about being in a government hospital with government employees. I described some of this to John, and he said, "I don't know what they have you on man, but you are loopy!"
They started feeding me broth, and couple days later soft foods like Jello and ice cream. The best part about being in the hospital is ice cream.
There's a lot more to add, but I'll cut this short. The good news is I'm healing. The bad news is it's going to take a bit more time, but we'll get there.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and continuing support.
God bless.
Warmest wishes and prayers for your return to good health, dear Jim
Glad to hear you are doing better...Hope everything continues in the right direction...
You are not far from the truth on that one. How few seem to understand the threat of falsely named "government healthcare" which is actually the "Death Protocol Nightmare".
I even wrote a song about it to the karaoke tune of "Werewolves of London".
Let me know and I'll send it to you. I paste it all the time on FR. The song is called, "Wuhan Vaccine Again".
May the Lord heal you of all your pain and diseases. Amen.
Get better Jim, we need you!
Thank you for the ping list, Albion.
God bless you.
God bless you too Jim.
Amen.
Whoah! What a trial to go through. I’ve been wondering, but clung to the “no news is good news” phrase my Mother often cited.
May the day soon be here soon when this is all a bad, blurred memory for you and that astonishing family circle you have been blessed with having there for you.
Godspeed!
Prayers for your continued healing.
When i was caregiver for my mom the automated air mattress worked well for her.. tho it may sound unusual the med which contained honey was the one that worked best for her bedsores.
Thank you for the update Jim, we have been praying for you daily here in our house. Behind the scenes also with our faith driven prayer groups. Prayer works, it brought me back from the brink of death, so prayer continues. Keep the faith my friend as I know you do and will.
Thank you Chris for doing all your doing too. Your a good man! And everyone here appreciates you.
Take care and God Bless
Rus
Jim, I hope and pray that all your health improves and the pain and discomfort ends.
I’m very happy, and relieved, to hear that they finally allowed visitors. My God, what a horrible thing to do to a patient!
What a terrible terrible time you’ve had. Long and painful and here you are so courageous all through this time. You have the courage like those great soldiers in the Revolutionary War, and I’m proud to say I know you, even just through the internet and your great site, Free Republic. You are inspiring to me.
I’m glad you are healing, albeit slowly and I am sending prayers for you to heal well and be up and back to your good self again. I am sorry about the pain you have to endure in your hands as you go through therapy but I see with your strength you will endure it and get better.
Chris and John saved your life that night, I know you know this but I am so glad you had them, have them and thank them for all they have done and for keeping FR going in your absence.
God bless you, Jim.
Thank you for the update. Happy to see you are doing better. 🙏
OH, MY POOR FREN!
The good news is that every ONE of us is praying for your healing and comfort!!
Appreciate the update and you are in our prayers.
We’re all in God’s Waiting Room; He just hasn’t call us in yet.
Back in 2017-18, I spent 40+ days in York and PSU-Hershey Hospitals, had 14 ERCP (endoscopy) operations on my Pancreas, died 2x from anesthesia and was revived, had a toe amputation from a bone infection, they found ATF and installed 5 stents in the heart bundle, found Type 2 Diabetes, and I dropped 134lbs.
Things are better now, but it all can always go sideways again, at any time.
May God Bless You, and may He help you get to a better health position.
Best Wishes,
CH
I have not used the VA since 2003 despite being 100% plus SMC rate. I had two private MD’s who had worked at separate VA’s tell me the VA will kill you. Yes, I had several good VA MD’s, but; the majority are working at the VA for short hours. I pick my own MD’s with BCBS Diamond plan. I suggest a private MD or hospital ER for a second opinion. A Medicare PPO policy allows you to see any MD who accepts Medicare without a referral.
Wow... What a tough time. Happy you’re on the mend.
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