Update on Jim Robinson's Health [update @ reply 374]

02/06/23

[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.

[Songcraft]

Man, that's brutal!   So much to deal with, all at the same time.   Like all the others here, I'm also praying for you Jim, and may God completely heal you quickly, and remove all of your pain.

You might want to hold off on eating any of them cheese balls for a while!   They've been known at times to stick around longer than they should.      :-)


     


Also, you might want to hold off on doing any of them jumping jacks, squat thrusts, chair dips, side-straddle hops, (etc.), for just a bit too!     :-)

Here's an old hymn I like, and wanted to share.   (I always knew it as "For You I Am Praying".)

Take care, Jim, and God bless.   Heal quickly!

(Thanks for the ping, Albion Wilde.)

[sevlex]

Prayers up for you, brother.

[Karliner]

You are such a trooper. I’ve only logged on in 2005 but found quickly jus what an amazing person you are and how great the community. My prayers for you in the lengthy healing process.

[Bullish]

Keep fighting through it. We’re all praying and pulling for you.

[Songcraft]

By the way Jim, in my clumsy wording in post #261, I did not mean to "pull a Biden" on you.   We will presumably all have time to do all those things when we get to Heaven, but we don't want you to go there for a long, long time, and that's what I was trying to convey, in my clumsy fashion.   We need you here too badly!

[Tymesup]

Wishing you a speedy and extensive recovery.

[Tymesup]

Wishing you a speedy and extensive recovery.

[drSteve78]

Prayers up for this dear friend I haven’t met yet.

[sweetiepiezer]

Hello Jim,

Good to hear from you and hear that you are coming along slowly but surely.

Prayers are being offered for you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for FR., keeps me a little bit sane on most days.
Hey, ICE CREAM, you know who else like ice cream, yikes.

I think Anonymous Conservative has a great idea, please have the boys check it out.

((((HUGS))))

[drSteve78]

We recognize that not all heroes have capes. Hero.

[.30Carbine]

I am so sorry you have been suffering so much. It does build character, but boy! It would be nice to have an easier way. Sepsis really makes a person see things and “go loopy” like you say. It is hard to see a loved one like that.

Your nightmares make sense. You had an enemy chewing on your bones with the bone-deep sores, and while you are mostly okay on the outside you have a terrorist beneath the surface stealing your muscles/health.

I so wish you had a daughter or a younger female friend who could come and sit nearby, keeping your mind involved with pleasant conversation or playing games of some sort. Perhaps she could give you massage and check your dressings or shave you. Wouldn't that be nice?!

Many, many thanks to Chris for taking care of our hero!

[frogjerk]

Jim, thanks for the full report. You truly are a patriot and warrior. You are truly an inspiration to many. May God Bless you and heal you fully.

[.30Carbine]

You have literally changed the world. Not a lot of men can say that.

TRUTH!

[rfp1234]

Get well soon, Jim.

[M Kehoe]

Hi Big guy.

The First lady and me sent prayers for healing and comfort to the Lord for you. I have said a few prayers for Chris and John too.

5.56mm

[deoetdoctrinae]

Superman's got nothing on you Jim. You are a hero in every sense of the word. Praying for you my FRiend.

[left that other site]

Amen.

[Hostage]

Jim, medicine is an art. Members here are confident you are getting good care. But please, let it be known if you are open to other suggestions.

The dystrophy is concerning. What’s the treatment on that? Prognosis?

Hang in there. Your spirit appears strong.

God Bless.

[lucky american]

So good to hear from you. So bad you’re still in pain. Keep up the fight. Still praying for you.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

May God have mercy on you and none for your real enemies.