Monday, May 17, 2010

Bad Night

I woke up at 11:00 last night to the sound of Bob yelling for me. I had gone to bed at 9:30. I searched the house for him and could not find him. Finally I turned on the utility room light and he was on the floor by the back door. He could not get up and he was in pain. I had left his water and his pain meds on a table by the side of his bed, as usual. For some reason,...I guess he got up to go to the bathroom and got disoriented. I had left a night light on in his bedroom and also the bathroom but he was in pain and could not get oriented. I spent the next hour and a half moving everything out of the way in the kitchen and trying to slide him onto a towel so I could pull him across the floor and get him back to bed but he was too heavy for me and I was too weak to do it so I ended up calling the EMT's to come help me get him back to bed. I could not get him to take his morphine before he went to bed. He went to bed at 8:00 so by 11:00 his meds had worn off.

What a night!

Well, I heard him yelling again at 5:00 and came in to find him back on the floor. He had to go to the bathroom so he just wet the bed. I can't get him up and I can't call the EMTs again because Medicare doesn't pay for their services when he doesn't go to the hospital. I have the sheets in the washer and he is lying on the bedroom floor with pillows all around him and an afghan over him. That's where he'll have to lay until he musters the strength to get up and I can get the sheets out of the dryer later and remake his bed. I gave him the two percocets and he's sleeping now.

I can see this is going to be even more difficult then I imagined. I got two hours sleep before the earlier incident and three hours before this one.

Later in the morning...

I've just talked to Melissa about Bob and she is ordering Harry Hines Hospice for him. It is quite apparent he doesn't have as much as six months.

I am delighted Keith and Sara, his daughter, are coming, as well as Scott.

Karan and Bobby just left a little while ago. Bobby helped me get Bob into the bathroom this time so he could urinate without wetting the bed again.

He ate about four bites of the oatmeal I fixed and I fed the rest of it to Slinky.

The Hospice nurse came and Keith called while she was here. She will have them set up a hospital bed in the den this afternoon. They will also bring a commode, oxygen, and an emergency kit. Keith called back after she left.

The PET scan results will be in Tuesday and Vicky said she would call me with the results.

Late afternoon...

Hospice came and brought a hospital bed, emergency oxygen, a commode and a table.

Also, thank God, our son Scott is coming tomorrow to stay the week.

He got up at 5:00 and wanted to sit in the recliner in the living room. I put a pad in it and got him into it and also got him to eat some sherbet and later a few bites of the vegetable soup we had last night. He went to bed at 7:00 after going to the bathroom and taking his percocet. I got him into the hospital bed.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh Margie, I am so sorry this seems to have taken a turn for the worse. You may not be able to care for him by yourself. It sounds like he is already becoming a handful. You certainly don't need to get yourself down. My father fell and broke his hip and my mother killed herself taking care of him. She used to move him by herself and try to change the sheets when no one was around to help her and it finally got her. She died a long time before he did. My father was an invalid for 11 years after she died. Do you have a home health care out there?
I think Medicare pays for that here and someone comes to the house to help you several days a week. Please be careful of yourself. I am so sorry this has happened. I am praying for you every day and you are in my thoughts. Even if I don't always comment, I try to take the time to come by and read your posts and see how you are doing. Love and hugs, Judy

pat m said...

sammie123Sorry to hear this Marge. Sounds like it is time to get family and friends together to make a plan.

Unfortunately the meds he is taking is probably adding to the disorientation. If treatment for the cancer is decided against then ask the Primary MD for a hospice referral ...

Ask for a social service referral...the costs are going to be terrible and could possibly bankrupt you.

clairz said...

Margie, I am so sorry about all of this. I haven't been to your blog for a while and read on The Southern Lady (Judy) that you and your husband were having some terrible times.

Not that it will be of any practical help with what you and Bob are dealing with, by day and by night, but just know that there is a whole blogging community out here that is thinking of you and praying for you and reaching out to you.

Love and prayers and hope and strength sent to you.

~Clair Z.

Sylvia K said...

My heart does ache for you, Margie, no one should have to go through this, but what choices do we have???? Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you. You're dealing with it far better than I could. Love and hugs,

Sylvia

Margie's Musings said...

All you blogging friends are just wonderful! What a great support system!

Thank you so much for all the concern and prayers!

marlu said...

I am so thankful you received help from hospice. God bless you.

Balisha said...

Margie I'm so sad reading this post. I hope that you can get the help that you need. Most times the caregiver needs some care too.No one knows unless they walk in your shoes. We are all here to support you and listen to you. Please take care my friend and post when you can. You are in my thoughts and prayers. (HUGS) Balisha

Margaret Cloud said...

Margie, I am praying for the both of you. May the Lord put his hands on both of you and give you the strength to see this through. It must be rough on you to see your husband in this condition. The Lord knows your plight and also knows you are doing all you can to help your husband.

Betty said...

The hospital bed should help. I hope you have some sort of Home Health service, too. Just try to get all the rest you can. Looks as though you'll need it.

Margie's Musings said...

Many great suggestion! My youngest son is coming tomorrow. He should be a Godsend to help.

Mage said...

Just a hug from here. We keep you in our prayers.

pat m said...

Margie, you did the right thing and you can add my prayers with the rest of the gang. just remember to take care of yourself.

It is wonderful to see how quick hospice acted in your area.

Margie's Musings said...

And the nurse is coming again tomorrow...thank goodness!

Anonymous said...

I am so glad you are getting some help and your son is coming to stay with you. This has all happened so fast but it seems hospice is doing a great job of helping you out. Just wanted you to know we are praying for you both and keeping up with you. Love, Judy