Re: Thank You All!

December 10, 2006

Jan,

I have no special words, just special prayers as you go through this

ordeal of facing the nursing home again. Why can't nursing homes be

different? I just don't get it and it makes me so sad.

Hugs,

Carol Incognito

>

> Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Your words help so much.

I appreciate you all for being here in my time of need.

> Today, Sunday, Jim was moved from the Accute Care Unit to the

lower floor. He is off the monitors. He is now across from the

nurse's station, so they can keep an eye on him. He looked better

than yesterday when I left and he was non responsive. Today, he was

able to talk a little in his whispery voice, before falling asleep.

He even scolded me for trying to get food into him. It was music to

my ears!

> He has three IV bags attached to him. One is antibiotics for the

UTI and the other two for dehydration. He was so dehydrated and

lacking in potassium from all those frequent enemas as Imogene said.

I knew it! That is why I kept bringing him Gatorade and Vitamin Water

with electrolytes. They have him on Sodium Chloride IV and Potassium

Chloride IV. It took 3 nurses today to attempt getting a needle into

the vein for an IV. The nurse said he is so dehydrated the veins are

hard to get to. He is being given oxygen, which he never needed

before and now he is in the beginnings of having swallowing issues.

He is coughing on every sip of liquid, even the shake types. He also

has constant hicups. Jim also has the beginning, blister form, of a

pressure sore, but it was not open and oozing. They took a picture of

it at the hospital, and they are treating it. They are so efficient

at the hospital. Jim had round the clock care in the Accute Care

Unit. One or two people were always

> catering to him. They turn him every two hours to reposition him

on the bed. They have two buff guys just for this purpose, that make

the rounds every two hours to reposition the people. I wish they

would be this efficient at the nh. If it wasn't for me repositioning

Jim, I don't think they ever would. They would place him on his

backside everynight to sleep. Jim may be released tomorrow depending

on how well he seems. I am almost afraid to send him back to the nh,

but I have no choice. I can not handle him at home alone and don't

have the means to afford full time care. The grass is not greener on

the other side when it comes to nh in this area. Jim is in one of the

better ones here. I don't want him any farther away from me. An hour

away is just too far to drive to visit him daily. Even half an hour.

I want him where I can see what is going on and be there daily. I am

thinking of hiring a sitter to share watching over Jim and making

sure his needs are met. It is time for

> a lot of decision making again.

> I am feeling better that Jim is out of the woods, but he will not

be the same as he was a week ago. He has been weakened. I may not be

able to take him out again to eat. I don't know if I will even be

able to take him for rides. He has been in bed since last Thursday.

His legs weaken so fast and lose the ability to stand. They have not

been working with weight bearing with him. I don't know if he will be

able to regain the strength in his legs now. I have to make sure that

the nh will raise his legs now when he is in his chair, so they don't

atrophy. That will be another problem, if he doesn't get exercise and

weight bearing.

> I feel like the circus juggler trying to keep it all going.

> Hugs to all.........Jan

>

> ---------------------------------

> Any questions? Get answers on any topic at Yahoo! Answers. Try it

now.

>

December 11, 2006

Hi Jan,

Glad you are getting a little ray of sunshine from Jim. As we all

know our LBD LO's are capable of rallying once they are stabilized.

A doctor once told me that they make all of their comments based on

this one snapshot of what they are seeing there in the hospital.

And somehow, in our heart, we know that this just isn't the way it

is.

I hope Jim can get some of his strength back...sounds like he has

had quite a bit to battle back from. I hope he continues to improve.

I hear your concerns about his care in the NH. If you can manage any

private duty it may be helpful and is worth a shot. I don't recall

if he has hospice coverage, but that may also give you some extra

attention for him.

I wish you strength, comfort and peace of mind.

You are loved by many.

Hugs,

Daughter of Bill, 91

-- In LBDcaregivers , Janet Colello

wrote:

>

> Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Your words help so much.

I appreciate you all for being here in my time of need.

> Today, Sunday, Jim was moved from the Accute Care Unit to the

lower floor. He is off the monitors. He is now across from the

nurse's station, so they can keep an eye on him. He looked better

than yesterday when I left and he was non responsive. Today, he was

able to talk a little in his whispery voice, before falling asleep.

He even scolded me for trying to get food into him. It was music to

my ears!

> He has three IV bags attached to him. One is antibiotics for the

UTI and the other two for dehydration. He was so dehydrated and

lacking in potassium from all those frequent enemas as Imogene said.

I knew it! That is why I kept bringing him Gatorade and Vitamin

Water with electrolytes. They have him on Sodium Chloride IV and

Potassium Chloride IV. It took 3 nurses today to attempt getting a

needle into the vein for an IV. The nurse said he is so dehydrated

the veins are hard to get to. He is being given oxygen, which he

never needed before and now he is in the beginnings of having

swallowing issues. He is coughing on every sip of liquid, even the

shake types. He also has constant hicups. Jim also has the

beginning, blister form, of a pressure sore, but it was not open and

oozing. They took a picture of it at the hospital, and they are

treating it. They are so efficient at the hospital. Jim had round

the clock care in the Accute Care Unit. One or two people were always