Just back from the hospital and Ma is looking a tiny bit brighter, still not really responding to conversation and keeps her eyes shut most of the time. But I did manage to get her to drink one of those little tubs of orange juice you get in hospital (like the ones you get on an aeroplane) and also about 2/3 of a sucky cup filled with tea, so that was a good thing. I had a good chat with the nurses and they said that they are having real difficulties getting her to eat or drink anything, she has a line in to get some fluid into her but of course she keeps pulling it out.
They are hopeful that they will get her sitting in a chair tomorrow which is great.
She's definitely a better colour and less clammy than she was yesterday, so all in all much happier about things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just a photo to add. Obviously the weather was horrible and I did think that I would be at home all day but then Peter decided to stay at home (not unreasonably I might add, I wouldn't want to schlepp across in this weather either) so of course I had to go out to the hospital. However, I'm not sure I would've stopped to find something to photograph anyway... So here is some mint to brighten your day.
Showing posts with label support. Show all posts
Showing posts with label support. Show all posts
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Highs and Lows on a Wednesday
Today didn't have the best start with a full bedding and bed clothes strip required before it was even light. But once that was in the washing machine, Ma had been in the shower and the bedding was drying on the radiators/Aga and daylight was hoving into view, things seemed a lot better all round.
Toast, tea and yet more problems taking tablets followed before the bus arrived at around 10:00am and off she went.
I did some shopping for Betsy and tootled about with my camera for a while, came home, faffed around downloading images then eventually going out again to take a few more. Altogether a very satisfying day.
The bus dropped her off just before 5 and I settled her in the living room with her tea (tuna sarnie, Blue Riband, jam tart) which she did make a valiant effort to eat despite doing most of it with her eyes shut and dozing off occasionally.
Once again she had real problems swallowing her tablets, she's taking enough water in and sort of swishing it around but not actually swilling the pills down with it. So we get:
Sip - Swill Swill - Swallow
[burp]
CRUNCH CRUNCH
and then naturally she wants to spit them out because they taste vile. So more sips and swallows and yet more crunching. It's taking approximately half a dozen attempts to get rid of all the bits which is horrible and distressing for her. I need to check with the surgery if I can crush some or all of them into something to make it easier for her *makes mental note to phone tomorrow*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's blip and the best of the rest here
Toast, tea and yet more problems taking tablets followed before the bus arrived at around 10:00am and off she went.
I did some shopping for Betsy and tootled about with my camera for a while, came home, faffed around downloading images then eventually going out again to take a few more. Altogether a very satisfying day.
The bus dropped her off just before 5 and I settled her in the living room with her tea (tuna sarnie, Blue Riband, jam tart) which she did make a valiant effort to eat despite doing most of it with her eyes shut and dozing off occasionally.
Once again she had real problems swallowing her tablets, she's taking enough water in and sort of swishing it around but not actually swilling the pills down with it. So we get:
Sip - Swill Swill - Swallow
[burp]
CRUNCH CRUNCH
and then naturally she wants to spit them out because they taste vile. So more sips and swallows and yet more crunching. It's taking approximately half a dozen attempts to get rid of all the bits which is horrible and distressing for her. I need to check with the surgery if I can crush some or all of them into something to make it easier for her *makes mental note to phone tomorrow*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's blip and the best of the rest here
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Thursday Catch-Up
I cant believe it's Thursday already! I've been very lax this week on the blogging front, so... where were we?
Tuesday
So the 'keep Ma awake until a decent bedtime' plan worked quite well in the end. It was nearly 8 before she went to bed and disregarding a couple of attempts to party the night away, she slept through the night.
We were up at a reasonable time, breakfasted, showered and managed a trip to the post office early doors before the Vicar arrived at 10:30. He is a Chaplain to the Sovereign and it putting together a photographic history as a gift to HM for her jubilee - literally a one off publication. He's tracked down photographs of every Chaplain from the reign of King George V onwards and needs someone to help catalogue and input the data on each one *dons Librarian hat*. It sounds dull but is actually quite fascinating and many of the photographs are fabulous! We've got one on a camel, one in a racing car etc. Anyway, we focussed on that for around three hours and Ma dozed on the sofa. Clearly her new medication is having an effect in the mornings.
By 2 o'clock we'd both had enough data crunching and Ma was beginning to stir so Hugh dashed off (that man never strolls anywhere) and I sorted food etc. then eventually we went for a short drive, mainly to get us out of the house in some fresh air for a little while. One of us was very reluctant.
Operation KMA didn't work so well this time. I couldn't keep her upright with eyes open so gave in at 6 and tucked her up. Then again at 6:45, 7:20, 8:30 etc. She did eventually settle at around midnight.
I photographed an iris for my blip. Love the colours.
Wednesday
Day centre day. So off she went at 10:30.
I shopped, snoozed and photographed an egg.
Yes I know it isn't normal but my goodness this photography thing is addictive. Eggs are tricky to do as it turns out but I think I got a reasonable shot in the end. I must learn how to use the photo software stuff though, that way bigger and better insanity lies.
The bus arrived at 17:05, I presented her with her tea which she couldn't work out how to eat (sandwiches, Blue Riband, yoghurt), but I think a lot of it was tiredness because I'd manage to get her to hold the biscuit only to watch her slide sideways with her eyes shut, bless her. So in bed by 17:30 and not a peep until 07:30 this morning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday... Well, we had a good night overall and this morning was slow and fairly quiet. Ma was very sleepy again, even after she had been through the shower and had some breakfast. I shoved a colour on my hair (and waited until it started smoking.... I need to be blonde OK? Just let it go). Then I did some desultory hoovering and waved a cloth around. Barry came this afternoon and we discussed dates for rolling respite and it looks likely that it could start fairly soon. After he left we had a quick out and about in the car.
Did you do any blithery for the stamps?
Shall we get a fly going up?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Came home, phone rang. Awful awful news about my cousin David. If you pray, please do so for him.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Weekend 21/01
Well I'm still not flavour of the month and have the bruises to prove it.
The morning started just after 5 with her banging on the front door. I made a cup of tea and eventually persuaded her back into bed after a bit of pushing and shoving (her not me!). When I came back down at 7ish she was fast asleep but the apron was missing from the kitchen - I keep the keys to the patio doors in the pocket so couldn't let the dog out until I found it. Eventually tracked it down to the back corner of the pantry but no idea what she was up to.
Breakfast was received in sulky silence and she refused to get up until 12:45 when I made her scrambled egg on toast. I had to cut it up for her as she seems to have lost most of her cutlery skills now.
Peter phoned so naturally she now asks me every five minutes when he is arriving. Next Friday is the answer. And seems a very very long way off after the 14th repetition already. She was all fluffy with him on the phone, very dismissive about me (which I do find quite amusing) and seems to think that he won't have all the doors locked when he's here next week. Steep learning curve then.
Repetitive behaviours continue. We are on a five minute cycle at the moment which includes banging on the door/trying the handle, asking if we are going now, offering me a cushion, putting the foot stool on the table and waving at the neighbours blank wall. When I suggested a trip out this morning she refused to go so I don't think it's actually about going out just a general feeling of restlessness.
I've collected her new medication and we start the additional tablets tonight. They are to help with the hallucinations and have quite a sedative effect I understand so it will be interesting to see how we get on. It could be a very quiet Sunday!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Double blips today. Yesterday's is here and today's is here
Today's was part of the ongoing 2012 challenge where a different topic is posted each week. This week it is Disguise, and that is what I came up with.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday
Last night went well after a small fall out of bed early on. No injuries and she was clearly affected by the drugs so went back to bed happily enough and slept through until half seven. Impressive snoring at one point too!
Today she has been a lot calmer than of late and although still trying the door occasionally, nowhere near as often as yesterday. The random sentence construction is the same and an obsession with trying to sit on tables seem to be the highlights of today. Oh... that and eating things. Not a massive amount but less of a battle than usual.
As I type it's 21:45 and I'm off to bed as soon as Birdsong has finished. She's been up three times already but as ever I'm hopeful that this won't continue.
Today's blip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's now 11:28 and she's been up every 5 minutes in the last 45 so possibly not quite the night I was hoping for. It's amazing. Seroquel, Zopiclone and Epilim would flatten me!
The morning started just after 5 with her banging on the front door. I made a cup of tea and eventually persuaded her back into bed after a bit of pushing and shoving (her not me!). When I came back down at 7ish she was fast asleep but the apron was missing from the kitchen - I keep the keys to the patio doors in the pocket so couldn't let the dog out until I found it. Eventually tracked it down to the back corner of the pantry but no idea what she was up to.
Breakfast was received in sulky silence and she refused to get up until 12:45 when I made her scrambled egg on toast. I had to cut it up for her as she seems to have lost most of her cutlery skills now.
Peter phoned so naturally she now asks me every five minutes when he is arriving. Next Friday is the answer. And seems a very very long way off after the 14th repetition already. She was all fluffy with him on the phone, very dismissive about me (which I do find quite amusing) and seems to think that he won't have all the doors locked when he's here next week. Steep learning curve then.
Repetitive behaviours continue. We are on a five minute cycle at the moment which includes banging on the door/trying the handle, asking if we are going now, offering me a cushion, putting the foot stool on the table and waving at the neighbours blank wall. When I suggested a trip out this morning she refused to go so I don't think it's actually about going out just a general feeling of restlessness.
I've collected her new medication and we start the additional tablets tonight. They are to help with the hallucinations and have quite a sedative effect I understand so it will be interesting to see how we get on. It could be a very quiet Sunday!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Double blips today. Yesterday's is here and today's is here
Today's was part of the ongoing 2012 challenge where a different topic is posted each week. This week it is Disguise, and that is what I came up with.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday
Last night went well after a small fall out of bed early on. No injuries and she was clearly affected by the drugs so went back to bed happily enough and slept through until half seven. Impressive snoring at one point too!
Today she has been a lot calmer than of late and although still trying the door occasionally, nowhere near as often as yesterday. The random sentence construction is the same and an obsession with trying to sit on tables seem to be the highlights of today. Oh... that and eating things. Not a massive amount but less of a battle than usual.
As I type it's 21:45 and I'm off to bed as soon as Birdsong has finished. She's been up three times already but as ever I'm hopeful that this won't continue.
Today's blip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's now 11:28 and she's been up every 5 minutes in the last 45 so possibly not quite the night I was hoping for. It's amazing. Seroquel, Zopiclone and Epilim would flatten me!
Friday, 20 January 2012
Crunchie Required
Another Friday dawns. Sorry I missed yesterday, it was quite a stressy, messy day with Ma on the whole. We went to Slattery's for a 90 minutes chocolate demonstration which was fascinating and then afternoon tea which was delicious. I think the demo was roughly 80 minutes too long for Ma though. She started off well but gradually slipped down in her seat to the point where I was worried she'd end up under the table. I showed absolutely no restraint with the afternoon tea which I think was justified because Ma didn't eat any of it.
When we got home she was very restless and continued to be so for the rest of the evening and into the small hours.
We are off to see the Dementia consultant for a three month review in a minute where I'm hoping to talk to Barry about setting up rolling respite for regular (hopefully monthly) weekends off.
More later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That was, without doubt, one of the worst mornings I've ever had since coming here. We set off ok and Ma was quiet on the journey into town. When we got to the car park there weren't any blue badge spaces so I had to get a ticket and I told Ma to stay in the car because it was raining quite heavily. Naturally she ignored me and tried to get out while still wearing her seat belt. This started a massive massive mood swing which began with her refusing to get out of the car. By the time we'd walked the 15 yards to the clinic door she was actively fighting to get away from me. Once in the clinic she didn't want to sit next to me, look at a magazine or talk to me. She preferred to hiss and spit and pinch whenever she was prevented from going out of the door/into the (occupied) consulting room etc. The rage on her face was frightening and really upsetting. During the consultation she was clearly very 'off' me but we got through it and in some ways her behaviour helped illustrate how she can be.
The upshot is that we are now on the community round so I won't have to drag her to the clinic any longer they will come to us instead, an increase in one medication and the introduction of another to help quell the hallucinations and therefore hopefully help her to sleep. Also the rolling respite idea has been raised again and I'm seeing Barry about that next week. Essentially it is a week of respite every 5 weeks (I think that's right). Marvellous.
We followed this with a trip to the supermarket. I know I was asking for trouble but we really needed food. I think I could've won Supermarket Sweep. Luckily the local Morries is only small so I could keep an eye on Ma stubbornly standing in the crossing aisle, turning her face away from any food suggestions as I flashed up and down.
Then to the doctor's surgery to drop off the new meds instructions where once again she was unable to stay in the car for two minutes. And finally back home. Where she is now dozing in the chair in front of The King's Speech.
I feel a little wrung out.
Messers P & G may arrive early this evening.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oops I forgot to link to yesterday's blip
You will be relieved to hear that it's lashing down outside and rather windy so you are saved from yet another droplet photo. It was hard enough yesterday - everytime I found one the ruddy wind blew it away! However, this does mean it's likely to be food. Very close up food.
When we got home she was very restless and continued to be so for the rest of the evening and into the small hours.
We are off to see the Dementia consultant for a three month review in a minute where I'm hoping to talk to Barry about setting up rolling respite for regular (hopefully monthly) weekends off.
More later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That was, without doubt, one of the worst mornings I've ever had since coming here. We set off ok and Ma was quiet on the journey into town. When we got to the car park there weren't any blue badge spaces so I had to get a ticket and I told Ma to stay in the car because it was raining quite heavily. Naturally she ignored me and tried to get out while still wearing her seat belt. This started a massive massive mood swing which began with her refusing to get out of the car. By the time we'd walked the 15 yards to the clinic door she was actively fighting to get away from me. Once in the clinic she didn't want to sit next to me, look at a magazine or talk to me. She preferred to hiss and spit and pinch whenever she was prevented from going out of the door/into the (occupied) consulting room etc. The rage on her face was frightening and really upsetting. During the consultation she was clearly very 'off' me but we got through it and in some ways her behaviour helped illustrate how she can be.
The upshot is that we are now on the community round so I won't have to drag her to the clinic any longer they will come to us instead, an increase in one medication and the introduction of another to help quell the hallucinations and therefore hopefully help her to sleep. Also the rolling respite idea has been raised again and I'm seeing Barry about that next week. Essentially it is a week of respite every 5 weeks (I think that's right). Marvellous.
We followed this with a trip to the supermarket. I know I was asking for trouble but we really needed food. I think I could've won Supermarket Sweep. Luckily the local Morries is only small so I could keep an eye on Ma stubbornly standing in the crossing aisle, turning her face away from any food suggestions as I flashed up and down.
Then to the doctor's surgery to drop off the new meds instructions where once again she was unable to stay in the car for two minutes. And finally back home. Where she is now dozing in the chair in front of The King's Speech.
I feel a little wrung out.
Messers P & G may arrive early this evening.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oops I forgot to link to yesterday's blip
You will be relieved to hear that it's lashing down outside and rather windy so you are saved from yet another droplet photo. It was hard enough yesterday - everytime I found one the ruddy wind blew it away! However, this does mean it's likely to be food. Very close up food.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)