Also, the doctor yesterday thought that Mum would break down completely if she heard the word "pneumonia" so told us Dad had a chest infection, then took me aside to tell me it is pneumonia.
The doctor on Tuesday night said that she was reluctant to say that this was the end, given Dad's track record of proving doctors wrong, but she was checking Dad's "end-of-life" plan i.e. that he wants to be at home.
He's still far from well, but so much better than yesterday.
Also, my brother slept over on a camp bed last night, with the intention that he and I would see to Dad overnight and let Mum sleep, but in fact my brother did everything! I have had an unbroken night's sleep!
Plus, he's asking what happened. He wasn't very lucid yesterday, and today doesn't remember yesterday. I'm glad he's forgotten - I'm not going to!
Actually his most lucid point yesterday was when he said to me "Bugger off and leave me alone." I am losing hope that, when the time comes, his final words to me will be words to cherish.
My sister just called. My father who had two cardiac arrests in February has been taken to the hospital this morning with a heart rate between 40-60 and tightness in his chest. The paramedics were having trouble finding a pulse. My office is 5 minutes from the hospital. Different from February is that family are now allowed in the hospital. I am awaiting an update from my sister.
Hope your dad is doing OK @Caissa . Good that you can visit.
Good news that your dad is pulling round @North East Quine . They breed them tough in Aberdeenshire!
The last words my dad spoke to me that I can remember are 'I don't want a funeral like that' at my Quaker/Catholic wedding a month before he died.
Latest update from my sister is that it is heaviness in chest as opposed to tightness feeling re. heart attack. They are not sure why the heart rate is so low. They asked my sister about how long he has been on a specific medication. Awaiting the results of blood tests.
My sister called last night. The stents he had put in back in February were working fine, He has a temporary pacemaker which has risen and regulated the heart rate. He is seeing an electrocardiologist today and may be receiving a permanent pacemaker. They are still not sure why he was experiencing heaviness in his chest nor exactly why his heartrate was fluctuating between 40-60 beats per minute.
Hoping things are going as well as they can with your respectibe fathers @Caissa and @North East Quine .
I went to see my mum on Thursday. She is very stooped and shuffles rather than walks. She wasn't making a lot of sense, but seems happy enough which is all I'm asking for. My husband went to spend the night with his mother on Thursday too. It was a good visit, though MiL seems to be declining even faster than my mother.
He had a pacemaker and defibrillator installed yesterday. He sounded good last night. They will decide on Monday whether or not they will operate for an aortic narrowing prior to sending him home. Thanks to everyone for their kind words.
I spoke to the staff at the Dowager's home last week, for the first time since I cleared her room. Astoundingly they were Covid-free right up until Christmas, when they had a very minor outbreak, but I don't think they lost any residents even then,
That's good @The Intrepid Mrs S . My mother's home had several outbreaks and lost a few residents, though I don't know how many. Mum didn't get covid any of the times which is amazing as she's always walking around and into people's room.
The home where David's mum was didn’t have any either; they actually locked themselves down before any national rules came into effect, and had their staff stay on-site so there was less chance of them bringing it in.
Having recovered from a stroke, a pulmonary embolism and pneumonia in the last month, Dad is now well enough for us to have circled back to the previous main worry. He is sleeping a lot, and when he wakes up needing a pee, he forgets that he isn't strong enough to stand unsupported. Having a notice up doesn't help if he wakes when it's dark, and even when it's light his first thought is "need a pee" not "what does that notice say?"
He got out of bed and fell badly on Sunday night. He wasn't hurt - I have no idea how he avoided serious injury. We heard the thump and dashed through to find him lying flat on his back, with his head 2 cm from the end of the bed.
We had previously asked for cot sides for the bed, but were told Dad wasn't at enough risk of a fall. Now that he has had two falls (the first was more of a sagging down to his knees than a fall) he has passed the risk assessment for getting cot sides, but he might be judged "too fit" if they think he could try to climb over them. They'd be a safety hazard if he could get over them as he'd have further to fall.
We might be getting a sensor mat which would sound if he got out of bed, but we're listening for movement all the time anyway. My brother has been sleeping over on a camp bed in the living room, which is next to Dad's room. This isn't ideal for my brother, who is working full time, and needs decent sleep.
The carers suggested a webcam - does anyone have experience of this?
Yes. It's not going to help with the main problem - Dad trying to get out of bed - unless we spotted him sitting up and got to him before he swung his legs out of bed.
But it might reduce the number of times we hear a noise and dash to check it's not Dad trying to get up, which might be good for Mum's nerves.
What about a video baby monitor? Same as webcam only with added sound. Some have a ‘talk back’ facility too, so you could reassure the NE dad that someone was on their way to help him.
In relatively good news, my father is going home from the hospital tomorrow. I spoke to him last night and he sounds great. We are taking Chinese food over to his place on Saturday. It seems they will do the aortic replacement surgery sometime in June.
Good news @Caissa , so sorry to hear about the NEQ Dad, let's hope these antibiotics do the trick. Thinking of you, your brother and your mum @North East Quine ?
Comments
So I'd appreciate prayers for wisdom.
Indeed.
The doctor on Tuesday night said that she was reluctant to say that this was the end, given Dad's track record of proving doctors wrong, but she was checking Dad's "end-of-life" plan i.e. that he wants to be at home.
He's still far from well, but so much better than yesterday.
Also, my brother slept over on a camp bed last night, with the intention that he and I would see to Dad overnight and let Mum sleep, but in fact my brother did everything! I have had an unbroken night's sleep!
Plus, he's asking what happened. He wasn't very lucid yesterday, and today doesn't remember yesterday. I'm glad he's forgotten - I'm not going to!
Actually his most lucid point yesterday was when he said to me "Bugger off and leave me alone." I am losing hope that, when the time comes, his final words to me will be words to cherish.
Yay for the North East Dad, though.
Good news that your dad is pulling round @North East Quine . They breed them tough in Aberdeenshire!
The last words my dad spoke to me that I can remember are 'I don't want a funeral like that' at my Quaker/Catholic wedding a month before he died.
And {{{North East Dad}}}
I went to see my mum on Thursday. She is very stooped and shuffles rather than walks. She wasn't making a lot of sense, but seems happy enough which is all I'm asking for. My husband went to spend the night with his mother on Thursday too. It was a good visit, though MiL seems to be declining even faster than my mother.
My thoughts are with you, Sarasa.
I spoke to the staff at the Dowager's home last week, for the first time since I cleared her room. Astoundingly they were Covid-free right up until Christmas, when they had a very minor outbreak, but I don't think they lost any residents even then,
He got out of bed and fell badly on Sunday night. He wasn't hurt - I have no idea how he avoided serious injury. We heard the thump and dashed through to find him lying flat on his back, with his head 2 cm from the end of the bed.
We had previously asked for cot sides for the bed, but were told Dad wasn't at enough risk of a fall. Now that he has had two falls (the first was more of a sagging down to his knees than a fall) he has passed the risk assessment for getting cot sides, but he might be judged "too fit" if they think he could try to climb over them. They'd be a safety hazard if he could get over them as he'd have further to fall.
We might be getting a sensor mat which would sound if he got out of bed, but we're listening for movement all the time anyway. My brother has been sleeping over on a camp bed in the living room, which is next to Dad's room. This isn't ideal for my brother, who is working full time, and needs decent sleep.
The carers suggested a webcam - does anyone have experience of this?
But it might reduce the number of times we hear a noise and dash to check it's not Dad trying to get up, which might be good for Mum's nerves.