Today was a better day for all of us, bit still not great. Last night Mike slept comfortably after I gave him the suppository. His moaning stopped and eventually, so did the gurgling. Today he looked better when he woke up, but he is still not himself. His eyes were less glassy and red. When he coughed this morning, mucus came out, and I've came to the conclusion that he DOES have some kind of sinus infection or upper respiratory infection. I did not give him the Levaquin today because we are all in agreement with the fact that the medicine must have given him the upset stomach. He ate less and drank less today, because we want to make sure he's 100% before we get him back to his same routine.
I spent all last night in bed worrying about what today would bring. I worried about telling the kids that dad can no longer eat/swallow. Add these worries to the additional worries I have about Brandon's ankle surgery on Tuesday and I'm good for nothing. There are days when it just feels like it's too much to handle. I know that I will eventually dust myself off, get off my pity train and start again tomorrow.
Follow You, Follow Me: A Young Family's Journey With Young-Onset Alzheimer's Disease
5 comments:
Karen, give yourself a break, you're not on a pity train...you're holding the weight of the world on your shoulders! Besides having a sick husband, your child is having surgery! If anyone is earning angel wings, it's you my dear. You're a strong woman and you'll keep plugging along. BTW, your missing letter U is killing me!! lol
Karen,
The nausea might also be from the mucous build up collecting in Mikes throat, you did say he has a sinus infection and may therefore have post nasal drip which often collects while lying down. You should speak with the hospice nurse and or doctor and let them know you are not giving Mike the Levaquin as they may want to start a different antibiotic. I pray for you all
Liz
Hi Karen,
To start I wish Brandon and you good luck tomorrow with the surgery. You say he is going to have ankle surgery, some advice for him post op. TAKE the pain medicine every 4 hour for the first 24 to 48 hours. Orthopedic surgery is Painful but with medication anyone can tolerate it. I've had knee surgery and it's easier to have a baby then orthopedic surgery.
As for Mike have you tired a decongestion? Some times with sinus infections they need a deconestion tohelp get rid of it. Also do you have a portable suction machine? If Mike is starting to have touble with coughing then may be he needs to suction the back of his mouth suction.
I work in a recovery room as a nurse so I know the next several days is going to be hard.
I have to say you are a very strong woman, wife and mother. My prayers are with you.
Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement.
Diane - While realistically I know I am not on the pity train, after I sit back and read some of my posts, it sometimes seems as though I'm "whining" and I don't want to be a whiner. Sorry about my "u's". I have to copy and paste them.
Liz - You made a good point. Mike, Brandon and myself are all sinus sufferers and post nasal drip should have been my first thought.
Jo Ann - The nurse during our pre-surgical testing also suggested the pain killers, even if he had no discomfort right away. The nerve blockers will wear off eventually and they recommended that I definitely fill the prescription. As for Mike, I do have a suction machine, but I was never really shown how to use it properly and hospice doesn't recommend it. I asked the nurse if she could show me, but she said they are all different and she wasn't sure. I KNOW that would solve some of Mike's discomfort.
I will try to update everyone tomorrow about both Mike and Brandon.
Thank you ALL for your help. Happy Thanksgiving.
Karen,
I would love to come over and show you how to use the suction machine. I've worked in a couple of different hospital setting so i'm familar with them. Please let me know. Good luck tomorrow and God bless you.
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