Monday 18 March 2024

Two steps forward - one back

  

Recovery from serious illness is rarely totally linear.  Last night Keith didn't sleep very well and that is bad news when you have Parkinsons.  He saw the SALT lady today, but unfortunately his swallowing isn't up to scratch yet, and when she gave him a drink with only one measure of thickener, he coughed a lot afterwards which apparently shows that his swallow reflex is still weak.  Not surprising, since he has hardly been swallowing anything due to the wallpaper paste drinks and he's back on a drip again too to build his fluids up.  He said that the Dr this morning was an arrogant barsteward too, so that wasn't a good start to the day.

Anyway, a positive with the food after the SALT lady suggested he tried eating a banana - we had some small ones I'd bought in.  He ate one with no problems and a good swallow reflex, so is now off the hideous pureed meals (think stiffer wallpaper paste, with colours and shapes) and allowed to eat soft food again.  Hopefully he can have scrambled eggs regularly to help sustain him.  I ordered him a jacket potato with cheese for his tea - it was the least offensive (to him!) of what was on offer as no way would he eat Spag. Bol. or Curry!

These are just shaped in a mould - probably made from reconstituted powder too. . .

I stayed 3 1/2 hrs but wanted to stay there to comfort him till teatime but he desperately needed to sleep.  I hope he will be better tomorrow.  He wanted to hear he could go home soon so is very disappointed that he can't.

Sunday 17 March 2024

Nearer the door out

My family are home - Danny is modelling a cushion . . .  The new Mushroom look!

    Keith went in a private room today, near the exit.  Not a moment too soon as the flasher opposite has now been put in quarantine - e.g. they pulled the curtains round him! - after 24 hours without  . . .  Gabby bought K some more tv credits or else he would be sat there looking at a brick wall as that is the view from his new room. . .  I am glad that I decided to go first thing this morning, as he said a couple of times how pleased he was I had turned up.  I spoke to Dr and she said until SALT had seen him tomorrow to check his swallow reflex, he had to have the thickened water etc.  A nurse came in and took the let down gloop away (he'd had some though, before she came) and made it up with two spoonfuls of thickener so it was like wallpaper paste again.  Poor Keith, I really feel for him.  Gabby and I both got yoghurts down him and I will take him manderin jellies tomorrow as those are nicely set and have water in.  He's on minimal oxygen now, and had the cannula in one arm taken out, so progress.

    Keith did really well for the physio (lovely girl who grew up in Singapore) and moved his legs over the bed, and helped himself sit at the edge and then even stood up, a tiny bit wobbly, for a while.  His chest is much better, so let's hope there's no relapse.


Hay Bluff below (photographed today).

On the way home, I went to the Farm Shop (V. expensive) - e.g. £3.99 for a cauliflower! I bought a gigantic sausage roll, but I couldn't eat it all, it was SO full of meat, and allowed myself a wander round their garden centre.  Fatal.  I resisted a Pulmonaria Sissinghurst (white Lungwort) at £8.99 - thought I would get seeds instead - but bought 4 more young perennials for £10 the 4.  Photos tomorrow, promise.

I have had an hour pottering in the greenhouse for the first time, starting off Purple French Beans, Cucumber Tanya, Tomato Green Zebra, and some sweet peppers (California Wonder).  They're in the propogators on the south facing windowsill.  The French Beans required heat this time of year, but I will start more off just in the greenhouse. Just wanted an early picking.

I also got two Bellis perrenis this week, so put them in on the steps today, along with a Campanula and another white Saxifrage.  Looks good already and has cheered me up.

I've got a good-looking loaf of bread in the bottom steam oven and am looking forward to some when it has cooled sufficiently.  Tea will be something from the freezer.  Hope the car doesn't play me up tomorrow - two days running it has declined to start in the hospital car park . . . Will get the garage to check the battery terminal connections in the morning.

Night-time thoughts

 Of course, I always wake in the night for the loo, and find it hard to get back to sleep.  I decided I would go in today and be the early shift, and leave when Gabby gets there.  I also want to speak to the Dr about their "query inhalation" and putting him on gloop.  Especially since when he had waited 8 hrs in A&E back in November for his X-ray they found him ok.  He HADN'T inhaled food- the noise the ambulance crew found on his lungs was the remains of his Covid chest infection.  I am going to insist on him having plain unadulterated water to drink as he was getting dehydrated yesterday.  Yes - they measure everything going in and out of him - but no-one came near to top up his water whilst we were there.  

I feel slightly better today but am annoyed to find I have put on a pound in weight so 10 1/2 stone is not as close. I am 10st 10 now.  That's what comes of eating crisps of an evening when I'd run out of bread yesterday.  I was going to bake first thing but will do it when I come back.

I was home alone last night as Emma is on a climbing course up in North Wales and Danny went up to stay with her/go out for a meal.  Originally they were all going, but obviously Keith being in hospital made Danny decide to stay here.  "I" is with her father.  

Stalemate with cats, although Pippi and Shadow had a barney last night and as I came in they were tussling on the floor - I shouted - and he fled up the stairs with Pippi in hot pursuit.  These wee kittens are brave as lions - he's twice their size!

Thank you for all your support.  Back later.

Saturday 16 March 2024

Quick update

 The Physio came round when Danny and I were there today.  He listened to Keith's chest, pummelled his back and then heard him cough, listened to his lungs again and said they were sounding pretty clear - just a little faint crackle towards the bottom.  They also changed from an oxygen mask to a nasal canula. That's the positives.  The negative is the food and trying to get him to drink water the thickness of glue.  He is so thirsty but struggles with the wallpaper paste they call water.  I spoke to the nurse and told her again that his pneumonia was down to a chest  infection because we'd all had a nasty cold.  They still had "query food inhalation" on his notes because he had choked on food back in November and had to go in for an X-Ray (which showed it hadn't happened).  Anyway, I let down the "glue" with some fresh water and Keith was able to slake his thirst.  Dinner today was equally hideous - carrot-shaped carrot puree, mash and three strange triangular objects which Keith told me were turkey!  He couldn't eat it because it had arrived at the same time as the physio, and congealed as he was worked on.  He enjoyed the Muller cherry Bliss I took in and Gabby is going tomorrow with more and some protein drinks and some chicken soup.  She is ready to take up the baton . . .

The flasher opposite had a blanket tied round his waist today so clearly the nurses had got fed up with his shenanigans!

Today I was the one who was poorly.  Dan and I were up early and away around 8 a.m. and went to have a look round the shops - I needed new walking trainers.  It was lovely - and quiet - in the Cathedral, but when we came out I felt really chilled and unwell.  I walked over to the rack of warm quilted jackets in the sale and promptly got one, coat length, reduced from £81 to £32!!  I wore it straight away and it was like having a centrally-heated hug.  I got Keith 3 new t-shirts which are about to go in the wash, and then chose a pair of walking trainers, trotted round in them, and that was job done.  I've been on the sofa asleep under a heated blanket since we got back with Alfie on my feet for added heat.  Now it's an instant Tesco prawn curry, which is calling loudly!

Hope your weekend is going well.  I am still praying we can get Keith home soon and he doesn't get another infection.

Friday 15 March 2024

If I see that patient's wedding tackle again . . .

 or his bare b*m . . . I shall tell Matron!!  A new patient opposite Keith who is a somewhat large man and is wearing a hospital gown that doesn't quite fit, and he kept hitching it up over his knees when he was sitting down - having a deliberate flash I reckon.  Believe me mate, I wouldn't bother, it wasn't a very impressive sight!!!

Have to have a bit of a smile, to ease the tension.  I think Keith is feeling better as he has been so grumpy all the time I was there today.  He appears to be on minimum oxygen now and a lower dose of antibiotics.  I set off early (about 9 a.m.) hoping the parking would be easier, but no chance.  I ended up getting 2 1/2 hours for £2 in Morrisons.  I took some scrambled egg for Keith, but he wasn't allowed it as he is meant to just be eating pureed food from now on.  Now, this is because they have concluded his pneumonia is from aspiration of food or drink - though this has not happened.  He has been on soft foods here since November and no choking episodes.  The meal they gave him at lunchtime was what Keith would describe as "gopping".  The pureed baked beans were turned out of silicon moulds which made them look a bit like pea-shaped beans on the top, the pureed spud had been piped but tasted yuk, and the "cheese omelette" - omg, it looked like a circular vanilla blancmange.  I wouldn't have eaten any of it, and though Keith tried, he couldn't face it.  He did eat his pureed apple crumble for pudding though.  Even his water has to be thickened, as if he were a stroke patient as I remember mum having a cup of "tea" you could nearly stand the spoon up in.

He desperately wants to come home - there are three of us here to do the caring - so I hope that he can soon be off oxygen and mending properly.

I went to Doughty's (patchwork) shop today to cheer myself up, and bought some fabrics and pretty variegated pinks thread, then went tothe garden centre to buy a heated propogator.  They only had a choice of ONE - reduced from £99 to £64 but I wasn't planning spending that sort of dosh, so got a standard one with lid and will use that instead and I also got a bag of good seed compost.  I got a few cheap plants too, and will put up photos tomorrow.

Let's hope that Keith can come home soon.  Tam is talking about going to see him on Sunday or Monday but she is so near her due date (next week!) I really don't think that 6 hours travelling is a great idea.

Keep the positive thoughts et all coming our way, and thank you for being such lovely on-line friends.

Thursday 14 March 2024

Hospital

 Keith was a little improved today.  Awake enough to say how rough he felt, and tell us about being pummelled by the two physios and spending the night with a tube up his nose draining off the fluid in his lungs.  Not much of the rest and recuperation, but you can't fault the treatment.  Everyone is so caring and doing their best for Keith (and the other patients of course).  

Jon dropped Tam off here and we met Gabby there.  I got Keith some treat and he enjoyed the enriched rice pudding I got.  He's on less oxygen now so that is a positive.  We saw the Dr twice, who said that today's bloods showed that the infection level had risen, so more anti-biotics needed to try and get it on the run.  They are doing all they can.  I just want him safely home again.  I dread the possibility of a hospital-acquired infection taking him when he is so weak and cannot fight it off.

We paid for 3 days' tv for him so he can watch the last day of the Cheltenham meeting tomorrow (today's races spoilt by having physios arrive to pummel him again).  £25 for 3 days!  Someone is benefitting hugely from this.   I will take his Tablet in tomorrow with the charger, so once the tv's run out, he has some entertainment.

I will visit daily although Monday and Tuesday I will have to go in for just an hour and leave "I" with Danny. If only it were nearer, but it's a 90 mile round trip.  "I" is with her father this weekend.  Emma and Danny have gone to the cinema tonight, so I am "home alone".  It feels very strange.  I am watching Lorna Doone and Carver Doone is about to disappear beneath the bog.  It's one of my favourite films (well, a BBC drama) and I've seen it several times and never tire of it.  I first read the book as a child and bought Tam a Ladybird version I think it was.

So, keep those positive thoughts coming and thank you for all your kind comments.  I truly hope he has turned a corner tomorrow.  Off to bed now as I need to heal too.

Wednesday 13 March 2024

Update

 Thankyou for all your kind thoughts and I'm sure you'll know I can't reply to them individually.  I have been all day at the Hospital with Keith whilst he was assessed etc. 9 hours in all.   He's had an X-ray which showed Pneumonia.  I have had to be by him all day as he struggled for breath, all the fluid in his lungs bubbling up into his throat, his chest heaving. I was trying not to cry and of course, my nose was streaming instead and I soon ran out of hankies.

Anyway, they put him on a nebuliser, which did seem to help a bit as he was breathing slightly more easily and looked a better colour and more alert when we left.  They were going to try and remove some of the gunk from his chest too so I hope that works.  We're all going in tomorrow to see him.  

The nice Dr took me to one side for one of "those" conversations, so I am under no illusions.  It could go either way.  

BTW, the Diazapam was Keith asking for it (from his arsenal of medications from the past).  It was the only thing which calmed the Parkinsons.  NOT ideal, but he was desperate and clearly scared because the thrashing around was making his breathing even worse.

I will keep you all posted.