Gabby came over yesterday. I had written a to-do list for all those little jobs which have been neglected and nagging me for weeks (ahem, months some of them) and all but the ironing got ticked off.
We discovered that the huge chunk of moss which had slid off the roof needed a Man On a Ladder to sort out and that the down pipe is completely blocked with moss debris too. Another job for the chap who is coming to put my greenhouse up (he's an Odd Job man.) I got the loungers away, put the seed stack in the stables too, got Gabby to fix my new-as-of-last-year camera/computer connection as new photos were disappearing though it said they had been loaded. I even got around to dead heading the pink Echinacea and bringing in seed heads to dry for next year's sowing.
We checked out the supposed (very convincing) scam email from Ebay which said I couldn't get payouts until I had given them my FULL credit card details, CVC number included. Do I look that stupid? It got deleted.
She set up my Youtube account on Sky and I can now use it (hooray). I've just bought a Yoga mat and I did my first set of simple moves yesterday which eased my sore back. Many years since we last did Yoga (we used to go as a family). Pippi decided Yoga couldn't be done unless she was on my back!
When she'd gone home, I got Keith what he fancied for tea (he doesn't have much of an appetite these days.) He just wanted some streaky bacon and a fried egg in a roll. As he was eating it, he suddenly began to choke. Really badly. He's had this in the past (since Parkinsons arrived on the scene) with dry biscuits or too-dry toast, but this was throat-blockage. He struggled desperately to breath and I instantly knew I needed help/advice and phoned 999 and a young man who must have a PhD in calm talked me through what I needed to do whilst he sent us an ambulance. I had to join my hands into a fist around his body, below his ribs, and then jerk into him to try and dislodge what was stuck. It took 3 goes before he coughed up a 3" piece of bacon which had apparently stuck to the egg (he'd opened the sandwich up to eat the contents as it was too thick.) The egg had spread in cooking and had to be folded in half. Oh my goodness, I've never been so scared in my life as at one point, as I was talking on the phone, Keith's arms dropped right down and his body folded forward and I thought he was dead. With the bacon out, although coughing and spluttering, he was able to breath and speak a tiny bit.
Just after that, two lovely medics arrived in an ambulance - flat out up our hill, sirens wailing - bet the neighbours know all about it now! They gave Keith a complete check up and he was deemed as not needing to go to hospital. I am going to have to be very careful about what he has to eat now and make it soft and nothing dry. At least I didn't panic (like I do over technical problems or legal jargon) but I bet my blood pressure was sky high. Now we are waiting for the Dr to phone about another more mundane but uncomfortable problem as the Syrup of Figs didn't work for Keith!
I am having to do a rethink of being away from home (say at Malvern) at Keith's mealtimes and think one of the family will have to be here.
Gosh, just doing the ironing seems like heaven today as it won't involve anything too demanding. I need an easy day.
Very scarey for you all! It's a good thing you were there. I understand that Parkinsons is similar to MS and one of the symptoms is swallowing. No longer can I eat any kind of nut, rice, crumby or seeded bread, or anything hardish, grapes too because of the skin, although I do eat grapes I am very careful. Keith may be referred to the Speech and Language Clinic where they will give him a list of things he should avoid. He should be careful how he swallows drinks too. A very trying time!
ReplyDeleteIf I hadn't been, I think he would have died. Swallowing is one of the symptoms with Parkinsons, and he has to avoid nuts, anything dry/dusty in the biscuit line, has to have meat cut up and will soon not be able to eat fish in breadcrumbs though batter would be ok for the moment. He can't manage hard apples, oranges with tough skin inside etc. I had to speak to the GP today, and she gave me the number for Speech Therapy and I left a message. He had another dose of Syrup of Figs and that made him cough as it hit his throat going down. We have a sippy cup here, in case he needs it but it only holds about 1/4 pint.
DeleteGosh what a fright for you but you coped brilliantly and well done the Ambulance service for turning up so quickly. Sending hugs and love. Gill Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Gill. I am feeling worse over it today than last night (delayed shock perhaps). The Ambulance service was brilliant and the guy who talked to me whilst they were on there way. We are fortunate being in a rural area - in a city, we'd not have seen them for hours if what we read in the news is true.
DeleteOh my goodness, what a horrible shock and it's good to hear of the help you got on the phone and by ambulance.
ReplyDeleteHope things are easier today
I have to say, wine was necessary after that. The emergency service was brilliant. Things a bit better today but the memory is still vivid.
DeleteA very frightening thing indeed. You were lucky to get an ambulance so quickly and tbh Keith is better off at home than in hospital, so it was a good thing the paramedics were happy not to admit him. He needs a SALT referral {Speech and Language Therapist} and you might have to consider pureed food too. Went through all of this with Dad.
ReplyDeleteIt's made me realize I need to be here every mealtime and I am hamstrung about going very far in between too. I don't think we're quite at the pureed food stage, but I have to be very careful with what he does have, and any bacon will need to be lardon size!!
DeleteHi, my husband has had Parkinson’s for 25 years and has trouble swallowing melon. If you tell your gp he will refer you to a therapist to help with this. The therapist came to our house and it was very helpful . If you live within reach of London it is worth trying to get a referral to the National hospital for neurology in Queens Square they are a place of excellence.
ReplyDeleteHello Chris. Gosh, that sounds like very early onset. Keith's was very late (78 or so) and it's a different ball game it seems. Sadly we are in Wales, so no chance of getting to London for treatment but thank you for the heads up. The GP today spoke of chasing up his Neurology department appt. so let's hope that is sooner rather than later.
DeleteYes he was 48 when he was diagnosed, he now has a dbs implant ,that was a game changer it took us back about 15 years, he can now do most things. now.
DeleteI'm glad that the dbs implant was so successful. Keith is beyond that and his balance very very challenged. Can't risk it worsening - well, he would be bedbound.
DeleteOh my gosh! You did wonderfully well to hold it together. I'm not surprised you had some delayed reaction to it. Can't believe you found time to post a pretty picture for us. It was lovely.
ReplyDeleteI surprised myself Susan. I did have a delayed reaction next evening - Keith too I think as he was upset. The picture was necessary to lighten the load of the post.
DeleteHow terrifying for both of you. Thank goodness for that calm voice on the end of the phone. Hope you did take it easy day today as that was quite a shock to your system. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteA calm voice was certainly what I needed. Thank heavens for the quick response with the ambulance medics too.
DeleteHow very scary for both of you. I am glad that you stayed calm and the person on the other end of the phoneline gave you great instructions for the Heimlich Maneuver.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Well - it's not something you would practice daily but thank heavens I got it right that time.
DeleteBig hugs. Glad you managed it.
ReplyDeleteThanks gz. I hope I never need to do it again.
DeleteWow. You had amazing presence of mind. I really pride myself on being level headed, but that one would have undone me.
ReplyDeleteI instantly knew how bad it was and needed HELP.
DeleteYou might have already have had an appointment with a dietician/nutritionist but if not I would suggest asking to see one. They can suggest ways to prepare and serve foods suitable for all manner of illnesses/conditions. They were very helpful when my late husband was initially diagnosed with stage four cancer of the stomach and couldn't absorb or eat much. On another note do keep going with the yoga. There are lots of freebies on You Tube (With Adriene is one of my favourites), good for the body and the mind, And her dog is often in the background which your Kit Kats might find interesting!
ReplyDeleteI think this was one of those incidents which we know to avoid in future. The bacon stuck to the back of the egg and egg is something you don't chew mightily . . . I will definitely get the nutritionist on board when the state of play worsens, which it will in time. I am so sorry that you lost your husband to cancer. The Yoga has continued and Tam found me a channel that also deals with Sciatica (which I had for a day last week but managed to walk off). I've seen Adriene with the lovely dog too.
DeleteA very scary time for you and well done on remaining so calm and managing the manoeuvre. Its terrifying when someone chokes it really is. Pleased Keith was able to remain at home and not admitted to hospital. Take care.
ReplyDeleteNot a good thing to happen, that's for sure. Some lessons were learned.
DeleteWhat an absolute scare Jennie, glad the emergency services were so prompt and you were able to give help from someone over the phone. It will have knocked you out the scare, so rest yourself as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find so hard now I am a carer is the responsibility. When I cared for mum, I had Keith there as my helpmate - and he was brilliant - and I had Fahly so I could go out for rides and come back in a good frame of mind, and refreshed. A walk up the lane isn't quite the same . . . It did knock us both sideways.
DeleteHow very frightening for Keith and you, and very fortunate you had such excellent assistance from emergency. Take care of yourself and get much needed rest.
ReplyDeleteThanks Celie. We needed a day or two to process that.
DeleteYou poor thing. How frightening for you both, thank God for the calm operator and the prompt arrival of the paramedics. As others have said don't forget to look after yourself. The adrenaline that would have flooded your body takes time to recover from and you need to be fit and well to look after Keith.
ReplyDeleteYou were certainly right about the adrenaline Ruta. Hope it never happens again.
DeleteWhat a horrid scare, and today you will be in 'reaction-mode' after it. A wine, and some comfort - ringing a friend or whatever helps for you (a good book?) - will help you return to an even keel. Wishing you both an uneventful day.
ReplyDeleteYes, spot on with the delayed reaction. The wine helped, and thank goodness for the best friends in the world. I have a stack of books to read and each one I start fails in one way or another and irritates and is discarded . . .
DeleteJen how completely terrifying for you, well done for keeping in the moment and listening to that angel on the telephone. Do be gentle on yourself because as others have said that adrenaline surge will make itself known now the crisis has passed. Sending much love xx Danette
ReplyDeleteHi Danette. Yup - it was that, but somehow I coped. (Surprised myself). It's taken a while to get down to base level adrenaline. Will try and write in the next couple of days.
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