A couple of updates from Vitalady
Hi guys,
Michelle is going through ups and mostly downs. She's having trouble keeping Don hydrated and that's scary for distal RNYrs like they are. Please send gentle thoughts and healing prayers her way. --gina
1st update:
Don's surgery went well.
They still don't know why he fell.
They had to do more than they thought, so went in from front and back, C 3-6. He has a bit more movement, but cannot eat or drink because his hands don't work right.
They've moved him to a regular ward. He doesn't have IV and the cups don't have lids and straws. Please tell me how he is to drink now? If I wasn't here, he'd be back in kidney failure where he was 2 weeks ago! Even if I give him the water, his throat is so sore he can't get much more than a tiny sip. I'm tired and grumpy and overwhelmed.
And my satellite radio quit in my car so I have no tunes to soothe the savage beast I am becoming by the moment.
His prognosis is good/bad. Some day he'll have most movement back. 1 wk? 2 months? Dunno. go home or to rehab? Who's in charge now? Neurosurgeon is done.
I'm watching Don and he doesn't have strong pain, as such, but just hurts all over from the nerve damage, can't get comfy, neck brace chafing and so on.
I went to the cafeteria and got a cup with lid and straw, if you can imagine. I asked for one here about 3 hrs ago.
All I can say is that it's a very good thing I don't drink alcohol.
Again, permission to share and thanks for the public and private well wishes, which I pass along to Don when he's alert. Thanks,
Michelle
2nd update:
yes, he fed himself, sorta. modified fork and i cut the pieces small, so he had lots of targets
however, it could be months before he can type (his job) or drive or even walk. I just don't know
they're talking in-patient rehab.
emotionally I'm ok alone (only child), but there's a WHOLE lot of house/work jobs I don't do or know how to do.
Wow, when I was in my 30's and 40's, I taught my boys how to drop and rebuild a VW motor, how to detail them, we worked on cars all together, anbd if I could figure it out I could fix it, house, car, whatever.
Don has enjoyed doing all that stuff and I'm past my own personal feminist moment. Still rather play cars than cook or something, but we just kinda divvied up the jobs and have lived in this house since 1998. I don't even know how to change a light bulb in these stupid can thingies.
I didn't realize how sheltered my life had become. LOL
I usta haul stuff to the dump and do all of it. Since we went all recycle and t5rash compactor, the cans weigh 100#. So, like that's gonna happen.
My two kids are 50 mi away. Don's 2 are 20 & 50 mi away. All are over 30, with lives. They want to help, but they can't be here day to day. However, I do have some friends with "loaner"kids who can do some of this stuff.
I'm just overwhelmed with doing his jobs, my jobs, chasing all the health and rv insurance around. Our rv is declared dead. From some unknown thing that happened to it that we don't even know what that was! Dang.
I'd so much rather be looking at labs. Or talking about vitamins. Kinda like slipping into comfy shoes vs trying to wear everyone else's shoes that don't fit right.
Michelle is going through ups and mostly downs. She's having trouble keeping Don hydrated and that's scary for distal RNYrs like they are. Please send gentle thoughts and healing prayers her way. --gina
1st update:
Don's surgery went well.
They still don't know why he fell.
They had to do more than they thought, so went in from front and back, C 3-6. He has a bit more movement, but cannot eat or drink because his hands don't work right.
They've moved him to a regular ward. He doesn't have IV and the cups don't have lids and straws. Please tell me how he is to drink now? If I wasn't here, he'd be back in kidney failure where he was 2 weeks ago! Even if I give him the water, his throat is so sore he can't get much more than a tiny sip. I'm tired and grumpy and overwhelmed.
And my satellite radio quit in my car so I have no tunes to soothe the savage beast I am becoming by the moment.
His prognosis is good/bad. Some day he'll have most movement back. 1 wk? 2 months? Dunno. go home or to rehab? Who's in charge now? Neurosurgeon is done.
I'm watching Don and he doesn't have strong pain, as such, but just hurts all over from the nerve damage, can't get comfy, neck brace chafing and so on.
I went to the cafeteria and got a cup with lid and straw, if you can imagine. I asked for one here about 3 hrs ago.
All I can say is that it's a very good thing I don't drink alcohol.
Again, permission to share and thanks for the public and private well wishes, which I pass along to Don when he's alert. Thanks,
Michelle
2nd update:
yes, he fed himself, sorta. modified fork and i cut the pieces small, so he had lots of targets
however, it could be months before he can type (his job) or drive or even walk. I just don't know
they're talking in-patient rehab.
emotionally I'm ok alone (only child), but there's a WHOLE lot of house/work jobs I don't do or know how to do.
Wow, when I was in my 30's and 40's, I taught my boys how to drop and rebuild a VW motor, how to detail them, we worked on cars all together, anbd if I could figure it out I could fix it, house, car, whatever.
Don has enjoyed doing all that stuff and I'm past my own personal feminist moment. Still rather play cars than cook or something, but we just kinda divvied up the jobs and have lived in this house since 1998. I don't even know how to change a light bulb in these stupid can thingies.
I didn't realize how sheltered my life had become. LOL
I usta haul stuff to the dump and do all of it. Since we went all recycle and t5rash compactor, the cans weigh 100#. So, like that's gonna happen.
My two kids are 50 mi away. Don's 2 are 20 & 50 mi away. All are over 30, with lives. They want to help, but they can't be here day to day. However, I do have some friends with "loaner"kids who can do some of this stuff.
I'm just overwhelmed with doing his jobs, my jobs, chasing all the health and rv insurance around. Our rv is declared dead. From some unknown thing that happened to it that we don't even know what that was! Dang.
I'd so much rather be looking at labs. Or talking about vitamins. Kinda like slipping into comfy shoes vs trying to wear everyone else's shoes that don't fit right.
5'1" -- HW 195/SW 187/GW 115 July 08/CW 121 Dec 2012
******GOAL*******
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
Join us on the Lightweights Board!
DS on Aug 9, 2007 with Dr. Hazem Elariny
Oh - poor thing! I do like she still has a little sense of humor there.
I can imagine the drastic change - and its has to be SO scary! The unknown is very scary. Especially when it comes to our loved ones.
I would be insisting on an IV at this point for the hydration. It seems I can't get rid of mine when I go in a hospital, up until the moment I'm ready to leave.
Maybe she should transfer him to another hospital and/or another Dr.
I can imagine the drastic change - and its has to be SO scary! The unknown is very scary. Especially when it comes to our loved ones.
I would be insisting on an IV at this point for the hydration. It seems I can't get rid of mine when I go in a hospital, up until the moment I'm ready to leave.
Maybe she should transfer him to another hospital and/or another Dr.
HW-218/SW-208/CW-126/ Lowest Weight-121/Goal-125 - hit 8/23/09/Height-5'3"
Regain 30 lbs from 2012 to 2016 - got back on track and lost it. Took 8 months.
90+/- pounds lost BMI - 24 or so
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
Join us on the Lightweights Board!
Gina,
Being a health care worker myself, please tell Michelle to be the squeaky wheel. She needs to complain to the docs, the charge nurse, the nurse manager, the ombudsman and anyone else that will listen to her. Hydration is essential, the last thing he needs is renal failure!
I think that he has specific needs that are not being met, and she needs to light fire under their butts!
Continued prayers for strength and healing!
Maria
Being a health care worker myself, please tell Michelle to be the squeaky wheel. She needs to complain to the docs, the charge nurse, the nurse manager, the ombudsman and anyone else that will listen to her. Hydration is essential, the last thing he needs is renal failure!
I think that he has specific needs that are not being met, and she needs to light fire under their butts!
Continued prayers for strength and healing!
Maria
(deactivated member)
on 9/11/10 12:20 am
on 9/11/10 12:20 am
Praying for his quick recovery Michelle.... and U too .
Its such a blessing that he has U ..and U ., him. Its funny how we really come to appreciate our partner when theyre not there to do the little things or just support us ....
Im so glad his prognosis is excellent .... really , U couldn't have asked for more . Youll get through these next few months together and then he'll be 100 % with God's help. Truly - thats a miracle in itself . A few years ago there was very little effective help for a spinal cord injury .
Its such a blessing that he has U ..and U ., him. Its funny how we really come to appreciate our partner when theyre not there to do the little things or just support us ....
Im so glad his prognosis is excellent .... really , U couldn't have asked for more . Youll get through these next few months together and then he'll be 100 % with God's help. Truly - thats a miracle in itself . A few years ago there was very little effective help for a spinal cord injury .
the start of my brand new life was on 5/28/10
Most Active
Recent Topics
