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| DKLeather |
on Thu 9 Dec 10, 11:05 PM to DKLeather's blog.
Yeah I know, I'm sorry I missed a day. By the time I got home yesterday I could hardly stand I was so bone weary, so I actually went to bed at 9.20pm. First time ever I think... bizarre.
I stare at this page blankly, waiting for inspiration to hit, or just reeling off today's facts. It's getting harder to keep this up, especially when not much changes day to day really. I update for you folks, and to save me the trouble of texting or emailing everyone separately. So I keep going even when I sit staring, blankly.
OK that's enough of a pity party. You want to know how Lu is, not how pooped I am! ~laughs at self~
It's been a tough couple of roller-coaster days for Lu, bless. Now that she's a little more aware and conscious of everything, naturally what's happened (and what nearly happened) has finally started to sink in. She's been very wobbly and it's been heartbreaking to watch someone so tough, so loved, so laid back become anxious and scared. Still, by the end of today she was fighting back with her usual determined spirit, *walking* with her walker frame and only a little help, all the way to the actual toilet! It sounds daft, but something so simple meant the world to her. Commodes are humiliating at the best of times.
The setback day before yesterday, after beating the septicaemia, was her having VRE on top of everything else. So she was moved to a private room and labelled 'barrier patient', meaning all staff and anyone entering the room had to scrub up with apron and gloves. It was naturally depressing after coming so far, and poor Lu was miserable. Also it meant that visiting had to be curbed to protect both her and visitors, which was sad as friendly faces were really cheering for her. I hope she'll be up for visitors again soon and will let everyone know when that's possible again. They're letting me stay with her of course, scrubbed up and careful but at least I can still give her the daily bed-baths, wash her hair and help see she has everything she needs.
On the good side, she liked the room! Privacy, and not worrying about other patients coughing etc. It has a seat in a large window so she's able to sit out and in the sunshine. It lifted her spirits from time to time, helped her feel more 'normal'.
More good news. Yesterday she came off the oxygen. The very bottom of her lungs still aren't properly inflating, but she's working hard to breathe deeply and get better. Up to now she's been pink and healthy looking due to the oxygen, but naturally yesterday she looked a bit pale and black eyed from the effort of simply breathing. Today she looked less black eyed and pale, and her breathing was obviously better, so whoohoo she's getting there, slowly, but definitely!
More good news. Apart from to sleep (and once extra for the drain pull... more shortly) she's off the morphine drip line. She's on liquid oral medication for pain relief now, and managing pretty well. Although she still has a canula for daily antibiotics and blood samples, she's wire free at last! Obviously she still has the wound drain, the 'medi-vac' that is helping to heal her very large second/emergency surgery wound, which wouldn't heal due to the septicaemia. It's healing now, it'll leave a large scar and take some time, but it's definitely healing.
Today's trauma was the second stomach drain. One needed removing as it had also 'gone bad', nothing to do with aftercare, they looked after it religiously but it was struggling to heal due to the low immunity and bugs. So, yesterday several nurses and a couple of doctors had tried and failed to remove it with much tugging and pulling, snipping of stitches and suchlike. Today the original surgeon came to deal with it personally. He managed, but the ordeal left Lu shaken and upset.
I rang at that very moment this morning, and naturally threw myself straight into the car (visiting hours be-damned) and hurtled over there to hug and console. She's glad it's gone now of course, it had to come out so this additional wound could heal. By the end of today she was relieved and thankful, as well as over the ghastly experience. Mind you, much like the chest drain, it was another she'll not forget in a hurry.
I managed to wash her hair properly today in the sink, with her stood over the walker. Also I stopped off at Matalan and bought her a set of huge vests so she could get out of the hospital gown at last. She'd not wanted to wear her own clothes as despite the weight-loss (she's already lost quite a substantial amount...) hers felt restrictive. So by this evening as I left she was sat back in bed, having been in the sunshine, wearing her own vest & shorts, clean fresh hair and feeling more like herself.
Her goodnight text said "don't worry, I'm getting stronger. I'm remembering what it feels like to be a winner."
~smiles and goes to bed~ DK
| 10 Dec 10, 12:30 AM The_TOGmeister UK(BA), 4 yrs  |
Good and I won't get tired of saying this: You have to care for yourself at least as much as you are caring for Lu. Yes, she is slowly improving but only because she isn't worrying about you. These are your priorities at the moment Lu, yourself, the rest of your family and when you've done everything else and you are not too tired, us.
Second childhood? Me? I haven't left the first one yet! | ||
| 10 Dec 10, 6:00 AM Mistress_Amethyst UK, 5 yrs   |
I just hope you can keep going for Lu! DKLeather, take care of yourself. but it's great news that she can now get to the toilet on her own I know how that feels...like the most triumphant step forward.
She's on the mend now but keep strong and take care xx xXAXx
~~If you don't like me it's your fault~~ | ||
| 10 Dec 10, 8:21 AM RubyRouge UK(S), 4 yrs |
Thats fantastic news. I keep checking to see how she is doing, and am always really happy to hear she is getting better bit by bit x "While the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?" | ||
| 10 Dec 10, 8:42 AM stu_n_ali UK(CV), 3 yrs |
This brought a lump to my throat....... Give her a gentle hug off us.....and tell her we miss her at the club....shes gotta come see our new place..... Her ticket is reserved!!!!!!!!!! Bloody Ace news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| 10 Dec 10, 9:10 AM scarlettsamm UK(BL), 6 yrs |
wonderfull to hear about each improvement-
however slow and small- they are all good news  xxx
and Lady Stardust sang her songs, of..... | ||
| 10 Dec 10, 9:24 AM Mrs_EStim UK(WC), 8 yrs |
Its loverly to hear that things are improving our hugs and love go to you both xx Married!!! on 24th May 2008 to E-Stim Si !!!!! | ||
| 10 Dec 10, 2:25 PM MizzScarlett UK, 4 yrs |
You are in our thoughts as much as Lu is ... it's hard doing what you're doing.
And this epitomises her progress.
| ||
| 10 Dec 10, 3:23 PM R3TRObution UK(WS), 4 yrs |
Can't say anything different than what has already been posted. You are all in our thoughts. Love and Respect Us x Gate_Keeper & Woo_WOO xx | ||
| 10 Dec 10, 3:25 PM Qwoins_calamity UK(S), 3 yrs |
DK while you are still worried about lu i understand the need you have to look after her ,iv done it , i also realised the most important thing to do is look after yourself first plenty of rest and sleep.
i watch your blogs everyday and believe her and your strength of mind and spirit and sheer bloody mindedness Again all i can do is send you both a big hug and my best wishes xxx Good girls blush during naughty scenes in the movies. Bad girls smile because they know they can do better. | ||
| 10 Dec 10, 5:09 PM Bop_it_plus_kitten 23 mths |
Continued thoughts for the whole family x Bop it & kit 'You can't cook and save the world at the same time' or in M's case 'You just can't cook...' k |
Imortatality's far WORSE.
I know she has a long way to go 