In the garden, and RAIN!!! (2) by SIGNYM

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

In the garden, and RAIN!!! (2)

POSTED BY: SIGNYM
UPDATED: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 13:16
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Friday, February 10, 2023 3:08 PM

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Sending wishes to the universe that your car and your g'ma are ok, SIX! And *hugs* to you.

Thanks! Car was great. Considering the circumstances, so was grams.

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It's so stressful when someone you care about is in hospital. But even when they're only semi-conscious and seem unaware, they can hear you. Having been yanked from familiar surroundings into an alien world can be very disorienting and agitating, but even tho they may not know where they are or even who they are, a familiar voice, face, and touch can be very reassuring and allow them to relax and heal. If your g'ma thrashes around, tries to yank out tubes or pull out leads or climb out of bed, tell her that you're there. Place a reassuring hand on her arm, if she's used to you touching her, and tell her that you'll take care of her. Ask her what she needs. If she needs changing, call the aide. If she needs water, and water is allowed, give her sips of water (with a straw!) if she's in serious distress - trouble breathing, etc - don't use the call button. Boogie on over to the nurses' station and get help Hospital staff is busy, having you there to attend to her helps her AND them. Be assured, you just being there will help. Iven been on both sides of that equation, and I know. And she too will know someone is in her corner.

My grandma is one tough son of a bitch.

That first evening there she was laying in bed and obviously weak, but she knew where she was and why she was there. No changing necessary the whole time. She was still breathing a little heavy that first night, but when I talked to the lung doctor the next morning it was obvious why.... She's REALLY been through some shit. They drained 1,700ml of fluid from around the lung with spots. And there's still 200 more in there. It sounds like they're going to have to drain her two more times. Test results aren't in yet, but the lung doctor pulled me aside after I was asking questions and basically told me "it's cancer until it's not cancer". I'm not buying it until it happens.

I spent most of yesterday with her so my aunt could go back to work, and most of the morning today until after my dad made it and visited. He's the one who asks all the right questions, especially insurance related, so it was good to finally have him there to tag me out.

Last night when I came she actually reached out of the chair to give me a hug, which was the first time she did that, and this morning they had her off of the oxygen for an hour with no problems. They put her through some exercises both with and without oxygen and her results were good enough to not need to send her home with oxygen.

She might be coming home tonight.

I had to come back to refill on some stuff and to get a break. I think I'm going to sleep at my house tonight, maybe start some work I was going to do at my friend's place tomorrow morning even if I can't finish it, and maybe go back and stay over tomorrow night and help ease both her and my aunt back into whatever situation is going to be "normal", at least until she gets some exercise and hopefully gets back to where she was a few months ago before she had almost half a gallon of fluid around her lungs.

I've got some obligations during the week, but hopefully I can get back over there by Thursday to help out and hopefully get her started on her new exercise routine that I got her to promise she was going to start not just for her sake, but for everyone else's too.

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But from YOUR POV, when the hospital staff talks to you ... they might not do this at night but if they take her for tests ... ask them what tests. Ask them what meds she is on, and TAKE NOTES. Ask them to spell it out if need be. Many of my family worked in hospitals- RN, EKG tech/stat lab tech, ER doctor ... I know the lingo. I'm oriented to hospital procedure. But unless I take notes I forget critical info under stress. It will help you g'mas ongoing care at home if someone knows what's wrong, what the treatments/meds are, what they do, symptoms to look out for etc.

She's gotten an echogram, the fluid removed from her lungs and two CAT scans, along with the oxygen test they did this morning. They're testing the fluid for cancer and might have that by today, if not it should be on Monday. They haven't given her any oral drugs, but she has been on an IV with antibiotics for the pneumonia.

Not a singe word about heart problems, which is awesome.

I went back to her house and brought back a few changes of clothes for her when I heard she might be getting out tonight, and when I left them, they were both playing a game of Upwords just like they always do on weekdays at her house.

Fingers crossed!

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I'm not a prayerful person, SIX, but I sincerely hope the best for you and your g'ma.

Thanks again. I think everyone is going to need them right now. But in a huge role reversal I've been the voice of positive thinking this last week.

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Growing up in a Republic was nice... Shame we couldn't keep it.

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Friday, February 10, 2023 4:50 PM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

I'm glad you have a positive attitude, SIX. Altho everyone needs to plan for contingencies, IMHO there's no good borrowing trouble from the future... it'll come in its own good time anyway, and worrying about it doesn't help.

I hope your g'ma gets to go home soon. Hospitals are dangerous places to be!

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Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE someone poor - William Blake

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Friday, February 10, 2023 5:55 PM

USER	POST DATE
SIGNYM	12.04 07:38
Brenda	12.04 13:14
Brenda	12.04 13:16