Margaret is Home Again

Just after I posted my blog on Tuesday morning Margaret phoned me to say that she had been told that she was coming home that morning which surprised me as I had been told Wednesday.  I phoned the Nurses Station and they denied that she had been spoken too.  When I got into visit at 9.30 am all her medications had been removed and were returned at 10.30 am all packed up and listed as if for discharge which gave some support to Margaret being told that she was coming home.

I hung around until her specialist dropped by and he said that her arm was strong enough to steady her on her wheely walker so she could go home on Wednesday.  They had to unpack her meds to give them to her during the day.  We had managed to dress Margaret in a proper nightie for the first time since her fall and she sat up until after lunch when I put her back to bed to rest.

She had a quiet night but her legs were still weeping and were very swollen.

On the way home I bought a commode chair to prevent Margaret having to get into her tiny en-suite during the night which is when she has had several falls. By re-arranging the bedroom furniture she now had clear access to the commode and most of the other furniture is the other side of the bed.  This took some time and effort but I managed to complete it on Wednesday morning.

Louis continued to improve but was very quiet all of Tuesday.  When he woke up on Wednesday he was back too his old boisterous self.  This would make Margaret's homecoming much happier.

I arranged to pick Margaret up at 10.00 am and she was dressed in a clean nightie and a full length housecoat.  I had brought her wheelchair from home.  Before she left her specialist dropped by to wish her well.  I asked about her legs and other problems. He had said that it was all up to her GP from now on as there was no real remedy to her problems and it would remain a balancing act to keep her kidneys functioning without causing a heart attack by fluid overload.  He had arranged for Margaret to have a follow up visit to an orthopaedic surgeon in two weeks time but he wouldn't see her again.  Apparently the hospital policy is to treat acute patients only and Margaret was now classed as chronic and could be cared for at home as she could "transit from bed to the toilet"

We got home at 11.00 am and Margaret sat up until after lunch before going to bed and resting while watching a DVD on her Television.  I hid the remote control so she could not switch it off.  I did show her how to activate the intercom on our house phone system and she called me 12 times in two hours and then forgot how to use it once again.  She had a very small dinner and went to bed early.  At present she has a Valium, sleeping tablet and a powerful pain killer before going to sleep and this works so I had a quite night.

On Thursday the Blue Care RN called and she was very blunt about Margaret's condition which she believes will not improve and is probably terminal. She is arranging more support as Margaret is now a high care patient requiring special palliative treatment.  She was also very kind to Margaret and showered her and settled her back in bed.  This RN was normally called "that woman" by Margaret but is now her best friend who gives her loving support.

The rest of the day passed quietly.  Margaret has a lot of pain but the patch and Endone tablets keep her comfortable most of the time and I can supplement them with Osteo strength paracetamol.  She spent her day watching DVDs in her bedroom and sitting with me in the lounge.

Today I will take her to see A. her GP.  To top up he prescriptions and ask his advice on her future care.  Providing she remains mobile and upright I can cope.