Now Its my Turn

First,  I visited Margaret early Sunday morning and she was quite calm.  The hallucinations had stopped but she still believed that they were true.  I spoke with her doctor who put them down to a bad reaction to her painkillers which are morphine based.  He has changed them from one big dose every eight hours to half the dose every six hours and has allowed her to have an additional sleeping tablet.  The main concern was her swollen legs which was still posing a threat of a stroke or congestive heart failure.  They still haven't been able to get a blood sample to check her kidneys so are laying off the diuretics for a while.

The rest of Sunday wasn't too bad but Margaret's short term memory was very bad and she demamded more painkillers just ten minutes after I witnessed the nurse giving her some.  This makes it very difficult for the nurses as Margaret gets very annoyed if she thinks that she has missed some medication.  See some of my earlier posts.  Fortunately the painkillers kicked in quickly and she settled down and, of course, forgot about them.

Monday was much the same.  She told me that she was in pain and needed her patch replaced.  I ignored this as, normally, it has been replaced on Tuesdays.  When the nurse came in she complained. The nurse, who after giving her a painkiller, said that the patch had been replaced about ten minutes before i came in.  This I checked for Margaret's sake and there it was signed and dated for that day.  I explained to the nurse that I hadn't doubted her but it is really necessary to make sure that Margaret understands that she has received the correct medication or a patch has been put on.  As her dementia increases this is becoming more of a problem.  Later the doctor told me that they had been able to get a blood sample and we will know how things were with her kidneys tomorrow, Tuesday.

On Tuesday I visited early and she was being looked after by a first year student nurse,  He was a mature age student, married with three kids and had really made a hit with Margaret.  He was dressing her skin tears and I helped get Margaret's arm back in its sling.  Margaret was much brighter due to the nurses lovely nature.  He looked like a footballer and used to drive ambulances for a living but now, with his wife's support, was trying to make a new career out of nursing.  I can only say if he maintains his caring and kind manner hr will be a great nurse.

I found out that Margaret in still a "no contact" patient.  I must wash my hands before and after entering her room and have no contact with any other patients on the ward.  The nurses, physios, doctors and ward staff must wear gowns and gloves before entering the room.  Meals are left at the door and I normally bring them in to Margaret.  I also help Margaret to and from the loo otherwise the nurses have to gown up each time..  The problem is a highly resistant urinary tract infection, which although responding to antibiotics,  is spread by physical contact and can remain in the system for many months.  She will be a "no contact" patient for all her stay in hospital and for the next six months.

Her normal specialist returned and checked her blood test results.  Her kidneys are stable,  albeit at a chronic failure level, and he is beginning to increase the diuretics to see if they can get her fluid overload down before it causes more problems.

Now I start to cause problems.    About a week ago I had a funny turn while walking Louis.  I was on my own as B, my afternoon walking companion, was away.  I was quite coherent in my thoughts and actions except that I had difficulty walking straight and felt extremely tired.  I ended up with an back ache.  I had a brief rest before I visited  Margaret and had something to eat and drink.  As I felt better I forgot about it.  On Monday I was walking with B when she asked me what was wrong.  Apparently I was walking tilted to the left and I was also having the same problems from the week before.  B is a retired nurse and told me to see my GP ASAP so I made an appointment for Tuesday afternoon.

When I saw him, C who is a London born and trained Indian and also a personal friend,   did a few tests which eliminated a stroke or anything more sinister.  Apparently I have a chest infection which is why I have also developed an irritating little cough in the last week or so.  I have fairly restricted breathing which in some way causes me to run out of puff when walking and causes my problems.  The treatment is a course of antibiotics for ten days which should clear it up.  If I am still having problems by Saturday  I must see him again but I must finish all the antibiotics in any case.

Now comes the problem, because of Margaret's poor health  I must not visit her until Saturday morning.  I phoned the hospital to let then know and tried to explain to Margaret that I was in no danger but more a threat to her and would keep in touch with her by phone.  I can also drop off anything she needs at hospital reception for the next three days.  I thought she had understood but later i got a concerned phone call from Helen as Margaret had told her that I was very sick and wouldn't be visiting for at least two weeks.  She also complained that I hadn't left her any mints to eat.  She gets a roll of Mentos  everyday from me.  I shall drop a few rolls later this morning.