IDK what this is, but could use prayers

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
D

Depleted

Guest
#1
#1
John's coming home on Thursday. By the time I write this and proof it, it will be Wednesday. On Wednesday I have a doctor's appointment I cannot miss. (A new primary doctor and I have been holding off on dealing with different health issues until after John's okay. It's getting to the point they have to be dealt with and I don't want to meet with this new doctor for the first time with a full list.) That afternoon his healthcare supplies will arrive here, and some setting up is required before John gets home. (Delivery people will set up what I can't, which is a relief because I've got so little mechanical abilities.) And then I have to get the last minute things ready. (Clear off his sofa, so it becomes "his sofa" again.)

The big day is quickly approaching. I am so happy about that I don't know what to do.

On Memorial Day weekend, (not even three weeks ago), he ended up in ICU and then stuck in that damn hospital for four days, simply because hemorrhoids caused bleeding once! It was over before he got into that hospital! It should have been an overnight stay if they took it as seriously as they did, but the rest was pretty much the same as the last five times he ended up in that hospital -- regulations and covering their own bottoms took precedence over helping the patient. Since January 13th, the day he was transferred back into the hospital, I've been holding my breath waiting for them to chip away more and more with his spirit while they excel at their incompetence. I'm still afraid they'll send him back to that hospital over some little silly thing, and we rabbit hole again, but I'm pretty sure that won't happen too.

So, I've been hoping and praying he comes home, forever holding my breath because so many things did go wrong, and utterly busy dealing with the rest of life's everyday problems while feeling constantly depleted the entire time.

I'm watching TV tonight and burst out crying. It wasn't happy. It wasn't sad. No idea what it was, but, because I don't know why, it starts over again at any given moment. I've got to get through tomorrow. There is no Plan B. John's so very excited to be coming home that I certainly don't want to burst his bubble by bursting into tears with absolutely no understanding of why.

This feels so stupid, but I could use some prayers, because I also have to drive him home and fear I'll burst into tears then too.
 
notmyown

notmyown

Senior Member
#2
May 26, 2016
4,696
1,128
113
#2
from what you've told us of John, i find it hard to believe you could burst his bubble by crying.

whether or not you understand why, i think he will understand. you've been overwhelmed by both happy and unhappy things... you're weary. John loves you, and he'll get that.

try not to future trip. (as i do.)
there may be tears from both of you, and you will together with God deal with it.

you don't always have to be the strong one. ♥
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#3
#3
notmyown said:
from what you've told us of John, i find it hard to believe you could burst his bubble by crying.

whether or not you understand why, i think he will understand. you've been overwhelmed by both happy and unhappy things... you're weary. John loves you, and he'll get that.

try not to future trip. (as i do.)
there may be tears from both of you, and you will together with God deal with it.

you don't always have to be the strong one. ♥
Click to expand...
Ha! That brought tears.

But just learned what that other shoe I feared would drop is. They took him off the wound vac last week, and now everyone is upset he's off the wound vac because the wound hasn't healed since. So, wound vac is coming home with him. Wound vac teethers him. Hard to go back to tethered after being free for a week, but he already said he's coming home beat that one.

(Meanwhile, I get one lesson on how to make the wound vac work right after watching over three months of various degrees of effectiveness in that from nurses trained for this. Oh boy! No medical background here. They kept asking him, "Did you move?" Of course he moved! Try to sit still after not being able to move for four months, so I will NOT ask if he moved, even if I have to glue that thing up again every 5 minutes!)

AND I just found out when he's coming home. His doctor thought he was coming by wheelchair van. Nope, he's coming home by our car. (Therapists have been prepping him for this for a week now.) Doctor says between 11-3. Guess who is planning on him eating lunch at home.

He was just given a lunch of hotdogs and cream of corn soup -- two things he can't eat. So, enough of constantly being forced to eat what makes him sick!

Big sigh! I think we'll make it!
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#5
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,972
113
#5
and lots of hugs and a couple boxes of tissues,:):rolleyes:

Lynn, this is just a suggestion... I don't know how far down his wound is,
but if it's in a place that will rub him when he sits back, perhaps a round
rubber tube with a hole in the middle of it that sometimes people sit-on
could be put against where he is sitting and hopefully can keep his wound
from touching something that would irritate it...
 
M

Miri

Guest
#6
#6
Hi Lynn I can understand the tears. For me it was 4 1/2 months of pent up
frustrations, stress, trying to hold it all together and wondering what life would
be like at home, would I cope etc when my aunt got out of hospital.

Tears are a release, don't worry about them you will have a lot of releasing to
do. Praying for you that as you realise everything that God will empower you.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#7
#7
Last November, the thought that woke me up in the morning was "John's not home. Is he alive?" It shocked me awake.

This morning, the thought that woke me up was, "John's really home!"

Entirely different emotion in that one.

This is still going to be harder than imagined. Yes, he can walk up steps. 13 steps! He was utterly exhausted at Step 11! So his bed will be the sofa for a while. (Really sad that a sectional sofa is so much better than a hospital bed.) And good thing we got the commode, because our bathroom is upstairs.

He was talking about grilling a turkey out back on Sunday. Now he's willing to wait until the following Sunday, if then. I'm still going to be the cook! Doable, except I'm trying to figure out how to make meat in small enough bits that lack of teeth isn't an issue. Meatloaf with no onions last night worked. Tunafish casserole with very small pasta. I roasted turkey thighs and froze it, so I'm hoping that can be turned into turkey salad through the food processor. That's three nights? Then what?


Also working around walkers is tough. He can't walk and take a cup with him, but they gave him no thickened water, so he's going to take all day with the ritual he has to swallow normal water. (It takes 15 seconds per swallow.) So I've already become the fluids pusher, constantly making sure he has something to drink at the sofa and at his computer. And they sent him home without the wound vac, but they also never taught me how to change the bandage either. Eek! I have to make calls to make sure someone comes to help him, (and teaches me), and to get him some teeth.

I think I just go busier, but at least I don't have to drive to spend time with him anymore.

All that, and mostly I burst out crying when we were watching the TV show I looked forward to seeing, simply because he'd be home. (Battlebots.) Funny, something went wrong and the only part that aired for half an hour was the commercials. Didn't matter, because I was crying anyway. lol
 
blue_ladybug

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
#8
Feb 21, 2014
70,869
9,601
113
#8
Not to sound mean, but you worry wayyyyyyyy too much. Relax, have faith that he WILL be home on Thursday. WILL being the operative word. Not "if" or "maybe". :)
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#9
#9
Found this....

Commercial thickening powders can be purchased at local drug stores (ask your pharmacist) as well as from companies that make them. Brand names include Thick It, Thick n’ Easy, and Thixx.

You may also be able to purchase pre-thickened beverages such as juice and milk from various companies. See the list of companies on Page 2.

Know the best thickness for you, so you can tell when a drink is too thick or too thin. Most commercial thickeners include directions for getting the right consistency. If your brand doesn’t, use the following as a guideline:

Nectar-thick: 1 1/2 teaspoons of commercial thickener to 1/2 cup of thin liquid

Honey-thick: 1 1/2 tablespoons of commercial thickener to 1/2 cup thin liquid

Pudding-thick: 2 tablespoons of commercial thickener to 1/2 cup thin liquid

Add the thickener to the liquid, and stir vigorously for 20 seconds. Allow the drink to sit for at least 1 to 2 minutes to get the right thickness before serving or drinking.

Thickened Liquids: Nectar-Thick | Patient Education Materials | UPMC

They look to be about $5 and can be ordered online or from pharmacy.

Might be worth buying.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.