NEED PRAYER NOW
- Thread starter JesusLives
- Start date
-
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.
O
Lynn,
he is still reacting from the drugs that they gave him upon entering the hospital,,,
these drugs stay in the system for months....
just give him time sweetheart, and he will detox the poisons and become himself once
again, if he isn't re=introduced to more of the poisons....beg for pure water and whole juices...
plus, take heed for his bowel health, this is a MUST!!!
he is still reacting from the drugs that they gave him upon entering the hospital,,,
these drugs stay in the system for months....
just give him time sweetheart, and he will detox the poisons and become himself once
again, if he isn't re=introduced to more of the poisons....beg for pure water and whole juices...
plus, take heed for his bowel health, this is a MUST!!!
D
It is that. (What if he doesn't come out of it?)
It's also my car. ("It could be the differential bearings. We don't do that, because that's in the transmission, so take it to a transmission place, because the transmission will have to be removed to get to that, then checked out, possibly fixed, and put back in at a minimum of $1500. But, hey, if it is that, it will last a while longer, just make more and more noise at every tight turn. Eventually it will break, but the cost of the repair is more than the cost of the car." There is no other car in our future. Can't afford it -- ever.)
It's also, all that has to be done is fix the car, probably pay for John's rehab, get him some teeth, and pray nothing else goes wrong. (I'm thinking God's obviously not honoring that prayer.) All that with the grand total of $4000 in our savings account, and that's mostly there because Dad sent us money twice before he was put in a assisted living facility. (and, oh btw, I really should go see Dad too.)
Meanwhile, I'm living on 4-5 hours of sleep per night, and doing the work load of a healthy 30something year old. I'm neither -- healthy nor in my 30's. My TENS unit is dying, but I don't have time to stay home to get a new one shipped and the ones at drug stores are a joke.
John would like to see some of his old friends and his brother, so I called them tonight. Except, I didn't talk to them. It took me a few tries to find the right numbers. (Everyone changes their cell phone numbers every five years. My numbers are 20 years old.) I left messages, but fear talking to them for fear I'll just break down and blubber. Fortunately, my SIL is a FBer still. (Her husband -- Johns brother -- isn't. So after PMing him, (and I haven't been on FB in years, so I wasn't really sure if I was PMing or posting, and John doesn't want the rest of his family to know and the rest of his family is connected to his brother, so....) a longer version of what's going on (compared to the messages left on answering machines), I realize I have to PM his wife to get him to notice the PM. So, FB notifies now? I saw his return PM. He's in shock.
One of the main reasons I tried to keep this quiet -- avoiding both of our families -- is because everyone wants nightly updates, but no one wants to go visit. (Memories of when John broke his back. I was healthy and in my 20's back then and it was still exhausting.) I don't want a repeat, but I'm also not looking forward to explaining to any of these guys that John hasn't responded to them in the last 14 years because he couldn't do anything with CFS on his back.
Now he has had two heart attacks, one "massive," pneumonia, kidney failure, lost all his teeth, and, oh yeah, delirium. Oh, and simply because that's not enough, he still has CFS, polyneuropathy, Turret's, AND CFS! He's going to get "better?" Define better! He wasn't better before! He is debatably cognitive now. And honestly, that would be a long debate.
I physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and even financially cannot do this anymore! And tomorrow, I have to go back in that room without him worrying about a damn car, the future, or me.
It's also my car. ("It could be the differential bearings. We don't do that, because that's in the transmission, so take it to a transmission place, because the transmission will have to be removed to get to that, then checked out, possibly fixed, and put back in at a minimum of $1500. But, hey, if it is that, it will last a while longer, just make more and more noise at every tight turn. Eventually it will break, but the cost of the repair is more than the cost of the car." There is no other car in our future. Can't afford it -- ever.)
It's also, all that has to be done is fix the car, probably pay for John's rehab, get him some teeth, and pray nothing else goes wrong. (I'm thinking God's obviously not honoring that prayer.) All that with the grand total of $4000 in our savings account, and that's mostly there because Dad sent us money twice before he was put in a assisted living facility. (and, oh btw, I really should go see Dad too.)
Meanwhile, I'm living on 4-5 hours of sleep per night, and doing the work load of a healthy 30something year old. I'm neither -- healthy nor in my 30's. My TENS unit is dying, but I don't have time to stay home to get a new one shipped and the ones at drug stores are a joke.
John would like to see some of his old friends and his brother, so I called them tonight. Except, I didn't talk to them. It took me a few tries to find the right numbers. (Everyone changes their cell phone numbers every five years. My numbers are 20 years old.) I left messages, but fear talking to them for fear I'll just break down and blubber. Fortunately, my SIL is a FBer still. (Her husband -- Johns brother -- isn't. So after PMing him, (and I haven't been on FB in years, so I wasn't really sure if I was PMing or posting, and John doesn't want the rest of his family to know and the rest of his family is connected to his brother, so....) a longer version of what's going on (compared to the messages left on answering machines), I realize I have to PM his wife to get him to notice the PM. So, FB notifies now? I saw his return PM. He's in shock.
One of the main reasons I tried to keep this quiet -- avoiding both of our families -- is because everyone wants nightly updates, but no one wants to go visit. (Memories of when John broke his back. I was healthy and in my 20's back then and it was still exhausting.) I don't want a repeat, but I'm also not looking forward to explaining to any of these guys that John hasn't responded to them in the last 14 years because he couldn't do anything with CFS on his back.
Now he has had two heart attacks, one "massive," pneumonia, kidney failure, lost all his teeth, and, oh yeah, delirium. Oh, and simply because that's not enough, he still has CFS, polyneuropathy, Turret's, AND CFS! He's going to get "better?" Define better! He wasn't better before! He is debatably cognitive now. And honestly, that would be a long debate.
I physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and even financially cannot do this anymore! And tomorrow, I have to go back in that room without him worrying about a damn car, the future, or me.
D
His "bowel health" is regulated by tubes and bags. He's being fed formula and IVs for food and "drink." He told me his one bag got stuck on the lift today and spilled all over. I have no idea if that's true or not, because they moved him to a new room three days ago because the lift in his room wasn't working right. And then they moved him back today, because the "new lift" wasn't working either. Before he told me this story, I asked him if he got in a chair today and he said he hadn't. So, why would he be on a lift if it was taking him nowhere? And, how did they get rid of the stink so fast?
D
Do you think God is trying to tell me something?
I just read Spurgeon's evening devotional.
I'm not saying I suddenly feel wonderful. Not even up to meh yet, but I suspect God's going to poke at me, until I stop taking the usual everyday problems so seriously. (Everyday problems -- car breaks down, snowstorm coming, dehumidifier broke. Not to be confused with real problems -- John and Dad's health and well-being.)
I'm all the way back up to "depleted" again.
I just read Spurgeon's evening devotional.
I'm not saying I suddenly feel wonderful. Not even up to meh yet, but I suspect God's going to poke at me, until I stop taking the usual everyday problems so seriously. (Everyday problems -- car breaks down, snowstorm coming, dehumidifier broke. Not to be confused with real problems -- John and Dad's health and well-being.)
I'm all the way back up to "depleted" again.
M
Hi Lyn, sorry to be a bit slow to reply, I'm still having a few aaaaargh
moments myself, including clunk, clunk, clunk noises from
banging my head against a brick wall. lol.
The confusion and delerium you mentioned, it's awful isn't it somehow it
is far worse than the physical problems. My Aunt spent several confused
weeks in hospital, so much so that I wondered if she should ever get out.
One patient in an opposite bed had her feet all bandaged up with white wiggly
toes poking put from below the blankets, so my aunt kept complaining she
had mice running over her bed. She also kept hallucinating about seeing
cats, dogs and spiders running all over the place, oh and not forgetting
the imaginary conversations.
It's hard as well to keep going and battling through on your own isn't it.
Every minor triumph sent me home with a big smile and every set back
had me sinking into my boots.
Hang on in there Jesus knows and sees everything. Praying that John will
soon be able to go to rehab and it will be perfect for him, that he will
recovery quickly and you will both be home together with the right help
in place.
Use some of this time for taking stock of what has happened and building
yourself up physically and spiritually. It is so easy to let your thoughts
run away all over the place so try to rest spiritually in Jesus when you
are able.
moments myself, including clunk, clunk, clunk noises from
banging my head against a brick wall. lol.
The confusion and delerium you mentioned, it's awful isn't it somehow it
is far worse than the physical problems. My Aunt spent several confused
weeks in hospital, so much so that I wondered if she should ever get out.
One patient in an opposite bed had her feet all bandaged up with white wiggly
toes poking put from below the blankets, so my aunt kept complaining she
had mice running over her bed. She also kept hallucinating about seeing
cats, dogs and spiders running all over the place, oh and not forgetting
the imaginary conversations.
It's hard as well to keep going and battling through on your own isn't it.
Every minor triumph sent me home with a big smile and every set back
had me sinking into my boots.
Hang on in there Jesus knows and sees everything. Praying that John will
soon be able to go to rehab and it will be perfect for him, that he will
recovery quickly and you will both be home together with the right help
in place.
Use some of this time for taking stock of what has happened and building
yourself up physically and spiritually. It is so easy to let your thoughts
run away all over the place so try to rest spiritually in Jesus when you
are able.
D
Well, God was kind enough to yank me out of that funk in a variety of ways.
1. I called two buddies of John's plus his brother. Two have already gone to visit, and the third is about due now. All rushed because we're about to get our first blizzard tomorrow. He finally has people to talk to that don't know roughly everything he knows in the last 35 years. (Once you're married this long, there are no more stories to tell of the past. And every day life is too predictable to get excited that I cooked something.)
2. If anyone has been keeping up with my humidifier saga, I told John I'd just get a small one. First ,he corrected me on where to get one. (Not Walgreen's. Walmart. And the Walmart in Jersey because the one in Philly is too crowded. This takes a level of thinking abilities past my speed, so I'm very impressed he could think that much about it.) And, a couple minutes later he asked about the one we already have. I completely forgot we had a small one. It's been 15-25 years since we used it. BUT, heaven forbid if we ever get around to throwing these kinds of things out. Amazing! I found it! I know this sounds like everyday stuff, but look how much thinking of what's at home, and what our neighborhood offers from the guy who asked if our refrigerators fit five days ago! I think his delirium is going away. Whewwwwww! One of my big fears was, because he gets brain fog most the time with CFS, he may never recover enough to deal with both -- all that has happened plus CFS. I was worried his brain would stay like that. (Better than dementia, but still -- just not all there.)
3. The car still isn't right, but the main time it ka-thumps is sharp turns into thin parking spots in the hospital's garage. (That and the hairpin turns to get to different levels is the only time it ka-thumps.) For the last nine weeks, I've discovered that hospital parking garages are easy-parking on weekends, and iffy during the week. Despite that, since I've had the car back, I've found two-space parking each day. (No I don't park in both spaces, but I don't have to worry about hitting the car next to me as much with two spaces.) No ka-thumps. But, I'm now wondering if the shimmy as I'm driving is because it's windy, because I'm hyper-vigilant with car-sounds now, or something else wrong with the wheels developing. Someone (in the Misc. Forum) suggested I take it to a tire center for a second opinion. I hear our temps are going up enough next Monday to start melting the snow, so I'll take it over to our Goodyears for a second opinion. Brownie points: The Goodyears is two blocks from here, so I don't have to wait around until they check it out.
4. John's hips have been in horrible pain for as long as he can remember being awake. (Back when I thought he had back spasms, it wasn't his back. It was his hips.) His hips are in great pain because the beds are short, and they rise, therefore the patient has a tendency to slide down to the foot of the bed. There's a footboard there. He has spent the last 10 weeks consciously or unconsciously semi-standing -- his feet stopping him from continuing his slide. Thus his hips are super sore now. That may sound like something to whine about or worry about, except for four big things! He is now able to verbalize his complaint. They're not brushing it off -- the Nurse Practitioners stopped by to see if they could come up with some kind of way where he's off his tush (bed sore) and hips while lifted up to feed for an hour and a half. Better yet, his nurse probably solved the problem. The foot board comes off! His feet no longer brace him in the bed. All he had to do was promise not to leave the bed that way. lol (His nurse is as funny as he is.) AND, he's getting squirmy from pain and the type of boredom that can only come when you really can't get up to do anything, so you're stuck in bed. Nine weeks of seeing him too weak to notice pain or too weak to squirm from it. I feel kind of guilty for this, but I told him I was glad to see him get to this point. He's now believing he'll never eat again. (I reminded him he didn't think he'd ever drink again or talk again just last week, so it is going to happen. It just takes longer than expected.) I feared I'd never see him get restless again.
5. They measured him for his wheelchair today. That means they expect he'll be able to sit in one without falling out. He's been sitting a little bit better every day for the last four days. I haven't seen this, so that's my sign it's true.
Prayer request though:
1. He can't sleep well. He's been averaging 2-3.5 hours of sleep at night, and he can't sleep in the day at all. (He keeps trying, but it's not happening.) He slept for six weeks, but it's gotten to the point that doesn't count anymore again. And I'm only averaging 4-5 hours a night. (Scary that it doesn't bother me much yet. It has to be effecting me.) So prayers for longer sleep for both of us -- him particularly since he needs to recover his health.
2. Sunday is his birthday. (I finished his Christmas stocking last night. Yay!) My plan has been to bring his stocking stuffers (now modified for hospital-stay comfort items) in on his birthday. Blizzard tomorrow. I won't see him tomorrow, unless they're simply wrong about this storm. Given this storm has wrecked havoc everywhere it's gone so far, I don't think they're wrong. But Sunday is his birthday! I want him to have a memorable/good one. I asked his nurse for that, although my definition of "good present ideas" has changed. I'd like him to taste something. I'd like him to eat. I'd like him to drink soda or coffee. If not that, then a wild ride around the unit. (Bed, chair, gurney -- I don't care how, just to have him do something fun and different.) If not that, to see below outside his window -- see the trees with snow on them or see our stadiums. (Stadiums are close to us, so it's sort of like seeing home.) He needs to celebrate his birthday! The nurse said, if he can't eat by then, he might be able to talk that day's nurse into letting him use one of the sponge-mouth-swabs after dipping it in coffee. His eyes rolled in delight. I want to bring that coffee for him. (He's really into coffee, so it has to be good coffee.) I want to bring his stocking. I made it this big to fit the teddy bears in it. (I'll bring them home, so he doesn't worry they'll get stolen again.) I bought him a hair brush, a lighted nails clipper, (his nails are longer than mine now), Blistex, lotion, and baby wipes, so he can clean his own face when he wants. And, I'll bring in the customized calendar for this year. (An add-your-own-photos, so he gets to see 12 months of photos from our lives.) Not exciting, but he'll love it.
BUT the weather and roads have to cooperate. And, to go whole hog -- my big dream is he can taste some of the Jewish apple cake I'm making for his birthday. If they fear he can't swallow that big, I'll add milk, put it in the blender and turn it into a thick milkshake.
His birthday! He didn't get Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, or even MLK Day. He needs to celebrate!
1. I called two buddies of John's plus his brother. Two have already gone to visit, and the third is about due now. All rushed because we're about to get our first blizzard tomorrow. He finally has people to talk to that don't know roughly everything he knows in the last 35 years. (Once you're married this long, there are no more stories to tell of the past. And every day life is too predictable to get excited that I cooked something.)
2. If anyone has been keeping up with my humidifier saga, I told John I'd just get a small one. First ,he corrected me on where to get one. (Not Walgreen's. Walmart. And the Walmart in Jersey because the one in Philly is too crowded. This takes a level of thinking abilities past my speed, so I'm very impressed he could think that much about it.) And, a couple minutes later he asked about the one we already have. I completely forgot we had a small one. It's been 15-25 years since we used it. BUT, heaven forbid if we ever get around to throwing these kinds of things out. Amazing! I found it! I know this sounds like everyday stuff, but look how much thinking of what's at home, and what our neighborhood offers from the guy who asked if our refrigerators fit five days ago! I think his delirium is going away. Whewwwwww! One of my big fears was, because he gets brain fog most the time with CFS, he may never recover enough to deal with both -- all that has happened plus CFS. I was worried his brain would stay like that. (Better than dementia, but still -- just not all there.)
3. The car still isn't right, but the main time it ka-thumps is sharp turns into thin parking spots in the hospital's garage. (That and the hairpin turns to get to different levels is the only time it ka-thumps.) For the last nine weeks, I've discovered that hospital parking garages are easy-parking on weekends, and iffy during the week. Despite that, since I've had the car back, I've found two-space parking each day. (No I don't park in both spaces, but I don't have to worry about hitting the car next to me as much with two spaces.) No ka-thumps. But, I'm now wondering if the shimmy as I'm driving is because it's windy, because I'm hyper-vigilant with car-sounds now, or something else wrong with the wheels developing. Someone (in the Misc. Forum) suggested I take it to a tire center for a second opinion. I hear our temps are going up enough next Monday to start melting the snow, so I'll take it over to our Goodyears for a second opinion. Brownie points: The Goodyears is two blocks from here, so I don't have to wait around until they check it out.
4. John's hips have been in horrible pain for as long as he can remember being awake. (Back when I thought he had back spasms, it wasn't his back. It was his hips.) His hips are in great pain because the beds are short, and they rise, therefore the patient has a tendency to slide down to the foot of the bed. There's a footboard there. He has spent the last 10 weeks consciously or unconsciously semi-standing -- his feet stopping him from continuing his slide. Thus his hips are super sore now. That may sound like something to whine about or worry about, except for four big things! He is now able to verbalize his complaint. They're not brushing it off -- the Nurse Practitioners stopped by to see if they could come up with some kind of way where he's off his tush (bed sore) and hips while lifted up to feed for an hour and a half. Better yet, his nurse probably solved the problem. The foot board comes off! His feet no longer brace him in the bed. All he had to do was promise not to leave the bed that way. lol (His nurse is as funny as he is.) AND, he's getting squirmy from pain and the type of boredom that can only come when you really can't get up to do anything, so you're stuck in bed. Nine weeks of seeing him too weak to notice pain or too weak to squirm from it. I feel kind of guilty for this, but I told him I was glad to see him get to this point. He's now believing he'll never eat again. (I reminded him he didn't think he'd ever drink again or talk again just last week, so it is going to happen. It just takes longer than expected.) I feared I'd never see him get restless again.
5. They measured him for his wheelchair today. That means they expect he'll be able to sit in one without falling out. He's been sitting a little bit better every day for the last four days. I haven't seen this, so that's my sign it's true.
Prayer request though:
1. He can't sleep well. He's been averaging 2-3.5 hours of sleep at night, and he can't sleep in the day at all. (He keeps trying, but it's not happening.) He slept for six weeks, but it's gotten to the point that doesn't count anymore again. And I'm only averaging 4-5 hours a night. (Scary that it doesn't bother me much yet. It has to be effecting me.) So prayers for longer sleep for both of us -- him particularly since he needs to recover his health.
2. Sunday is his birthday. (I finished his Christmas stocking last night. Yay!) My plan has been to bring his stocking stuffers (now modified for hospital-stay comfort items) in on his birthday. Blizzard tomorrow. I won't see him tomorrow, unless they're simply wrong about this storm. Given this storm has wrecked havoc everywhere it's gone so far, I don't think they're wrong. But Sunday is his birthday! I want him to have a memorable/good one. I asked his nurse for that, although my definition of "good present ideas" has changed. I'd like him to taste something. I'd like him to eat. I'd like him to drink soda or coffee. If not that, then a wild ride around the unit. (Bed, chair, gurney -- I don't care how, just to have him do something fun and different.) If not that, to see below outside his window -- see the trees with snow on them or see our stadiums. (Stadiums are close to us, so it's sort of like seeing home.) He needs to celebrate his birthday! The nurse said, if he can't eat by then, he might be able to talk that day's nurse into letting him use one of the sponge-mouth-swabs after dipping it in coffee. His eyes rolled in delight. I want to bring that coffee for him. (He's really into coffee, so it has to be good coffee.) I want to bring his stocking. I made it this big to fit the teddy bears in it. (I'll bring them home, so he doesn't worry they'll get stolen again.) I bought him a hair brush, a lighted nails clipper, (his nails are longer than mine now), Blistex, lotion, and baby wipes, so he can clean his own face when he wants. And, I'll bring in the customized calendar for this year. (An add-your-own-photos, so he gets to see 12 months of photos from our lives.) Not exciting, but he'll love it.
BUT the weather and roads have to cooperate. And, to go whole hog -- my big dream is he can taste some of the Jewish apple cake I'm making for his birthday. If they fear he can't swallow that big, I'll add milk, put it in the blender and turn it into a thick milkshake.
His birthday! He didn't get Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, or even MLK Day. He needs to celebrate!
M
Hi praying for all of the above - it's time to celebrate life Lord,
thank you for bringing John all this way on his journey or
recovert. Lord we prayer you will pave the way for Lynn to
visit on his birthday and we prayer it will be a birthday
celebration to remember with delight for both John and Lynn.
Amen
thank you for bringing John all this way on his journey or
recovert. Lord we prayer you will pave the way for Lynn to
visit on his birthday and we prayer it will be a birthday
celebration to remember with delight for both John and Lynn.
Amen
Hi Lynn, I am so grateful to write to you, Its so inspiring the way you write so many words, I dont know how you do it! Your energy for life is so apparent. I will always write to you, as I find your personality great. Thank you for letting us know each day your comings and goings, it seems so real to me, and thats the value that true people mean to me. I will carry on with prayers and keep you in my thoughts, Take Care Lynn, I mean that. xxx Everything will work out, me and you are coping in our own way with life. God is keeping us both focussed. Love you from Mandy xxx
D
Wellll, the meteorologist weren't wrong.
The heart of the storm hasn't hit yet, so we're not getting the blizzard yet. That said, tere's about eight inches already, so when it hits...
BUT, I slept 6.5 hours last night. Nothing like "I can't go anywhere anyway" to control that urge to movemovemove fast in the morning I've been getting.
I really wish I could talk to John on the phone, but that's something I'm sure can happen for any patient 20 years from now. (Particularly today, I see why hospitals are still landlines. Can you imagine what reception is like in a blizzard if using wireless?)
Sadly, he's nauseous and puking a little. (Not enough in him to do more than just a little.) There goes eating or drinking anything for the weekend. But I talked to his nurse. She did raise his bed to see out the window better. (Just in time for the blinding blizzard, so he can't see much anyway, but at least between that and the news he can get a sense of what's happening outside.) And she said, if I bring the coffee tomorrow, she'll swab his mouth with a little. If I can't get there, she'll swab it with coffee from there. (If you haven't tasted anything for ten weeks, does hospital coffee taste good then?
)
I so hope I can see him on his birthday.
The heart of the storm hasn't hit yet, so we're not getting the blizzard yet. That said, tere's about eight inches already, so when it hits...
BUT, I slept 6.5 hours last night. Nothing like "I can't go anywhere anyway" to control that urge to movemovemove fast in the morning I've been getting.
I really wish I could talk to John on the phone, but that's something I'm sure can happen for any patient 20 years from now. (Particularly today, I see why hospitals are still landlines. Can you imagine what reception is like in a blizzard if using wireless?)
Sadly, he's nauseous and puking a little. (Not enough in him to do more than just a little.) There goes eating or drinking anything for the weekend. But I talked to his nurse. She did raise his bed to see out the window better. (Just in time for the blinding blizzard, so he can't see much anyway, but at least between that and the news he can get a sense of what's happening outside.) And she said, if I bring the coffee tomorrow, she'll swab his mouth with a little. If I can't get there, she'll swab it with coffee from there. (If you haven't tasted anything for ten weeks, does hospital coffee taste good then?
I so hope I can see him on his birthday.
D
And he's back to not-a-good-day. (AND on his birthday! AND the day after a blizzard.)
Warning: If you gross out on intestinal talk, you probably don't want to read the blue section. Just scroll down below it to get to the results of that part.
He has not gone to the bathroom (and I'm literally talking standing up and walking to a room with a toilet in it when I say "bathroom") since November. So, they've got tubes for that one -- actually two. The one directly connected to his intestines has popped out a few times, so has to be reinserted. Result? He picked up an infection directly related to that, and couldn't fight it internally because of the amount of antibiotics he has been given in the course of the last 10 weeks. (Antibiotics were needed to fight off the pneumonia and kidney failure, however, antibiotics kill off good germs in the intestines just as much as bad germs. The good germs are there to fight off intestinal bugs. Like that circular problem?) So, he's now hooked up with more antibiotics to fight off this infection AND they had to really, really make sure that tube doesn't pop out again, so... they stuck a couple of balloons where no one ever EVER wants balloons to hold that tube tight.
(It's safe to read again.)
And he's sick. This particular bug is contagious, so I had to wear the plastic yellow gown and rubber gloves just to go in to see him, and nothing I took with me (including my coat, his coffee, and his presents) could go in his room. That was to protect me and him, so not even a kiss.
21 inches of snow, (felt like a mere 19 inches to me), so hard to get around the city, and I took a cab with a heavy backpack (I made him a BIG stocking to stuff all presents in and I'm still trying to give them to him, now his birthday, so thought this was a good day, so heavy backpack), plus a plastic grocery bag with two small loaves of birthday cake for the staff, (Jewish Apple Cake, but I made it into loaves, instead of Bundt Cake form), half a cup of one of his favorite coffees in a traveling mug, and my soda.
He didn't want the coffee, because he's been nauseous. (Possibly, also what's the point of sucking on a little coffee, if you're not eating or drinking anything else for a few days?) And he spent most of the time coughing. They haven't been feeding him in the last two days, so he doesn't have to sit up for the feeding tube to work, so he's more congested than usual. He's also dehydrated because of how the infection hit. That, and at any moment... well, I'm not quite sure which way the junk in him is going.
All that, and he's apologizing to me! Yeesh! Not enough to feel that lousy? He's worried about me too? So, his birthday has been postponed, although the staff is so sweet. The respiratory therapist gave him a card and his nurse wrote, "Happy birthday!" with a cake and smiley face on his "Plan" whiteboard. lol
We did get to watch the hype shows for the meeting between Manning and Brady together. (Two of our all-time best quarterbacks in American football are going head-to-head today to win a spot at the Super Bowl.) Got to suss out if we would take Peyton Manning next year as our QB. (I'd take him, even now. John wouldn't. He past retirement age three years ago, but he's still one of the best all-timers.)
And then I had to go for fear the roads/sidewalks would ice up before I got home. Oh, my debit card -- how I pay for taxis -- was denied. (Good thing I take cash, just in case I lose my debit card.) Want to know why? Because my bank is sending out those new chip cards "mandated by the government so we're really sorry but have no choice." (Really? I heard about that last summer. And you couldn't get around to this until you had to first freeze my card until February 4th? Yeah, right. And I have some real estate just east of Atlantic City for you too.) I should get my new card in a mere 10 days to two weeks! But, hey! No problem, according to the bank CS woman. All I have to do is have the taxi driver stop at an ATM machine (for another $5 charge, possibly more, depending on how long it takes me to access the ATM considering no one with debit cards can use them anywhere but an ATM now) before taking me where I want to go. (Apparently no problem means no problem to her.)
AND, that traveling mug with the unused coffee in it? It leaked -- in that bag with my soda and dripped down the hall in the hospital to someone told me about it. Good thing I like the smell of coffee, because that's all I smell. (Too bad I don't like the taste of it, or that wouldn't have happened. lol) So, no soda.
It took me half an hour to not get a busy signal from the taxi service. It took me another 25 minutes on hold (and being told there's an app for this -- well, if I had the ability to use a phone app, it wouldn't have kept telling me that every 30 seconds for 25 minutes.) Sooo, since old hospital was a mere two blocks away and there was a taxi queue across the street, I figured it was easier going there than trying to call for a taxi. (Easier still, if a taxi happened to pass by as I walked there, but no taxis, no buses.) Except, it wasn't a two blocks away. It was three, uphill, in the snow, (honest -- not that "I used to have to walk to school five miles uphill both ways in the snow with no shoes" story lol), with no cleared sidewalks for half the walk, (nothing like walking on the road at a relatively busy intersection), just to find out no queue today or bus service!
The hospital I headed for (where John last stayed) has a phone in the main lobby that links right to the taxi service.
Busy! ARGH! So, I asked the guy at the info desk to help. He called a service, waited for five minutes and got through. I walk outside, and suddenly a taxi is passing every two minutes. Every two minutes for 20 minutes, before I simply hailed one.
I really, really hope they clean up the roads enough that working-people can go back to work tomorrow. I already miss sidewalks. It doesn't matter too much today, since not much traffic. (Our busiest road look like a road going through the Jersey Pine Barrens. I haven't seen in that quiet at midnight on a Sunday.)
I'm really tired of John losing these crucial steps along the way. They were talking about him going to rehab at the end of this week. He was too weak to sit up for the therapist today. I don't mind sidestep days, but I really hate back step days.
Wasn't this enough two weeks ago?
Warning: If you gross out on intestinal talk, you probably don't want to read the blue section. Just scroll down below it to get to the results of that part.
He has not gone to the bathroom (and I'm literally talking standing up and walking to a room with a toilet in it when I say "bathroom") since November. So, they've got tubes for that one -- actually two. The one directly connected to his intestines has popped out a few times, so has to be reinserted. Result? He picked up an infection directly related to that, and couldn't fight it internally because of the amount of antibiotics he has been given in the course of the last 10 weeks. (Antibiotics were needed to fight off the pneumonia and kidney failure, however, antibiotics kill off good germs in the intestines just as much as bad germs. The good germs are there to fight off intestinal bugs. Like that circular problem?) So, he's now hooked up with more antibiotics to fight off this infection AND they had to really, really make sure that tube doesn't pop out again, so... they stuck a couple of balloons where no one ever EVER wants balloons to hold that tube tight.
(It's safe to read again.)
And he's sick. This particular bug is contagious, so I had to wear the plastic yellow gown and rubber gloves just to go in to see him, and nothing I took with me (including my coat, his coffee, and his presents) could go in his room. That was to protect me and him, so not even a kiss.
21 inches of snow, (felt like a mere 19 inches to me), so hard to get around the city, and I took a cab with a heavy backpack (I made him a BIG stocking to stuff all presents in and I'm still trying to give them to him, now his birthday, so thought this was a good day, so heavy backpack), plus a plastic grocery bag with two small loaves of birthday cake for the staff, (Jewish Apple Cake, but I made it into loaves, instead of Bundt Cake form), half a cup of one of his favorite coffees in a traveling mug, and my soda.
He didn't want the coffee, because he's been nauseous. (Possibly, also what's the point of sucking on a little coffee, if you're not eating or drinking anything else for a few days?) And he spent most of the time coughing. They haven't been feeding him in the last two days, so he doesn't have to sit up for the feeding tube to work, so he's more congested than usual. He's also dehydrated because of how the infection hit. That, and at any moment... well, I'm not quite sure which way the junk in him is going.
All that, and he's apologizing to me! Yeesh! Not enough to feel that lousy? He's worried about me too? So, his birthday has been postponed, although the staff is so sweet. The respiratory therapist gave him a card and his nurse wrote, "Happy birthday!" with a cake and smiley face on his "Plan" whiteboard. lol
We did get to watch the hype shows for the meeting between Manning and Brady together. (Two of our all-time best quarterbacks in American football are going head-to-head today to win a spot at the Super Bowl.) Got to suss out if we would take Peyton Manning next year as our QB. (I'd take him, even now. John wouldn't. He past retirement age three years ago, but he's still one of the best all-timers.)
And then I had to go for fear the roads/sidewalks would ice up before I got home. Oh, my debit card -- how I pay for taxis -- was denied. (Good thing I take cash, just in case I lose my debit card.) Want to know why? Because my bank is sending out those new chip cards "mandated by the government so we're really sorry but have no choice." (Really? I heard about that last summer. And you couldn't get around to this until you had to first freeze my card until February 4th? Yeah, right. And I have some real estate just east of Atlantic City for you too.) I should get my new card in a mere 10 days to two weeks! But, hey! No problem, according to the bank CS woman. All I have to do is have the taxi driver stop at an ATM machine (for another $5 charge, possibly more, depending on how long it takes me to access the ATM considering no one with debit cards can use them anywhere but an ATM now) before taking me where I want to go. (Apparently no problem means no problem to her.)
AND, that traveling mug with the unused coffee in it? It leaked -- in that bag with my soda and dripped down the hall in the hospital to someone told me about it. Good thing I like the smell of coffee, because that's all I smell. (Too bad I don't like the taste of it, or that wouldn't have happened. lol) So, no soda.
It took me half an hour to not get a busy signal from the taxi service. It took me another 25 minutes on hold (and being told there's an app for this -- well, if I had the ability to use a phone app, it wouldn't have kept telling me that every 30 seconds for 25 minutes.) Sooo, since old hospital was a mere two blocks away and there was a taxi queue across the street, I figured it was easier going there than trying to call for a taxi. (Easier still, if a taxi happened to pass by as I walked there, but no taxis, no buses.) Except, it wasn't a two blocks away. It was three, uphill, in the snow, (honest -- not that "I used to have to walk to school five miles uphill both ways in the snow with no shoes" story lol), with no cleared sidewalks for half the walk, (nothing like walking on the road at a relatively busy intersection), just to find out no queue today or bus service!
The hospital I headed for (where John last stayed) has a phone in the main lobby that links right to the taxi service.
Busy! ARGH! So, I asked the guy at the info desk to help. He called a service, waited for five minutes and got through. I walk outside, and suddenly a taxi is passing every two minutes. Every two minutes for 20 minutes, before I simply hailed one.
I really, really hope they clean up the roads enough that working-people can go back to work tomorrow. I already miss sidewalks. It doesn't matter too much today, since not much traffic. (Our busiest road look like a road going through the Jersey Pine Barrens. I haven't seen in that quiet at midnight on a Sunday.)
I'm really tired of John losing these crucial steps along the way. They were talking about him going to rehab at the end of this week. He was too weak to sit up for the therapist today. I don't mind sidestep days, but I really hate back step days.
Wasn't this enough two weeks ago?
I would give you a big hug if I was there, it seems you need it, so do I. Rod has been having pain in his head and really isn't himself. There's nothing I can do, as he won't go to docs until he think necessary. We are both going through it when there isn't alot we can do. your baking cakes sounds so good, you really are an excellent person. Thanks for the daily writings about your days. Keep Strong Love Mandy xx
D
There was a time, (right before he had a massive heart attack) I would never advocate this, but I think that time is over. It's Monday. Call the doctor's office and ask if this is worth a visit. (It is possible he gets stuck with headaches now and there's nothing to be done.) If it is, then have the doctor's office call him to set up an appointment sooner. If they're really nice, they don't have to mention you called, but be prepared for that argument in case they're not that nice.