D
We're both CPAPers already, so I get what you're saying.I think the trach is short term.
I finally got someone to answer me about the TENS unit for his back. (Took a mere week. It being a weekend, they can't ask until Monday, since that's a PT department request.)
He was in the sitting position on the bed when I arrived. I get about one in 20 words he says, but when I asked how his back was doing, that was clear. "Awful." Then I asked if he wanted to stay sitting or lie down. "Lie down." I had trouble finding his nurse. (Same guy. Three days in a row now. Whoa. lol) But, when he came, he told John as long as he can sit up the better, because it helps expand his lungs more, but did he want something for the pain or to lie down.
John told him. "Pain med." (And then he gave the middle finger salute when the nurse left.) He mouthed something and shook his head.
15 minutes later, I got it. "He won't come back." I got it, because the nurse didn't come back.
So, I went to get the nurse again, and he asked if John wanted pain meds. (Um, didn't he already ask?)
That time I could tell the nurse would get it.
I asked John how long was he sitting up. "45 minutes." (Took a little effort to figure out if that was a curse word phrase -- guess which one -- 40 minutes of 45 minutes, but I got it with some more effort.) He smiled at how long he was sitting there but gave another shake of the head at the nurse. (I told John, I didn't know him as well, but didn't much like him either. I called at 7:30 this morning to ask that the doctor call back before I came in. Wasn't sure when I'd be in, since I didn't sleep much last night, but the same nurse said he'd have him call, since I was annoyed with how much effort it was just to find out if the TENS unit was a helpful idea. The doctor never called. The nurse told me the doctor called about noon. I couldn't sleep so I was sitting here from 11:30 to 1. My phone is 18 inches away. I was doing choirs upstairs and downstairs before that, but I can hear the phone anywhere in the house and had my ears on alert for it. So, don't like the nurse either. Not up to cursing him like John is, but don't like him.)
A woman stopped by. She said she was a doctor, but wasn't wearing the white coat. (I'm thinking maybe a PA, resident or fellow, which I guess is close enough.) She's the one who finally answered my question and said she'd order it on Monday, so I do like her.
And, since John was lowered into a more comfortable position after sitting for two hours, I left after that. (This time he told me to go, so whew, my worry that he wanted me for too long was just yesterday, when he was in distress. Not a problem with that.) But, since I only slept four toss-and-turn hours, I'm pretending it's two hours later than it is, so I can go to bed two hours early. That way, I can get there early tomorrow and use our TENS before they have him sit up. I keep thinking if his back has time to relax, sitting up won't be awful. Lousy, but not awful.
On a funny note. The reason I didn't sleep well when I tried taking a nap is I had a nightmare. John was finally able to eat his first meal and it was FISH! lol
John likes fish. But the feeling of terror I had was from another worry for the future. Because of John's traditional high blood pressure, (and his blood pressure is lower than mine now, and I'm good at 110/70. He's got me beat at weight AND blood pressure now, lol), he doesn't eat salt. He doesn't like salt on his food. Have you ever been served a meal without salt? I worry the hospital will serve him food with salt. I saw fish in the dream, but I think that was salt in reality.
I finally got someone to answer me about the TENS unit for his back. (Took a mere week. It being a weekend, they can't ask until Monday, since that's a PT department request.)
He was in the sitting position on the bed when I arrived. I get about one in 20 words he says, but when I asked how his back was doing, that was clear. "Awful." Then I asked if he wanted to stay sitting or lie down. "Lie down." I had trouble finding his nurse. (Same guy. Three days in a row now. Whoa. lol) But, when he came, he told John as long as he can sit up the better, because it helps expand his lungs more, but did he want something for the pain or to lie down.
John told him. "Pain med." (And then he gave the middle finger salute when the nurse left.) He mouthed something and shook his head.
15 minutes later, I got it. "He won't come back." I got it, because the nurse didn't come back.
So, I went to get the nurse again, and he asked if John wanted pain meds. (Um, didn't he already ask?)
That time I could tell the nurse would get it.
I asked John how long was he sitting up. "45 minutes." (Took a little effort to figure out if that was a curse word phrase -- guess which one -- 40 minutes of 45 minutes, but I got it with some more effort.) He smiled at how long he was sitting there but gave another shake of the head at the nurse. (I told John, I didn't know him as well, but didn't much like him either. I called at 7:30 this morning to ask that the doctor call back before I came in. Wasn't sure when I'd be in, since I didn't sleep much last night, but the same nurse said he'd have him call, since I was annoyed with how much effort it was just to find out if the TENS unit was a helpful idea. The doctor never called. The nurse told me the doctor called about noon. I couldn't sleep so I was sitting here from 11:30 to 1. My phone is 18 inches away. I was doing choirs upstairs and downstairs before that, but I can hear the phone anywhere in the house and had my ears on alert for it. So, don't like the nurse either. Not up to cursing him like John is, but don't like him.)
A woman stopped by. She said she was a doctor, but wasn't wearing the white coat. (I'm thinking maybe a PA, resident or fellow, which I guess is close enough.) She's the one who finally answered my question and said she'd order it on Monday, so I do like her.
And, since John was lowered into a more comfortable position after sitting for two hours, I left after that. (This time he told me to go, so whew, my worry that he wanted me for too long was just yesterday, when he was in distress. Not a problem with that.) But, since I only slept four toss-and-turn hours, I'm pretending it's two hours later than it is, so I can go to bed two hours early. That way, I can get there early tomorrow and use our TENS before they have him sit up. I keep thinking if his back has time to relax, sitting up won't be awful. Lousy, but not awful.
On a funny note. The reason I didn't sleep well when I tried taking a nap is I had a nightmare. John was finally able to eat his first meal and it was FISH! lol
John likes fish. But the feeling of terror I had was from another worry for the future. Because of John's traditional high blood pressure, (and his blood pressure is lower than mine now, and I'm good at 110/70. He's got me beat at weight AND blood pressure now, lol), he doesn't eat salt. He doesn't like salt on his food. Have you ever been served a meal without salt? I worry the hospital will serve him food with salt. I saw fish in the dream, but I think that was salt in reality.
