As almost all of you know, DH spent 16 days at the behavioral unit (psych). There had only been 3 days between his prior hospital discharge and readmission.
I pretty much knew to expect changes in DH's needs, and abilities, both physical and mental, thanks especially to the sharing by those who've walked this route before.
DH came home last evening with new meds, and he still has his catheter indwelling. Hopefully he will get it out this coming Friday (27th) when we see the Urologist. He has a leg bag, so I have to keep a watch on that more often. I forgot about it initially , and when I remembered I thought, "OH MY GOSH! Leg bags don't hold much." I was afraid it was going to burst if it hadn't already." Surprise, I found that the bag had been put on upside down by someone at the hospital, with the clamped end at the top. The bag was empty as all the urine was still up in his bladder. YIKES! Well, to my surprise, when I corrected the bag and drained his bladder he didn't have nearly the quantity I expected. When I took him into the bathroom to do catheter care I found that (pardon the graphics) his foreskin had not been unretracted after someone at the hospital did his care. OH MY.....POOR BABY! So sore and red. I'm surprised how many times I've come across that when I was working in the hospitals. Lots of staff forget there are a great many uncircumcised older men and their cath care is just a wee (pun intended) bit different.
I've been encouraging fluids all day today, but he still has a lower than desirable quantity of intake and output. DH's appetite is NOT what it used to be, especially this morning. He hardly ate, and kept forgetting his one cup of coffee I was allowing him to have. He took all his pills last night and this morning, but the one in the afternoon he forgot how to swallow. Got around that using yogurt. I'm curious to see what he does with tonights meds an hour and a half from now.
It's surprising how long DH's hair had gotten, so I washed his hair and had him sit for a real good haircut. Looks so much better now. His nails were long and jagged so got them nicely filed. His teeth looked awful so I got his tooth brush ready, handed it to him and told him to go brush his teeth. A couple minutes later he comes out of the bathroom and ask "what do I do with this?" as he holds his tooth brush out. I explain and take him back in the bathroom. I try to show him and he can't figure it out. So, I brushed his teeth for him.
It is very weird what does and does not come back to him through out the day today. He seems to know his way around the house, yet he asks where this (house) is at. He forgets things, then remembers, then forgets them again. For a bit today his speech was slurred and his words were pretty garbled. He had alot of trouble applying appropriate words to things. Then he got quite anxious and I gave him Ativan (0.5mg). Didn't seem to phase him though. It was noticeable that he was sundowning.
DH knows our names and our relationship to him. A friend of sons came over and DH has mistaken him a couple times for his brother Dave. The friend is 18, and DH's brother is about 78. DH has done a bit of door checking, and earlier was saying we had to get going, but thankfully that was short lived. I told him I couldn't go anywhere because I was trying to catch up on work (I was typing on my computer......on this forum). DH has forgotten that I haven't worked outside the home in 5 years. I have a caregiver scheduled for about 5 hours Monday and Tuesday. I've told DH that I have to work and the nice lady, Mary, is coming to do some cleaning, and she will keep him company and cook for him. So far he just says OK, but we shall see.
Anyway, the next couple of days may be very different entirely, but I do hope he settles in better each day. And I sure hope he doesn't get sick. I am fighting a sore throat and feel other cold symptoms. Made myself the vinegar and honey syrup that Vickie suggested for sore throat, but tossed it when I saw DH taste testing it Gotta make some more, and also relax with a cup of tea if I ever get this 200 lb Toddler to bed.
Dear Diana, What a day you've had! I appreciate that you told us about it. It's helpful to me, and I'm sure others, to see how you've coped. And all that in spite of a sore throat and cold symptoms! Will be thinking of you and sending warm thoughts your way. Love, Mary
New Realm, at least it sounds like yo have experience and things under control so far. my DH has lots of bladder issues and last ER trip they asked if i wanted to bring him home with a cathete/legbag in place? are you kidding? AD and leaving that bag alone? i cant even see how that would be possible without knocking them out all day! i was suprised to hear yours is not messing with it:) just caring for that part of his illness is overwhelming i think. thank goodness you have the ativan on hand for emergency. i am glad things are looking better for him and you and wish you all the best this week with his care and recouperation. Divvi
I slept pretty well, and I guess DH did too. The hospital staff told me he was sleeping about 8 hours solid at nights before discharge, and I was praying that would continue at home. So far, so good.
DH's best, most loyal friend in the world is our Pom-Chi, Charlie. DH was kind of cool to him when he first came home from hospital. Yesterday he asked "who is Charlie?" when I told him Charlie wanted to sit with him. Charlie also knows things are different, but has continued to be real affectionate toward DH. DH loves him so much that he would ALWAYS want to know where he was, give him treats, and leave the TV on cartoon network for Charlie whenever we had to leave the house. Right now DH is dozing and Charlie is asleep on his lap. I think Charlie got to stay in his lap most of the night.
That ativan I gave DH was around 5 or 6 pm and it didn't appear to have done anything for DH. I'm hoping not to need it much for DH, but glad some is on hand anyway. Today if need be, I will use two of those.
Mary, I don't feel so much of the sore throat today as yesterday, but my nose tells me this isn't over yet. UGH!!!
Dazed, I think DH was a late 5, early 6 prior to all this hospital, UTI, A-fib, and drug interactions stuff. While he can still walk, talk and eat I think he is solidly at the late 6 early 7 stages.
Divvi, DH has come home with a catheter in the past. The first time was a constant nightmare. This just as he was being diagnosed with AD. Then he came home Feb 1st with a foley after the heart, UTI hospitalization. He was not happy with it, didn't like having to carry around the bag, and didn't really understand what it was for. And now he comes home accustomed to having this thing attached to his lower leg and so far hasn't bothered it at all.....KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!! CROSS FINGERS & TOES!!!
New Realm, I hope everything goes smoothly for you and you DH, at least as smooth as they can with an AD patient. I also hope you will be over your sore throat and sniffles. Take care of BOTH of you. Jean
knocking, NR==:) that is excellent news if you can get thru to the 27th and to the urologist. and be prepared too, thats not fun either when the deflate that thingy and pulll it out! ouch. i have to leave the room when they do it..plus i hope hes on some antibiotics for the catheter just so no infections? divvi
DH is on pyridium which is supposed to help with spasms, burning, and also to keep bacteria from attaching to the bladder lining. I'm also trying to be diligent with doing the cath care . Yep, I am anxious for this week to be over. BUT---I also know we will do voiding trials and there is always the possibility that DH will have a cath permanently or that I will have to straight cath him regularly. Truth is, I'd much rather do the latter than have him be incontinent, and sore.
New Realm, I hope things are going better with DH's adjustment to home. After 3 months in psych unit, my DH was released to home and we had a few days of readjustment, fortunately nothing too serious. Actually home was a much better environment - they had him in "pull-ups" in hospital, even though he wasn't incontinent and they sent him home with scabies. Hope all is going well now. Hugs.