GREAT NEWS! Hope the good news continues. I was wondering if any blood tests were done and would that show infection or pneumonia? Keep those fluids going...Lynn is one tough "dude"..good on him!
Nikki you are an amazing, amazing women, you have the strength of Hercules, the fortitude and spirit of a increidble Guardian Angel for your Lynn. Blessing and prayers to you both.
Well, they wanted to see if Lynn would spike a fever without tylenol, he did. Not very high, just over a hundred. But he felt much warmer to me, his cheeks were red, he told me he was hot. It took over two hours to make him comfortable again
Doc just left, said they are keeping him a few more days at least...then told me if I had not called the ambulance, he would not have survived the night.
My gut told me this, but it is something else when a doctor confirms it. Will never forget him being packed in ice like that....so so frightening.
He is still acting better, but today is more tired. Who wouldn't be? He sounds just awful but never complains. He does ask for his nose to be wiped...breaks my heart that he doesn't understand how to blow it. Poor bugger...
He is resting peaceful and fever is under control. Doctor is sending me home to get some sleep. Promised to leave orders to call me if his temp was above 98.8....ok, I can live with that plan. Staying at least a few more hours though and will be here bright and early.
I wish I could take it from him, it hurts to see him so sick.
Happy to hear there is improvement. Remember to take care of yourself also. He still needs you to be his advocate. I will keep lifting prayers up to our Great Physician!
Just checking in here this morning to see what an ordeal, Nikki. Gosh. So very thankful YOU were able to get things going so that he actually got to the hospital and that he's getting better. Wise words of other friends here for getting some rest. Too often we run on pure adrenlin. Will keep praying things continue to improve for you both.
*sigh* he is not as responsive as yesterday and would not eat and hardly drank. The fever has not come back, I know this is a great thing! But I am so worried about the changes since yesterday. Perhaps he is just exhausted from fighting so hard? Waiting for doctor......
I may seem strong to some of you...but I have never felt weaker. The helplessness is consuming....
Nikki, You and Lynn are in my prayers. You have to be a strong woman to have made it this far just hang in and leave it in the Lord's hands. Hugs and God Bless.
any little infection, much less pneumonia, can take them to their knees in such a short time. i think its normal under the circumstances that he will need some time of peace and quiet to recouperate. the meds hes getting are powerful and take a toll on the system as well. give it a few days. hopefully he will rebound back to his smiling self. in the meantime you have to try to relax and leave it to the drs care nikki. you will wear yourself out and be of no use to lynn if you get sick. i know with my DH after hes been on antibiotics he takes a good while to get back on his feet so to speak. their systems are compromised and not up to normal standards. like jean says its in the Almightys hands and you have done everything you can. take care. divvi
I know what you mean. It's at the times when we must draw on every bit of the strength we've developed over the years that we feel the most helpless and vulnerable. It's because of the size of what we're up against.
Nikki, I put you on the prayer list at Mass last Sun and will again for Easter. You and Lynn have and are fighting the good fight and now the recovery, even if slow, is in His hands. It is so hard not to worry..I tend to agree, that Lynn had so much going on these past few days and now he is just pooped and in need of some good ol fashioned rest to recoup. Get some rest.
Thank you Nikki for keeping us all posted in this terrible time for you. We all really appreicate it. When I come on this site I immediately look at this post to get the up-date from you on Lynn. Take care of yourself and please keep us posted when you can.
Nikki, more and more Hugs. I wish I could offer you more. I so respect what Divvi has to say and I couldn't agree more. Get some rest for yourself, and the every thing else is in the hands of the Lord - what else can you do, dear one, there's only so much we mere humans are capable of. Trust in the Lord.
Hi everyone, thank you so much for your continued support and prayers, truly, means so much to me ♥
The doctor saw Lynn when he wasn't as responsive and is still very very happy with the improvements and had hoped to release him tomorrow. Now we are not so sure. He is now much more alert and talking YAY! He is simply exhausted from his fight! And hurting from the shaking and convulsions I imagine.
When the doctor told him he was strong and fought hard Lynn said "I wasn't sure I had it in me" .......several times this afternoon he will say things like "boy that was tough" or "that was hard work".......he has zero recall so he can't remember, or maybe he does? There is more... but I can't share it here, but did finally find the courage to share it with our facebook family......
Lynn IS improving, it was just hard to see him this way after he had been doing so well. The latest xray does show more pneumonia and the doctor said he knew it eventually would. But, his lungs do sound clearer. He also said Lynn's white blood cell count, and other tests, continue to show a steady decline, which is what he was hoping for. All the blood cultures so far have been negative. YAY. The doctor said it will take weeks, but he does believe Lynn will make a full recovery.
He is just completely worn out from his fight for his life. His sleep is peaceful, and is just what he needs to heal. It was such a relief when he finally came around this afternoon and was full of I love yous and kisses. I let him stay awake for about a half hour then tell him I am really tired and must sleep. I then partly close my eyes and fake sleep to see if he will go back to sleep. He always does. I think he was fighting the sleep because he enjoyed the company so much. Now he is just plain tuckered out!
He ate a tiny bit for dinner, but is on IV fluids and another for calorie and nutrients. His spirits are up and that makes me happy. He thanked me for taking such good care of him *gasp*....... he is saying things that are so beautiful they take my breath away.
One of the local ministers came to visit tonight, he comes to see Lynn every couple of weeks. He stood there mouth open and just shocked at the way Lynn interacts with me. Lynn kept asking me for kisses and told me over and over how much he loves me. He then read his flashcards and was just as happy as can be. The minister said I have been visiting him for almost a year now and he is never this alert and though he does talk some, he doesn‘t respond to me this way.. He told me it is almost like Lynn feeds off of me. Perhaps he does? Or maybe the minister is boring LOL….
This is how he acts every day when I am with him. We have been blessed, and now more than ever I find myself so very grateful....
Nikki---It is so good and so special that Lynn tells you he loves you and asks for kisses. This must be what gives you strength to deal with this latest event. Hope you have had some restful sleep. Take care.
Nikki--when you have time, Google "The Brain On Love nytimes". It is an interesting article that explains what happens physically inside the brain when we are with someone we love. It describes why Lynn still reacts to you the way he does--his brain automatically turns off stress, etc. when you are there. Relatives who have visited Steve at the ALF have mentioned that he acts differently when I'm there. I think that those of us who were fortunate enough to have extraordinary relationships with our spouses before AD still can maintain that bond far into the disease.
WOW Marilyn, that was something else to read. I believe every word. There is just no ignoring the huge difference in the way Lynn reacts to me verses anyone else. Even his children have no impact on him. Yet my niece and nephew do, perhaps because they didn't abandon him and lived with us for years. They were much like our own children and he loved them dearly. Interesting indeed!!
And update on Lynn.....Lynn has been OFF ALL oxygen since 2:45 this afternoon!! He is holding a steady rate of 91-95%!! They are not checking his levels as much as I would like, so I went and bought my own Oximeter! Hey when your husband crashes and need 100% oxygen, you just don't get over that....thinking from now I will check it all the time. Good thing it is painless for him :)
Still isn't eating well, but I really think it is all the antibiotics upsetting his tummy. He has a long ways to go to full recovery, but Hoping he can be released tomorrow....
Thanks again for your up-date. Hope he continues to improve. Nothing like a loving spouse to see that the best care is given....that is our job and they (nurses/doctors) are our employees. We are the boss always when it comes to the care we want and can demand they get. Take care.
thank you ladies ♥ I find I am extremely overwhelmed..... too overwhelmed to keep up with the posts here… and that make me feel just guilty as heck! I really have little emotions left to spare at the moment, so for my well being and sanity, I will be taking a little break while I try to help Lynn heal. I am spending a minimum of 16 hours a day with him. He will be staying at least the weekend and today I was told possibly a week a more. He IS out of crisis and he IS doing better, but he needs time to recover. And I need to be there to help him in any way I possibly can..... I know you will all understand. Truly, thank you so much for your tender kindness and prayers. Much love ♥
I am marking the calendar, and expect to hear from you no later than the 16th.....(kidding of course, but please do not make us worry too much) God bless you richly and deeply dearest Nikki, and your precious Lynn.
Lynn is rebounding wonderfully. It has been slow, but steady. Today when I got there I was just stunned at how much better he was than just last night! Looking at him and listening to him, one would never guess he had recently been in a battle for his life. When I entered the room his smile was HUGE and he said "there is my beauty, come sit with me" ....and I did :)
It was as if he had never been so sick... he was happy, loving and such a chatterbox. To see that gleam, that spark, back in his eyes... God, I could just cry from relief... and I did that too, several times .....
We had such a fantastic day!! I know he could have a low day tomorrow as he is still recovering. But both of his doctors said he is doing far better than they dared to hope and both said they do believe he will make a full recovery. I do not know what I ever did to be worthy of being granted two miracles in my life, but I am so grateful....and thankful... and relieved.... and happy..... and and and... did I mention relieved?
Thank you all so much for your support and the comfort you brought me, when I desperately needed it. ((hugs))