Monday, September 19, 2011
8 am - Pure bliss! I didn't have to call dad this morning. I started out the day with a coffee, and then got to work on my lengthy To Do list. I tried calling the hospital all morning, but couldn't reach anyone. I had to be at dad's at 2.30 to meet with his nurse, so went to the hospital just before that to see what the story was.
1.45 pm - Arrived at dad's bedside to find him looking much improved over last night. He had a nurse now assigned to him... I gave her his Sinemet bottles with the exact dosages on them... and she said... That makes sense now.... his mobility and cognition had been decreasing. The pharmacy had prescribed the Sinemet over 3x a day, not 4x as prescribed by his neurologist. His lunch was served and I chatted with him, and the nurses for a bit. The nurses told me they understood I was trying to get over to Australia. They were trying to get him up to another floor for their recovery program, which included a physio, OT and social worker. I left the hospital feeling much more positive about the outcome.
2.30 pm - Met with dad's nurse at his place... she got some groceries, I did general cleaning up, and then we started in on purging the rest of the kitchen. So much work to do... but a little bit every day gets the job done!
5.00 pm - Back to the hospital to see dad. The nurse asked me what he's used for pain management in the past. Tylenol ONLY! With the Sinemet, dad has had severe cognition issues with anything stronger than Tylenol. That is noted in his chart as well. It's lucky I caught her, as she was going to prescribe something stronger. But wait... what pain? What is going on? She can't tell me until a doctor has met with me. A doctor hasn't been to see him yet. Also, they're waiting for the results of some chest work he has had done. Also, he can't go to recovery until they get a full picture of what is happening. What IS happening!? Yesterday afternoon, they were ready to send him home, and now they were waiting on chest results!? Is it me or is this all a bit backwards. And why hasn't a doctor been to see dad yet!? Crazy BC Medical system... it's in dire straights.
ALSO... dad has been lying in bed for well over 24 hours, not using his muscles. He had been walking around the night before, so I know he can still walk. Now he can hardly move. At least he got to swing his legs off the side of the bed while he had dinner... the most exercise he got all day.
I left the hospital this time feeling most dejected. Australia was looking farther and farther away. Like a dumb idea, really.
7.37 pm - My brother called me to tell me he had stopped in to see dad. Dad hardly opened his eyes the whole time... he's just so tired. At the end of the conversation, he told me that dad has been moved to the rehabilation unit. Oh.... good news. I can feel the weight lift slightly from the pit of my stomach.
No comments:
Post a Comment