Done yesterday (20090423)

[mdlbear]

0423 Th
  * up 6:40; W=190.2; drugs, nose; coffee, C
    mouth _very_ dry on waking.
  * 7:39 Call Emmy in sick -- nausea.  408 558 3063
    (Part meds, part the scheduled mock funeral, but don't have to explain.)
  * 9:00 be at WB so Cat can come home for evaluation (Honda)
    ! pleased; a little concerned
    -> kitchen island needs to move out temporarily (put where water is)
    -> no clutter on floor near Colleen's chair
    -> metal end-pieces on ramps; remove threshold for now
       (maybe weatherstrip the bottom of the door instead)
    -> desk in back bedroom needs to come out (but we knew that); no clutter
    -> need a self-propelled wheelchair.  ABC, or rent for now.
    -> roll up area rugs
    -> need a commode in the LR sewing alcove, with curtain for privacy
    -> taking door off back bathroom isn't enough to get the walker through
       take the jam strips off, too.  May be worthwhile removing the frame.
       The front bathroom is hopeless.
    -> work from home mornings to help Colleen get up and out of bed
    -> They're going to recommend outpatient PT -- better than home care
    -> They're getting her a knee brace to keep the left knee from buckling
    -> Agreed that a pair of hospital beds would be ideal
    -* get a gait belt to help steady her; better than hauling on her pants.
  * See whether PT or somebody else has to set up the beds.
    -> they'll also need to order us (another) commode for LR
  * Colleen wants a chocolate mint milkshake.  Get me a small chocolate.
  & some light m-s_b'ing with N, both by phone and by IM.
  & hit some kind of wall btw. 10:30 and 11:00.  Tired?
  * bath; bed ~11:30

I've already posted about Colleen coming home for an hour, and the list of things that need doing before she comes home for good sometime next week, so I'll just say that we're pretty optimistic. She's coming home for dinner tonight.

I hit some kind of a wall between 10:30 and 11:00. I think I remember taking a bath before going to bed... I needed the sleep, apparently.

Comments

[phoenixpdx.livejournal.com]

I missed the early part of what happened to Colleen to get her to this point...I gather something a bit unexpected and rather catastrophic. If you don't mind my asking (looking around for Fast Eddie, just in case), what happened?

As someone with mobility impairments, I'm watching the progress with sympathy and getting some good ideas for me. I may even have a suggestion or two along the way. My thoughts are with you and her and I'm glad she is making such good progress.

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Surgery with an epidural which apparently did screwy things to her system. She's been working her way out of paralyzed legs for a month and a half or so now.

[mdlbear]

Ask away. Major abdominal surgery (hernia repair, fistula repair, bowel resection, both ovaries removed because of cysts) about 2 months ago. The epidural apparently left her unable to move anything from the waist down; she's gradually recovering but is still very wobbly.

Before that the fistula (from Crohn's Disease) had her in and out of the hospital since mid-November; she was on TPN for a total of two months or so, some of that at home. See the "colleen" tag for the whole thing.