It’s Saturday and we are in the deepest snow in many years. It’s still coming down. Very pretty, but unlike our perfect southern snow storms, this one has covered the roads.
With Daddy in the hospital, I don’t see any possibility of me getting there to see him today, unless someone with a snow mobile comes by to carry me to town. In a way, it’s a relief. Its too bad to get out, so I don’t have to feel guilty, but I’m not so sure Daddy will understand…..Trying to call him on the phone is pointless. He couldn’t reach it, much less hear well enough to communicate.
I guess I must consider today a vacation day, one where I can get into Daddy’s room and bathroom and attempt to sterilize them both.
Late yesterday, at the hospital, the wound nurse came in to unwrap the bandages from the surgery. Both heels looked like someone had taken an ice cream scoop to them. The right side was deeper; say a 1 ½” scoop, where the left was more like a small melon baller.
There was raw red meat showing with patches of puss scattered about. The nurse squirted the open holes with some fluid that looked like water, patted them dry.
Being curious that I am; I had to watch the entire procedure. Next she cut a close-cell sponge into a bowl shape about twice the size of the scooped out holes and pressed the sponges into the holes. Then came this clear film that was sticky on the skin side. She pressed it down to where except for wrinkles, it appeared more like glossy skin. Several criss- crosses of the clear tape went on to hold the sponges in tightly.
Next she took a small knife and punched a hole through the tape in the center of the sponge area. This was so she could place an air tube, very much like aquarium tubing, into the hole. It had a circular sticky pad attached to it that she pressed down to the sponge assembly. Then the tubing was hooked up to a small pump. I might be mis-remembering, but I think she said the suction pressure was only equivalent to an atmospheric pressure of 1. When she turned on the pump it took about 20 seconds or so to suck all the air out of the sponge and tighten the tape down around the wound. Basically a vacuum seal bag. This will put enough suction on the wound to pull all the nasties out and help begin to bring fresh blood into the area.
I asked her about the smell; that by the way; was no longer there. She confirmed that my understanding from the doctors’ reactions was correct. That is the tell tale sign that if you are caring for someone with bed sores or any other wound, and you smell that rancid meat smell…don’t wait. Get it tended to immediately.
If this could have caused Daddy to need his feet amputated, isn’t the conclusion that if this were on his butt, or another place that cannot be amputated, that it could have been fatal if I had waited for the regular doctor’s appointment? Perhaps all us of us caregivers should make a list of the things we’ve learned and post them..... (Here is fine with me) of things to watch out for.
I’ve never had any medical training, and never lived with anyone that did; assuming at least some osmosis of information would occur… I find it rather disturbing that a tiny bit of ignorance can have such an enormous impact.
Please, if you learned something that the rest of us need to know, let’s share. I’m going to be telling our home health nurse who is young and obviously unaware of this, she needs to pay attention to that smell, and not wait to flag it to the more highly trained staff.
Anyway, I’m sad I’m not going to see Daddy today, unless the sun comes out and the roads clear up.
Hubbie and I have talked about how strange it is to not have him here. It has been so many years since we were alone in the house together, it kinda feels like we’ve sneaked off somewhere to escape our chaperone. Weird.
Thanks to all of you who sent well wishes for Daddy. In no small part, I see this blog as being a way to not have Daddy suffer my mother’s fate, or one I have an irrational fear over.
That is - dying alone…..
When momma died, all of her fiends were in Florida, she was in Tennessee. There was no one here to say good bye to her.
I don’t want Daddy to slip away so quietly with no family or friends to miss him, or even to remember him. Unfortunately, I think it happens all too often. A person outlives their friends, ends up in a strange place, and has no social interaction. When they go, there is no one to call, no one to come over, no one to say good bye.
6 comments:
hassana said...
Hi Pauline, Hi Hubbie ,
I wrote a note to you this morning, it seems it did not go through for some reason... Anyway just wanted to say that I'm full of admiration for what you've been doing to Lewy. I'm very pleased to hear that the surgery went well and that his bed sores were not hopeless after all.. I wish him a very speedy recovery from the hospital so he can go back to his usual environment. Have been regularly reading yr journal for the last 2 months,and I wish you all the strength, patience and faith, in providing Lewy with the best possible care, you are doing great...It is so tough, I know...and I don't think anyone can really understand what you're going through unless they actually live with Lewy. My father, now 71, has had LBD for the last 10yrs (initially diagnosed with Parkinson's for the first 3yrs then Lewy came along for the following 7 yrs). Anyway lots of similarities with yr Lewy: FBI, winning the lottery, the toilet problems, the mumbling, the bed sores, the stubbornness, etc. Although he has had a very loyal and genuine daytime nurse for the past 8 yrs, My Mom has also been taking care of him all along, giving him all the necessary love, attention and care, and of course she has to bear all the non-stop daily incidents that you've been experiencing...and much much more (I'm also sure that you've been experiencing much more than what you actually write...)
I live with my parents and I help as much as I can....I know it's never enough...it's so heartbreaking to see one's father's state regress...I try to give him as much love and quality time as possible, and I try to give Mom a lot of moral support. She sure needs it!.
My prayers are with both of you and Lewy..I really do admire you.
Hubbie said...
Thank you for your kind words Hassana. Our best to you and your parents.
I am happy to report that the roads did clear up around noon and Pauline has gone to sit with her Dad. It appears the roads are drying so she may even be able to go to the game tonight. The Lady Vols are playing Vanderbilt in the SEC tourny. Pearose just called and she is going to visit Lewy. She might even accompany Pauline to the game.
I've got pork chops marinating and ready to grill when Pauline gets home. If the Great Spagetti Monster is feeling saucy, we'll be cellibrating a Vols victory and Lewy getting better.
All in all not a bad day; not bad at all. Isn't it funny how fast the world can turn.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers for Lewy.
Hubbie
oldfriend said...
(((hugs))) and keep pressing on to get the knowledge out. It is a needful thing.
Go Vols!
Always prayers for each of you.
pearose said...
I did visit with Pauline and Lewy for a couple of hours. I still see the twinkle in Lewy's eyes, but I guess most guys would have that twinkle with 5 women making a fuss over him (3 nurses and us). He still has his humor, too. It was really good to see him.
Stella said...
I did not abandon you. I've been here. Freddie has required a great deal of time and effort and Saturday is the day for one of my daughters to come get a list of my household supplies and go to the gro. store and drug store for me. We also had a local election...someone needed to replace our new Gov. Jindal. Dau#2 stayed with Freddie while I went and did my civic duty.
Oh, do I feel guilty??!! Man!!! In your writings, you talk about the heels. Now I know about a sore on the feet because Freddie has diabetes. With someone who has diabetes, you see a place that won't heal, you jump and run...but you have not mentioned Lewy having diabetes so I tried to brush it out of my mind...it nagged at me, but who am I to cross these miles and suggest emergency. Now I can just say I should have questioned it. Oh do we ever have hindsight?
I would think you played basketball in high school. I can just picture you on the court with Daddy [as he was then] in the stands, rooting for his little girl.
Imagine going to a game to unwind after tending to Lewy and having Hubbie waiting with dinner for you?
Rest well tonight as you prepare for the next chapter in caring for Lewy, whatever that may be.
Pauline said...
Yes, Stella, I played HS Basketball. Sorry to hear your having a tough time right now, I weas wondering about you.
No, Daddy doesn't have diabetes. Surely, everyone would have been more watchful. Fortunately there is not much wrong with Pappy except the LBD.
Thanks to everyone for the kind comments, and to you pearose for coming by.