Day 146

Day 146
Thursday October 18, 2013

This started out a fairly "normal" day.  He hadn't slept as well, but was ready to get up by 10:00.    About 1:00 he wanted to lay back down, and we hadn't heard from the CNA yet.  She called just about that time, and got here around 2:00.  He wanted to stay in bed; but about half an hour after she left, he suddenly demanded to get up.
He never would eat anything; but he didn't *seem* to be overly disoriented.
About 5:00 he insisted I take him to the bathroom.  
It's difficult to describe his actions without giviing TMI, so fore-warned.
He claims he cannot have a bowel movement unless he bends over just about double while sitting on the commode. I keep telling him that can't be right (at least not that extreme) .. an aide had previously agreed with me that I need to go back to giving him some laxitive for a few days.  I've put that off, because I'm afraid it would be "overkill" - give him the runs.  Anyway, I kept telling hm to be carefil, he was going to fall.  He said he knew that, he was bracing his feet (actually, his feet were a bit under the seat - not at all where he thought they weree - it's like the messages transmitters from the brain do not reach the legs at all any more).  Plus he kept wanting to hold my hand and "pull".  I never did figure that out.  
He said he was ready to quit, and I was laying some chux on the bed so I could get him cleaned up.  And while I wa standing there, trying to unfold one of the flimsy little things, in the blink of an eye - he pitched forward!  He landed face down (actually on my feet), head against the night stand, and the commode pulled over on top of him.  I got the commode set back up, and checked to see if he was all right.  Then I called hospice.
DSS had  called not long before sayng he was headed our way (he usually does on Thursdays).    It took several calls and a wait, but turns out there's a nurse on duty on "2nd shift", so she came out. She checked him over, helped me move him enough to get off of the air hose, and put some ointment on apparent rug burns on his nose and forehead.  Then we just waited for DSS.  It took awhile, but once he got there, he and I managed to get DH up and onto the bed.
After that they left.  I got him cleaned up, the floor cleaned the best I could, fixed him a sandwich (he hadn't eaten all day, and said he didn't want that; but ate it when I brought it, and some grapes), got the dialysis set up (skipped the heparin, I hadn't been able to get the bags prepped before DSS got there, got him some Tylenol and a sleeping pill and settled in.  
Somewhere in all of that I managed to pull a muscle in my left should/upper back.  I've warned him that Friday might have to be a mainly in bed day - which he might be OK with, because the nurse said he might find himself very sore by today.  I just don't think I'll be able to lift him until the shoulder has a chance to rest and heal.  But, he may well forget what I've said; and when he's ready to get up, he will demand that I get him up.  If I don't, he'll try very hard to do it himself - not even remenbering he's already had a fairly bad fall from not listening to caution.
It was hard to get comfortable, so I didn't get enough sleep.  Just before 4:00 AM he was restless enough to get me up.  And again at 5:00ish.  At 6:15 I gave up and got on up.  I know I slept some because I had very odd dreams in between!  
There will be a lot of people in and out today (Friday).  I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not; but I have to be ready anyway.