Day 182

Day 182
Saturday November 23, 2013
Physical
DH stayed in bed all day, except for a half an hour or so "potty break" (which was nearly a disaster .. he really is getting too weak to get him up and down safely).  He didn't feel "bad", but he just didn't want to get up.  He didn't eat a huge amount, but at least he did eat.  His confusion level was about the same .. it's a daily guessing game as to where he thinks he is.  
The down side of the day came when it was time to set up dialysis. Just like the night before, more than half way through the set up I got a "system error".  So I just stopped and tried what worked before  ... starting over with a new cassette.  Well, that didn't work this time.  In the exact same place I got the same error.  Since all the solution bags had already been "accepted" (acknowledged), there's nothing else that can be wrong except the machine itself.  And there's no way I can call about the machine because no matter how hard I try, I cannot read the numbers.
He'll be OK (not "great", but OK) to miss one night.  The nurse even told me that .. the last time he "broke" his catheter, he said it would have been all right until morning if I hadn't caught him before leaving the clinic.
However, more than one night would not be a good idea (a long time ago another dialysis nurse told me he wouldn't survive more than 3 nights without dialysis.  I think, given his track record, he would .. but I'm not at all willing to test that theory!!!).  So, TGF *said* she'd come by this morning on her way to church and help me with those numbers.  I'm hoping if I can call early enough they'll send a replacement machine today!  At some point today I will do at least one, maybe 2, manual exchanges; but I don't think there are enough of the right kind of supplies for more than that.
People:
Since he stayed in bed, DH didn't see anyone all day.  DSS stopped by briefly, but when he poked his head in the room, DH was sleeping.  I had a friend and some of her family for supper, and we had a nice visit.  She brought some food he will enjoy, and gifts.  
Emotions:
It's a shame he didn't want to get out of bed all day.  It was our anniversary.  Oh well, we've had worse! LOL!  Most of the day was fairly calm, and I had enough to do to keep from sitting around getting sad.  I sort of watched a Christmas parade .. had to watch on TV, couldn't find it online.  But the cameras stayed mostly on the parade this year, for a change!  The evening got very upsetting with the dialysis problem.  It's bad enough when the machine goes bonkers.  But my not being able to see well enough to read the screens, or the numbers, is very scary.   DH is not capable of remembering how limited my vision is .. or that he can't just get up and walk over to the machine himself.  (and even if he could, he'd stare at it for 20 or 30 minutes and not have a clue what he's supposed to be looking for!).  
So a relatively nice day ended with frustration and discouragement.
I consoled myself with cake. :(