spinning of wheels requested :(

[roadie gal]

Lots of good healing thoughts and spinning wheels for your FIL.

[marni]

Thank you all for your good thoughts and spinning of wheels. Between taking Dad off of the pain meds that were making him gaga and non compos mentis, and getting the UTI infection pretty much cleared out, FIL is well enough to be transferred to a recovery/rehabilitation, skilled nursing center where he will continue to be stabilized on his current meds and gotten back to continence (please please please) and stable enough on his feet to move around and resume some normal activities and get to the toilet.

We have no idea how long he will be in the rehab place, but at least it is a better environment than the hospital, and they will be working consistently with him on mental and physical therapy.

marni

[OakLeaf]

Thanks for the update - hope he continues to improve.

[indysteel]

thanks for the update - hope he continues to improve.

+1.

[marni]

Resident FIL is finally out of the hospital after 10 days and is currently at a skilled nursing/ rehab facility. He is more or less oriented which is a great relief after all of the dementia, lack of memory and connection he was exhibiting in the hospital. He is still not eating, (constipation and acid reflux) and his neuropathy pains are coming back which is worrisome as we are fairly certain that it was the combination of urinary tract infection and neuropathy pain meds.

In the meantime he is at least getting up out of bed, and is doing some physical therapy. Some days are better than others and on the bad days he has the personality of a 2 year old alternating with aggressive anger. Today I took him a home cooked casserole that is one of his favorites he took one bite, threw it at me and told me it tasted like crap. Strangely enough though he always manages to choke down the ice cream.

I am feeling very hostile and frustrated in spite of managing to spend at least an hour and a half in the gym with the trainer a couple of times a week and an hour or two on the indoor bike each day. Basically I am trying to work myself to exhaustion so I can creep into bed and sleep in the few hours that I am actually home.

DH goes directly from work and spends a couple of hours with him, tries to help with dinner etc and if feeling equally frustrated and exhausted.

All dad wants to do is "get the hell out of here and get back to my life." Unfortunately he seems unable to equate that goal with the fact that if they get him up in a chair and then ask him if he can walk three feet to the toilet and he refuses, he can't come back home any time soon. Ditto about eating, cooperating with the physical therapist etc.

Day by day- at least the kids understand about coming home to a very low key Christmas.

[Crankin]

Marni, I really feel for you. Keep your sense of humor.

[OakLeaf]

(((((((marni))))))))

I thought about you when I read this the other day about caregiver burnout. It's mostly someone's personal story - feel free to ignore. However you choose to do it, do take care of yourself. And vent here, any time...

[goride]

Marni - this sounds frightening and frustrating for all concerned. Will spin the wheels for you and your family.

[marni]

(((((((marni))))))))

I thought about you when I read this the other day about caregiver burnout. It's mostly someone's personal story - feel free to ignore. However you choose to do it, do take care of yourself. And vent here, any time...

excellent article- much to think about. Thanks oakleaf.