Mom's home from hospital.....

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mom's home from hospital.....
9
Thu, 12-29-2005 - 8:15pm

You would think that we'd be happy about this right? Well although we are, we (my Dad and I) really didn't think she was 'strong' enough to leave today!


OK here's the scoop-


Saturday- Christmas Eve; the fall- arrival at the hospital


Sunday- Christmas Day; surgery to have a steel rod placed in her upper arm


Monday; a little groggy but basically on the mend


Tuesday; same, but seemed more 'drugged' than Monday. We were a little surprised that she didn't seem as well as on Monday.


Tuesday night; she needed to use the restroom and couldn't find the call button so took it upon herself to go. Result; she fell again!!!


Wednesday morning; taken down to get her back x-rayed.



She's in pain all day, and VERY groggy (drugged)!!
I had SERIOUS words with the nurses about the care she was receiving....and Dad talked to them about the dosage of the drug. We were not happy campers :-(


Wednesday night; though we went in to see her she was asleep, so we left. I called later on to check on her; she was still asleep and hadn't eaten, all day!!


Thursday morning; get a call from her 'stand-in' doctor (as the one who performed the surgery the other day is off in Paris at the moment!!) at 7.30am letting me know that she would be discharged today. Tell Dad and we both decide to see how she is when we go in.



She's not so great, not as groggy or drugged as before, but quite weak. None of us have seen or talked to the doctor directly!!


Mid-afternoon the discharge nurse comes in to make sure we understand that if we decide to keep her in the hospital for one more day it will be $1000+ as the doctor has said she is fit and able enough to leave!


Thursday 6pm'ish; arrive back home, with Mom in tow! My friend Abbie (a nurse) met us here and helped us into the house.



Mom's sitting watching TV right now, but seems uncomfortable and in pain! I've no idea how she's going to manage a night in a regular bed.


Although the break is her arm she seems quite unsteady on her legs, could be that she hasn't really walked in a couple of days. She seems to be totally lacking confidence in her own strength right now!!


Sorry for the ramble ladies, I guess I just need to get it out of me....and this is where it's ended up ;-)
I hope that within a few days her confidence and strength will grow, and the pain will ease off!


~IslandGirl



~Best Wishes for 2006~



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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2005
Thu, 12-29-2005 - 8:22pm

What an ordeal !! I hope she feels better soon.

Chrissy

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 10:57am

Best you can do is keep an I on her I guess. It's hard seeing your parent not well. Maybe you can get her into another doctor??


It's odd I have a couple of friends who's parents are not well. Unlike your mom one has had a stroke and the other lung cancer but it seems that when you reach you mid 30s to early 40s that the parents start to weaken a little bit putting the children in more of a grown up roll with their parents. My DH's mother


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2004
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 11:09am

So sorry to hear about your mom. I know there are good hospitals and medical practitioners out there, more good than bad I'm sure, but sometimes it just seems like the care is lacking anymore. Leaves you wondering if you really can trust the decisions made.

lorie6-26-09.png Lorie 6-26-09 picture by runningwomen

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 11:58am

Sorry to hear your mom is still having trouble. Did they send her home with any pain meds? You may want to find another Dr to take her to just to make sure she's ok. I'm guessing there aren't hospitals on every corner like there are here. Thank goodness you have a friend who's a nurse. Hopefully she can offer you some help & guidance.

I'll keep your mom in my prayers & hope for a speedy recovery.

Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 1:16pm

Oh, IG!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 1:48pm

Ladies- thank you so much for all your thoughts! Her surgeon from last week should be back after the weekend and we'll be going in to see him then, so I'll hold off on any 2nd opinions....for now at least!


Gretchen- I agree, many of my friends are having similar 'health' issues to do with their parents too. It really does make you "grow up" quickly!


Ann- yes she has pain meds, thankfully!! Of course I've done some research on what they are and am being vigilant as to how much she gets, and when she gets it of course. I also checked out the dosage with my nurse friend yesterday! All good there...


Miranda- thanks for the number, unless there are any more 'complications' I hope not to have to use it, but it's useful to have. Thank-you!



She's up and sitting in a chair right now- her appetite isn't up to much but was asking for some grapes earlier. Got her some of the seedless ones, and a variety of jello (which she's actually eating right now) and also picked up a couple of "nutriments"....


Once again ladies, thanks for the thoughts :-)


~IslandGirl



~Best Wishes for 2006~



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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 7:55pm

IG, glad to hear your mom is feeling a bit better!!


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2003
Mon, 01-02-2006 - 2:43pm

Sounds as if she's on the slow mend... sending you all good wishes and hopes that she's more herself and more confident in her strength again!


And I wanted to say good for you for standing up to the nurses that were giving care that left a little to be desired!!

~~ Steffy ~~
~~ Steffy ~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 01-02-2006 - 4:43pm
Thanks Stef-- yes, every day is a little better for her. It seems her back is more sore than her arm now....because of the fall IN the hospital!!! I picked her up one of those heated pads for it- hopefully it will help her have an easier night of rest tonight.


~IslandGirl



~Best Wishes for 2006~



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