Monday Morning, July 21
21 July 08 - 06:47
There were a couple of things that happened over the weekend: When I arrived to see Jim on Saturday afternoon, he told me had "crashed" his blood sugar, they were unable to wake him up & when he did wake up there were about 10 to 12 people in his room & around his bed. He said his sugar was 34. Furhter questioning revealed this: When he made the switch from tube feeding all night, to regular meals with no tube feeding, someone did not think about adjusting his long-acting insulin, Lantus, that he receives at night. He was given 45 or 48 units. He said he was awake at 2am & told them he did not feel right & had them check everything, but no one thought to check his sugar. At 5am he was unresponsive & they either called a Rapid Response or a code, I am not sure which, and doctors from the main hosopital came over & pushed 50cc of dextrose in his IV. I asked why I had not been called & his nurse, Dave, said he "wasn't there at the time, but had asked & was told the phone calls had been made & everything was taken care of ." I asked for a note to be put in his chart that any when any incident happens that I be called. His Lantus was cut n half & he did fine Saturday & Sunday as far as his sugar. Jim said this incident eroded his confidence a bit in the medical abilities of the Rehab staff. Mine, also. The Respiratory Therapist told me he had suctioned massive amouints - 30cc - of fluid from Jim's lungs early that same morning. I am assuming Jim was not able to breathe deeply & cough as necessary during that time between 2Am & 5AM. I hope this does not lead to pneumonia.
Yesterday, he needed suctioning again, & it took a bit longer of suctioning to clear his lungs. During the last episode of suctioning, Jim's arms & shoulders began twitching or spasming so hard it was shaking his bed & would not stop. It was in both arms & rythmic. I called for the nurse, they came in & checked his blood pressure, his oxygen, his pulse & respirations & one of the nurses said they may call a rapid respone & not to be frightened if people came running into the room. When they flattened out the bed & changed his position, it finally stopped. It was alsmot like a seizure, but Jim said he was OK.
These two incidents, plus the episodes with the chair in the elevator, only serve to add to my anxiety. I am having quite a problem with this. I am not sleeping well, have been awake now since 1AM & it is 6. All that needs to be accomplished plus the concerns for Jim's care are piling up on me. Please pray that I will have the peace I so long for. I seem to be having a harder time right now than I have in many weeks.
So many of you have asked what you can do to help. To get the Family Room ready for Jim, I will have to clear out much that is in there. I could use help with this. I will need help in moving out 1 of the couches & both recliners, a large chest we use as a coffee table, and other items. The chest is full of VCR tapes & DVDs. I will need good sturdy boxes for those. Miles is going to help me get the piano on Craigslist, for I need the space in the front entry room for the extra couch & the recliners, and the chest, maybe. What does not fit in there will have to go in the garage. I will be selling our dining table & 6 chairs (if anyone is interested) & moving the table I brought from my Mom's into the dining area to make room in the garage. All this will require strong arms & backs to move all this. If you can help, please let me know. I will be trying to find out how much space I will actually need this week. Jim, right now, has 4 weeks from July 17th until he comes home.
Yesterday Jim asked me to put this on the blog: He has started asking the staff who attend him, if there is anything that he can pray for. One person, M, said just thanksging for all the blessings God has given her in her life. Jim said she was so happy that he asked her this & that her attitude & demeanor spoke of her relationship with God. Another person, D, said, " Yes, me. Pray for me. I just got out of rehab for alcoholism & am now 88 days sober." Jim said she was so happy he asked her that question & she said she felt a real peace after they talked.
We are asking the Rehab therapists to be more realistic in the items they will be ordering for Jim. Our insurance only pays $2500 per year, plus 10% coinsurance, after a $2000 deductible for medical equipment. The chair Jim has been using cost $60,000. Jim doesn't really like the chair, either. Unless we have a van with a ramp, he does not need a chair such as that. We can buy some items - the bed, the lift, etc, I think, but I don't think we can buy a $60,000 chair. I will be seeing if I can get some items through my work. Please pray about the things we need & our finances. Also, continue to pray about somene to help me with Jim. Many have asked if he has to have an RN. No. He doesn't even have to have a nurse, just somone who is willing to learn & capable of assisting me in turning, feeding, bathing & staying with him a few hours so I can work.
A long entry today, for many needs. BUT GOD IS ABLE. NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR HIM.
MARILYN
one comment:
Jim & Marilyn ,
Please call us when you start remodeling we would love to help you in any way we can,Our gang is on call too!Nicole has been asked to watching the Grandchildren.
Much Love
The Johnson,Winn,Dase Family
Belinda () - 21 07 08 - 10:46
