He hit his head this time. It's 1:40am and I just got home from the hospital. Drew is spending the night. They didn't have a room for Dad that was close to the nurses station (he's waaaay down the hall) so his nurse asked if one of us could spend the night. Dad was sleeping when I left but he could pop up at any time. He tries to get out of bed and he's constantly trying to rip out his IV. For his own safety he needed someone there tonight. I didn't feel right about leaving Drew. This has got to stop.
Dad has a bleed on the surface of his brain. When he fell he hit the back of his head kind of off to one side. They're going to keep him in the hospital to see if the bleeding stops on its own. When I left Dad seemed to be doing well. Well, for him, anyway. He was doing his usual behaviors and didn't seem like he was in any additional distress. It doesn't look to me like the fall has done him much harm. We'll see.
So, that's it for now. I'm going to bed. Oh yeah, there's an extra bed in Dad's room for Drew to sleep on. At least he can be comfortable while he's there.
10 comments:
Yowser, wild night eh? When do you guys think you'll get an attendant for him? Sounds like it needs to be right now so he's got someone when he gets out of the hospital.
You guys can't keep this up. He's a millionaire--that's why you sold the farm. Pry some of that money out of his bank and hire a professional.
--dean
Drew had actually lined up a professional sitter but Dad fell before the person showed up. We're in a new phase now. the game has changed.
The doc at Community said we're looking at the beginning of the end. Even if the the bleed stops (and he says it's gotten worse) Dad's brain is so eaten up with the AD that there's really not much time left. Of course we don't know if that's days, weeks or months. He said the cognitive areas of Dad's brain are almost gone. He won't be going back to Sunrise but instead will be sent to hospice. From here on out the focus will be on managing Dad's "terminal agitation" and making him comfortable. So, we're talkin' lots of drugs.
I spent the morning there with Mindy. Dad couldn't rest for more than a couple minutes. Really, he'd be down for 2 or 3 minutes and then he'd sit up and throw the covers off. Sometimes he'd have to pee and we'd have to deal with that. Mostly, he'd just pop up and sit there, fighting the sedatives. Then we'd lay him down and get him covered and bam, up again he'd pop. Drew and Mindy are with him now. I came home to grab a nap. I'm going to spend the night with him tonight. Drew will relieve me in the morning so I can go to work.
Puh! I had a hair appointment this morning that I had to cancel. I really wanted that hair cut.
Wow, really? I thought that since he was still recognizing you (and family members) that he still had some cognative abilities peeking thru.
I really hope you take some Zanex with you (for you!)
Well, he must have something left because he does still recognize us and he can communicate. I think the doctor was reporting what he saw on Dad's scan.
Last night went well, considering. I think I got about 3 hours of sleep. Stacey was with me for much of the evening and Scotty showed up for a quick visit. At around 10:30 I left and went to Walgreen's to get some Depends. All they had at the hospital were these big diapers that were really hard to put on. We never did get that right. Stacey went home right after Dad got his evening meds. I was hoping he'd be good and knocked out but at 2:30 he started to get restless. We tried to give him a sleeping pill but he started to chew it and spit out the pieces. Today Drew's going to ask the doc if they can give him something injectable. All the rest of the time I was there Dad would fidget and throw off his covers. He took his hospital gown off. I had to keep getting up to cover him. But at least he couldn't get up and get out of bed. He's way too weak. He might have been a little cold at times but he couldn't fall down. Drew showed up just before 5. He said he got lots of rest. Yay!
I was wondering if the doc made the assessment via a scan or the behaviour. I was under the impression late stages included no recognition at all and no voluntary muscle control. I didn't realize hospice would take someone who is as active as your dad.
I can't believe that Sunrise can't handle someone in his condition (I mean, I can, but shit the costs are enormous for a reason).
Yeah--this isn't the first time he's been reluctant to take his pills, and you have to ask them to consider injections?
Virginia- I don't know how the doc made the diagnosis. he could be looking at chicken entrails for all I know. Probably not, tho.
I guess hospice is about the only option we have. His doctors have to get his meds worked out so he'll be more manageable. Dad would have been doing better if he hadn't had the stroke but he'd still be pretty close to the end stages. When he tries to drink with a straw he'll bite it instead of sucking on it. Sometimes you can talk him into sucking on it but it's hit and miss. I think forgetting how to swallow is coming next.
Yeah, I'm not too impressed with Sunrise as far as AD patients are concerned.
I'm guessing Anon is Dean- Well, he's at Community Hospital where they don't know him and the nurses change shifts every 8 hours. The doctor isn't around when the meds are given so he probably wouldn't know about the pill problem. And this problem is kind of recent. And Dad is special. Nobody can fight like him.
:Dad is special:
Yes, it sure does seem like it.
Anon is Dean most of the time, I think. I never did fix my eblogger account.
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