Convalescent Care
| 22 February | The HMO contracted with the "Keystone
Cops Almost Ambulance Service" and they gave Mary a ride that she didn't
enjoy. Sandra went to bat for her and got them to take her back to the
Assisted Care Facility after the radiation. Then came physical therapy and
occupational therapy. When I got to the facility I complained further
to the person in charge of coordinating the ambulances. She talked with Blue
Cross again and got them to provide the ambulance service we had previously.
When I got to Mary's room, she was very tired and soon (got bored with me
and) fell asleep. She woke up long enough to eat her dinner and then fell
asleep again. Hopefully she will sleep thru the night and wake up
ready to challenge yet another day. Daily her coordination seems to
improve and I think that means steady progress toward standing. |
| 23 February | One month since admission to the
hospital. Three weeks since her operation. Mary's voice sounded better as did her reflexes. She was moving her legs easily for the therapist. I think things are progressing well. The therapist helped Mary get her first bath in a month and also the first real shampoo. She said that Mary was able to help in getting from one place to another. As she was a small young woman, I don't think she could have moved Mary alone. Mary is beginning to complain about a sour throat and
had trouble swallowing pills. I think this is from the radiation. |
| 24 February | Mary did not sleep well and was rather
groggy when I got there. She has a sore throat from the radiation and/or
chemotherapy. She ate about half of her breakfast and then fell asleep.
Later I started helping her do her leg exercises and then, as usual, the
therapist came in. The therapist was a small young woman, but she
helped Mary into the wheelchair with ease, I think Mary helped.
After therapy, I wheeled Mary around the building. As the therapist
was not available, I helped Mary back into bed and, indeed, she did take
part of her weight.
When I got back from services for a friend who had
died, Gooby and Monica were talking with Mary. She was tired and fell
asleep again. Later that evening the nurses realized that she was
dehydrated and started her on an IV. Perhaps that is why she could not
sleep last night and why she slept off and on during the day. I think she
was not drinking as much due to her difficulty swallowing. |
| 25 February | Little progress. It seems that we
are fighting the effects of radiation. Mary has little appetite and is
having trouble swallowing. As a result, she is weak and dehydrated.
We are trying to get approval to give her a Chinese herbal remedy for Chemo
and radiation support which was sent to us by a friend of Monica's.
Mary is in much pain. The doctor approved
increasing her pain patch and also changed the pain medicine as it did not
appear to have any effect. This seemed to help, but Mary slept much of
the afternoon. The Nurse started giving her "thick liquids" which she
was able to drink easier than regular water or juice. Tomorrow is day
seven of radiation. |
| 26 February | When I arrived today, Mary looked better
than in several weeks. I assume the change in pain medicine is working. Ease
of movement when turning on her side and coordination were much improved.
Pain was still there, but reduced from yesterday.
Radiation noted that she is developing a rash and thinks
it is shingles. That might explain some of the pain. It could
also be a reaction to radiation. Still no word on using the Chinese
remedy. |
| 27 February |
Today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday. The
nurses are divided as to whether Mary's rash is shingles or radiation.
The doctor will come tomorrow to determine what it is. I really don't
know how they can be certain unless they were to have a pathologist look at
some tissue. If it is a radiation burn, I hope it does not get worse.
Unfortunately the rash/burn area tore as Mary was being helped to a sitting
position. The area was treated with an ointment and gauze was applied. |
| 28 February |
Deja vu all over again.
When I arrived today, Mary was sleeping. Sandra said that the radiation had tired her out a lot and that she was not able to complete her physical therapy. She had eaten a little, but had eaten half of a canned soup that Sandra had brought. Our regular doctor has his offices next to the radiation offices and I was able to look at Mary's rash. I am told that he thinks it is shingles. The doctor for the home care facility looked after Mary returned and thinks that it is radiation burns or maybe a combination of the two. Some of the affected area came loose when the gauze was removed and special ointment and tape has been ordered. The nurse was applying another ointment when I left as the special ointment had not arrived yet. Mary woke around 7 and ate part
of her dinner. She remained awake until 10 and seemed as alert as the
previous day. Only 6 more days of radiation. |
| 1 March |
Mary had a busy day. Radiation, a bath and a
tour in a wheel chair around the facility as well as therapy. She
looked tired when I arrived, but did not sleep. She ate moderately
well and had a new ointment applied to her rash. The nurse that tended
her says that she had had shingles and that Mary does have shingles.
The dermatologist has not looked at her yet. Five more days of radiation. |
| 2 March |
Every other day... Mary became very nauseous after radiation today and was given something to quiet the nausea. Unfortunately it knocked her out for most of the day. She was asleep when I arrived and woke for about five minutes around 5:30. She finally woke up at 8:30 and was still awake but wanting to sleep when I left at 9:30.
Tomorrow I'm going to try the Chinese remedy and hope that it will help.
She will not have radiation again until Monday. Thursday is the last
day of radiation. |
| 3 March |
Mary was wide awake and had finished her oatmeal by the
time I arrived. She drank her Chinese remedy with no problem. The
doctor came and we talked. She feels that Mary does have shingles
complicated by radiation. Odd thing is that Mary doesn't think that
she ever had Chicken Pox. A teacher at school said it is possible to
get shingles from other types of herpes as well. Another odd thing is
that none of our children have had chicken pox and they were all somewhat
exposed last weekend and Sandra all this week. So far no problems.
When the people came for therapy, Mary was tired
and so it was a short session. She ate part of her lunch, but was
having trouble swallowing again. More Chinese remedy. She read
part of the |
| 4 March |
For some reason Mary seemed weaker today. Maybe it
was for lack of nutrition. She only ate half her oatmeal for
breakfast, but ate a whole can of soup that Sandra had brought without any
problem. She also asked for tapioca pudding, but wouldn't touch the
food served to her by the facility. She didn't want to try the Chinese
remedy either. Again she fell asleep around 1 and woke at 5.
We'll see what tomorrow brings. Only four more
radiation sessions. |
| 5 March |
Mary seemed more alert today, although she found that her
arms were feeling weak. Tomorrow she is to begin her medication for
the Multiple Myeloma. I hope that helps. Tomorrow she also has a visit with the thoracic surgeon, Dr Westerlund. hopefully he will take the stitches out of Mary's back or will allow them to remain uncovered as the daily taping is having a bad effect on her skin. Taking tape off leaves a bigger problem than the shingles or the incision. The area that was rash seems to be healing, with skin falling off daily and new skin forming underneath. Each day I see what appears to me to be more and more new skin. Mary hasn't complained of the pain beneath her ribs, and I have forgotten to ask. Mary seems to be moving better from the bed to the wheel chair, but she doesn't think so. She is aware that she can sit on the edge of the bed now without help and without tiring rapidly. She is also swallowing more easily. Three more radiation sessions. |
| 6 March | Mary again had nausea and was given something which put her to sleep. I guess that is one way to handle the nausea. She had an appointment with the thoracic surgeon. He felt the back looked fine and took out half of the stitches and will remove the remaining stitches after the radiation is finished. Mary slept of and on until I
left at 9. She did not feel like eating.. Only two days of
radiation left and then hopefully she will feel better and start working
daily toward walking. |
| 7 March |
One more day of radiation. Sandra told me that Mary did very well with her physical therapy and ate all of her soup for lunch. As usual when I arrived, Mary went to sleep. I woke her at 7 and she ate part of her dinner. I was hoping to get her chopped food rather than puree, but it came puree. Mary seems to be swallowing better. Hopefully we will get chopped tomorrow and it will look more appetizing The area of the rash is looking
better - consistent with the shingles diagnosis. New skin is forming
as the old rash area falls away. The y have stopped putting bandages
on Mary's back as the tape was starting to do damage. Her back is
healing as well.. |
| 8 March |
Today was the last day of radiation and as expected Mary
was the same as yesterday. When Mary got back she did some therapy and
Sandra went home and got her cat (Little Bit). The cat and Mary
enjoyed their time together.
When I got there, Mary was involved in another therapy session. After the session she was hurting (possibly related to the shingles) and read the newspaper. After a pain pill, she fell asleep, waking in time for her novelas. We tried softened food rather than pureed food, but Mary had trouble with it and did not eat much. Tomorrow we start a new chapter in her recovery. |