Here follows a somewhat indelicate post.
Poop is my life, right now. It’s like having a baby again, in that everything revolves around feedings, potties, and living for those sweet smiles.
Plus, Mom is still sharp and funny and comes up with some great memories, though her short-term memory is spotty.
She seems to be slowly progressing in the battle against C. Diff. She still spends most of the day in bed or stretched out on the couch, but she went through her mail, and that’s good. Either the C. Diff or the antibiotics keeps her fatigued. Both can do it. Both can … er … shall we say “keep you on the run”? So we won’t know until I collect a sample this week (SO much fun) and have it tested whether we’ve beat it or not.
If not, she’s okay with going into a health care facility where they can give her the hard-line stuff. I.V. Vanco, they call it, which sounds like an espionage name. He may meet Steffie some day. Steffie and Vanco vs. Cee Diff and her gang.
Punchdrunk, me.
The At Home Health folks have been super. They don’t take any work off my shoulders, but they take a lot of the responsibility off. It helps immeasurably, to have a nurse to consult and therapists to encourage Mom to exercise. The aide is showing me how to help Mom shower with as little strain on her as possible.
I continue to improve my practical nursing skills, helped by my grandma Lilly’s heritage. Mom’s mom was a Licensed Practical Nurse. She caught hepatitis from one of her patients and died, but that was back in the day.
I go through a hella lot of disposable gloves and I wish I had stock in the Clorox company. Apparently, cleanliness is not only next to godliness, it’s the only way to keep C. Diff from surviving to reinfect or spread.
Now, ain’t that fun?
Here’s a picture of me, taking care of Mom.
It looks like a screenshot from the Love Nikki Dress Up Queen game, but it’s really a photograph of me. Yeah. Uh-huh.
I’m posting today at Fatal Foodies about a salad I’ve probably posted about before, but it never stops being delicious.
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: How did your main character’s grandparents (one or more) pass away? What did your character think/feel at the time? Has that changed?
MA
Dan Antion
August 29, 2017 at 7:47amIf you do the nursing work, you get to dress up like Nikki. I’m pretty sure that’s the rule. Keeping you guys in our thoughts and prayers.
Marian Allen
August 29, 2017 at 7:55amSadly, if I dressed like Nikki, I’d look like a peeled potato with pink bits on. Thanks for the thoughts and such. We’re hoping the light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t turn out to be an oncoming train. 😉
John Holton
August 29, 2017 at 10:30amDitto what Dan said. Sounds pretty horrible.
Marian Allen
August 29, 2017 at 5:27pmI’ve done things that I enjoyed more, I’ll say that. So has Mom.
joey
August 29, 2017 at 11:27amMy you’re looking svelte these days, and so… flawless. It’s unreal. 😛
I don’t envy either of you in this situation, but I’m glad to know there’s care for everyone, and that progress has been spotted.
I know bleach is unpopular now, and not ‘natural’ enough, but it still goes in my bathrooms. God bless Clorox. MMMMHMM.
Marian Allen
August 29, 2017 at 5:28pmOh, Joey, if I weren’t happily married, I would buy Clorox a ring, I swear.
Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt
August 29, 2017 at 4:01pmGlad your mom is getting better – Cdiff is no joke. Here to keep your spirits up while you serve your shifts on the poop deck. Smooth sailing isn’t always possible, but hope you find a port (a …) in the storm – and keep up your good humor. Or, as Andrew would say, yer good humour.
Thinking of you as you battle the aliens.
Marian Allen
August 29, 2017 at 5:30pm“serve your shifts on the poop deck” — ~rolling about on the carpet~ ~whew~ Thanks. I needed that. ~grin~ “Port (a …)” ~oh, ouch, stop it!~ Thanks for the encouragement and the laughs. 😀
A.C.Flory
August 29, 2017 at 10:04pm-hugs- My Dad had a few accidents that were fun to deal with so I know what you’re going through. One question, is your Mum re-hydrating sufficiently? The trots can cause dehydration which can also cause fatigue. No idea what the equivalent is in the States by we always have a stock of http://www.hydralyte.com.au/about-hydralyte/ in the house. Just in case.
Ugh, just looked C-Diff up and realised you must be rehydrating her already. What about yoghurt? It would be a very lengthy and longterm thing but it might help to keep C. Diff in check.
I hope you both get through this okay.
Marian Allen
August 30, 2017 at 7:37amI’m maybe overhydrating her, and had to cut back a little, just bumping it up on days the … er … output is higher. I mix electrolyte water from water, salt, and baking soda. I’ll ask the doctor about the yoghurt; she takes nothing by mouth (she has a g-tube, which is like a g-string only not at all), but I could mix some with water. Thanks for the good thoughts and wishes. <3
A.C.Flory
August 30, 2017 at 8:30amUgh, sorry, I forgot she can’t eat. Poor lady. And poor you. Chin up.