Healing is slow and full of pain. Helen is starting to be more alert at times. Unfortunately those are the times when we need to be rolling her around to make changes. It is quite painful for us to roll her around.
We are needing to watch her skin really close. there are some spots that are very red, not good signs. It is good that the bathing aid is here three times a week and keeps a very close eye on all areas. Breezy is excellent and very thorough.
We will have a patient lift delivered Friday and a reclining wheelchair. Next week we will start trying to get her into the TV room with David for a while each day. She needs a change of scenery. That will be a new experience for Carla, learning to use the patient lift. I will let her practice on me first.
I would say she is doing quite good for being only about two weeks since the break and only eleven days since surgery.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Helen is Home
She is resting comfortably in her own bed tonight with a cat for company. The healing process will take quite a while, but the home environment with family around will be much more comforting.
Home health should be back in on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to bath and the nurse should be back some time during the week to do the normal weekly check ups. We will need physical therapy to set up a schedule and exercise plan.
It is good to have the convenience of being able to walk into her room to check on her anytime instead to a trip to the third floor of KRMC. They serve there purpose, but home is always better.
Home health should be back in on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to bath and the nurse should be back some time during the week to do the normal weekly check ups. We will need physical therapy to set up a schedule and exercise plan.
It is good to have the convenience of being able to walk into her room to check on her anytime instead to a trip to the third floor of KRMC. They serve there purpose, but home is always better.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Alert and ready to roll
Helen was very much with what was going on tonight. She is confused at times, but about the same as before last Friday. Her vitals have stabilized and she is eating with assistance. She may discharge as early as Saturday or Sunday.
We will need a patient lift to move her from point A to point B. She is not to be more than 20% weight bearing on the right leg. The home environment with her cats and family close at hand should help the progress.
We will need a transport to bring Helen to the house as it is just to hard to load her into the car and get her back out. The nurses are quite surprised that we want to bring her home instead of transferring her to a skilled nursing facility. There will be more challenges for a while, but home is always better.
We will need a patient lift to move her from point A to point B. She is not to be more than 20% weight bearing on the right leg. The home environment with her cats and family close at hand should help the progress.
We will need a transport to bring Helen to the house as it is just to hard to load her into the car and get her back out. The nurses are quite surprised that we want to bring her home instead of transferring her to a skilled nursing facility. There will be more challenges for a while, but home is always better.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Helen Update
Tuesday evening we found Helen had been moved from ICU back to a regular room. Her blood level is maintaining and her other vitals are stable. At this time it appears that she is progressing as expected for her age.
Carla is planning on going to visit during the day. This hopefully will allow more time to talk with the nurse. In the evening we always catch the changing of staff. The day nurse is leaving and the night nurse is trying to catch up wit the activity herself.
We have no idea at this time when she will be discharged.
Carla is planning on going to visit during the day. This hopefully will allow more time to talk with the nurse. In the evening we always catch the changing of staff. The day nurse is leaving and the night nurse is trying to catch up wit the activity herself.
We have no idea at this time when she will be discharged.
Monday, January 17, 2011
correction of update from AM
Boy did i get all the information wrong in the morning post. The Cat scan is still on hold. The PIC line is still on hold. The respiratory has stabilized and there was no need for a ventilator. It seems that ever procedure that permission was requested for has not been needed or is still on hold.
After a total of four units of blood Helen's blood levels are where they want to see them. Her blood pressure, pulse, and O2 level (on 4 ltr of O2) were all good tonight. She is very weak and her voice is extremely soft. It will be a long road.
On the positive side Dr. Allen is very pleased with the way the incision site is healing.
Sorry about all the bogus information this morning.
After a total of four units of blood Helen's blood levels are where they want to see them. Her blood pressure, pulse, and O2 level (on 4 ltr of O2) were all good tonight. She is very weak and her voice is extremely soft. It will be a long road.
On the positive side Dr. Allen is very pleased with the way the incision site is healing.
Sorry about all the bogus information this morning.
Helen Update
Helen was moved to ICU at 3:30 AM. They have given her one unit of blood and plan on a second. They will be installing a PIC line this AM to better facilitate all the blood activity as her veins are very fragile.
She will not stabilize on her breathing, Oxygen saturation, heart rate and blood pressure so they have put her an a ventilator to gain some stability.
She was awake and very alert during the early morning hours and talked with the nurse. She thanked them for all they were doing and was very appreciative of all her care.
She will not stabilize on her breathing, Oxygen saturation, heart rate and blood pressure so they have put her an a ventilator to gain some stability.
She was awake and very alert during the early morning hours and talked with the nurse. She thanked them for all they were doing and was very appreciative of all her care.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Helen Update
Helen went to OR around 2 PM. We are not sure when they did surgery, but Dr. Allen called at 6:25 PM to let us know that she had come through real good. She will be back in her room around 7:00 PM.
I will update as we know more about how she is doing.
I will update as we know more about how she is doing.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Update on Grandma
While transferring to her bed last night (Friday) Helen was unable to bear weight on her right leg. About the same time she had a great deal of pain and Carla heard a snap (similar to a tree branch breaking). since it was impossible to complete the transfer she was lowered to the floor.
Because of the pain we called 911 and she was transported to the Hospital ER. Helen was admitte around 10:30 PM Friday night with a broken Femur in the right leg. The waiting game started as we waited for the Orth surgen to evaluate the situation, the Internal Doctor to clear her for surgery and the Cardiologist to say the heart was strong enough for the surgery.
About 10:30 AM today (Saturday) Dr. Allen the Orthopedic Surgeon called and talked with Carla about the possibilities, and said he would do the surgury if she was cleared by the other Doctors. We went to visit this afternoon and Dr. Igball came in to examine her and he expressed that if the Cardiologist said OK that he was in agreement. They told us that Dr. Bokhari was in the building and that he would be in her room in 15 minutes, we laughed as he is always very late. To our surprise he was looking at her chart in 10 minutes and in the room before the end of 15 minutes. He gave the final OK and it appeared that surgery would be later today.
About 5:00 I received another call form the Hospital and because of a scheduling conflict the surgery was re-scheduled for Sunday. No time has been set for the procedure at this time. We are hoping for an AM time.
Currently she is comfortable in room 359 with good pain management medications.
Because of the pain we called 911 and she was transported to the Hospital ER. Helen was admitte around 10:30 PM Friday night with a broken Femur in the right leg. The waiting game started as we waited for the Orth surgen to evaluate the situation, the Internal Doctor to clear her for surgery and the Cardiologist to say the heart was strong enough for the surgery.
About 10:30 AM today (Saturday) Dr. Allen the Orthopedic Surgeon called and talked with Carla about the possibilities, and said he would do the surgury if she was cleared by the other Doctors. We went to visit this afternoon and Dr. Igball came in to examine her and he expressed that if the Cardiologist said OK that he was in agreement. They told us that Dr. Bokhari was in the building and that he would be in her room in 15 minutes, we laughed as he is always very late. To our surprise he was looking at her chart in 10 minutes and in the room before the end of 15 minutes. He gave the final OK and it appeared that surgery would be later today.
About 5:00 I received another call form the Hospital and because of a scheduling conflict the surgery was re-scheduled for Sunday. No time has been set for the procedure at this time. We are hoping for an AM time.
Currently she is comfortable in room 359 with good pain management medications.
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