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Post by bobbiek on Mar 24, 2015 13:28:28 GMT
Hi all, I didn't mean to disappear, and I think of you often. I'll give you the short version, bad enough all by itself.
We had a tough year last year, it started with Gary falling in January a few times. In July, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. We started on a course of treatment.
In September, he got Shingles on his face, cellulitis under the shingles, and ended up in the hospital. While there, as a result of diet and medicine change, he got gout. He spent two weeks in a nursing home after being in the hospital for a week.
He was worse after that, not only was he much weaker, but he had vomiting and chronic diarrhea. It was like we were losing him a little at a time. It was finally so bad, he was back in the hospital, dehydrated in January. Long story, but after a week, they finally diagnosed a nasty infection known as C Diff. After a single dose of the medication to treat it, they sent him home.
The following morning, Gary started having seizures. They finally admitted him back to the hospital, where he became critical under their care. He was stopping breathing for up to three minutes at a time. I insisted on a transfer to a University Hospital which specializes in Parkinson's.
Once there, took him off ALL medication for thirty hours while giving him tests. In that period of time he began to improve. Then they restarted some of the meds. After a week there, he was improving even more and he went to a rehab center. They were able to discover other issues and remove additional medications and change others. He went from not being able to roll over, to walking short distances with a walker.
After three weeks there, he has been home for three weeks under home health care. He is improving daily, but it is a slow go.he still needs a lot of help. It is good to have things getting better instead of worse.
Just hoping for Spring with all of you. Hugs!
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Post by Barbara on Mar 24, 2015 19:10:11 GMT
I'm so sorry to hear all that has happened to you and your Hubby bobbiek, I hope he can improve enough to have some quality of life with you, are your Daughter, and Grandaughter still living with you?. I hope you post again soon and with better news of your Hubby.
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Post by Jasmine on Mar 24, 2015 19:28:57 GMT
It was lovely to see your username pop up again bobbiek but very sad under those circumstances. I hope your OH makes a steady recovery.
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 24, 2015 19:46:01 GMT
Not kind at all bobbiek, - I am so sorry. I am pleased that you insisted that he was moved to the University Hospital - it seems at least they have been able to help in a good and useful way...his quality of life has become a lot better. It is a terribly hard time for you both - do feel free to come on here and chat whenever you want - vent some frustration perhaps, just look around and yes - Spring is here - what a wonderful time of the year. Do keep in touch Bobbie and let us know how you are coping..- do you still have your lovely garden and your dog??
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Post by Jilly on Mar 24, 2015 21:05:34 GMT
So sorry you & your OH had such an awful year bobbiek, it was so lovely to see you about again, just wish it was under happier circumstances. Great to hear that OH is now home & hopefully he'll continue to make progress & feel more comfortable. Hope Spring brings you both a happier time.
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 25, 2015 13:33:10 GMT
Lovely to see you again bobbiek but I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles with your OH. Thankfully you insisted on changing hospitals, well done there, it was definately the right course to take. I hope things steadily improve and you can both enjoy this lovely springtime together. Are your Daughter and GD settled in now? I've often wondered how you are.
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Post by bobbiek on Mar 25, 2015 20:48:27 GMT
Thank you all. Yes, daughter and granddaughter settled into their own home, although jobs have been a bit of a problem for daughter.
I get granddaughter on Thursday nights, and enjoy my time with her.
Gary is improving daily. So far still pretty home bound, but we are working on that. It is just good to see him getting better instead of worse!
A fun side note on all of this. At the worst part of him being home, I hadn't been grocery shopping in days and ran out of protein bars. Every time I tried to fix a meal for Gary, he would be throwing up. So, as I sat in my chair eating marshmallows for breakfast, a commercial for a weight loss system came on. (Nutrisystem). I realized they DELIVERED meals right to your door, meals that could be made in minutes! I looked down at the marshmallows, then back up at all that lovely food, and I signed up!
The food arrived the same day Gary went into the hospital, and I ate it ... In emergency rooms, in hospital rooms, when I came home late at night or got up too early in the morning! I was able to often buy a salad to go with it in the hospital. I piled a bunch in a bag and carried it with me when I spent nights and days with him.
Now that he is home, I am making him his own Nutrisystem meals (and other meals) based on what he wants, and I still can eat what I want. It all fixes in minutes!
I have lost 17 pounds! LOL
No, no vegetable garden this year, although the flower bulbs are in bloom. Just keeping the lawn under control and doing all of the things he used to do takes up so much time! My cleaning is so far behind!
My peach tree looks like I will have fruit this year, and I'm going to buy another fruit tree this weekend! The sales start at our local store on Saturday.
Hugs!
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Post by Geranium on Mar 26, 2015 6:50:34 GMT
Well - I've wondered about the home-delivered meals, and from your experience, they sound good, especially the weight loss bit! So sorry you've had such a horrible time, but things will get better.
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 26, 2015 9:00:50 GMT
What fruit tree will you go for bobbiek? It's great you've found some good nutritious food and have the extra benifit of loosing weight. I'm sure that looking out to your garden and seeing the bulbs in bloom helps lift your spirit.
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 26, 2015 9:56:28 GMT
Well, that made me chuckle bobbiek, - somehow there is always something positive that happens in the worst of situations... My little peach tree is flowering - I do hope I get a few peaches again this year...I doubt that either of us will be able to go market gardening with the harvest but the taste of the few that we do get will be wonderful !! I am think about getting a dwarf pear tree - OH wants a cherry tree but I hate cherries - so, it's a plum or a pear!! What are you fancying??
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Post by Rosefriend on Apr 11, 2015 16:43:28 GMT
Did you get anther fruit tree bobbiek??
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Post by Rosefriend on May 15, 2015 18:46:53 GMT
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