Dear Friends... Somehow I had missed this note from Cooter until just now. He wrote it on March 20th! I only saw the post that followed and which I have already shared.
"I had a meeting with Mom's care team Monday, and the nurse practitioner (NP) called to update me the next day. I got a list of her diagnoses: 1. COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2. Essential Hypertension 3. Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease – without esophagitis 4. Localized Edema 5. Hypothyroidism 6. Dependence on Supplemental Oxygen 7. Acute Respiratory Failure with Hypoxia 8. Congestive Heart Failure 9. Dysphagia – unspecified and oropharyngeal phase 10. Unspecified Abnormalities of Gait and Mobility 11. Unspecified Symptoms Involving Musculoskeletal System 12. Generalized Muscle Weakness 13. Cognitive Communication Deficit 14. Hypo-osmolality and Hyponatremia And she has about 14 medicines, some are give as needed, one is a salt tablet. The NP called and wanted to add morphine as needed to help with shortness of breath. She is supposed to be wearing her oxygen but she doesn't want it. She might go into respiratory distress. I learned that 20 to 22 breaths a minute or more is considered respiratory distress. We all know our resting pulse rate should be 50 to 60 beats per minute but I never thought about breaths per minute. I counted mine, they were about 11 to 12 breaths per minute, while resting in a chair. NP says she is in decline. She sleeps all the time, occasionally cracking an eyelid if there is a loud sound. She looked up at me yesterday and said "Where do I know you from?" though she remembered me today."
Dear Scott [His actual name is Scott]. Not being recognised is pretty painful, especially for one so devoted and kind as you have been. From my time as a chaplain intern, I can say that when someone is nearing the end of their life (however long that takes), going in and out of "being on this plane of existence" is very common and actually natural. It's as if she's making a very slow transition to what comes after living as we do. Maybe sit and read her a chapter from a book she has long loved, or tell her what's new in your life. Some part of her will hear it. At any rate, the sound of your voice, yours especially, will be a great comfort to her. Know that many of us think of you often every day, with a prayer for a good moment and some real comfort for your Mom in these difficult days. May Easter bring you some deep reflection on Life and Resurrection, and a deep and abiding joy under it all. 🌷
puddle sure has a lot running against staying around. Amazing she has kept going anyway. Talk about a strong and wonderful human.
When our Youngest was born (at home) his respirations were 120 per minute. He slowly improved over a few days and was fine. Wil used to say, "He was born wound pretty tight and slowly unwound. He's the baby I had to teach to make eye contact. He also had (still has) ADD.
Scott and listener-- thank you for sharing; one hardly knows what more to say. It has been a privilege to know puddle, even though only slightly and at a distance--- and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. In my experience morphine can be a wonderful medicine, but how to manage fifteen different medicines simply boggles the mind. ----Alan
When I worked in hospitals, I was called on to draw blood from unresponsive patients from time to time. I always spoke to them as if they could understand. And it was easy to recognize the ones who had regular visits from family. I still have distinct memories of some of them, and the little things that showed they were being visited. ---Alan
Thank you, Alan, for your respect for the people you served. It really matters. Last I knew, puddle had the teddy bear I sent her from the hospital gift shop, but not much else in the room. Scott let me know that the bear went with her to the nursing and rehab center too. He said she would hold it a lot. It makes me glad that she has some comfort from the good ol' Blog.
I'm looking forward to Tuesday. It's my annual physical (with bloodowrk) and I always quit added sugar for three months beforehand. I do that for two reasons. 1.) I like having a yearly "detox" from all the added sugar in foods and how good I feel off sugar. 2.) I also want to see if my body is still healthy without meds, should diabetes begin to appear...as it has for some in my family. So far, so good. But I also like the freedom to have a treat now and then. So, no Easter treats for me until Tuesday. LOL
Dear Friends...
ReplyDeleteSomehow I had missed this note from Cooter until just now. He wrote it on March 20th! I only saw the post that followed and which I have already shared.
"I had a meeting with Mom's care team Monday, and the nurse practitioner (NP) called to update me the next day. I got a list of her diagnoses:
1. COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
2. Essential Hypertension
3. Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease – without esophagitis
4. Localized Edema
5. Hypothyroidism
6. Dependence on Supplemental Oxygen
7. Acute Respiratory Failure with Hypoxia
8. Congestive Heart Failure
9. Dysphagia – unspecified and oropharyngeal phase
10. Unspecified Abnormalities of Gait and Mobility
11. Unspecified Symptoms Involving Musculoskeletal System
12. Generalized Muscle Weakness
13. Cognitive Communication Deficit
14. Hypo-osmolality and Hyponatremia
And she has about 14 medicines, some are give as needed, one is a salt tablet.
The NP called and wanted to add morphine as needed to help with shortness of breath. She is supposed to be wearing her oxygen but she doesn't want it. She might go into respiratory distress. I learned that 20 to 22 breaths a minute or more is considered respiratory distress. We all know our resting pulse rate should be 50 to 60 beats per minute but I never thought about breaths per minute. I counted mine, they were about 11 to 12 breaths per minute, while resting in a chair.
NP says she is in decline. She sleeps all the time, occasionally cracking an eyelid if there is a loud sound. She looked up at me yesterday and said "Where do I know you from?" though she remembered me today."
My response to him was this:
DeleteDear Scott [His actual name is Scott]. Not being recognised is pretty painful, especially for one so devoted and kind as you have been. From my time as a chaplain intern, I can say that when someone is nearing the end of their life (however long that takes), going in and out of "being on this plane of existence" is very common and actually natural. It's as if she's making a very slow transition to what comes after living as we do. Maybe sit and read her a chapter from a book she has long loved, or tell her what's new in your life. Some part of her will hear it. At any rate, the sound of your voice, yours especially, will be a great comfort to her. Know that many of us think of you often every day, with a prayer for a good moment and some real comfort for your Mom in these difficult days.
May Easter bring you some deep reflection on Life and Resurrection, and a deep and abiding joy under it all. 🌷
puddle sure has a lot running against staying around. Amazing she has kept going anyway. Talk about a strong and wonderful human.
DeleteWhen our Youngest was born (at home) his respirations were 120 per minute. He slowly improved over a few days and was fine. Wil used to say, "He was born wound pretty tight and slowly unwound. He's the baby I had to teach to make eye contact. He also had (still has) ADD.
Scott and listener-- thank you for sharing; one hardly knows what more to say. It has been a privilege to know puddle, even though only slightly and at a distance--- and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. In my experience morphine can be a wonderful medicine, but how to manage fifteen different medicines simply boggles the mind.
Delete----Alan
{listener}
DeleteAlan, I shared your message with Scott on puddle’s Facebook page.
Thanks.
Delete---Alan
When I worked in hospitals, I was called on to draw blood from unresponsive patients from time to time. I always spoke to them as if they could understand. And it was easy to recognize the ones who had regular visits from family. I still have distinct memories of some of them, and the little things that showed they were being visited.
Delete---Alan
Thank you, Alan, for your respect for the people you served. It really matters.
DeleteLast I knew, puddle had the teddy bear I sent her from the hospital gift shop, but not much else in the room.
Scott let me know that the bear went with her to the nursing and rehab center too. He said she would hold it a lot.
It makes me glad that she has some comfort from the good ol' Blog.
The Atlantic: Solving a Century-Old Byline Mystery [Click] “Who was “Atlanticus,” the writer who foreshadowed the Titanic disaster?”
ReplyDelete—Alan
I'm looking forward to Tuesday. It's my annual physical (with bloodowrk) and I always quit added sugar for three months beforehand. I do that for two reasons. 1.) I like having a yearly "detox" from all the added sugar in foods and how good I feel off sugar. 2.) I also want to see if my body is still healthy without meds, should diabetes begin to appear...as it has for some in my family. So far, so good. But I also like the freedom to have a treat now and then. So, no Easter treats for me until Tuesday. LOL
ReplyDelete