OT - Crash Update

I am so sorry Crash is having a bad time of it.
I can only pray that he is soon on the rebound, and that Carol stays well.
Take care of yourself, Carol! It is easy to get ground down when your loved
one is ill.
hugs, Jackie

Damsel said:

After surgery, you're supposed to get better and better. Crash is getting
worse and worse. He's having Problems. He didn't know I was there anyway,
so I came home. That's all I'm able to pass along right now.

I didn't want to post details until I actually knew what was going on. I
know more than I did last night, but not a whole lot. Fortunately, enough
so I'm not so scared anymore.

After the catheter was removed, he couldn't "perform" on the toilet. The
nurse (charming woman) told me that he was having renal problems and that
they were worse than when he was admitted (gotta talk to the doc about this
- we were unaware of existing kidney problems). Today, after talking to a
more sympathetic nurse, as well as to Lynne A., we know that this isn't
unheard of after surgery, and isn't necessarily the terrible thing that I
was lead to fear. Nurse Charming also said something about an enlarged
prostate, but I'm not taking her word for anything at this point, and will
talk to the doctor at dawn tomorrow.

The other thing that was happening yesterday was that they removed all of
his IVs, including the morphine pump. He was switched to oral Percocette.
The Percocette knocks him out cold. The morphine didn't (scratching head).
I've added some pictures to the hip replacement photo journal. This might
give you an idea of why I thought we might be losing him. This is NOT the
way he looks when he's sleeping. I'm thinking this is the way he'll look
when he's dead. And this picture was taken sitting up!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Oh, and there's some "food" stuff on there, too. 🙂

Today, he was quite alert during the earlier part of the day. He called me
at 4:15am to bring him some "real pop." I guess real pop is Mountain Dew
in a plastic bottle instead of those mini-cans they have at the hospital.

He was able to walk across the hall and take a shower (I went home and
napped during the festivities). The night nurse had cut his Percocette
dose in half because he was over-sedated. We actually had conversations.
The day nurse (Nurse Charming) ignored that when I told her, and Crash is
now among the breathing dead again.

He's still not eating much. The thing he's had the most success with has
been Total Raisin Bran. He ate half a bowl of it today, which is a
remarkable improvement. When I gave him a piece of roast beef with some
mashed potatoes at dinner time, he fished the beef out of his mouth, handed
it back to me and refused to try any more. I really love receiving used
food, and I'm getting quite good at it.

Anyone who hasn't signed Crash's get-well card can do so here. He really
enjoyed reading everyone's entries before he went into the hospital.
http://htmlgear.tripod.com/guest/control.guest?u=head_trollop&i=1&a=sign
To read existing entries, go here:
http://htmlgear.tripod.com/guest/control.guest?u=head_trollop&i=1&a=view

Thanks for everything, guys. It's good to have someone to talk to during
all of this. We both appreciate your concern very, very much.

Carol

--
CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY
United States:
http://www.stopthehunger.com/
International:
http://www.thehungersite.com/

"Damsel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Damsel said:

After surgery, you're supposed to get better and better. Crash is getting
worse and worse. He's having Problems. He didn't know I was there anyway,
so I came home. That's all I'm able to pass along right now.

I didn't want to post details until I actually knew what was going on. I
know more than I did last night, but not a whole lot. Fortunately, enough
so I'm not so scared anymore.

<Snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://htmlgear.tripod.com/guest/control.guest?u=head_trollop&i=1&a=view

Thanks for everything, guys. It's good to have someone to talk to during
all of this. We both appreciate your concern very, very much.

Carol

--
CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY
United States:
http://www.stopthehunger.com/
International:
http://www.thehungersite.com/

Glad to hear some better news, I love your baby roses, they're beautiful!
Sarah

He's home!

Crash called me at 5:30 am and asked me to come up to the hospital. Of
course, right before I arrived, they gave him his pain pills, so he was
pretty out of it when I got there.

We were both asleep when the doctor came in to see Crash. It took him
awhile to wake me up, but we weren't successful getting Crash's brain
engaged.

The doctor told me that Crash could go home today. He had physical therapy
for the last time, got dressed, got discharged, and was brought to the car.
He's in his IRC channel, waiting for his pain pills to kick in. And yes,
he lit up a smoke while we were still in the hospital parking lot. 🙁

I never realized that the walking spaces in this house were so narrow. Due
to the very strange configuration of the bathroom, he'll have to use a cane
when he goes in there.

We're both exhausted and will be going to bed in just a few minutes. Here
are a few pictures from today. Some idiot (me) turned off the flash, so
most of the pictures are pretty grainy. Oops!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Thanks again, everyone!
Carol

--
CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY
United States:
http://www.stopthehunger.com/
International:
http://www.thehungersite.com/

Damsel said:

He's home!

What good news! 🙂
Good luck!
Cathy

On Mon 13 Jun 2005 11:08:07a, Damsel wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

He's home!

I know you are mightily relieved for Crash to be out of the hospital and home
at last. Just being home will make him feel a world better, and you'll be
able to get some much needed rest.

--
Wayne Boatwright Õ¿Õ¬
____________________________________________

Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974

Damsel said:

He's home!

Crash called me at 5:30 am and asked me to come up to the hospital. Of
course, right before I arrived, they gave him his pain pills, so he was
pretty out of it when I got there.

We were both asleep when the doctor came in to see Crash. It took him
awhile to wake me up, but we weren't successful getting Crash's brain
engaged.

The doctor told me that Crash could go home today. He had physical therapy
for the last time, got dressed, got discharged, and was brought to the car.
He's in his IRC channel, waiting for his pain pills to kick in. And yes,
he lit up a smoke while we were still in the hospital parking lot. 🙁

I never realized that the walking spaces in this house were so narrow. Due
to the very strange configuration of the bathroom, he'll have to use a cane
when he goes in there.

We're both exhausted and will be going to bed in just a few minutes. Here
are a few pictures from today. Some idiot (me) turned off the flash, so
most of the pictures are pretty grainy. Oops!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Thanks again, everyone!
Carol

--
CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY
United States:
http://www.stopthehunger.com/
International:
http://www.thehungersite.com/

Damsel said:

He's home!

Crash called me at 5:30 am and asked me to come up to the hospital. Of
course, right before I arrived, they gave him his pain pills, so he was
pretty out of it when I got there.

We were both asleep when the doctor came in to see Crash. It took him
awhile to wake me up, but we weren't successful getting Crash's brain
engaged.

The doctor told me that Crash could go home today. He had physical therapy
for the last time, got dressed, got discharged, and was brought to the car.
He's in his IRC channel, waiting for his pain pills to kick in. And yes,
he lit up a smoke while we were still in the hospital parking lot. 🙁

I never realized that the walking spaces in this house were so narrow. Due
to the very strange configuration of the bathroom, he'll have to use a cane
when he goes in there.

We're both exhausted and will be going to bed in just a few minutes. Here
are a few pictures from today. Some idiot (me) turned off the flash, so
most of the pictures are pretty grainy. Oops!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Thanks again, everyone!
Carol

--
CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY
United States:
http://www.stopthehunger.com/
International:
http://www.thehungersite.com/

"Damsel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

He's home!

Crash called me at 5:30 am and asked me to come up to the hospital. Of
course, right before I arrived, they gave him his pain pills, so he was
pretty out of it when I got there.

We were both asleep when the doctor came in to see Crash. It took him
awhile to wake me up, but we weren't successful getting Crash's brain
engaged.

The doctor told me that Crash could go home today. He had physical therapy
for the last time, got dressed, got discharged, and was brought to the car.
He's in his IRC channel, waiting for his pain pills to kick in. And yes,
he lit up a smoke while we were still in the hospital parking lot. 🙁

I never realized that the walking spaces in this house were so narrow. Due
to the very strange configuration of the bathroom, he'll have to use a cane
when he goes in there.

We're both exhausted and will be going to bed in just a few minutes. Here
are a few pictures from today. Some idiot (me) turned off the flash, so
most of the pictures are pretty grainy. Oops!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Thanks again, everyone!
Carol

Glad he's on the mend -

BTW -

Minor Operation = any surgical procedure NOT done on you.
Major Operation = any surgical procedure done on you.

Dimitri

Damsel said:

Quoted message said:

He's home!

Good news indeed! Recovery will speed up now that you are the one in
control!

Debbie

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:08:07 -0500, Damsel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

He's home!

That's wonderful news. You always feel better when you can sleep in
your own bed. I'm glad he's on the mend. Damsel, do take good care
of yourself, too, and don't ever feel guilty about it. You have to
take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else.

Tara

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:08:07 -0500, Damsel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

He's home!

Excellent! Take it easy too. You've both had your share of stress
over the past few months.

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

"Damsel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

He's home!

Crash called me at 5:30 am and asked me to come up to the hospital. Of
course, right before I arrived, they gave him his pain pills, so he was
pretty out of it when I got there.

We were both asleep when the doctor came in to see Crash. It took him
awhile to wake me up, but we weren't successful getting Crash's brain
engaged.

The doctor told me that Crash could go home today. He had physical
therapy
for the last time, got dressed, got discharged, and was brought to the
car.
He's in his IRC channel, waiting for his pain pills to kick in. And yes,
he lit up a smoke while we were still in the hospital parking lot. 🙁

I never realized that the walking spaces in this house were so narrow.
Due
to the very strange configuration of the bathroom, he'll have to use a
cane
when he goes in there.

We're both exhausted and will be going to bed in just a few minutes. Here
are a few pictures from today. Some idiot (me) turned off the flash, so
most of the pictures are pretty grainy. Oops!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Thanks again, everyone!
Carol

I missed the whole thing, but congrats on the good news!

Jack

"Jack Schidt®" wrote in message

Quoted message said:

"Damsel" wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

He's home!

Crash called me at 5:30 am and asked me to come up to the hospital. Of
course, right before I arrived, they gave him his pain pills, so he was
pretty out of it when I got there.

<snip happy story about Crash coming home>

Quoted message said:

I missed the whole thing, but congrats on the good news!

Jack

See? See? That's what happens when you stay away so long! We'll take you
back with or without your "surnames".

Felice

Damsel said:

He's home!

Congratulations! I hope things go well for both of you. I'm just kind
of catching up here. I'm sorry things have been so bad, and I hope he
continues to improve.

Pat

Jack Schidt® said:

I missed the whole thing, but congrats on the good news!

That's okay. Crash missed a lot of it, too. 😉

Thanks,
Carol

--
CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY
United States:
http://www.stopthehunger.com/
International:
http://www.thehungersite.com/

Tara said:

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:08:07 -0500, Damsel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

He's home!

That's wonderful news. You always feel better when you can sleep in
your own bed. I'm glad he's on the mend.

He loves sleeping in his own bed! And our bed and twalet are higher up
than those at the hospital, so they're much easier to use. He's very glad
to be home.

Quoted message said:

Damsel, do take good care
of yourself, too, and don't ever feel guilty about it. You have to
take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else.

Yes, I fully intend to take a nice bubble bath tonight after tucking Crash
in and bathing the dogs, who have loose stool imbedded in their fur - they
both got sick while we were gone. Ya gotta laugh.

Carol

--
CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY
United States:
http://www.stopthehunger.com/
International:
http://www.thehungersite.com/

On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 19:52:40 -0500, Damsel <[email hidden]>
connected the dots and wrote:

~The other thing that was happening yesterday was that they removed
all of
~his IVs, including the morphine pump. He was switched to oral
Percocette.
~The Percocette knocks him out cold. The morphine didn't (scratching
head).

The morphine is "smoother" than the percosette. If I'd had to be on
it any longer when my back when out, I would have started to seem
normal again.

~ The night nurse had cut his Percocette
~dose in half because he was over-sedated. We actually had
conversations.

She should have made notes of it, or gotten the doctor to initial it.

~ When I gave him a piece of roast beef with some
~mashed potatoes at dinner time, he fished the beef out of his mouth,
handed
~it back to me and refused to try any more. I really love receiving
used
~food, and I'm getting quite good at it.

My mother's sentiments exactly. That's why, like I said, she stuck to
soup.

From the photos, I gather he's home now. That's a relief, and in some
ways easier for you.

Tell him to behave and do as the PTs and you tell him, or you'll call
back Nurse Charming<just kidding!)

maxine in ri

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:08:07 -0500, Damsel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

He's home!

That is really wonderful news. My best wishes for Crash's speedy
recovery and a calm rest of the year for both of you.

Boron

Carol said:

After the catheter was removed, he couldn't "perform" on the toilet. The
nurse (charming woman) told me that he was having renal problems and that

t>hey were worse than when he was admitted (gotta talk to the doc about
this

Quoted message said:

- we were unaware of existing kidney problems). Today, after talking to a
more sympathetic nurse, as well as to Lynne A., we know that this isn't
unheard of after surgery, and isn't necessarily the terrible thing that I
was lead to fear. Nurse Charming also said something about an enlarged
prostate, but I'm not taking her word for anything at this point, and will
talk to the doctor at dawn tomorrow.

First of all, I'm *so* glad Crash is better! I was getting worried.

Secondly...the other nurse and Lynne A are correct; inability to "void"
one's bladder isn't unheard of after surgery. (I love those medical
euphemisms.) When my ex-husband had his back surgery, after they took
the cath out, he couldn't go for love or money. So they called in a
kidney consult (nephrologist?)...who, in addition to being a little off
the wall ("He's gained 10 lbs since he's been in, and he hasn't
urinated or had a bowel movement....do you think he has 10lbs of bowel
movement in there?" he asked me.), was apparently a sadistic SOB. He
ordered a *very* powerful diruetic for Eddie....to be administered at
11 at *night*. I got a call at 3am from Eddie, saying, "I've been
peeing for the past 2 hours...find that SOB's home phone number so I
can call him!"

I'm just sorry you both are having such a difficult time with certain
nurses. Those type are the ones who give *all* nurses a bad name, and
it's so unfair. Not to mention the emotional damage they can inflict
on patients and their families.

And Crash is right: according to my boyfriend, "real" soda is Mountain
Dew in 20oz bottles...or, if not available, 2liters. <g>

The next time Crash hands you "pre-enjoyed" food, remind him that while
you *may* come back as a baby bird in your next life, you're not one
now, so he needn't feed you that way. 😉

But again, I'm so glad to hear he's doing better...and that you're
doing better too.

Oh, one last piece of advice - and it even has to do with food! If
Nurse Charming *really* aggravates you, get a roll of biscuit
dough...open in...use it to form a little effigy of her (roll up a ball
for the head, etc.), bake it...then leave it out for the birds.
Probably won't do anything to her, but at least you can pretend that
the birds are pecking her to death!

Lisa Ann
Who has *way* too much time on her hands to come up with these
things...