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Home from the hospital.
Jan. 8th, 2003 09:45 amYesterday we brought my father home from the hospital, which is good in some ways and not-so-good in others. Good, because he's more comfortable, he can get the food that he usually eats/needs to control his blood sugar level, can at least watch some TV so he's not totally bored, and we won't have to make the trek over to the hospital to visit him. Bad, because if there's something wrong, there's no one here to help him in a way maybe only a nurse could.
We had such a difficult time getting into the house yesterday; he can only walk with a walker, leaving his left foot up in the air, hopping along on the right foot (the crutches were too difficult for him). But there are 4 steps up to the house, and he couldn't hop up them with the walker because they're too small fot he walker to fit on, and he wouldn't let me lift him, so he basically crawled up on his hands and knees. Then, inside the house, his bedroom is on the 2nd floor, so he sat on the steps and lifted himself backwards step by step. It was very difficult and tiring for him. It might be easier if he stayed on the first floor because there's a bathroom, kitchen, couch, TV, etc. But he wouldn't be comfortable on the couch, and it's colder on the first floor than the 2nd (even with the heat on), so it isn't such a good idea.
But that means that he can't make any food for himself, so he can't be alone for any long period of time because he'll get hungry with no way to get food. In addition, his eyesight is bad so he can't read the labels on his medications, so he can't tell which is which. (He's usually only on Glyburide for his Diabetes, but now he's on an antibiotic, blood thinner, and he has a prescription for sleeping pills to be taken when needed.) He's had a lot of trouble sleeping. I feel so bad for him; he's so uncomfortable and unwell.
Monday we have an appointment in the city to take a mold of his foot for the PTBO brace I mentioned. I guess we're going to have to go through the same problems getting in and out of the house. At least going down the steps won't be as difficult as going up. But then again, he'll be tired from the trip to the city when we get back home, so it'll be more difficult going up the steps once again. And Liz won't be with us because she has school.
Thank god, at least Liz has no school this Friday so that I can actually go to work. Friday is where the bulk of my hours come from and I just can't afford to not work. As it is, I'll be missing Monday, although Angelica's agreed to let me have her Wednesday hours instead. But even then, I'm supposed to work the Tuesday and Wednesday morning shifts, but I'll have to ask to switch to the afternoon shift, so that my father will only be home alone for a brief period of time between when I leave for work (12:15) and when my sister comes home from school (4:00). I don't know what I'll do if they say no (although I don't think they will), because I just won't be able to go at all, and that would be really bad.
But I'm glad he's home from the hospital and more comfortable, even if it is more work for me.
We had such a difficult time getting into the house yesterday; he can only walk with a walker, leaving his left foot up in the air, hopping along on the right foot (the crutches were too difficult for him). But there are 4 steps up to the house, and he couldn't hop up them with the walker because they're too small fot he walker to fit on, and he wouldn't let me lift him, so he basically crawled up on his hands and knees. Then, inside the house, his bedroom is on the 2nd floor, so he sat on the steps and lifted himself backwards step by step. It was very difficult and tiring for him. It might be easier if he stayed on the first floor because there's a bathroom, kitchen, couch, TV, etc. But he wouldn't be comfortable on the couch, and it's colder on the first floor than the 2nd (even with the heat on), so it isn't such a good idea.
But that means that he can't make any food for himself, so he can't be alone for any long period of time because he'll get hungry with no way to get food. In addition, his eyesight is bad so he can't read the labels on his medications, so he can't tell which is which. (He's usually only on Glyburide for his Diabetes, but now he's on an antibiotic, blood thinner, and he has a prescription for sleeping pills to be taken when needed.) He's had a lot of trouble sleeping. I feel so bad for him; he's so uncomfortable and unwell.
Monday we have an appointment in the city to take a mold of his foot for the PTBO brace I mentioned. I guess we're going to have to go through the same problems getting in and out of the house. At least going down the steps won't be as difficult as going up. But then again, he'll be tired from the trip to the city when we get back home, so it'll be more difficult going up the steps once again. And Liz won't be with us because she has school.
Thank god, at least Liz has no school this Friday so that I can actually go to work. Friday is where the bulk of my hours come from and I just can't afford to not work. As it is, I'll be missing Monday, although Angelica's agreed to let me have her Wednesday hours instead. But even then, I'm supposed to work the Tuesday and Wednesday morning shifts, but I'll have to ask to switch to the afternoon shift, so that my father will only be home alone for a brief period of time between when I leave for work (12:15) and when my sister comes home from school (4:00). I don't know what I'll do if they say no (although I don't think they will), because I just won't be able to go at all, and that would be really bad.
But I'm glad he's home from the hospital and more comfortable, even if it is more work for me.
