Category: Fatigue

Therapy

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Yesterday I met with the nurse who will be stopping by to check on me for a few weeks and today I met the occupational therapist who will be stopping in.

I liked both ladies very much and they offered some much needed advice. The occupational therapist gave me some interesting exercises to try. One will come easy to me as we’ve played that “game” in my family for years! It’s hitting a balloon to someone or to myself. It’s a good exercise for my balance. Only to do it until I get tired or feel off-balance.

Another one is using a clothes pin on a curtain. Clipping it at different heights and grabbing it from different distances. But the most important exercise she gave me was to do everyday, functional things…like loading the dishwasher or folding laundry. Make it a goal to do it. If I have trouble, then stop and pick it up later. To not push it. It will not only give me a good gage, but it will also make me feel useful around the house.

She also stressed the importance of listening to my body. When I’m overly tired…rest. If I need to nap…nap. Also recommended a hand-held shower head which would help I think.

Also taking a short drive to get used to being in the car again. Not any destination in mind but just a drive.

Both nurses have both been here about a year and adjusting to Maine life. The occupational therapist lives nearby actually and had admired our yard and garden as she’s driven by. Maybe I’ll hire her to winterize my roses! LOL

I was exhausted after she left. I think because I did too much “work” on my computer in the morning. Got my finances in
order, which took awhile.

I meet with Kelli, the nurse again on Wednesday.

Fresh Air

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I didn’t sleep as well last night, but still slept. Each time I get up in the middle of the night, I’m finding myself always thinking of the moment the aneurysm made me aware of its existence. I’ll probably relive that moment quite a bit. I don’t dwell on it, I just think about it.

I awoke with a pretty good headache. I did not feel good at all. I ate breakfast, but still didn’t feel good. I took some Tylenol, but it barely made a dent. I needed the stronger pain killer they had prescribed, so I asked Dave to please go out and get that for me.

Around 10:00 this morning, I could no longer keep my eyes opened and went to bed. I awoke at 1:30 when Dave got back from running all his errands.

The pain killer I was prescribed is called Lortab, but its more common name is Vicodin. That I have heard of and I was looking forward to taking at least one to see if it would knock this pain out.

Dave made us some lunch and I took one Vicodin around 2:00, then decided since it was a sunny, but very cool day, I needed some fresh air. I haven’t had it in over three weeks. I bundled up, grabbed a large cup of hot tea and ventured out with Dave’s help.

A short time after I sat down, flowers from Geiger in Lewiston were delivered to me. How thoughtful of them to do that. Apparently the owner, Peter Geiger, had an aneurysm a few years back, so he kind of knows what I’m going through.

It’s amazing what some sun on your face and some fresh air in your lungs can do. I felt so good to there. Not only to be on my deck in the fresh air, but to see that view again and to be able to be there again to enjoy it. I had a moment of tears, but it was happiness.

I also realized how much I have to do in my garden to button it up for winter. Not sure when, or how we’ll get to that. I also have a ton of tulips to be planted!

Once I got too chilly, I came back in. Dave cooked spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and we enjoyed a nice dinner together with my feeling better.

I think all I did yesterday was too much and I paid for it today. It’s going to take me awhile to realize what I can and cannot do.

I’ll just be happy to be home this weekend!

Recovery

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My first night at home went very well. I went to be around 10:00 only got up once in the night and slept until 7:00. The most I have slept in three weeks. Felt good, but I still woke up with a headache.

The first thing I wanted to do, beside eat breakfast and take a Tylenol, was take a shower in my own shower, with my own towels, shampoo…etc., etc.

It was ambitious of me and I paid for it the rest of the day. Too much, too fast and standing up wasn’t the best.

We received two calls from HealthReach a local organization that is a sustainable network of community-based health centers dedicated to high quality, affordable healthcare.  Qualified and caring professionals deliver services in response to the diverse needs of those we serve, in collaboration with local organizations.

An initial evaluation and an occupational therapist stopped by. I was so tired out from the shower, I really wasn’t up to meeting with either one of them, but for my own security and safety, I wanted to meet with them at least for a couple of weeks to monitor my progress during my recovery since I didn’t know what I’d be up against.

I think it was good to meet with them. They offered advice and let me now of the other services they offers. It’s a wonderful organization.

As soon as the 2nd visitor left, I went to bed until 4:30. Still had a headache after a bit, but Dave cooked some fabulous pub burgers on the grill. I certainly haven’t lost my appetite!

We also walked inside the house. I need to walk more like I did in the hospital. Of course I didn’t have anything ELSE to do in the hospital, so it was THE event of the day when I did. I just have to take it easy with anything ELSE I might do. I learned my lesson today for sure.

Brief Escape

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A day or two later I was able to take out the catheter. Ahhhh!! A nice relief, but they were still pumping three IVs of fluids through me, so that didn’t decrease. It was making me get up more, so I suppose that was good. It was just nice to have control over my own “stuff” now.

I saw physical therapy briefly and they explained the pain in my back was due to being bedridden for five solid days. I just felt it was a little bit more than that and it took a few more days to get a Dr. to tell me the blood that was released into my brain needed someplace to go and the spinal chord was a prime area as well…hence the discomfort. Also due to being bedridden, but it made a little more sense now. I needed to get up and move!

I was trying my best to get out of the 608 ward. I was tired and cranky. They finally said I could move to a semi-private room. YES!! At last..maybe some sleep! I’d be sharing with another patient, but hopefully it would be someone nice and quiet. Risky.

I was moved down in the evening, met Brenda, my bunk-mate and her husband and settled in. I was still awakened every four hours for pills, but I DID get some sleep. Brenda and I were both up at 4:00 helping pass our pain together chatting about our kitty cats and homes. I liked Brenda.