here's an update on Ray
Entry posted by swilkinson
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This was supposed to be my break while Ray was at Camp Breakaway but instead Ray is in hospital. He went in on Monday from Daycare where he had had a fall. Maybe he just collapsed, not clear on that one. Their reaction, definitely the right one, was to call an ambulance and send him off to hospital. He had had a temp the day before and a couple of falls but said he was okay to go and I took his word for it.
They are doing a lot of tests to see if they can find out what is causing his current problems. There is never a simple answer but it seems as if the meds for arrythmia are not working and it has progressed to A-Fib. That has been complicated by the chest infection that he has so he has more weakness and his legs won't hold him up. The answer at the moment seems to be bed rest. It can be really boring sitting at the side of the bed of someone having bed rest I can tell you!
I know if he were healthier with the problems he has they would be talking about a pacemaker but the nurses just tell me that they are working on the problems and when his temp comes down they will get him out of bed and the physios will start working on his walking again. In the meantime a heart specialist is going to look at his meds with a view to changing some of them ( have I heard this story before???).
I went to the doctor Tuesday and got meds for my chest infection so hopefully I will soon stop barking like a dog and sleep some at night. I need to get back to health before I can have Ray back home again. We've all tried it the other way and know that it can't work if the caregiver is ill. You need to be 100% fit to look after someone 24 hours a day, and yes his incontinence is full on now.
I did still go on the day trip I had booked for yesterday. The "Aged Concerns" nurse told me to go as it would be mostly a day of tests so I wouldn't be able to be with him much anyway. As it turned out he did have a couple of visitors from our Lions Club so that was good timing. I kinda enjoyed the day, it was to an area attached to one of the Sydney Museums where restoration is done and there were also some past exhibitions on display, included was a "back rooms tour". Of course the widows of the dementia group are the ones who can go on these tours so I was the youngest by a few years. I guess you could say it was a distraction for a while.
I have that real lonely feeling again as the day comes to a close and I don't know what even the immediate future holds for Ray and me. I always face the world with a smile and try to keep upbeat but boy! at times like this I wish I could find a warm cave and sleep away the rest of winter and half of spring before I came out again. What a contrast with the way I was feeling a few short weeks ago. Just as well no-one has a way of seeing into the future or we would never keep on going.
Thanks to all of those who are praying for us. It helps to know we have so many kind folk thinking of us, both near and afar.
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