THE FUTURE IS ONE BIG CHALLENGE AFTER ANOTHER for 3Dogs and friends ..... PART 4

solventsoon

Hope you both get some rest tonight 3Dogs, it's been a traumatic couple of days for you both.

'night, see you tomorrow
xxx

JayJay14

Morning, sorry to have been AWOL, work has been busy lately.

Hope Alan had a decent night. I've been reading back and as everyone says you are coping brilliantly with it all but remember that like the night before last you need to cry HELP and not try to do it all yourself. That's what docs are there for after all.

Hope you get him to eat something, do you have those drinks (were Fortisip when I was in hosp) they aren't the most wonderful flavours (and I could never stomach the fruit juice ones) but at least they do provide nutrients.

Hope the weather isn't too bad where you are, you could both probably do with some sun and fresh air.

3Dogs

Evening all - sorry I'm late but not been online till evening

Both Mr 3Dogs and I had a lovely night's sleep. Alarm for his meds woke us at 8 am and I managed to wake him up just enough to get him to take them, but he wouldn't have anything to eat :mad: Back to sleep and the GP rang about 9am to check on how Alan was and I told him that I was happy for him to stay on the 2 x 40mg MST with oramorph if necessary over the weekend so he said he'd phone back on Monday, but we were to ring Out-of-Hours if things changed. It was really good of him as he rang from home and was willing to visit today if necessary when he wasn't on duty

After his call, we both drifted off to sleep again, waking to the alarm at 11.30 for Alan's MST's. We got up and I made bacon sarnies but, having taken ages to get him up, to the toilet, and into the sitting room, Alan only had one bite and said he was full. He then spilt his glass of squash over himself, and the chair. I got him dried and changed his top, but he then tried to drink again and spilt it all over again, so stripped his top and bottoms off him and put it all in the washer, putting his dressing gown on him. It was like dealing with him drunk - everything in slow motion and a blank look when you say something :rotfl: :rotfl: But of course it was the morphine making him like this. As I got him back to bed, I told him I was going to get him a Tomy Tippee mug :rotfl: :rotfl:

I used a sports drink bottle after that - one from Lucozade Sports Lite - which doesn't spill out unless you squeeze the bottle, but it is fun trying to get him to use that too :rotfl: :rotfl: especially when he unscrews the top completely and drops the bottom - more mopping up - or when he squeezed and squeezed but couldn't get a drink ..... because he'd clicked the top back on

Anyway, the most important thing is he is almost free of the pain, just a very little now and then, so having to put up with him like this is a small price to pay :rotfl: Good job I have tons of patience with him

I did go out for an hour, to local Tosco in the afternoon. Put his prescription in at pharmacy, did my shopping included more Lucozade, and cakes, bumped into some old friends and let them know about Alan , then paid and back home ..... forgetting to pick the meds up from pharmacy :eek: :eek:

When I got home, Alan shouted 'panic stations' from the bedroom and I dashed in. he was holding his hands in the air and had the blankets back, telling me that his stoma bag had leaked all over, when it hadn't, but to humour him as he was insistent, I changed his bag and 'cleaned him up'. He still had his hands in the air, saying 'but it's all over my hands' so I gave him a wipe to clean himself with And then he was happy again :rotfl:

He did agree to get up for a while at 8pm, and had his meds, but wouldn't have anything to eat, other than a mini choc biscuit, and we I made sure that I held the sports bottle for him as he took his meds this time He did stay up for half an hour, staring at the tv screen but I didn't think he was following the match, until he said 'foul!' so I guess he was watching it properly. Getting him to bed after the half hour was fun too :eek: but he soon fell sound asleep and, in fact, I have just had to wake him for his last meds, including his 40mg morphine. That wwas quite an experience too, taking about 20 minutes but we managed in the end He is now sound asleep again

He hasn't really complained of pain at all today, just the odd discomfort, though, as you can see, he is very doped up :eek: :eek: Hoping that he is pain free tomorrow but perhaps his body will adapt to the drugs and he will be more aware of what's going on ............ instead of seeing people outside partying and thinking there is someone else in the house. He did say, as he came out of the bathroom this afternoon, "I think I've just worked it out. This is our house isn't it? When did we get back?" bless him

I am going to check with Social Services as, when I first contacted them, they mentioned whether I needed anyone to sit with him to allow me to go out but it wasn't needed at the time, but it seems it is now

Off to bed very soon, hoping that we both have another good sleep, so will say goodnight noww - sleep well :beer:

So_Sad_Angel

Hi 3Dogs

I hope you are OK and that Alans meds have started to be more effective...also that you are both getting some proper rest.

I hope that you are keeping up with the football too as it seems to be getting interesting now...so much sport on the TV with Wimbledon starting monday too!! but my fav is the Tour de France which starts next saturday. (hmmm lots of grown men riding around the countryside in tight outfits has a certain appeal LOL :rotfl::rotfl:)

Anyway I may not post often but you are both in my thoughts and hope you have a comfortable weekend.:A

Angiexx

So_Sad_Angel

Just seen your update ( my PC is very slow) hopefully when Alan adjusts to the new pain relief he will be more himself again...it just takes a few days.

LOL @ the Tomy Tippee mug...I had some dental work last year and used one too...they are very useful to have in the house!

Sweet dreams

Angexx

3Dogs

Mr 3Dogs & I slept right through the night, other than a lovely session getting him to the bathroom, take him meds and get back into bed. He fell heavily as he went into the bathroom and I don’t have the strength in my hands/arms to lift him. He managed to get up eventually but I then had to help him with his stoma bag as he was shouting for me to bring scissors to cut the end. Got him back to sit on edge of bed and we had a ‘just take this one tablet’ and ‘one more drink’ session to get all 8 tablets down him, taking about half an hour. Got him back into bed and stayed up for about an hour just to make sure he was settled, before I went to bed about 1.30am

As I said, we both slept well, and the alarm woke us up at 8am and I had a repeat performance with his 13 tablets. He then had an hour where he was delirious, thinking there were other people in the bed and that he was lying on one of them, so he rolled off the bed to get off them, despite me trying to stop him. He somehow managed to get back onto the edge of the bed and sat there for a while before I could persuade him to get into bed. I got back into bed to keep an eye on him, resting on his shoulder to let him know I was there, and we fell asleep again. It was 3pm before I got up and dressed as he needed more meds then, so gave him them and left him sleeping, while I made something to eat

I got him sitting up more and took him food into the bedroom as there is no way I couldget him up and into the sitting room. I spoon-fed him some new potatoes, chopped roast beef and grated cheese melted on top but he only managed 3 mouthfuls ...... it was something though. Got his settled to sleep after that and he is still asleep now, bless him

So_Sad_Angel

Sending you a big ((HUG)) and my thoughts xxx.

I don`t know what to say but just wanted you to know that you are not on your own. I bet like all of your friends here, and even regular lurkers who may not post, I just wish I was nearer to help and support in some small way.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day xx:A:A:A

Angiexx

solventsoon

And a big (((HUG))) from me as well hun.

Like Angie, I don't really know what to say but I didn't want to not post.

Hopefully Alan's system will get used to the morphine within the next couple of days and he won't be so out of it. If your GP doesn't call you tomorrow please call him and let him know what's happening.

Thinking about you both and sending you another (((hug)))

spoon xxx

Aesop

awww hun, wish I was closer.

speak to the Dr tomorrow, maybe they need to adjust Alan's dosage.

soon be on holiday that will be nice, with Kit and boys to help look after Alan.

xxx

3Dogs

Difficult night and morning

When I went to give Alan his meds late last night, he wanted to go to the toilet first and went to get up. I steadied him and he got to doorway but then fell backwards shouting at me to leave go of him in case I got pulled over. He fell just short of the bed, knocking his back and arm on the bed frame, but wasn't hurt. He couldn't get up though. He eventually got onto his knees, but nothing to pull himself up with. He crawled forward and dowwn the hall towards the sitting room but I stopped him there as I wouldn't have been able to get him back. I got him to back up, crawl into the bedroom and near the bed, then get his head and top body on the bed, edging forward until he could turn over and get his legs onto the bed and get in the right position with head on pillows. It took a long time and was hard, for both of us, but we got there. After recovering, he took his tablets one by one, but then sat up on edge of the bed wanting a wee. He knew he couldn't get to the bathroom but I had found a suitable container a vase :eek: to use as a bottle. He couldn't then have a wee 'on demand' though so ended up getting back into the bed and I emptied his stoma bag for him

I then went to bed and we both got to sleep. This was just after 11pm but he woke up shouting at 2.10am. He was sure that we were in the middle of a building site and people were outside ready to knock the house down. He told me off for going to the back door to check without my dressing gown on coz 'they will see you with no clothes on' :eek: He kept shouting 'Hello' loudly to let the people knoww we wwere they and telling me to get a big stick and bang with it to let them know. He even said 'throw something at the window to smash it' He was adamant about this and kept on and on, until I pretended to ring a friend to get her to let them know we were inside the house, and this settled him until he fell asleep again at 3.30am

6am he was awake again, wanting a wee but, despite half hour trying, he couldn't have one in the 'bottle'. Back to sleep at 6.45 till the alarm went for his meds. I got up and got him fresh squash and his meds, but he struggled with them, only having the MST, Loperamide, and Fluoxetine. He just would not take the others

I got up and ready and, as he seemed settled, went for my breakfast cereal in the sitting room, and looked in half an hour later to find him sitting on the side of the bed, with his dressing gown on. He had pulled it off the hooks on the back of the open door and put it on himself, without getting up. He wanted a big bowl of water so he could gulp it down so I put some in a cup and just about managed to get him to drink half. Unable to have a wee, he lay back down again

9.45 I found him sitting up again and I asked if he would have his other meds but he said no, and lay back down again. I changed his stoma bag and stayed in the bedroom, going through his wardrobe which we want rid off, sorting lots of polo shirts and shirts for cancer charity shop. To stay watching him, I thought I would clear some more of my clothes out and got a bag full from my wardrobe too. I have come through to the sitting room for a while, as I can still hear him snoring so know he is ok

I have rang the surgery to confirm that we are on GP's telephone list for today which we are, District Nurses to ask if someone could call today as I need help and advice plus that he needs a commode and a 'bottle', and the Macmillan Nurse to ask if she will ring me or visit tomorrow for advice

One thing, with getting up early, I have 2 loads of washing on the line