Great start to married life. New wife in hospital.

Tropez

Hello everyone. Thank you for all the responses. My apologies for not having responded earlier. I went to visit her at the hospital this afternoon and dozed off shortly after I had some dinner when I got back. Just got woken up by a dog licking my face. Splendid.

OH is in good spirits though she's clearly upset about everything. I didn't notice it yesterday but her face is pretty badly swollen and bruised where she hit it but fortunately now the gash to her head has been cleaned up it doesn't look quite as bad. The doctor's were confident that she hadn't suffered a major head injury and that her X-Rays showed no damage to the skull and she was exhibiting no further signs of confusion of cognitive impairment warranting a CT scan.

However, they are performing an arthroscopy on her knee in the morning as they want to rule out ligament damage. Apparently they haven't been able to assess her knee injury properly yet.

Apparently if all is well they're hoping to discharge her on Friday or Saturday. They've arranged an appointment for me with some sort of specialist consultant person to discuss what care arrangements I should try and put in place for her when she's back home.

Thank you all for the various book suggestions. As there's been quite a few responses this afternoon it isn't feasible for me to reply to each of you individually but I am grateful for your efforts.

To attempt to address other questions/comments that have been raised...

She has broken her writing arm, yes.

Thank you for the tip about BioOil I shall keep that in mind. She's already started talking about cosmetic surgery...

I was thinking for food I would try and prepare meals that can be eaten with a single implement like a fork, spoon or even just the hands. I can cut up anything particularly tricky into smaller pieces as well.

As for bras... I know how to take them off so I can probably figure out how to put them on again

I will of course try to help her out as much as I can and/or she will let me with things like washing her hair and such.

I shall have a look for those pillows mentioned.

Our home phone is cordless although nobody ever calls it bar naughty sales people not adhering to the TPS. I bought a dock for her mobile while I was out today, oddly enough, so she can keep it charged and nearby.

I tire of most visitors after about five minutes so I'll be more than happy to shoo them away

I have one of those breakfast-in-bed tray type things.

Fortunately baggy jogging bottoms and hoodies make up half of her wardrobe for lazing around in Most of them have big pockets and front pockets.

She's never worn slippers so I shall have to investigate on that.

We have a couple of thermos flasks I can use to store drinks in, and I do have a little mini fridge I can keep some other stuff in and nearby for her.

Interestingly, whoever owned this house last most of had some difficulty moving about because there are a lot of assistance rails and things in the bathroom. Conveniently, there is also a seat-like tiled block right next to the bath - never understood the purpose of it but now I can see it might come in handy. Perhaps the previous owner had that put in for that reason? I've used it for putting hot chocolate and aromatherapy candles on when I've been embracing my feminine side :rotfl:

I'll try to obtain some sort of sleeve thing for her cast.

I think that's it - please poke me if I missed anything.

And once again, thank you for all the book recommendations. I will note them down in the morning and then see what I can acquire for her after checking out what she might be interested in.

onlyroz

My current favourite fantasy author is Joe Abercrombie. I actually think he's better than George Martin - the books are quite bloodthirsty, but they're tightly plotted with great characterisation.

Ps I hope your wife gets better soon.

tiger_eyes

Wishing your wife a speedy recovery, Tropez.

onlyroz wrote: »

My current favourite fantasy author is Joe Abercrombie. I actually think he's better than George Martin - the books are quite bloodthirsty, but they're tightly plotted with great characterisation.

Best Served Cold was an absolute masterpiece. I've got Red Country sitting on my shelf right now begging me to read it.

zagubov

Replay by Ken Grimwood. If you can find a copy! I've owned several, lent them out and in the end, never got it back!

A man in his 40s thinks he's dying of a heart attack but wakes up 25 years ago, and gets to relive his life but knowing who'll win all the sporting events etc..... mustn't spoil it. It never gives up.

I've lent it to over twenty people none of whom would rate it less than 9/10.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Replay-FANTASY-MASTERWORKS-Ken-Grimwood/dp/0575075597

A very positive life-affirming book that I hope your wife would like.

victory

Awww tropez was thinking about you the other day, how the wedding in USA had gone and the honeymoon, never thinking you would post about your new wife slipping...:eek: aww, hope she comes out very soon and with all the care you will give her at home will be up and running in no time:D some excellent suggestion on here:D

nlj1520

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your wife.
Just a thought, but when I was in hospital I found I was too ill/tired to concentrate well enough to read. Now I was there with an illness rather than an injury, so it will probably be different for your wife, just thought I would suggest audiobooks in case she is the same. And simple plots, rather than anything too complicated like Le Carre!
The biggest pleasure for me once I was well enough was someone helping me to wash my hair! It had been over 2 weeks! :eek: I think that did me more good than all the medications put together!!!

Are there games or activities that can go on her tablet you bought her? Lots of them could be done with one hand.

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that the best activity for her will be sleep. Let the body heal. Then when she is a bit better some bed exercises for the bits of her that are not in plaster/bandaged/too painful to move. Physio should be able to advise on those.

you need to look after yourself too. Caring for someone (even someone we love to bits) is exhausting and emotionally draining. Really important that you get time out of the sick room, in the fresh air and doing whatever you love.

Really hope everything sorts itself out quickly. All the very best.

aileth

As this seems to have become quite the book recommendation thread, does anyone know any good horror or crime books? The more morbid the better!

Georgiegirl256

Just remembered what those pillows are called, Cushtie pillows http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cushtie-Cushion-Pillow-Pink-/131072685445?pt=UK_Toys_Games_Games&hash=item1e848a7585 That's the original one, and you can get a neck one, but you can get ones a lot cheaper than that too (not the original make) from places like B&m Bargains, I think that's where I got my Mam's from.

mumps

Tropez wrote: »

OH is in good spirits though she's clearly upset about everything. I didn't notice it yesterday but her face is pretty badly swollen and bruised where she hit it but fortunately now the gash to her head has been cleaned up it doesn't look quite as bad. The doctor's were confident that she hadn't suffered a major head injury and that her X-Rays showed no damage to the skull and she was exhibiting no further signs of confusion of cognitive impairment warranting a CT scan.

The bruising and swelling is fun, I found it changed almost daily with the bruising moving gradually down so initially very swollen forehead, moving onto eyes amost closed and bruised and then moving on down. It is very disconcerting when you look in the mirror and don't see yourself and as something improves something else gets worse. I would say don't rush into cosmetic surgery, I was offered a nose job on the NHS but it has magically returned very close to original now but I do have problems if I have a cold as the inside of my nose has changed rather than outside. I also had some residual swelling under one eye for months and this bothered me much more. I had given up on that resolving itself when one day I realised it had gone. Think positive but it is nice to have as a fallback.

Be careful with the flask as they can be hard to open one handed.

Coming home from hospsital is the best medicine, well it was for me, good luck and do keep us posted about how she is.

Just thought to add I was in my 50s when I smashed my face up so I am sure you wife will heal much more quickly than I did as I am assuming she is younger?

onlyroz

tiger_eyes wrote: »

Wishing your wife a speedy recovery, Tropez.

Best Served Cold was an absolute masterpiece. I've got Red Country sitting on my shelf right now begging me to read it.

The only thing that the latter three Abercrombie books lack is Sand Dan Glokta, who is now one of my favourite fictional characters. Gives Tyrion Lannister a run for his money in any case. I listened to all 6 Abercrombie books in audio and the narrator is incredible - he gives all of the characters an individual voice and you could easily believe that it was narrated by about 20 different people.