My OH is in hospital in intensive care

torbrex

If standing is difficult for long periods (or even short ones) is there anything he can push against with his legs, even if it is just your youngest pushing back.
One of my dad's tricks when he was trying to build up his leg after a knee operation was to have mum's sprung stepper wedged in at the foot of the bed and push on that when lying down.
Anything to get his legs moving and stop them getting lazy.

victory

torbrex wrote: »

If standing is difficult for long periods (or even short ones) is there anything he can push against with his legs, even if it is just your youngest pushing back.
One of my dad's tricks when he was trying to build up his leg after a knee operation was to have mum's sprung stepper wedged in at the foot of the bed and push on that when lying down.
Anything to get his legs moving and stop them getting lazy.

I don't know, he had me to lean on was standing for what seemed the shortest time, I had already filled the sink with hot soapy water, got a flannel and we were ready to go but his legs were not able to take it and his breathing was getting very torturous so he asked to be taken back to bed and has been there ever since.

victory

I asked OH if he wanted to go out in the fresh air in a wheelchair as suggested on here but I can't see that happening at the moment, it is an idea maybe later on, we have one we can use, the effort for him would be too overwhelming at the moment, I said to OH that he only knows the pain he is, the motivation he has, what he can do, his push point, I can see he is prepared to push as he did try today but just cannot do it, maybe another day.

mum2one

victory wrote: »

I asked OH if he wanted to go out in the fresh air in a wheelchair as suggested on here but I can't see that happening at the moment, it is an idea maybe later on, we have one we can use, the effort for him would be too overwhelming at the moment, I said to OH that he only knows the pain he is, the motivation he has, what he can do, his push point, I can see he is prepared to push as he did try today but just cannot do it, maybe another day.

Ur doing so brilliantly, it's not just the physicAl recovery but the mental recovery as well.

It sounds like oh has come on leaps and bounds as for work forget that, the priority is getting him better xx

torbrex

victory wrote: »

I don't know, he had me to lean on was standing for what seemed the shortest time, I had already filled the sink with hot soapy water, got a flannel and we were ready to go but his legs were not able to take it and his breathing was getting very torturous so he asked to be taken back to bed and has been there ever since.

that is the very reason he needs to try to keep them moving, at least lying down he does not have to support any wieght.

victory

mum2one wrote: »

Ur doing so brilliantly, it's not just the physicAl recovery but the mental recovery as well.

It sounds like oh has come on leaps and bounds as for work forget that, the priority is getting him better xx

I am watching his mental state closely, other than frustration, emotions from the meds, so far fingers crossed it is within what one would expect having come through such a traumatic ordeal.

Work was his way of getting his life back, he is a man that has gone from working, socializing,hobbies, living a full life to being inmobile, in bed, he knows it will take time and has to ride with it, that is why I was so full of praise for him this morning, at least he tried, I probably will not see him again up for the rest of the day but he tried, every day small acorns:)

victory

torbrex wrote: »

that is the very reason he needs to try to keep them moving, at least lying down he does not have to support any wieght.

Which is why the nurse said 25 steps but he cannot manage them, sometimes he manages to stand and just stands there completely unable to move one foot infront of the other however hard his mind says he can, however hard his will is he just has to sit back down.

We have said we will both stand either side of him and aim for maybe 10 steps and help him do it.

nearlyrich

Good to hear he is progressing Victory, he should not be thinking about work at all whilst he gets better, his job is to get fit and well. I understand the need not to let people down but the fact is he can't work and worrying about it will lead to a longer recovery. I wish you all a happy new year and as you can see from the thread we are all thinking of you and the family and wishing you well. x

spirit

victory, you only have to go back a few pages and read your first couple of posts again to see how far you have both come.

slowly, slowly catchee monkey

cazziebo

As someone said earlier, four weeks is not a long time. You've both done so well.

Health care professionals can be great, but some don't quite appreciate how difficult movement can be and might set unrealistic expectations. It's important that you try but don't get too despondent if it's just out of reach for the moment.

When my father couldn't eat the nutritionist suggested full fat yoghurt - which shocked me when I saw the number of calories in them! Lack of mobility can sometimes be down to energy levels and your OH needs to keep his calorie intake up.

Look after yourself. (and thanks for the updates - you're never far from my thoughts x)