Back in the hospital

[Uben]

I took Carol back to the hospital yesterday. She wasn't eating anything solid and would only drink one bottle of Ensure and a quart of water or so a day. She was looking jaundiced and very thin from the chest up, and from there down was very swolen due to fluid retention. I knew it was time to get her attention. I called the chemo doc and she called ahead so we wouldn't have to wait in the ER waiting room which was filled with sick people coughing and wheezing. The waiting room was packed, and the hospital was full. People wait until the first of the year to go in due to deductibles, and it's also prime time flu season.

They attended to her promptly, and she was looking much better just a couple of hours later due to the glucose infusion. I hated to have to do it because she just hates hospital stays.....who doesn't? They will be draining off the excess fluid in her abdomen which will relieve the pressure on her diaphram that was making it more difficult to breathe.

On the good side, she hasn't had too bad of a reaction to the chemo. She's had a bellyache or two, but no vomiting, I guess because she hasn't been eating solids. She will be there for two or three days at least to get stronger.

I have arranged to have a home health service assist me in getting her well again. They will provide RNs to monitor her health and others to assist in her in therapies, bathing, and will even cook meals and clean if necessary. I don't really need anyone to clean and cook, I can do that. I'm almost compulsive when it comes to cleaning. It helps me keep my mind from wandering off to places I don't want it to go. Anyway, I'm going all out in an attempt to get her well. If I have to, I will hire a full-time nurse to assist her at home until she's well again.

All of her friends, and believe me, there are many, want to see her. That is understandable, but I have been keeping her isolated because it's flu seaon and the time of year when everyone gets sick. No one comes into my home unless it's absolutely necessary, and those who do must a wear a mask. Of course, they understand.