Received a call at 12:30 am last night from Hugh's rehab facility that he had fell out of bed. Yes, you heard that right. I am still to this minute unglued about this. I won't go into details, but he slid down somehow on his air mattress, past the rails, and fell on his left side. His pelvis was re-xrayed today, and have yet got the results, it had better be negative or someone will pay big time. Hugh says he has no pain, which is a good thing.
Hugh was in out out of bed today for xray, in his recliner etc., so that basically was his "physical therapy" for the day, because he was too damned tired to do anything else.
Tomorrow game plan is, to get him up in a wheelchair! The rehab facilitator who is a complete gem, ordered a special cushion to sit on, because of his broken pelvis, he needs it. I just LOVE the rehab people of this facility.
He didn't eat much today, because they over medicated him on his Norco, yes, again, you read that right. He only wanted 1/2 of one pill, they gave him two. It makes his stomach sick and he is dead all day and can't cope. He will hopefully be more clear headed in the morning to be sure he only gets 1/2 of the pill. DAMMIT, if I am not there to be his advocate, it's like all hell breaks loose. I should NOT have to worry about this.
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Dear Hugh,
Honey, I am just so proud of you. You tried your hardest to keep your chin up today even though you were so heavily doped up on Norco. Damn nurses. Anyhow, tomorrow will be a better day! I thought having you in this journey (in rehab) would be easier for me. It's not. In fact, it's emotionally harder. Leaving you behind each night just takes a toll on me. I cry the whole way home, having to leave you defenseless, lying there. It just breaks my heart darling.
You will be so proud of me. I drove through the "intersection" today, and faced up to walking to the local businesses and handing out Hugh's Bite Nite fliers around. Crossing the crosswalk where you got hit I broke down crying, but I did it. Not sure if I can go back again, but I did it! I saw the skid marks, and the accident replays over and over in my head, just imaging what happened to you and I have to stop thinking. It is a horrible dream that makes me wither with sickness in the pit of my stomach.
I just can't bear this much more. I keep telling myself each day will get better, but to be honest Hugh, it is not. Maybe I'm good at fooling others, but I'm not fooling myself. It hurts deep, and I think I need to talk to someone about this soon.
I need you, I want you home, I miss you and I love you forever... please hurry sweetheart and get better............
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5 comments:
Shelley,
OMG! How horrifying that Hugh fell out of the bed! He may say he has no pain from it, but they better check him head to toe, since the pain meds will prevent him from being fully aware of any new injuries. I can't believe that they would leave someone on that high dose of Norco unattended even for a few minutes.
After I was injured in a car accident, many years ago, the doctor prescribed Vicodin (same as Norco, different brand name). I took just one and had hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, chills and drenching sweats, and the sensation that the room was spinning around me. I felt as though I was suffocating. My legs felt like rubber when I tried to stand and I could not even walk with my walker to the bathroom on my own. I can't even believe they would prescribe TWO pills for anyone. I told the doctor to not ever prescribe that drug for me again...and he did, under a different brand name. Unfortunately you have to keep your eyes and ears open at all times and check and recheck everything to avoid their hazardous blunders.
Thought you might be interested in this info:
http://www.drugs.com/norco.html
Scroll all the way down to bottom of page, also, or you will miss important side effects/info.
http://www.drugs.com/cons/versed.html
http://www.drugs.com/fentanyl.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/haloperidol
The last one above is Haldol.
Has anyone told you that once the patient is on lower dose meds, and can get in and out of a wheel chair, if the doctor starts talking about out-patient physical therapy, you can rent medical supplies, wheel chair, hospital bed, ramps, crutches or walkers, etc, for home use? I had to find out on my own that my local, small town pharmacy rents all that equipment. Not all of them do. Just look in your phone book under Hospital (equipment and supplies), or maybe pharmacies.
Of course you have to get pre-approval for coverage from your insurance company, if you can't afford it yourself, but it is worth a try.
It also doesn't hurt if you can line up a couple of big strong guys who are willing to come by the house several times a day to help get the injured one up from the bed to the chair. You can also rent a portable wheel chair that folds up to fit in the car (once the injured person can fold up to fit in the car).
You will be amazed once the pain med doses are lowered or changed to different types of meds. A lot of the symptoms (beyond physical pain/temporary disabilities from the actual injuries), are cause by the prescription medications. I know, I cried like a baby after I discontinued the meds (against doctors recommendations) and I was, for the first time after my accident, able to actually drink from a cup on my own without dropping the cup.
You and Hugh continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
Lauren (from inkFrog forums)
Hi Shelley! I haven't commented in a while but wanted you to know that I've been following Hugh's progress and am so happy he's doing so much better. And you're obviously such a sweetheart! The blog makes me tear up every time I read it.
I also wanted to let you know that I've had some pretty bad medical problems over the past three years and I swear I can't believe how incompetent and uncaring some of the medical profession has become. The one thing I learned is to STAY ON TOP OF THEM! Also, research everything they tell you. I've had my doctor tell me things that I KNEW were wrong. Had them prescribe medications that are actually dangerous for me to take with my condition...I could go on and on.
I don't understand why they're still giving him Norco when it's causing so many problems. Norco's pretty strong I believe...seems like there's something they can give him that won't make him nauseous and zonked out all the time.
Obviously I really don't know from where I'm sitting, just suggesting, which is the only way I feel I can help! I've been a huge fan of your ebay store for years, as I also love and sell vintage lingerie.
I just pray the rest of Hugh's recovery goes smoothly, and you stay strong :) I can't even imagine what you're going though, and I don't think you have any clue as to how strong you really are.
Just keep in mind that these days WE have to be the ones in charge of our medical care. Our system is broken, and the days of being confident that every doctor is doing everything right are sadly gone. I'm glad you've been blessed with so many good specialists though!
If I can help in any, ANY way, even if it's just giving advice, please let me know. You can email me directly at dreamifucan@aol.com
I'll continue to follow Hugh's progress, and please know that I giggle out loud when I see he's had a good day, and I say GRRRRR when he hasn't
Hugs and prayers,
Debbie
Please know that you and your husband are in our thoughts. We look forward to supporting you family Monday and spreading the word about Monday as well!!!
Shelley, my heart goes out to you. I have been where you are twice, in 99 and last year with my son.
I pray for your husband's recovery every day and to give you strength.
I wanted you to know that some fire stations lend wheelchairs and some organizations donate medical supplies like bathtub chairs etc...also craigslist is a good place to look. Maybe you can ask your friends to keep and eye out for you in your town.
Hang in there!
Liz
Shelley,
I just thought of another site you might want to use for reference on Hugh's meds. I use this one every time they prescribe me something new because it's all patient reviews, so you get info from people who've actually taken the drugs, what side effects they had, etc.
askapatient.com
Hope it helps!
Debbie
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