While he is there, he is eating better than at home.
Dad now seems to be doing well in the hospital.
He is room 625 bed 1, of St. John Macomb hospital (formerly South Macomb).
Earlier in the week, Dad fell at home when leaning over to pick up something off the floor. A nurse was in the house at the time, and as can be expected got very excited and nervous. Dad was able to pick himself up and thought he was OK.
Tuesday, I think, Uncle Robert and Cousin Greg came by to visit, and they were a great help cleaning up the remaining snow, and giving Mom a ride to her doctor appointment. Having the snow dealt with took a big concern off Dad's mind.
Yesterday, on Thursday 3/6/2014, Dad's leg was still hurting. It was hurting to the point that he could not comfortably stand nor sit. So he was stuck in bed again. Meals in bed have tended to not be as good as when he can get up and get his own food. Coordinating what and when to eat between him and Mom is a challenge. He discussed the pain with his therapist, and it was recommended that he go to the hospital. To deal with the difficulty to sit in a car, an ambulance via calling 911 was recommended.
Cousin Sean came and gave Mom a ride to and from the hospital last night following Dad's ambulance. They got at the hospital around 7:13PM, and stayed very late. Dad did not sleep well due to the pain. However, Dad was able to get pain medicine and doctor confirmation that normal food is OK this morning. So he enjoyed a breakfast of eggs, toast and hot chocolate. Then Dad was sleeping when I called around 12:30PM.
The X-rays of Dad's leg show no breakage. So Dad probably just bruised himself, and possibly pulled a muscle.
As of this morning, 3/7, Dad's white blood cell count is extra high. Dad has a condition where his white blood cell count is always high, but evidently it is above normal for his levels. It seems that there is infection in his bladder again. Antibiotics are expected to deal with that.
Dad is staying in the cardiac section of the hospital. His heart rhythm has always been abnormal, but not problematic. A heart doctor is considering recommending a pacemaker. I wonder if that is due to need, or just due to caution and not knowing his history well.
The doctor told Dad that he would see him tomorrow. So Dad is in the hospital at least a day. Based on being a weekend, I am guessing he will not be released before Monday.
So challenges to deal with remain.
- How can we prepare so Dad and Mom both can eat well in case either become stuck in bed?
- Nutrition shakes are a part of the solution, but other items to give some heft to the nourishment is probably good.
- Dad will have to learn to be more careful about picking things up.
- He has, and regularly uses, an extension grabber for picking things up from higher up. He hopefully will now consider using it for things on the floor as well.
Praise God nothing more urgently serious was wrong with my Dad.
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