Mom had a horrendous night, filled with halluncinations and fear. She thought she was in a theatre at the hospital and they forced her to sit and watch a Fred Astaire movie. When it was over, they made her watch a second one with Esther Williams until 4:30 and she cried and cried when I got here. The nurse was looking into getting a sitter but i told her i would stay tonight. It seems the nights are her toughest time - all the drugs in her system are creating confusion.she said her doctor came in and combed her hair and said he likes everything put away. She is telling me that little boys play tennis. She is calling for Auntie, talking about neighbors she had when she lived with Auntie in NH, specifically one big boy who chased her and she was afraid of. She talks about playing in the pool and she has to get up to go out to the pool. She thinks she is laying on the ground....everything is foreign to her.
She finally got her chest tubes out so now they can get her off the paon meds she has been on for a week. The nurses just gave her a bath, changed her sheets and gown and she is off to sleep. Her nurse today is so sweet and is working to help get Mom re-oriented after being in icu so long. She said this happens sometimes and it should pass....
More to blog soon. I asked for a report of all the drugs she has had -
This afternoon she has been telling me about some cottages that her doctors invested in that will be very valuable on about sixty years. She sees spiders and people that are not there. Almost 2pm and she is off to dreamland again. Sleep seems to be helping the most.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this update Susan. I have seen this disorientation before in my many years working with the elderly...Post-op can be a confusing time for them.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that those tubes are out. She will hopefully rest more comfortably now.
Just that she is out if CCU is huge!
I am so happy that I made the trip down to see her Sunday thru Tuesday this week.
Familiarity and loving touches and words are so important in the recovery process.. She is so afraid of being alone. God bless you Sue...I saw what you take on and what you do and i know you love Mom so much.
Please call any time day or night for anything.
i will be there in a flash..Love Mom and you an lot..Sandy
Thanks, Sandy! You two have such a special bond and I love what Patti said that Mom cannot have too much love. This is a scary time for her because she does not realize the things she sees are not real. When i expained to her that she was having vivid dreams and the drugs were making those things seem real, she seemed to relax. I had her sit and look out the window at the sunny day as nurse says her bio-rythyms are out of whack. It was cloudy and dark up in CCU and now her days and nights are confused in her system. If she can get to sleep, she will feel better. Pray for sleep!!!
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