Late October - Bad News

posted by Cheri on Mon. Oct 27, 2008
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My mom's been in the hospital for the last four days.

She went to the ER because she was feeling faint and had a searing headache. While in the hospital, they think she either had a mild stroke or an TIA -- which, as far as I can tell, is a mild stroke, but the effects are temporary, not permanent.

The docs are running tests, and more tests, and more tests. So far nothing conclusive.

Much of the time she is lucid and not in any pain. But she is having trouble following conversations, is mixing words and names, and is at times incoherent. We're hoping that is from all the medications they have her taking and not a sign of anything more serious.

The night before last a nurse called to say Mom had either fallen out of bed or had fallen while trying to get out of bed. They've moved her to a room with a "Mesh Bed." It looks like a four poster bed with a loose-weave mesh fabric stretched between the posters to prevent the patient from getting/falling out of bed.

My first reaction was to not like the mesh bed at all. But then I talked with good friend Ingrid, who's a Physicians Assistant. Her take? The mesh bed is the least restrictive way to keep a patient from falling and possibly causing themselves serious damage. She said it's much more dignified than the physical restrains used at most hospitals (like putting them in a vest attached to the bed, or using velcro straps to attach their wrists to the bed rails -- I would have FREAKED to have seen that).

So Ingrid convinced me the mesh bed is a good thing. (I suppose)   

Truth is, no one like seeing the people they love in a hospital bed for any reason. My Dad was in the hospital just three weeks ago for surgery on his upper-spine/neck-area. I didn't like that either. But he's had problems with his neck for many years so we knew this surgery was coming at some point.

Dad is healing pretty well, and Mom will most likely be fine in a few weeks. But you never know what complications can arise. We'll all feel much better when they're both fully healed and back to their regular routines. (Mom still works full time at our local rape crisis center. In fact she spends most of her time helping victims through rape exams at the very hospital she is currently in as a patient. Because of that, she's getting a steady stream of hospital staff who know her from the rape center come to her room to visit.)

Please keep my Mom, and my Dad, in your prayers.

You might throw in some good thoughts for Gary too, as he's the one chasing BabyGirl up and down the hospital halls when she becomes too much of a handful in the room FULL of machines and things she isn't supposed to touch!