Quiet Monday

Received a few messages today from Joyce and Grandpa.

Grandma was much sleepier today, which was a bit disappointing to Grandpa.  I think she was worn out from the weekend, especially Sunday with all the therapists and visitors, and Joyce and my mom/Rosemary agree.  

Joyce also suggested that perhaps Grandma is not getting a ton of rest when we are not around (in addition to also not getting rest when we are around), perhaps waking up at night too, so then she needs some days to rest up a bit more.  And it's not easy sleeping in a hospital to begin with!  (Honestly I feel this is to be expected; I myself was even wiped out yesterday and a bit today from the busy day Sunday and I'm perfectly healthy!)  

Mom/Rosemary added that from everything she has read, these days of extra sleepiness are to be expected and are a normal process of the healing post-stroke, and that just because she is sleepy and her eyes are shut, does not mean that she is not aware of sounds or activity.  Just knowing we are still visiting and being there for her will be a comfort. 

We will keep an eye on things, but I think we agreed it is not yet anything to be worried about and that for now it is important to remain POSITIVE and remember that this is all part of the process of recovery.

Joyce called the nurse to check on things and the nurse reiterated that Grandma was sleepier today but did not indicate that there was anything particularly bad about that.  The nurse said that the doctor was telling Grandpa that there are going to be some hard days, and some better days; this is just a harder day compared to yesterday. The nurse also mentioned that Grandma still has kind of restless legs (as we saw late in the day Saturday and Sunday), and the cause of this remains to be seen, but the doctor is looking in to it, getting in touch with Grandma's regular doctor as well.

Also, at some point today Grandma (unknowingly) pulled the NG tube out of her nose, and putting it back in went okay but I understand Grandma had some pain from that process.  Kind of awful to think about, but it is good that Grandpa was there to comfort her and the tube is seated just fine now (confirmed with X-ray).

Joyce also says she talked to Grandma on Grandpa's cell phone today.  She was able to state that she was tired and that it was a harder day. She stated she had eaten, she said that she was fairly comfortable, but that she was sleepy. Joyce said the same things to her as to Grandpa, and urged her not to be discouraged by the more difficult days, reinforcing that for the most part she is so much better than a week ago, and that she should not be afraid of the way she felt, that things would get better. Grandma said something about doing the best that she could, and Joyce applauded that as the truth. 

On Being Positive

Again, I think it is easy to feel discouraged by the ebb and flow of progress.  However, even though it is hard, it is important both for US and for HER to remain positive and remember that this is all part of the process. (There are some links in the Helpful Links page that speak to this.) Recovery will take time and Grandma is already doing so well, in just one week!  As I've said repeatedly, she will continue to have good days and bad days, but she is doing AWESOME for one week later and I think we saw this weekend that she really is continuing to make progress.  Yes, it is frustrating after a series of good days to have things seem to take a step backward, but she WILL get through this!  A sleepy day does not mean things are getting worse.  These are things we should remind her of as well.  

If you're the praying type (and even if you're not), please send your prayers (and positive brain waves and happy thoughts) to help Grandma and Grandpa to remain positive on the more difficult days. <3