Thursday 3.14

[Sunday 3-17-2013] Sorry, this was up Thursday, but then I had to edit it and forgot to re-post! So sorry!
-Christina

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I haven't really heard anything since Tuesday, but hoping that "no news is good news" and assuming the last couple days have been a lot more of the same as earlier in the week.  Some reports below from Grandpa and Joyce.  My mom/Rosemary is going tomorrow for a meeting with a lady involved with the ultimate moving of Grandma to the rehab facility.  We'll see what she says.
-Christina

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From: GRANDPA
Date: March 14, 2013, 11:20:30 AM EDT
To: ROSEMARY
Subject: Mom this morning

Nurse Stacy still here, but not tomorrow.
Told me occupational therapist was here & Mom did pretty good, but now she is worn out. I put the music on which she wanted low but follows attentively (moving her finger). Nurse had fed her some apple sauce, which she swallowed readably well, but they have to take some kind of test to check whether it actually goes to the stomach.
Another important point. Nurse said that under some kind of rules she may be considered ready for moving to the rehab pretty soon. If she does not properly swallow they would put some kind of tube in surgically to her stomach!  She talked like this was often done. She said she would hope they could keep her at least over the weekend! Of course I emphasized I would like to keep her here until she can move without a tube. (Mom just asked me to raise the music volume ). Stacy just said the speech was ready to come, but they agreed to postpone until later, hoping she'll be more perky  then.  Mom's legs also became restless again so they'll give her some Tylenol.

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From: GRANDPA
Date: March 14, 2013, 6:43:42 PM EDT
To: ROSEMARY
Cc: JOYCE
Subject: Update  at end of today (Thu, March 14).

Around 1:30 I left Mom's room to spend some time in the cafeteria, and after I came back a  rep of a group called Palliative Medicine Consultation, Heather Travis, NP, was waiting to meet with me & mom. At my suggestion she sat down with me, away from mom's hearing. (Actually, I just noticed that the name of her office is Chesapeake Palliative Medicine (445 Defense Highway) and I'm not sure now whether she is on the staff of the hospital).
Anyway she said that at some point a decision will have to be on how to proceed with mom, namely to move her (to a rehab center) with or without a tube (either thru the nose or to the stomach), and that all these methods have risks. For example, even with a tube, the patient could inadvertently take food by mouth, and in all cases food could wind up in the lungs. I don't think Mom at this time is able to make decisions about this and I said  I would consult with my daughters and that you would come in tomorrow and Joyce Saturday. She then suggested and I agreed to a meeting tomorrow at noon (if you can't make that let me know) and she then said that they could set up what she called a speaker phone connection so Joyce could participate). So I hope you two can have a preparatory get-together by think of questions, etc to ask this lady, who said she is member of a team that recommends or decides what to do. She seemed a very friendly and informed person. I am certainly glad however that you had decided to come here tomorrow.
In general Mom seemed to be kind of tired (sleepy) today. Nevertheless I think she did very well with the therapists. Particularly with the speech therapist checking on her swallowing. She ate a whole container of that apple sauce (about 12 spoonfuls!) and after that about 3 spoonfuls of that apple juice [honey-thick consistency -CHA] and then a spoonful or so of water. I thought that was real progress.
An another issue you may want to inquire about is that they found a big difference in blood pressure sitting up and lying down. I believe they were going to give her medicine for that.
Finally, however, it seemed to me that mom still has (or has wound up with) poor short term memory. For example asking where she is, telling me she does not have the right eye glasses, saying today she was married 70 years, that this year is 1998, etc.
So I'll see you tomorrow. (Just spoke to Rex and agreed to charge up the iPod and take the cable for connecting to the MacBook Air)

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On Mar 14, 2013, at 7:07 PM, ROSEMARY wrote:

Oh my,
poor mommy with regard to her memory loss. I believe perhaps it becomes more apparent when she is fatigued after a lot of activity.
Yes, I will be at the hospital before noon. Hopefully. The only thing that would delay me would be some massive traffic tie up. I plan to leave the house here at 9:30, which is just the tip of the end of the rush hour here, so I will be there as soon as possible.
From everything I have read, this sleepiness is all pretty much par for the course for now.
I am interested to find out what new medicine regimen she will be on.
I hope you have a restful evening daddy. spend a little more time relaxing and reading something for enjoyment and go to bed early.
You need the sleep.
See you tomorrow
Love, Rosemary

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From: JOYCE
Date: March 14, 2013, 9:57:45 PM EDT
To: GRANDPA, ROSEMARY
Subject: RE: Update  at end of today (Thu, March 14).

Hi Dad and rosemary,
Well,  I do hope that you can get a hold of me when you have this meeting. Rosemary, call me at either one of the numbers I gave to you.
Alot of these practicioners are consultants nowadays, (and it sounds like it based onher group name) , but its good because this topic is  part of her specialty  area.  Anyway, I think you could learn alot.  The tube in nose is the one that could become misplaced for some reason, and end up in the lungs instead of the stomach. Thats why they do the XRay before actually using it- to confirm placement. The other tube would be placed inher stomach- and come out of her tummy. You wouldn't have food end up in the lungs, but it requires a little procedure to make a hole t o place the tube thru- therefore, an opending that would always require a dressing (bandage) of some type.  That dressing would have to be changed regularly and the open hole is potential site for infection, so has to be taken care of a bit.  This is a common procedure tho, and nothing to be scared about.   Anyway, lets see what she says!
  Well, I guess with her short term memory problem, she may be lucky in some ways, and not in others. I mean it may bug that she has to keep asking about certain things or whatever, but at least she doesn't remember that she asked before and have to feel bad about it! Also, maybe she doesn't really even remember things that are unpleasent (getting the nose tube, or someting else) and have to ponder on them....
Have a good day tomorrow.                                 love joyce