Back to Buisiness

OK. So I'm sorry if I sounded totally pathetic in my last blog. I really was down and you guys sure know how to pick a girl up. It's no fun to show weakness and ask for help, but sometimes you have to. So thank you all for hoppin' to it and picking up my spirits.

Anywho... today was a great day! And I guess I didn't report yesterday (I was still feeling sorry for myself) but it wasn't too shabby either.

Medically, Jerid is doing good. He's slowly improving. Stents are still in place. Pneumonia is still there, but getting better. His strength is slowly returning. He can now get himself on the toilet almost all by himself! And today he took a nice long walk and still felt good afterwards. His feet are still swollen and the grapefruit is still hanging out, but the doctors are ordering him some Teds (pantyhose) and I brought him some underwear to help support his jewels. One weird thing that's going on is that one of his pupils is much larger than the other. They can't figure out the problem. Normally this would suggest neurological problems, but aside from his usual abnormal brain function, everything seems fine.

He's been eating very well. Today he didn't have breakfast because they were supposed to do a procedure (which they didn't do) but he ate a nice big lunch of what we think was Salisbury steak, mixed vegetables and noodles. Then I went to the cafeteria and got him some pasta with Alfredo and marinara sauce for dinner. I hadn't eaten lunch and his appetite has been so low that I figured we'd share it. It was a really big plate! But we were talking to a doctor while he ate (I didn't) and when I looked over he had eaten it all! Plus apple cobbler. Big Boy.

Mentally, he's hanging in there. His anxiety is back and he had to have some Zanex today. But despite all the drugs, he's able to rationalize his feelings. I was concerned though and we had a Psych consult. They're going to try to figure out a medication that will help with the anxiety, slight depression and will help him sleep, but won't interfere with his other drugs.... Good Luck!

I'm hanging in here too. I did strap on my big girl panties today and went in with my guns on. I called the social worker and we sat down for a long chat. I expressed all of my frustrations to her and she was very sympathetic. Unfortunately not everything can be fixed, because it is a hospital and hospitals always suck, but we're trying to resolve some things.

So after my talk with her, I went back to Jerid's floor and asked to see the nurse manager. Oh yeah. And I proceeded to be a giant tattle-tale. (In a very professional, respectful way of course.) I told her about the nurse that talks about inappropriate subjects like her husband's balls, and the one who dropped the 'F' bomb, and the ones who didn't feed him, and the night one that's mean to him and won't come when he calls her. The manager was VERY apologetic and grateful that we told her these things. She'll be checking in with us every day now just to make sure that things are going well. We also got a free meal pass at the cafeteria (which bought Jerid's pasta dinner) and a ten dollar voucher for the gift shop. Whoopdie-freakin-do.

I went to the gift shop though, to see what I could get for Jerid. And what does Jerid love? Magazines. However, the choices were as follows: Esqure, Black Man, Jet, Modern Bride or a large selection of large print Bible crosswords. So my other options were some lovely figurines, a balloon or card, candy, pop, candle, or a stuffed animal. So I left and am hoping that they'll get some new stock in.

The local health update is this:

When I left, he was going down for a CT scan. This is because after all these days of saying that he would be getting a bronch, they decided not too. With good reason. Why potentially cause damage if it's not necessary? Bronchs can be dangerous and are hard on a patient. So they'll do the CT to determine if it's really necessary or not. Now this is not to be confused with the rigid bronch that Jerid will have next week. In the rigid, they will replace the metal stent that's in there and needs to come out.

We still don't know about the chest tubes coming out or how long he'll be in ICU. Hopefully we'll know more about that soon. But we did have a great conversation with an interventional pulmonologist this evening. He was very straightforward about what's going on and has really high hopes. His goal is to get Jerid home. Not before he's ready though. The next time Jerid comes home, we don't want him to have to come right back. So that's the scoop.

I know you're all wondering about today's picture. I was saving the best for last.

Yesterday, Jerid had to poop. (I hate saying "BM") So I helped him get on the pot. Now you have to realize that Jerid's room in ICU is like the ones on 'House'. The entire wall is glass with a sliding door. There is a curtain that can be drawn, but this doesn't offer much privacy if someone decides to come in the room while one is on the bedside commode. (The actual bathroom is only for dumping of poo) SO. Jerid had me pull his bed table over in front of him and drape a sheet over it like a tablecloth. While he was sitting there, he asked me to get him a pen because he figured he might as well do his paperwork while he pooped. His paperwork being filling out tomorrows menu choices. I just couldn't help but crack up at the sight of him. So this is a photo of Jerid at his "desk". Where one can poop and work at the same time. If only we all had that luxury.

Love, hugs and kisses.