Jennie,

Take care. MY OH was admitted to hospital recently. I thought it was severe constipation, and we had seen our GP about this twice before. After an examination the GP declared that OH was NOT constipated. Next emergency appointment for the same problem, GP advised to get OH to hospital straight away.

A twisted gut, or Volvulus, to give it its medical name.It can recur frequently and I think we are there, yet again.

A sigmoidospcopy resolved the problem last time but in many respects, I wish it hadn't and there would have been surgical intervention that resolved it for good.

It's like living with a ticking timebomb. Tonight: Movicol, Lactulose plus non prescribed Senokot. Another sleepless night.

benjie

Thank you so much for that. I really appreciate your honesty. O/h is better today and the bowel though still leaking slightly is functioning but I shall be much on my guard.

Apart from that I am so appalled this morning. Our doctor originally called in the care services for my sake. He said he felt I wasn't strong enough to support o/h with washing etc.
Some days after the carers came in, I was shocked to be told by the supervisor that they are not allowed to assist o/h into shower! Having been in nursing for a few years and suffering the consequences of lifting myself re degeneration of discs, I could understand that if it was actually about the carers. But I know of course that it isn't. It's about possible litigation by carers in later years for back problems!!
This morning o/h asked if he could have a shower, hair wash and help to shave. I heard the carer say,"Yes that's fine."
I happened to go upstairs just as carer and o/h left the bathroom.

1. She was in front with not a glance behind her, he trailed painfully behind stark naked and without his stick!
2. Came back up again to observe a shivering shaking o/h trying to put on his own underpants and pad leaning on the wall for support! I stepped in to help! Carer was filling in her report and not looking at him at all! Eventually she did take over from me!
3. Now downstairs I hear sounds approaching top of same and look up. O/h is coming down she is behind him.! I'm horrified, go up to meet him and walk backwards in front of him holding firmly onto support rails! He has not been shaved!

We sit down, have a coffee and a chat (all part of the care thing) and keep my cool with difficulty.
When she left I challenged her at the gate.
She said O/h must do as much as he can independently, she is not allowed to support him physically at all and certainly cannot put herself at risk by walking in front of him on stairs. As to the shave, she felt he could do that himself! With PD hands that is difficult, at present it's seriously painful.

I came back in and read her report. It read, that O/h had stepped into the bath by himself, and dressed himself without assistance!!!

Every step of that procedure was fraught with danger to O/h. I'm livid. What is the point of them being here? I was thinking about what Ray had written about the problems his wife suffers. Clearly in pain, she tends him without assistance. Now there IS a hero.
I think I should take over O/h's care, I would make a better job of it by far tho' it would shatter me in the extreme
Just to say that I don't blame the carers in any way whatsoever, most of them have been treasures. However, today's carer left a lot to be desired.

As to O/H's neck. The PD nurse did not show up, or email, and I'm now awaiting a telephone apt with GP to come through!

Tomorrow I have to drive to Hayward's Heath to be measured up for my the adaptions to my new car. My daughter in law will be here to care for o/h and although she is extremely capable and switched on, I am very unhappy at having to leave him.

Having been a care assistant there is a special safe way to walk a person downstairs holding their hands but not actually in front of them. She should have been taught that.

Thank you Polly. I shall check that out.

Hello again benji

I hope you didn't have the sleepless night you were expecting.

take care JC

Progress! GP is arranging for a CT scan to eliminate nasty possibilities then hopefully urgent physio for Oh

PD nurse finally rang. I mentioned that I felt OH's PD symptoms had worsened somewhat. She did not as I hoped suggest it was too early to tell. Rather that it was what we might expect!!

Bluddy L! What a saga!

How far is your trip to HH tomorrow, JC?

A quick hello Ray just over 182 miles.

Thinking of you JC, hope things get bettter soon.