Post #23 - Too much happening!

A huge amount has happened since last weekend. Life has not just been turned topsy-turvy but stirred vigorously as well.

On Tuesday a recliner chair and wheelie-walker were delivered from ACT equipment hire, both intended to make life comfortable and safer, respectively. The walker has been used and the recliner tried briefly only.

Also our kind neighbour Grant lent a shower seat and over-toilet seat with arms to assist in getting up. "Hospital in the home" by now, I guess you could say.

In the afternoon Chris, nurse from Home Based Palliative Care, came to formally admit Philip to their program.  Philip was very unwell, in a lot of pain, muddled, needed a lot of the 'on request' pain reliever. She was quite shocked at his state. He had a fever, low  blood oxygen saturation, fairly high blood pressure. She thought he would need a wheelchair soon and Level 4 personal care.

On Wednesday, Philip was quite chirpy in the morning - got up,showered, dressed and expressing the desire to 'go swimming' - i.e. sit in spa pool - at AIS. Philip finds he warmth of the water and weightlessness very soothing. However the TCH clinicians dissuaded him, apparently thinking he was in danger of drowning.(!).  As the morning wore on he sagged and by the time nurse Narelle from HBPC arrived (you have to repeat the whole history and medication regime every time to each new person) he was asleep and couldn't be properly roused to respond to questions.  She told me that he should be taking paracetamol with the opiates as they work synergistically. and gave me a few handy syringes to get up the liquid medicine. Also recommended an electrically-operated, hos[ital style bed.

Then Dr Ann Oxner from HBPC came and we repeated the history/medication story again while she typed it  up with two fingers. She confirmed yesterday's readings of high fever, low blood oxygen and highish BP but didn't have access to recent blood tests. Also Philip was very confused, to a quite unusual degree. She was worried that he had an infection and thought hospital and IV antibiotics could be necessary so called for an ambulance.

To be continued... (I am going out now and this program doesn't auto save, so I will 'publish' this much.)