BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 03:13 PM

I am happy to be sorrier for you than for Tom! Wait, that didn't sound right... but I think you'll know what I mean.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 03:53 PM

Okay. Bathtub faucet drip fixed, but we have to experiment to see what is causing the water downstairs.

Tried to call Tom, but his line was busy.

Soooo...I'm taking a nap. (After a couple aspirin and some garlic tabs -- I don't want the cold to weasel it's way back because I'm so dragged out.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 07:26 AM

Tom called me at 3:30 this morning. He was unaware it was the middle of the night, but otherwise okay. (Nothing that would indicate confusion similar to last year's ICU psychosis.)

He just couldn't tell what time it was or correlate that with minimal activity around his room and the fact that it was dark.

He said he could fall back to sleep again -- and I did, too.

He called me yesterday at 7:30. I don't usually try to call him until around 8. And then, occasionally, he's been asleep.

He had an absolutely wonderful visit with several friends yesterday -- they were able to really talk as one can't at The Press Room.

It's cloudy and there was snow on top of yesterday's rain and slush. I just checked today's forecast and it looks like more "showers of rain and snow" all today and all tomorrow. Arghhh! I WILL go to see him today and I have to go to Portsmouth as well. I hope the driving isn't too bad.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 06:03 PM

Home from the hospital (and the other stuff in Portsmouth that I had to do) and now I can eat...LUNCH.

Yeah, I know. It's just shy of 6:00 in the evening and I should have had something 5 or 6 hours ago, but I couldn't. I DID get to watch Tom eat a cheeseburger.

When I got to his room about 11:45 he was sitting in the chair, nodded off, the phone was in his hand (so if anyone called, there would have been an "engaged" signal) and his glasses were on the floor between his feet. If he had moved his feet or stepped on them, they could not be replaced. His nurse claimed that she had just been in there not that long before.

I picked up his glasses and got them on his face, asked if he had ordered lunch (he hadn't) so called in his order for him.

I really can't wait to get him HOME. He will do so much better in a familiar, comfortable environment...where I can take care of him AND take care of myself and our home.

I certainly hope they'll have the Rx for the walker ready tomorrow so I can get THAT before I bring him home on Saturday. Jaysus, why can't these people get their act together?!?

(Sorry, I just really need to rant right now.)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: gnu
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 07:55 PM

Keep on keepin on.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 09:23 PM

Sounds like "Red Queen Syndrome" to me...

"Sometimes I have to run ever so fast, just to stay in the same place!"

I do hope it all eases and he can be home soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: GUEST,cunningham
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 10:31 PM

'll be comin te see ye with PDP one o these days Tom and Linn. Tom y'better get home and stop fartin around in the middle o the night like y'do dammit

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 10:41 PM

(((Linn)))

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 11:49 PM

If I lived closer, I could loan Tom a walker if he can't get his before he comes home. But, if I did live closer, it might be too short for him. It can be adjusted up to a point, but . . . . Oh well, since I don't live closer, it doesn't matter. Do you know anyone who could loan him a walker just in case he needs one temporarily?

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 08:00 AM

Walker situation is under control. I'll buy it today (if they have the fxcking Rx ready for me, fer-pete's-sake!!!) from the Care Pharmacy in Dover and submit the bill to Medicare. I could go to Rochester and the pharmacy would submit it for me, but, quite honestly, I just can't be driving all over hell and gone at this point.

Nothing is ever simple.

His therapist had him walking with the cane yesterday, which is what he HAD been using. (We borrowed a walker last year, but I want to buy one this time because, even if he doesn't need it that long this time, he will probably need it again some time.)

I'm about to see if taking a shower and washing my hair will cause a deluge downstairs. Wish me luck.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 05:57 PM

Tom comes home tomorrow morning. (Late morning.)

Put a lot of miles on the car today...and on ME.

3-West is QUITE a distance from the front of the parking garage and I did the circuit several times. I brought three pairs of Tom's shoes to see if they'd fit -- his feet are quite swollen, but he needs SOMETHING on them to practice walking at the hospital and to get from the car into the house tomorrow. None of them (nor the "new" pair that's a size bigger and was comfortable two weeks ago).

So...I turned around and went up the road to Goodwill. I'd seen two possible pairs that were 2-1/2 sizes too big for him last night when I checked. Went back and bought one of the pair today -- the other, I think, would be too heavy for him right now. (And, by the time he's strong enough, they'd be too big.)

Finally nailed the doctor's feet to the floor (or her posterior to the chair) so she wrote the Rx for the walker. And she did all the paperwork for his discharge tomorrow.

His therapist spent some time with him while I was there, and a friend called while she was there, so I took that call. Had a chance to read to Tom (we finished the book) before I left. Oh, somebody finally figured out, too, how to pick up NHPR on the radio for him. (Yeehah!) And another friend showed up for a visit just as I was leaving.

Then I went to the Care Pharmacy in Dover to get the walker. Well. That location can't dispense for Medicare. So she took all the info and faxed it to the Rochester location. Since I had one more errand to do in Somersworth (which was even quicker than I thought), then on to Rochester before they closed for the walker. Really nice, efficient people there. They bill Medicare which pays 80% and his Supplemental which pays the other 20%.

Obviously with all this and being pretty damned tired to start out with, I didn't go all the way back to Portsmouth for the session tonight no matter how badly I can use a music fix.

Finally home. I still have some stuff to besides bringing stuff in from the car. Judging from the scent I got when I walked in, I'll have to take the litter boxes out tomorrow morning at the latest. And I've got to cut a memory foam mattress topper into several thicknesses so Tom's bed (the couch) will be more comfortable and higher by the time he goes to bed tomorrow night.

We had a couple really nice things happen between yesterday and today. We have truly amazing friends. Thanks again for everybody's prayers, good wishes, white light and blessings.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 08:12 PM

Hooray! Tom's coming home! That should simplify your life a little. I'm glad you got the walker, but what a hassle!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: gnu
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 09:35 PM

Coming home! That is GOOD news!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 09:54 PM

Oh, Linn, you are a hero! Big hugs and lots of love to you both!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 09:55 PM

Somebuddy gonna SLEEEEEEEEP I bet.....

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 10:06 PM

Linn-

Thanks for the updates. Judy and I worry about both of you and we're very pleased to hear that Tom will be coming home. Wish we could do more.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 12:14 AM

I'm glad he's breaking out. If you need anything, give me a ring.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 04:19 AM

good news!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 08:14 AM

Tried calling Tom, but he was asleep in his chair.

Have a few household tasks to tackle (including cleaning the damned litter boxes!) before I even think about going to get him.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 10:46 AM

I knew it was BAD NEWS when I picked up the phone and it was Tom's doctor.

He's not coming home today. He's VERY upset about that, but I explained to him that the doctor being cautious is a good thing -- I don't want to get him home and then have another middle of the night emergency with him heading back to the ER.

His foot is even more swollen than it has been and she wants to do an ultrasound to make sure he doesn't have a blood clot, and to find out what the problem IS (geez, I've been asking about this for DAYS!). Granted, he's been sitting most of the time and he doesn't like putting his feet up.

He'll be home tomorrow, we hope.

Disappointment all around, but I hope they can find and SOLVE the problem.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 03:28 PM

Okay, I'm back home; Tom's still at the hospital until tomorrow.

Negative on blood clot, negative on gout.

He was eating lunch when I got there. I read to him from M.F.K. Fisher's "A Cordiall Water" for about an hour an a half. When his nurse came in with IV diuretics, he was ready for a nap.

So I came home.

I'm planning on goofing off for the rest of the afternoon. Got one more DVD to watch from the last batch my sister sent. Maybe when I return these, the next batch will be three seasons of "Downton Abbey"...

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 03:47 PM

Oh, it's 330 steps from Tom's bed to the my car in the front of the parking garage. Only did the 660 once today -- yesterday did it twice.

And as I left the hospital drive this afternoon, my odometer read 444 miles since I followed Tom to the Emergency Room early in the morning on February 18th.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 04:16 PM

Oh, sweetie, I repeat: you are a hero! Loads of love to you and Tom!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 04:55 PM

Hang tough!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 06:17 PM

Oh, too bad Tom couldn't come home today, but it's a good thing precautions are being taken. Fiddle-dee-dee, tomorrow is another day--or words to that effect.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 08:21 PM

Hey... how about some nice images to focus on as we cheer on the recovery and being at home again?

I put 4 pics of Tom from Getaway 2005 on my Opera album page. (The link is to page 5 and check the last 4 pics) (Sure- you may look at the rest also... it was a pretty good year for nice people and singers)

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 05:24 AM

Gosh Bill, I'd forgotten just how many Brit's were there that year.
Thanks for the memories.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 08:21 AM

Thanks, Bill! I absolutely LOVE the photo of Tom sitting on the porch steps.

And Tom still had his voice, then, too. What a wonderful time it was!

Well, all systems are "Go" for Tom coming home from the hospital later this morning. I just talked to him and he sounds great -- he's champing at the bit.

Of course, Mother Nature didn't cooperate overnight. Before I head to the hospital, I have to clear snow off the deck, steps, car and, of course, the path from the car to the steps. After I'm finished and re-sand everything, it shouldn't be any worse, at least, than it was yesterday. Temperatures again supposed to be in the low 40sF.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 01:16 PM

HE'S HOME!!! HE'S HOME!

Tom has achieved House...and is now sitting comfortably at the table.

I anticipated his first request -- a glass with three ice cubes so he can pour a bit o' scotch...but I yelled at him first and reminded him not to have anything more than a sip until he's had lunch.

Which I am about to make for Jeri, Tom and I.

Jeri met us here and helped maneuver Tom through the two-level (one half very wet) walk way to the steps, where it became more or less clear sailing.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 01:40 PM

Wonderful! I will toast the homecoming with a bit of MY Scotch later.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 03:32 PM

Tom's taking a nap right now. He's not quite trusting the walker as an intermediary to getting into bed, but I got him safely there. And he knows to call me (well, whistle for me) when he wants to get up, because I don't think he can safely do it yet by himself.

I think I'd like a nap, but I'm not sure I can relax enough upstairs. Maybe I'll just have a lie down with a book.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 03:36 PM

Well I raised a Vodka martini to him instead. Hope that's allowed.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 04:04 PM

You're in the Land of the Leal fer-cryin-out-loud! What the hell's wrong with you? Vodka? VODKA!? Scotch! Clan Buggerit single malt cask strength, lovingly distilled with the peat of the sacred bog where numerous Clan Buggerit virgins were tossed after (or whilst--historians aren't clear on that) being sacrificed.

It was a lovely lunch. It was also a stunningly gorgeous coffee ice cream. I think Tom was nappish before we ate, but eating something that wasn't hospital poop... food... cement pancakes was probably a priority. He'll get stronger on home ground. Linn, I hope you BOTH feel better and can relax some now.

Linn, please don't tell Tom that John was drinking vodka. He's been through enough already.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: GUEST,Don Hale
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 04:21 PM

Linn, Back on Feb. 20, I posted that we awaited good news. It's here!!

                            Don & Cathy Hale

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 04:29 PM

I'm glad to hear that he's back to the house and settled in. What a couple of weeks you've had.

I concur on the single malt Scotch, though at most I use one small ice cube. Lately I haven't used any ice. :)

I hope the weather cooperates for any more comings and goings this season. Wasn't the start of all of this, ages (years) back, a slip and fall?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 05:02 PM

Ayuh, Stilly. Last March 14th -- which is pretty damned close to a year ago -- Tom slipped on the deck and broke his right fibula.

Arghhhhh! What a year!

He wasn't home from rehab (AND the first rehab place tried to kill him) until the end of May, couldn't put weight on the ankle until the beginning of July and I think it was August sometime that he could finally get around on a cane instead of the wheelchair.

Now if I can just keep him from falling...

This go-round started two weeks ago with a fall (somewhere between 12:30 and 2 a.m.). At that point it had been 3 days since he'd seen a doctor, a month since he'd fallen (and hurt his knees) and nine months since he'd been in the hospital. Just too damned complacent, I guess.

Just about to head to the pharmacy -- Tom's still napping and I don't really want to wake him to tell him I'm leaving for a little while.

By the way, I used to be a stickler about not adding ANYTHING to a single malt scotch, but recently I've found that just a wee bit of water will bring out the flavor, especially in cask strength. Not that I get a chance to sip it often, alas. Just a tiny splash of water.

Later,
Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 05:23 PM

Home YAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 05:39 PM

"Lately I haven't used any ice. :)"

There IS hope for Texans! *grin*

"just a wee bit of water will bring out the flavor, especially in cask strength."

Well, that IS true with cask strength.

Anyway... enjoy...

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 05:43 PM

another YAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 05:45 PM

Oh, I think I'm annoyed.

We came home from the hospital with a handful of prescriptions -- only one of which, after thinking about it, it would be nice to have TODAY rather than get them tomorrow. So about 4:45 I called the pharmacy, which is in a grocery store, and asked for the pharmacy hours, since it's Sunday and I don't usually go to the pharmacy on a Sunday. I was assured the pharmacy was open until 8:00.

So I got there about 5:20...and they had closed at 5:00.

It just means that Tom will be without the Lidocaine patch until I go back up there tomorrow morning instead of having it when he gets up.

And I'll make him a nice breakfast to take his mind off the pain he might have...hope that and aspercream works!

It's not life-threatening or world-shattering but...I am very annoyed. I left Tom alone, still sort of napping, though I'd woken him up to tell him I was going out for a half hour to an hour. And, of course, I worried about him trying to get out of bed alone while I was gone or waking up and not remembering that I had told him I was going out for a little while.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 06:01 PM

Oh, rats. Holding you both in love to get you through the night, I hope!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: gnu
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 07:03 PM

"but I yelled at him first and reminded him not to have anything more than a sip until he's had lunch."

Now, in hindsight, wasn't that a touch silly? if it wasn't a joke, of course.

And what is it with ye wimin yellin at Giok about a martini?
Be da lard tunderin Jaysus lasses!... he's a SCOTTISH SECRET AGENT on Her Majesty's command 24/7/365 and we all know them there secret agents likes yer martini's... shaken and not stirred up by the likes a you lasses! Some respect for a man not in uniform would be appropriate??? Please?

Glad to be of assistance to a fellow officer of Her Majesty's Royal Secret Service, Agent 0.007.

PS... BTW, 0.007... could you put in a good word for me to Beth regarding my application for a licence to kill? The neighbour with the yappy little dog won't train it properly to SHUT THE FUCK UP and it's REALLY pissin me off. If you can help me, would you adopt another dog? He's sooooo cute... just needs some training. I'll collect him even before the police arrive.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 07:53 PM

Chortle. Gnu, the ol' man just needed a wee reminder that he hasn't had a drop in two weeks...AND it was just before lunch and I know how he gets if he's had even a Guinness (and that's practically food!) on an empty stomach.

Variety is good. And John can drink what he likes.

Right now I'm having a post-supper sip of some grapefruit infused vodka that I whipped up a few weeks ago and has aged just enough. (So I've declared it.) I'll filter out the grapefruit peel tomorrow. (Yet another thing that needs doing tomorrow...) Oh, it's nice... Need to get another batch in the works. I've been playing around with infused vodkas and they've all been good (chamomile, hibiscus & rose hip, pomegranate...) but the stars are the Earl Grey tea and now the grapefruit. Wow.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 08:37 PM

Get a hypodeemic nurdle and inject the vodka INTO the grapefruit. Makes breakfast an adventure!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 03 Mar 13 - 11:21 PM

He's home! Let me add my Hooray!

Phooey to the blankety-blank person at the pharmacy who doesn't know what the Sunday closing time is.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 04:32 AM

Well g, I will do what I can to get you certified. However you should know that Madge, or Beth as you so familiarly call her, is at present in hospital.
She is suffering from gastro enteritis, or as we call it in our house, bubble bottom. Rest assured that I will try to get things firmed up, so you can establish the canine elimination front, asap.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: gnu
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 07:21 AM

"canine elimination"? You have misunderstood my needs. It ain't the yapper's fault. It's the owner that needs "training".

Bee is in hop?!!! Will the entire kitchen staff lose their heads or just the chefs?

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 08:32 AM

Tom did a few things yesterday afternoon and evening that very much reassured me that he would do absolutely anything he could to stay safe.

He got up from his nap, out of bed and into the wheelchair by himself and without incident.

He really must have needed that nap (understandable) because he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow and he slept soundly.

After supper and after reading to him for quite awhile, he had me help him into bed. He still has to take his time in working out the logistics of the move -- holding onto either the wheelchair or walker to stand and twist around to get into bed. He's cautious. And I appreciate that. I did have a lot of trouble falling asleep -- ear attuned to the downstairs in case of trouble. Low level anxiety. I guess that's normal, too.

This morning around 4:40 I awoke and went into the bathroom -- and heard him try to whistle for me. His big flashlight had gone missing and he need light to safely do the necessary. Got that accomplished. He needs a different summoning agent, though -- he doesn't have the breath for the "wheeeee" whistle. We'll work on that today. Oh, yeah, I had a bit of trouble falling back to sleep. So I'm working on a sleep deficit today.

Today's good news is that the foot swelling is starting to go down. His left foot is no longer shiny.

After breakfast, my first stop is the pharmacy. Got a lot of things to check off the list today.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 11:51 AM

Hey, missing sleep together, how nice!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon in hospital again - HOME AGAIN!
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 12:13 PM

I got several types of easy-to-blow noise devices which might work... PM me iffn you'd like to add them to the repertoire to test.