Mom got home a few days ago and it's been rough since she she caught a bad cough at rehab. It's the risk you take when confined with so many older people and all the visitors.
Unfortunately, in our case, mom is back in the hospital for 2 days (she'll come back home tomorrow). She went to our doctor Monday morning with the complaints of the prolonged nighttime cough, weakness, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath. She has lost 11 lbs since her exam before the surgery.
(NOTE HERE: Check with your doctor about diet BEFOREsurgery. Some doctors tell you to eat a lot of carbs and gain a few pounds because you will lose some after surgery. Probably not as much as my mother did - from 107 down to 96 - but some. Your doctor should be able to tell by your current weight and physical condition if you will lose after surgery or not.)
One of the tests our doctor ordered was a Cat Scan of the chest to rule out any pulmonary embolisms after the surgery. This is pretty routine. Because of mom's possible allergy to the contrast die, they changed the scan to one that has to be done through the hospital ER. After several tests, all negative, the ER doctor decided to admit her anyway for the shortness of breath and dehydration. Just a minor setback and she will be home tomorrow, the day before Thanksgiving. Now, I don't know how much I will get her to eat on Thanksgiving, but we'll try. She needs to get her weight and her energy back.
HOME HEALTH
The agency assigned to us has been very responsive. She came home on a Thursday and the Nursing Supervisor came for the initial evaluation on Friday. Saturday, the Occupational Therapist came for an evaluation of the house, how well she could get in and out of bed, the tub, toilet, etc. She was set to come for the first visit on Monday but, obviously that didn't happen. The Physical Therapist was planning her initial visit this morning but, again, that was postponed.
But the overall plan is to have a nurse once a week, physical therapy 3 times a week to start, then cut down to 2 times, and the occupational therapist will be 2 times a week to work on upper body strength and balance.
With that kind of schedule, she'll get all worn out again. LOL
With best wishes to all for a happy Thanksgiving,
Kathy
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