1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Knee Problems

My world at the moment!

Posted , 21 users are following.

Annibgood
Annibgood

Hi all

12 week post TKR

Many of you will know me from this forumI'm Irish Ann.

Everyone on this forum has been so helpful and informative and I would not be as well as I am today without you all. Thank you.  Thank you.

My world at the moment is in chaos.

My one and only sister, which I have spoken about on this forum, is in hospital 50 miles away with a virulent form of pneumonia.  She is quite frail, and is very ill.

My mother (she's 91) is in hospital near me for over a week, with the same pneumonia.  She had given it to my sister.  My mother is doing well and is responding to treatment.

My husband is in the same hospital awaiting an operation in the 'man problem' area.

He has major heart problems so anaesthesia is a problem and they are still not sure how to proceed at the moment.

He has a large inoperable clot in the back of his heart.

He also has haemachromatosis.

All three are serious and coud kill him and I dont know which bit of him to worry about the most!

But by far the worst and saddest of all is I am losing him, my husband of 47 years, my best friend to dementia. 

He is slowly fading away from me.  Did not remember that they had told him he had a clot in the heart.  Did not tell me about the haemachromatosis nor did he turn up for the appointment that was made for him.  I only found all this out a couple of weeks ago, and the haemachromatosis when he was admitted yesterday.

He will never go into a doctors surgery without me EVER again.

It was a wake up call for me, I had not realised how bad he really was, as on day to day things he is fine.  But anything new he will keep asking you the same thing over and over again.

Terrible too for me was going to the doctors yesterday and explaining that he would not remember a word of what they tell him and they would need to refer to me.

I know this has absolutely nothing to do with TKR but just needed to have a rant and you are the best guys I know for that.

Thank you for listening

Ann

Ireland

 

5 likes, 120 replies

120 Replies

Prev Next
  • Annibgood
    Annibgood

    Posted

    Read again Jodie at the bottom

    What knee? cry

    Ah sure its not too bad considering

    confused  X

  • jannette1
    jannette1 Annibgood

    Posted

    Hi Ann , How is your knee today, hope you are making time to rest yourself. Once break fast is over and your two patients have got dressed and had medication, go and lie on your bed and read the Sunday papers or book, or magazine with a nice cup of tea and take time out for yourself. Happy anniversary, remember it's your day too. Best wishes Jannette x
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 jannette1

      Posted

      Once again, Jeannette, I totally agree with you!

      Nicely said!😇

  • Annibgood
    Annibgood

    Posted

    Hi All

    Another day in bedlam here!

    Both of my patients vying for attention sad

    Each sulk if I spend any time with either.

    Colm is grumpy, sore and still bleeding. He was supposed to go back on blood thinners yesterday, but with the bleeding I cant let him. He is supposed to go on antibiotics if he has ANY kind of procedure.  You guessed it, given none!

    Basically he should be still in hospital.

    Ringing hospital as soon as I think someone will answer (its 7.11am here - MY TIME), but even thats debatable!

    Health service here a joke!

    Mother doing fine and eating well - would eat me without salt!!!

    At 91 she has the constitution of a bull elephant.

    Sister coming on a little, but she is at least a week behind my mother and as any of you know who follow this thread she is very frail.

    Keep up they prayers Cheryl!

    Love

    Ann

    The Irish One!

     

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel Annibgood

      Posted

      Good morning Anne (or should we call you The Rock),

      I have spent the weekend ferrying favourite #1 daughter from one end of the country to the other. Now I am back to .......

      Can you not ring 999 instead of waiting for someone to finish their morning coffee, one would imagine it should be classed as an emergency (you have to put yourself into the equation). 

      I know you say the health service is bad where you are but can they not suppy you with a carer/helper/district nurse, or are they like rocking horse droppings!  If both parents are acting like children, then...... might take the pressure off you a bit. I know being ill is not fun, but you have to think of you as well (if you cannot look after them because you are too worn out, you have an issue with your knee healing), the local authority would have to step in, wouldn't they????

      Is your sister living with you? Is she well enough to hold a conversation with you???

      Bull elephants are quite capable of looking after themselves, is there anything crafty she could do. Doesn't have to turn into anything, but it will/might keep her occupied.

      By the time you get round to reading this, I hope you will have got through to the hospital and they will have arranged something definite for your husband.

      Wishing you a productive, positive day. Don't forget your pills, dont forget to take a breather x

       

    • Gaby21
      Gaby21 Annibgood

      Posted

      I've been in your shoes...... No fun AT ALL!!!

      Best of luck!!

      Remember ....look after yourself too!!!!

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 Annibgood

      Posted

      Although it seems quite challenging with your two patients, it also seems like things are getting into a decent rhythm at your place!

      Bull elephant was a good description for your mom! I had a mom like that, too! She lived with us in her 99th and 100th years. I am absolutely convinced that my mother lived so long and survived so well DUE TO her sheer determination! At 64 I wonder if I have enough Bull Elephant in me. I sure HOPE SO!

      I will DEFINITELY keep praying! My prayers today include getting those antibiotics for your dear husband. God has solutions. He has already helped, but He definitely is not done yet!

      Your sense of humor is GREAT! It will sustain you because looking at any situation in a positive manner makes the task easier.

      Sending prayers for continued positivity, strength, and calm today!

  • Annibgood
    Annibgood

    Posted

    Ive been moderated - twice!

    cry

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel Annibgood

      Posted

      How are the terrible two today.  Did you get a peaceful night. Has your husband's bleeding stopped. More importantly, how are you
  • Annibgood
    Annibgood

    Posted

    Hi

    Dont know what I did!

    Mentioned a med in the first one and sent again without.  Still was moderated!sad

    Try again!

    Panic over I think!

    Brought Colm back to hospital pleased enough with wound. He was only let out because he insisted! Didnt know when he was to go back on the blood thinners either. They are pleased enough with the wound. Can go back on the thinners today.  They should have given him antib*otics as he had end*carditis 3 times.  They forgot and only realised when I pointed this out to them!  Back for bi*psy results in 2 weeks.

    My mother continues to improve. But is feeling neglected as I have been fussing over Colm who is grumpy (he's very sore). She has an appointment with her GP on Thursday so says she will go home then. I'm not to kean on that as I would rather have her near me, on the other hand Colm will be delighted when she goes!

    Rock and a hard place!

    Thanks all for caring

    Ann X

    The Irish One!

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel Annibgood

      Posted

      Well good news and good news.  And one more bit of good news.... You have kept it all together and you havent gone doolally.  How far away does your mother live.  I know you will worry, but she will have neighbours and you will have peace and quiet. Colm and your mother sound like my daughters, I am "reliably" informed that the "jealousy" does ease, point is, when!!!!

      Is there not a topical pain relief that he can use, or is the pain internal.

      How is your sister progressing.

      That light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter by the day.  Before too long you will be able to concentrate on....... you.

      Keep up the good work

      Sue x

    • Annibgood
      Annibgood sueisobel

      Posted

      Hi Sue

      A lot of painkillers he can't take.

      I give him the odd one of mine!confused

      Sister coming on really well now and her and her husband will take my mother this weekend.

      Light at end of tunnel possibly

      I'll only have one bold child to deal with!

      I just dropped something under a chest of drawers forgot and knelt down quickly !!!!!!!!! cry

      Definitely got a 140 degree bend that time or possibly more!

      Wont be doing that again any time soon!

       

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 Annibgood

      Posted

      So glad your husband WILL BE getting the antibiotics!

      Hopefully your mom will be able to go back to her home soon, but only if you feel she can do it SAFELY.

      My husband and I have had to make the decision for both of our mothers over the years. Both DID eventually go back to their homes following their strokes which both took place the same year (2007) (March for my mom and November for my husband's mom.) However my mother's bad fall in 2011 brought her to our house permanently until she was hospitalized then needed nursing home care 24/7. She passed away six weeks later just 25 days shy of 101. My husband's mother had another bad fall last February, and she has been unable to care for herself. She is in a very nice nursing home just fifteen minutes from our home. We visit every day.

      I was never a fan of NURSING homes, but I have come to realize after taking care of my mother for two years that each situation is different. My mother was able to walk, feed herself, climb stairs with us holding her gait belt and supporting her, and she could dress herself until the last six weeks of her life. My husband's mother who is just 87 can't do any of the things my mother could do, and it takes three aides to get her showered, ready for bed, etc. and she needs help to get into her wheelchair. She needs to be pushed in her chair and all needs taken care of my others.

      Situations can be very, very different, and each one needs to be assessed carefully.

      Our bottom line has always been SAFETY. If we felt that our mother was safe being on her own, we were confident we had made the right choice. Mom's ENJOY independence in their own homes! Sometimes it is a good thing. Sometimes, though, what they THINK is good, is actually WAY to much for them. Each case is different.

      Sending prayers of thankfulness that the antibiotics have arrived for your dear husband, and prayers of clarity for you as you make the decision of what is the next step with your mother.

      Glad to hear that your sister is on the road to recovery.

      Take care. Don't worry. God has this!

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel Annibgood

      Posted

      Ouch, the poor thing, no wonder he is grumpy.  It is good that your sister has someone to look after her AND take your mother "off your hands"

      Most definitely a whole candelabra at the end of the tunnel...

       

    • irish_linda
      irish_linda Annibgood

      Posted

      dont knock the extra bend you got when you bent down .you did your own MUA razz wish i could do something like that to get this knee to move an inch more  though id have to be on my own as id say id have a string of very colourfull sweet nothings come out of my gob >>>>>frown
    • Annibgood
      Annibgood irish_linda

      Posted

      It was more of a full squat Linda!!

      cry

      Stars spinning around head kinda thing.

      This was a major lightning strike redface

      Knee still on shock today, but not as bad! confused

    • irish_linda
      irish_linda Annibgood

      Posted

      ouch !!!!!you really did do a MUA ,if you had a propper one you would feel like that ,my eyes are watering thinking of you . your having more than your own share at the moment .    surely with all we have suffered we should fly through the pearly gates when the time comes (hopefully we might be forgiven for the many many swears !! they are the important part of recovery biggrinhang in there my dublin friend x
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.