Had a lovely day yesterday, running errands with Bruce and Michael and getting several things accomplished, but today was an ordeal.
I woke up with a stomachache. I spent most of the morning, um, in my room. Close to the WC. I started feeling better late morning, and then I had to take Mother to the doctor. Fortunately, Bruce had agreed to stay here all day and help me.
Bruce
and I took Mother to the Wound Clinic this afternoon for her second
appointment. The legs are better. Less swollen. The left one is still
very red and tender, however.
We had Mother in her own wheelchair, which was much more comfortable for her.
This morning our first stop was radiology. The doctor had ordered this test where they put a blood pressure cuff on her legs, and we agreed to let the guy do it on her right leg, which is the good one, but not the left one. The doctor wasn't pleased, but we explained that none of us wanted her to be put through that hell. The leg was so tender she hollered when I accidentally bumped it gently this morning. She would have been screaming if he had put a blood pressure cuff on it and squeezed.
The doctor rather reluctantly agreed to go ahead with the Una Boots on both legs. We are going to try letting the visiting nurses come in and change the bandages twice a week. She is due back in the Wound Clinic for a re-check in two weeks.
The doctor wants Mom to walk more, and keep the leg elevated. Sounds contrary, I know. She wants Mother walking around as much as possible, but several times a day she needs to elevate the legs, too, for the swelling.
Mom had lost 10 lbs since her last appointment, which was on the 5th, so about 10 lbs. in 10 days.
A Funny note: In the bathroom that's part of the examining room there is a bottle of antiseptic, which looks exactly like what it is. However, written very big on the label is this: DO NOT DRINK THIS.
We had some time between the two appointments so we went to the cafeteria in the hospital, which is the same building as the Wound Clinic. We got to a place in the hallway where it said: <------ CAFETERIA PSYCHIATRIC UNIT ----> // The message was clear: either eat in the cafeteria OR go to the loony bin. After seeing the cafeteria I realized that sign must offer a real dilemma to some of the patients there.
Anyway, Mother's journey continues, but she was very brave, and did just fine, and was quite glad to be home. Just keep praying, though...
Took this of Bruce and Michael just before Bruce had to drive home:
[Michael is standing a step up; he's not taller than Bruce. Yet.]
