Getting Physical
Today was another day where Rosemarie was in no condition to eat her supper in the lounge so I had to ask for her to be taken back to bed so I could feed her in a safer environment. She was leaning heavily to the left and stiffening her back and legs so much that she was tilting the wheelchair back. The care worker who wheeled her back tilted the wheelchair onto its back wheels to stop Rosemarie from sliding off the chair.
Which was what happened moments after she got to her room. I was closing the curtains and the care worker was turning round to get something and suddenly there was a thump and Rosemarie was on the floor.
She seemed physically OK although frightened and disoriented. I insisted on summoning the nurse before we got the hoist and lifted her into bed. But this post is not about that.
I was reflecting on the way home that here is yet another step change.
The first one I remember noticing was the memory issues, which became the communication and coordination issues.
By the time she left hospital she wouldn't / couldn't walk but she could sit upright and unless you looked closely nothing seemed particularly wrong until she tried to speak or do something.
We then had a long period where her facial expression increasingly showed her anguish and her fear. I took many photos but most I wanted to delete immediately because of the pain and disorientation in her face. Images of the brief moments when she smiled or laughed became very precious.
But now we have moved firmly to a stage where her physical appearance shouts that something is wrong. The waving arms and stiff legs, the often rigid back and the tilted back head and the slack mouth... all of these seem to arrive regularly late afternoon if not before, distressing both of us and causing practical difficulties.
She is getting stronger. And I don't just mean she is getting back to her original muscle tone. If she decides she wants to stiffen her leg it takes all my strength to bend it (which I have to do to keep her remotely safe on the wheelchair).
I don't want to look ahead, but I am sure there are more painful milestones waiting for us.
Which was what happened moments after she got to her room. I was closing the curtains and the care worker was turning round to get something and suddenly there was a thump and Rosemarie was on the floor.
She seemed physically OK although frightened and disoriented. I insisted on summoning the nurse before we got the hoist and lifted her into bed. But this post is not about that.
I was reflecting on the way home that here is yet another step change.
The first one I remember noticing was the memory issues, which became the communication and coordination issues.
By the time she left hospital she wouldn't / couldn't walk but she could sit upright and unless you looked closely nothing seemed particularly wrong until she tried to speak or do something.
We then had a long period where her facial expression increasingly showed her anguish and her fear. I took many photos but most I wanted to delete immediately because of the pain and disorientation in her face. Images of the brief moments when she smiled or laughed became very precious.
But now we have moved firmly to a stage where her physical appearance shouts that something is wrong. The waving arms and stiff legs, the often rigid back and the tilted back head and the slack mouth... all of these seem to arrive regularly late afternoon if not before, distressing both of us and causing practical difficulties.
She is getting stronger. And I don't just mean she is getting back to her original muscle tone. If she decides she wants to stiffen her leg it takes all my strength to bend it (which I have to do to keep her remotely safe on the wheelchair).
I don't want to look ahead, but I am sure there are more painful milestones waiting for us.
posted by Other Kosh at 8:03 pm
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