Physical Therapy

It has been an overwhelming two weeks. Unfortunately, I have fallen behind in my posting. Shame... shame... shame!

Anyway, Muddear is doing significantly better since the fall. The splint was removed; however, we noticed that she was not using her right leg in a normal manner. Additionally, Muddear has been complaining intermittently about pain in her right foot/leg/ankle. At first I was really concerned, but I began to question the authenticity of the complaints. First, Muddear would complain of pain when she did not want to do something we wanted her to do - like cooperate at bath time. Or Muddear would complain if she wanted us to do something for her - like hand her the box of tissues instead of rolling her wheelchair over to the nightstand to grab a tissue for herself. My doubts increased significantly when Muddear began to state that the pain was occurring in the wrong leg.

Nevertheless, I contacted Muddear's primary care physician about the ongoing "pain". Physical therapy began on Monday, June 2, 2008 to strengthen the injured leg and encourage use. I'll keep you posted on Muddear's progress.

Fall Update

Three days have placed time between the scare of our lives and today - Muddear's fall. Today, marks the first day that Muddear has spent time out of the bed since the fall. Even better... Muddear actually ate two meals today - breakfast and dinner.  Additionally, Muddear's leg seems to be in significantly less pain. Thank the good Lord!

The only down side... the Dementia seems to be doing "something." Exactly what that something is I cannot tell you, but I've noticed a difference. I have watched Muddear become engrossed in conversations with non-existent people. Additionally, she has been asking us to find "James". James is my grandfather aka Muddear's husband who died about 12 years ago.  I find it heartbreaking. Muddear will make statements like, "Please find James, we were together many years and he would never leave me." Once, when I tried to explain that he had passed on years ago, she asked... "Well why didn't anyone tell me he died?"

Hopefully, this is a temporary reaction to the fall and not an ongoing problem. I will continue to keep you posted.

Scarry Happenings

Muddear has been exhibiting increased confusion during the last few days. It's odd, because not only has she been confused, her countenance is not right - from facial expression to posture, etc. Even Muddear's sleeping habits are all wrong - from increased sleeping during the day to increased sleeplessness throughout the night. Typically, Muddear is not a "napper" regardless of the amount of sleep (or lack thereof) she received the night before.

This "odd" behavior culminated on Thursday evening when I was commuting home from work while Mike and the kids were at home. Initially, Muddear was yelling and throwing things down the stairs. Very strange - this has never happened before. Mike tried talking to Muddear, with he hope of calming her down, to no avail. Then the scare of our lives... Muddear came tumbling down the stairs! I was about 5 minutes away from home - Mike did his best to make sure there were no obvious broken bones. Upon arrival, we took Muddear to Emergency.

By the grace of God, Muddear's only injury was a sprained ankle. X-rays, CAT Scans, blood work, urine analysis, and more were conducted. The only explanation - Dementia, although the doctor was concerned about potential dehydration. The hospital placed a splint on Muddear's right leg and we brought her home the same night.

Since Thursday, I continue to be concerned about Muddear's behavior and we are keeping a close eye on her. She has been extremely lethargic and disinterested in food. I will keep you posted. Please keep us in your prayers.

It Keeps Going...and Going...and Going...

These last few weeks with Muddear have been extremely difficult. I try not to dwell on it, but I keep thinking, "surely it is going to get better." Please?

So much has happened that I figured I better post a few times to catch you up to where I am today and why I am contemplating throwing myself down the stairs. (Bad humor.)

To finish the drama from the previous week, last Thursday I found Muddear on the floor again! This time it was about 5:00 a.m.. I awoke to strange noises that I could not decipher in the midst of my foggy, sleepy, incoherent mind. Immediately, after jumping up in a slight panic I checked on Muddear.

The lights were on and after a quick cursory review, I find her room in a total wreck - at some point in the middle of the night Muddear transformed into Martha Stewart and began rearranging her bedroom. The transformation back must have been a dozy, as I found Muddear on the floor UNDERNEATH her shower chair. Honestly, I think she must have been sitting there for hours unable to get up. A blanket was cozily draped over Muddear's legs undoubtedly for warmth.

Once again, she was not hurt nor had she fallen. Muddear had simply decided to get out of her wheelchair and sit on the floor. I'm at a loss...

I Sat Down, But Can't Get Up!

Muddear has been exhibiting a great deal of confusion this week. Initially, I had hoped it would pass, however, we are yet to experience a reprieve.

Two Monday's ago, not last night but the Monday before, as we were in the throes of our home improvement projects, we found Muddear up to a new trick. Each of us, kids included, were cleaning, moving, rearranging things within the home when Mike decided to sneak a peak into Muddear's room. Mike was so shocked that he had to call all of us in to take a look...

Muddear was sitting on the floor! No she was not hurt. No she did not fall, she simply got out of her wheelchair and sat on the floor. Why? "Because I wanted to sit down here for a change." Well, you cannot argue with that. The only problem...Muddear could not get up on her own.

So, while the rest of the family resumed their activities, I lifted Muddear up and placed her back in the wheelchair. She probably weighs about 90 - 95 pounds, so this feat was relatively easy. I knew you would not believe, it so I took pictures to prove it!

Recuperation

Muddear may have been the one to fall, but we are the ones recuperating. Since the fall, Muddear has experienced significant confusion and frustration. She has been arguing with everyone constantly.

I know you are wondering..."Why do you argue with a 95 year-old-woman with Dementia?" I don't know, I must be mentally ill. Sometimes Muddear can be very rude even mean. My natural instinct is to stand up for myself and "fight" for my respect. Therefore, when Muddear tells me the dinner I just spent over an hour preparing, tastes like "nothing" I tend to get irritated. Or when I administer Muddear's breathing treatment and she starts to yell at me stating that I am wasting her time making her take the treatment, because all of the medicine is gone - my blood pressure begins to boil. It gets even worse when I explain that the treatment is not complete and she starts calling me a liar. Okay, maybe liar is a little harsh, Muddear states that I am not telling the truth.

One day Muddear constantly called Mike and I into her room to tell us that the tubing that connects the nasal cannula to her oxygen machine was hooked up incorrectly! At each occurrence we explained that the connection was fine, but Muddear kept shaking her head "NO" and began pulling on the cord with all of her strength. Finally, realization dawned on me...about a month ago, Mike "re-wired" the cords. He removed the oxygen machine from Muddear's bedroom and placed it in the basement. This required him to run the tubing through the floor - from the basement to Muddear's room. The oxygen machine generates a great deal of heat and was capable of increasing the second floor temperature by 10 to 15 degrees. Unfortunately, Muddear was unable to fathom this concept. She thought she had a cannula and tubing connected to her head that did nothing but rest in a bundle on the floor. Muddear spent the entire evening trying to convince us to remove the cannula and tubing as it was a total waste of her energy to carry this "extra stuff" around.

In addition to Muddear's irritability, she has been waking up every night in the middle of the night. Tuesday night was the worst. Muddear woke up every 30 minutes screaming for help and yelling that she could not breath. Mike checked on Muddear at least three (3) times and I checked a minimum of four (4) times. Every time either of us entered Muddear's room, it was to discover that she had taken off her oxygen. Whenever asked why she removed the oxygen, Muddear would yell "I didn't do that!"

I need a vacation.

Scary Moments

Thursday night (last week) Muddear fell in her room while we were sleeping. I awoke to a distressed yell for help! Immediately, after running down the hall and into Muddear's bedroom, I assisted her getting back in the bed and asked what happened. According to Muddear, she had no idea how she fell and did not remember what she was doing. However, as soon as Muddear was in the bed, she asked for assitance to the bathroom. From this request, I can only assume that Muddear was trying to go to the bathroom when she fell.

When I first entered her room, my initial assessment of the situation was that Muddear had fallen out of bed. She was sitting on the floor with her back against the side of the with outstretched legs. When assisting Muddear to the bedside commode to relieve herself, I was comforted by the knowledge that she was able to walk without pain, meaning no broken bones. Muddear's only complaint was soreness on her right side and right hand, both I assume, she must have hit on the nightstand located next to the bed.

Since then Muddear has recuperated quite nicely. She still complains of soreness on her right side and right hand - if she does not experience relief by Thursday, I will contact Muddear's primary care physician. Hopefully, we have nothing serious to worry about. The only other side effect has been increased confusion.

I'll keep you posted.

Slips, Dips, and Falls

One of my biggest fears is Muddear falling. She is heavily dependent upon her wheelchair to ambulate throughout the house; however, she is able to transition from wheelchair to bed, toilet, etc. Whenever I am sitting in Muddear's room, chatting her up at the end of the day, I frequently remind her to put the breaks on her wheelchair before standing. I realize that if I am reminding her daily, who reminds her, when she is in her room alone. My fear magnifies.

Of course, Muddear's reaction is not what I would expect. When I remind her, she always starts to laugh! My alter ego immediately begins screaming, "THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!" In my mind, I want to shake some sense into her. However, the rational part of me speaks firmly but with care, explaining repeatedly the dangers of falling. I explain the potential to break a hip or other body part. I explain that the wheelchair is unable to support her weight if the breaks are not applied. I explain and explain and explain.

Muddear just looks at me with sweetest smile and says, "You are right, I do need to put my breaks on. I always do, I just forgot this time. I'm glad you were here to remind me this time, because I don't want to fall. That wouldn't be good."

She sounds convincing, but I know we will repeat this same conversation tomorrow. I considered posting signs on the walls that say, "Flossie Put On Your Breaks!"

Help!