As if this whole project of renovating two of the bathrooms downstairs for mom which was to last a little over two weeks and is lasting more like a month and a half wasn't bad enough, we had this happen.
We spent 4 hours at the Tripler Army Hospital ER. They cleaned him up even more, applied Mupirocin which is an antibiotic ointment and took a huge battery of X-rays even though Art said he didn't feel any pain. I needed to then change the dressings 2-3 times a day and look for signs of infection.
The nurse who took care of him gave me an arsenal of adhesive non-stick bandages called Telfa, Mupirocin, tape, cleaning thing-a-bobs and I forget what else. That was very helpful!
A couple of days later, Art was once again busy. He had to go looking for a strip of redwood for us to sand, stain and fit over the crack left in mom's bedroom wall by the demolition crew.
The color of the redwood was darker than we hoped and the stain didn't lighten it, buuut since the surrounding wood had so many different colors, we figured we'd just be satisfied with that.
One week later, while I was helping mom with her shower in the more or less completed guest bathroom, she brushed her arm against the shower spout and ripped off some skin.
I couldn't believe it!
So now I had two patients.
The contractor has said that he will replace that spout with something we can choose. We found one on Amazon which is the same style as what we have in our master bathroom.
We felt around the edges and it's all smooth.
I'm exhausted.
I now have a huge supply of First Aid materials.
I spoke to the Kaiser Advice nurse and she gave me a lot of information and reassurance to treat my 95 year old mom.
I'm stressed and exhausted and really looking forward to this being over.
What is the saying? It never rains but it pours? Yes, found it.
ReplyDeletehttps://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/it-never-rains-but-it-pours
Dear Nurse Kay, you have been very busy with many shifts in different parts of your home clinic! Ask Art to move slower around obstacles in his path. (At first, I thought he'd fallen when doing remodeling.) We know you've done well with Mom's skin tears, while she sneaks aloe on. And of course, you will do fine, just fine, with all of your bandaging duties. So weird about the dangerous faucet! Glad you found a better one. Just write out a schedule or chart for each of your two patients. Maybe it seems like your children are young again and getting little neighborhood "owies." Option 2: put them in chairs with seat belts and tell them not to move! Yep, the strip looks fine. Breathe; drink water; eat some food. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteYikes. I can SO empathize; my mom (a bit older than yours) has skin with the strength and resiliency of damp Kleenex, so we have been in and out of wound care clinics more than I care to remember. Although I try very hard, I am NOT a calm and efficient person around other people's injuries, my hands shake and I cry, and wounds never look good/better. It sounds like you are on a better track and that your patients are in good hands!
ReplyDeleteCeci
Oh no Kay! When it rains it pours! I hope your patients get well, your bathrooms remodeled, and you get a period of time to do nothing but fight boredom!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read of all your travails on top of a remodel from H**L. I hope you have plans to rest and recuperate when this is all done.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. Your stress level has to be breaking records.
ReplyDeleteYikes. Not good. That remodel job has made me very nervous, and I usually just skip through those posts. Now the accidents happening to elderly folk...our old bodies don't heal and bounce back like they once did and the chance for repercussions has greatly expanded from when we were in our 50s and could still handle accidents. Please be very careful and try not to put yourself in positions for accidents.
ReplyDeleteKay, as you care for your patients and manage the troublesome remodel, keep reaching out to us for a "listening
ReplyDeleteear" and comfort. You are dear to us and we don't like it when you are stressed.
Oh my! You are the caregiver of my blogging world. Our homeless problem seems to be getting worse. I see them sleeping on our sidewalks and public places in the hot sun with their piles of belongings - but what is the solution? Thank goodness the ACLU's suit to deem clean up of our streets got dropped. They should be putting them up in their backyards.
ReplyDeleteGlad they are ok! -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteWell, Kay, at least it gives you something to blog about... however, I'm sure you would rather blog about good food and fun visits than redecorating issues and injuries. You're due for some relaxing time after every one is well and the bathrooms done and finished.
ReplyDeleteYes , you're right. the renovation was enough on your plate. However, I have complete faith in you that you will bring both Art and your Mom back to good health. Sometimes projects go sideways on us.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the remodeling project can't be over soon enough for you!
ReplyDeleteBe of stout heart, chief nurse!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry that you're dealing with all this; being a nurse to two loved ones would be very stressful and worrisome. You're learning a lot about medications and bandages though. Sending healthy wishes and hugs!
ReplyDeleteGood gravy, woman! These people have got to plan their accidents a little better!!!! Their timing is atrocious!
ReplyDeleteYou know, it would have never occurred to me to think about skin tears on a bathroom faucet, but we have not picked our bathroom faucets yet. You've given me another prerequisite.
What LInda Reeder said, I second. I sure hope you are able to get your family healthy so you can take care of yourself! Sending virtual hugs.
ReplyDeleteI guess you know you are next Kay. Oh I hope not. Poor Art and your mom. It hurts my heart to know of their injuries.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, when it rains it pours. My sister fell and hurt herself badly while visiting me. We had the big collection of bandages and wrapping of gauze and it took a great deal of time to keep the wounds clean and protected. Fortunately, the body does a wonderful job of healing with basic care and cleanliness.
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