William is now on the second antibiotic for a chest infection. He's still coughing and seems to be getting weaker by the day. I can't believe the change in him in the last week. He is now napping through the 24 hours, a couple of hours at a time. He can no longer get up from a chair himself. He keeps reaching out for something he seems to be seeing, and asking vaguely about "them" - but can only say a word or two. His appetite is poor. He's refusing to use his nebuliser ( doc had told me to try and get him on it 4 times a day). He's gone very unsteady on his feet. I'm getting really worried. Thankfully, he has an appointment with the consultant on Monday. He's bad enough though that it's becoming difficult with moving him - I can't lift him if he isn't helping, and at the moment, it can take 15 minutes to get him to understand that he needs to try and stand up while I lift him. Really wish things were sorted for him to go to the nursing home. I can see him dying before it comes through, at this rate! :-(
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None of those would solve the problem of him attacking me, though! And he is very big and very heavy. We are just waiting on funding to come through for a nursing home place (he behaves like a perfect gentleman, I'm told, in the nursing home, when he's been in for respite!) And we don't have a shower, just a bath. I don't have the money to put a shower in. I got a bathlift for him, and a care assistant comes to bath him (a male care assistant. He won't have a woman). I don't think he would use a wheelchair - he paces around. It's a symptom. Best I can do is try and make sure he brings his walking stick. Unless he's in an aggressive mood, in which case the best I can do is hide his stick!Sounds just like me! The love of my life had two chest infections, one after the other at the beginning of the year, again treated with antibiotics. After x-Ray was told there could be small amount of asbestos in lungs! Crickey, if they're going to throw it at you! Anyway, contacted council/occupational therapist who got us a rise and fall chair, big help! Also try a rollator, bit like a Zimmer frame but with wheels, brakes and a seat, so may help with being a bit more steady when out walking and can sit down when tired. Tried this, but my love was unable to get to grips with holding the handles and kept trying to sit down, not always on the seat! So that has gone, ticked off my list, tried that, doesn't work! So now looking to wheelchair with motor to save me pushing, attendant controlled is the term, so you get to control how it works. Also getting a lower shower base put in with seat, as difficulties in going up steps, impossible to come down steps! So, don't give up, there are no problems, only solutions! And yes, he does spend most of the day asleep, eats well, reaches out for things that aren't there and has lost power of speech - but he does have a winning smile (always has) and a great laugh!
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Poor you Lady A - I've just been through a similar situation with my husband even though he is in a NH but he has responded somewhat to the ABs and we have had a couple of peaceful days. Those ABs have a dreadful effect on their level of confusion and hallucination and coupled with the fact that they must feel dreadful too it is no wonder they lash out. But you have to be safe - so first thing tomorrow get cracking or crack up and insist on some help. I am thinking of you both and feeling your pain. Are you in the same tunnel as me - with seemingly no light at the end?
All the best.
neither asleep nor awake, and that causes vivid dreams like seeing things?
My fingers are tightly crossed for you, LadyA, regarding everything medical, and, of course, William's funding. Will this be in full for his place, or will you have to contribute?
John's case is going in front of The Panel on Wednesday. I think he will be contributing an awful lot himself, but when we have the second Financial Assessment, I am hoping to convince "them" that I shall be living on gruel if they take so much.