I am sorry I have not continued to update. Mom has been home since Sunday afternoon and is getting along well, but it is a slow recovery from both the pneumonia and the 2+weeks of inactivity.

Mom is up every day and is checking her emails, having short visits and will reply to your queries.

I will not be adding daily or probably even weekly posts here.

Many thanks to Allison for setting this up, it was a great way to help keep friends updated on her hospitalization and her recovery. And thank you to everyone who expressed their concerns and sent wishes for her speedy healing. So it’s not so speedy, but in every day, in every way, she is getting better.

Karen

Turns out no one had told the nursing staff or the hospitalist that the appeal had been denied and that mom needed to go home today. They scurried to get all the notes done, signed and delivered to us. We got mom to car, and Mark met us at home to provide back up assistance. Mom made it from the car inside to a seat in kitchen for a rest and then to her recliner.

Dad left to get her prescriptions and some groceries while mom and I sorted through some papers and catalogs that have come in over the past two and a half weeks since she started getting sick.

We watched the Ravens game as they are barreled into another win.

I am home for a bit and will go back this evening for a “tuck in” service.

Taki is very happy to have her momma home.

Karen

So, confusingly to me they ordered an EKG yesterday after the appeal had been denied. No explanation of the reason or the result.

This morning mom has a sore throat. Bummer.

At now almost 11 no one has been in to give discharge papers or explanation of transport to the front lobby. No doctor has been in since yesterday.

Mom wants me to tell folks how much she has appreciated all the cards and well wishes.

Will keep you posted.

Karen

Well, yesterday we appealed the hospital decision to discharge to home and not to rehab. The appeal was denied today, but no explanation except the records were reviewed and they concur with the hospital decision.

Yesterday mom took two short walks of about 50 feet with shortness of breath and feeling exhausted after.

Today she had a shower with the nursing assistant and is now feeling played out. She continues to get extremely weak, but is being discharged by noon tomorrow.

We hope for no relapses.

Improvement continues today. Off oxygen this morning, a real physical therapy visit with walk in the hall and exercise recommendations, four nebulizers a day, and another IV change. A bit of drama for me as they recommend home with home health, but mom is not feeling ready for that. After some discussions we learned we can appeal the discharge which can give mom 2-3 more days which is really all she wanted with some rehab. She is getting a bit tired of the hospital but she has had excellent attention by all the staff.

My job now is to encourage moving and walking and to help get home ready for her to be there safely.

Watching Inspector Morse for now.

Karen

Hi, I couldn’t get my tablet to work last night for an up date.

Yesterday they got a fourth IV that seems to have taken well. They took her off the IV medicine that burned in her veins and are giving it to her orally.

She was in bed all day yesterday and had some achiness most of the day.

Last night mom had a difficult time getting comfortable to enable restful sleep. This was despite my lullaby singing, although she sang along with me.

Today mom’s been up in the chair all day, at least three walks to the bathroom, breathing treatments, and visit from her primary caregiver. She is now on 1.5 liters of oxygen and they did one trial off of the oxygen for a while.

The hospitalist said maybe home tomorrow which mom and primary care think is a bit too soon, we’ll see how tonight goes.

As for now we are watching Jeopardy and mom is paying the most attention in two weeks! I’ll take progress any way I can get it.

Karen

I think today has been a good day. Up several times for personal care, a walk to the room door with PT, visit from the weekday hospitalist, her primary doctor’s associate, speech therapy ( for swallowing evaluation), Karen and Merle tag teaming, allowing him to go home and comfort the cat. Last night Mom had a distressing difficult time with her IV burning and they couldn’t get a new one started. The IV team cam to the rescue today and she has and IV that should last til she goes home.

Still on 4 liters oxygen, getting nebulizer treatments twice a day and using the incentive spirometer.

We have been impressed with the kind staff, from the assistant the first morning who took extra time to get her hair untangled, the assistant last night who ordered the cot for dad and I to sleep on when one of us is here through the night, the cheerful IV dream team, housekeeping and dietary, to the nurses on each shift so far.

Still not sure of discharge date, but I am pleased with her activity today.

Karen

The rest of today has been quiet for the most part. A quick visit from friend Judy and FaceTime with granddaughter Allison. Mom had a coughing fit just as the respiratory therapist came in the room, right on cue. She has had more antibiotics, but no X-rays today.

She spent most of the day sitting in the recliner. A very kind CNA did a mini manicure and got the snarls out from mom’s hair.

The staff have been quite kind, Anne, Faith, Dee, Michelle, Lori, and on and on. She even had a nursing student set up one of her antibiotic treatments. Food is good.

We are watching/ listening to Poldark. I am staying till this dose of antibiotics is finished. It burns partly due to the wrist location and partly due to being a strong medicine.

But strong is what we want to clear the lung and get home! I have read all your missives by email or here to mom. Thank you.

The same hospitalist came to visit. I liked her better today…

Turns out pneumonia is in multiple sites in right lung, but just the right lung. Mom is on only 3.5 liters oxygen now and has started the incentive spirometer exercises.

Everything continues to be moving in the correct direction.

My note from yesterday:

Today has been her nicest day in two weeks. She ate some breakfast and lunch, a bit less dinner. Right now we are sharing some mini sandwich cookies while I watch Mr Smith Goes To Washington. She is resting with her eyes closed, but ears open.
She has had two or three nebulizer treatments, another CAT scan, some bed adjustments ( she has a really cool Hercules bed that pulls her up in the bed on a sheet to rolls up at the head of the bed ), and IV change, visits from Chris, Christina and Linda, and of course dad and I are tag teaming our visits.

I think she is much much better, and though still quite weak and still not getting out of bed yet, I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

As you send your well wishes, I pass along all your thoughts and virtual hugs.

The hospitalist today felt no sooner than Monday or Tuesday for going home. So far the staff here have been spectacular and very kind. I have only minor discomfort with two docs who have been in, but I just still don’t love the hospitalist system.

K

Today Elaine is up in her chair for the first time in over a week, finishing lunch and enjoying some sandwich cookies. Got a new IV started and has to wait an hour for more cough medicine.

She had a fitful night of sleep and wants to be home on her king sized bed so she can stretch out and roll more easily.

I am passing along all your missives.