Real World Event Discussions

In the garden, and RAIN!!! (2)

POSTED BY: SIGNYM
UPDATED: Monday, September 7, 2026 11:50
VIEWED: 338648
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6IXSTRINGJACK

Saturday, February 11, 2023 1:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Sending wishes to the universe that your car and your g'ma are ok, SIX! And *hugs* to you.

Thanks! Car was great. Considering the circumstances, so was grams.

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It's so stressful when someone you care about is in hospital. But even when they're only semi-conscious and seem unaware, they can hear you. Having been yanked from familiar surroundings into an alien world can be very disorienting and agitating, but even tho they may not know where they are or even who they are, a familiar voice, face, and touch can be very reassuring and allow them to relax and heal. If your g'ma thrashes around, tries to yank out tubes or pull out leads or climb out of bed, tell her that you're there. Place a reassuring hand on her arm, if she's used to you touching her, and tell her that you'll take care of her. Ask her what she needs. If she needs changing, call the aide. If she needs water, and water is allowed, give her sips of water (with a straw!) if she's in serious distress - trouble breathing, etc - don't use the call button. Boogie on over to the nurses' station and get help Hospital staff is busy, having you there to attend to her helps her AND them. Be assured, you just being there will help. Iven been on both sides of that equation, and I know. And she too will know someone is in her corner.

My grandma is one tough son of a bitch.

That first evening there she was laying in bed and obviously weak, but she knew where she was and why she was there. No changing necessary the whole time. She was still breathing a little heavy that first night, but when I talked to the lung doctor the next morning it was obvious why.... She's REALLY been through some shit. They drained 1,700ml of fluid from around the lung with spots. And there's still 200 more in there. It sounds like they're going to have to drain her two more times. Test results aren't in yet, but the lung doctor pulled me aside after I was asking questions and basically told me "it's cancer until it's not cancer". I'm not buying it until it happens.

I spent most of yesterday with her so my aunt could go back to work, and most of the morning today until after my dad made it and visited. He's the one who asks all the right questions, especially insurance related, so it was good to finally have him there to tag me out.

Last night when I came she actually reached out of the chair to give me a hug, which was the first time she did that, and this morning they had her off of the oxygen for an hour with no problems. They put her through some exercises both with and without oxygen and her results were good enough to not need to send her home with oxygen.

She might be coming home tonight.

I had to come back to refill on some stuff and to get a break. I think I'm going to sleep at my house tonight, maybe start some work I was going to do at my friend's place tomorrow morning even if I can't finish it, and maybe go back and stay over tomorrow night and help ease both her and my aunt back into whatever situation is going to be "normal", at least until she gets some exercise and hopefully gets back to where she was a few months ago before she had almost half a gallon of fluid around her lungs.

I've got some obligations during the week, but hopefully I can get back over there by Thursday to help out and hopefully get her started on her new exercise routine that I got her to promise she was going to start not just for her sake, but for everyone else's too.

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But from YOUR POV, when the hospital staff talks to you ... they might not do this at night but if they take her for tests ... ask them what tests. Ask them what meds she is on, and TAKE NOTES. Ask them to spell it out if need be. Many of my family worked in hospitals- RN, EKG tech/stat lab tech, ER doctor ... I know the lingo. I'm oriented t

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SIGNYM

Saturday, February 11, 2023 2:50 AM

I'm glad you have a positive attitude, SIX. Altho everyone needs to plan for contingencies, IMHO there's no good borrowing trouble from the future... it'll come in its own good time anyway, and worrying about it doesn't help.

I hope your g'ma gets to go home soon. Hospitals are dangerous places to be!

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Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE someone poor - William Blake

BRENDA

Saturday, February 11, 2023 3:55 AM

I'm glad you are staying positive too SIX.

Thinking good thoughts for your grandmother that they have all her problems sorted out.

BRENDA

Saturday, February 11, 2023 3:58 AM

Well, I got back from my walk on a bright sunny day.

I did the dishes and cleaned out the kitchen sink then I sat down in front of my computer and finished retyping out the last chapter of my book.

Over the weekend I should be able to email to this lady that I know and she will read it and then help me draft a proposal.

I will be paying for all that typing over the next bit. My fingers on my right hand are sore. I just gave them a couple of good bends. Ow.

6IXSTRINGJACK

Saturday, February 11, 2023 4:40 AM

Dad called and told me that they got her back home. She was able to get up the 8 steps without a problem and she even was able to get up and go to the bathroom by herself. While everybody else kind of spent the week thinking that this was the end, I was being positive that she'd be back on her feet and doing what she did before. But I was hoping that she'd be doing this in a week or two after getting back home. Not the night she came back.

I talked to her on the phone and she sounded great. Better than she's sounded in a long time... not just the last few weeks. She remembered that I was there at the hospital all that time and thanked me and said I was a good grandson.

She even remembered the movies that I got for us to watch. I told her as soon as my obligations are done next week I'm coming out to stay for a few nights to celebrate her birthday and to watch them.

If the tests come back negative on Monday we're in good shape!

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Growing up in a Republic was nice... Shame we couldn't keep it.

6IXSTRINGJACK

Saturday, February 11, 2023 7:55 AM

My aunt is going to sleep on the floor in her bedroom the next two nights until she feels comfortable being upstairs with her downstairs all night. But she did say that she's had her go to the bathroom twice so far and watched her without giving her any assistance and she was able to manage the whole thing on her own.

She told my grandma that today was her day of rest and tomorrow they start doing exercise. I told her that she should incorporate the egg timer I brought over to try to burn it into her brain so she'd remember to use it during the day when my aunt is at work.

And I was able to go out shopping for the sales again and just got about $120 worth of stuff for $14.

It's been a good day.

Hope your fingers feel better Brenda and that all the hard work pays off.

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Growing up in a Republic was nice... Shame we couldn't keep it.

BRENDA

Saturday, February 11, 2023 9:25 AM

A little heat from a hot water bottle and they seem better SIX. I did that while I watched M*A*S*H.

I hope so too.

6IXSTRINGJACK

Saturday, February 11, 2023 9:27 AM

Found some rebates I missed. I'll be going back.

I've actually got to do some measurements in my porch. I was going to buy crown molding for the ceiling to hide the shoddy ceiling tile job they did originally, but I actually found some low profile oak casings that might do the trick, and they're on clearance for only 2 bucks each. 8 of them would do the trick if they will cover the worst spots, and I think it would be a unique way to case out the top. Instead of traditional crown molding it would look like the ceiling was encased in a picture frame.

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Growing up in a Republic was nice... Shame we couldn't keep it.

6IXSTRINGJACK

Saturday, February 11, 2023 9:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
A little heat from a hot water bottle and they seem better SIX. I did that while I watched M*A*S*H.

I hope so too.

Nice!

I'll be doing some rough stuff this week. I'll let you know if I destroy my back again.

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Growing up in a Republic was nice... Shame we couldn't keep it.

BRENDA

Saturday, February 11, 2023 11:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 6IXSTRINGJACK:
Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
A little heat from a hot water bottle and they seem better SIX. I did that while I watched M*A*S*H.

I hope so too.

Nice!

I'll be doing some rough stuff this week. I'll let you know if I destroy my back again.

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Growing up in a Republic was nice... Shame we couldn't keep it.

Be careful SIX. My trashed shoulder is still on the mend and I have to watch or I will pull it out again.