I slept at the bottom of mums bed last night on a chair bed. I had a good 5 hours sleep before mum asked me to get her up to the commode. That accomplished I probably had another couple of hours before she said it was time she was up and she needed the loo again.
At 8am I rang the rapid response team and explained what had been happening and at 8.30am Paul the physio and Lynn the OT were with us. Paul is another shining star, just like Christine. He has taken away the walking stick. We now have 2 walking frames one for upstairs and one for downstairs. The one for down stairs has a tray attached where you can carry a cuppa or a small plate with a sandwich. We also now have 2 commodes, 1 in mums bedroom and one downstairs. Someone from the team will come in at 12pm each day, make mum some lunch and do some physio. He is also having a keysafe fitted outside our door, so mum doesn't have to get up and answer the door.
Next came the district nurses. Christine had asked them to visit and reassess mums needs. They were both lovely and offered a lot of practical advice and support. They are calling in again next week and will take mums bloods. Mum had her first tablet for the low sodium just before lunch and will take four a day initially.
Then it was the turn of the GP who, again, had been summoned by Christine. She had asked him to check mums blood pressure and to carry out a neurological test. He was a very nice young man and seemed very thorough in his examination of mum. His opinion, no neurological impairment! Blood pressure good but does dip when mum sits up from lying down. He has advised her that when she first sits up in bed she should sit for 5 minutes or so before trying to stand.
I then received a phonecall from a very nice woman, Denise, who is a warden at the local sheltered accommodation. She is coming to install the panic button tomorrow at 11.30am.
Mums young brother (68 Lol!) was next to ring to tell me him and my aunt will be down on Saturday for the week. They normally look after Rebecca, their 5 year old grandaughter, but my cousins hubby has taken the week off work to free them up to come down and give me some much needed support. I can't tell you how good that made me feel and I know mum was also delighted as she adores her baby brother! This will give us time to get mum used to doing things differently and give me a bit of respite at probably the lowest point I've had so far since mum was diagnosed.
My boss has yet again come up trumps. I spoke to her yesterday and she has told me to come in to teach lessons and then go home when I'm free. This means on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday I can be home for much of the day and on a Tuesday and Thursday I can at least come home around lunch time if I feel it necessary. As Assistant Head I would normally do 'on calls' (pick up the naughty kids!) and also supervise the dining hall over our two 30 minute lunch sessions. She has waved all of those duties and has said it's fine for me to work at home when I'm not teaching. Another shining star!
Mums weakness is wierd. It is definitely worse when she first wakes up and just before she goes to bed at night. Sometimes she can just stand up from the chair but at others she just can't do it without help. That is my biggest concern as if she needs the loo when I'm not there I'd hate to think how distressed she would become if she didn't make it. My idea is if she goes just before I go out she won't need to go again until the person comes to visit at lunch time. I know this is hopeful though and as she has diverticulitis when she needs to go she needs to go. We'll have to just see how that goes and I pray we have no accidents as her confidence and dignity are shot at already.
A lot has been achieved today. A number of aids are in place, other things organised and tomorrow I will go to work at 8am and will come home around 10.45am. in time to have the red button installed and meet the person who will be coming in to mum at lunch time. By Saturday lunchtime my aunt and uncle will be with us and I will be able to breath a little easier. I feel much more positive today because the cavalry are coming!
