14 October 2024
So what's going on? you might be wondering.
I've been taking the 43 Masonic to the hospital every day since Joyce was moved into the hospital from the R. The bus stop is just a half block from the house and two blocks from the hospital, making it very convenient.
And every day I've been on the phone with her doctors and social worker, the Fire Dept. billing department, the home health service providers (who knew about her second release but not readmission) and a few friends and family.
Meanwhile I've been trying to keep a few other dishes spinning on their pole.
I've met with the trust attorney to resolve a prep payment issue and arrange a partial distribution (which requires a formal accounting first). I've also been hampered by my own health issues (including an appointment with a neurologist early in November after my last CT scan showed a third brain bleed). And I have to tow the Alfa to Berkeley next Monday to a mechanic who will finally get it running again after the lawsuit was settled in my favor.
So a lot going on.
Before I left the house today, Dr. A. called to update me.
She didn't seem quite as familiar with the case as she might have so I asked a few questions. When she said Joyce's fever was reduced, for example, I asked if she had had a higher than normal fever. She had to look it up before she admitted Joyce's temperature had always been normal.
She admitted they have not found the source of the infection. But again, she assumed it was the wound even though the wound has never been infected in four years of daily dressing changes and Dr. Tong had just debrided it last week, which she didn't know.
The only thing she said of interest was that Joyce's white blood cell count (which had been 18 in the ER, indicating infection) had, with antibiotics, come down to 23. The normal range is 6 to 11).
I asked if Joyce had been out of bed (no), how they were treating her incontinence (a wick and a chuck) and if she was eating (no but they are going to address that with medication).
"You ask good questions," she finished the conversation.
Since Joyce was admitted this time around, she hasn't been out of bed. She refused physical therapy (which would have done just that) while I was there today. The therapist told her she has to get up to avoid worse problems. But Joyce complained about lower back pain.
I saw she ate less than half her lunch again. She doesn't like the taste. And not just hospital food but any food. I had the same dishes when I was there and liked them. Polenta with salmon and zucchini, for example.
Ken the RN did the dressing change while I was there, He asked me a few questions about how we've been doing it and he did a good job.
After the wound change she went to sleep. And I grabbed a bus home, surprised it wasn't packed with high school students until I remembered why.
Today is a holiday.