The ‘At least two days notice’ turned into a 3pm yesterday message telling me that Karen was coming home today.
No chance to organise anything, just a mad scramble to get home before her in order that I could move boxes and get some food in, twisting my knee and ankle and hurting my already bad back in the process.
Changes in medication to go through, including some surprises such as a diabetic medication for someone who isn’t diabetic (and which I’ve endured myself with some chronic side-effects), and a billion pieces of paperwork to look at, then risk assessments, care assessments, telephone calls, people at the door, messages to answer about said risk assessments- and its only day one.
Do I apply for benefits now? Do I wait? Will the doctor contact me about her meds? Or do I chase him? Do we need carers so many times a day? What will they be doing…or not? I’m exhausted after 10 weeks of hotels and travelling, and being autistic I do not cope at all well with change, and there are a lot of changes- and I am yet to hear from the community team, but here’s a gastroenterology appt and a phone call about an appt for Karen’s eyes… which I knew nothing about.. but which is apparently a telephone call and not a face to face so they can actually see her eyes… but there we go.
So yes, it’s amazing to have her home, but I already feel completely out of my depth, realising that I’ve neglected my own health needs these last 10 weeks, and now everything is crashing down on top of me.
Firstly it’s great to hear that Karen is now well enough to come home and I’m sure she will be happy to be there and once you’ve got through this initial period you’re both be really happy that she is back home too.
May I suggest that you slow down a bit and take one thing at a time. A lot of what you are worrying about at this moment will actually sort itself in time you just need to have a little patience. I Was the same when I was discharged from hospital thinking I needed to sort everything immediately when actually it could be done over a period of days or weeks. Also I’m not 100% sure of Karen’s level of ability but perhaps she could sort one or two things herself? Apologies if that isn’t possible but I know when I came out of hospital people were trying to do everything for me when actually I needed to try and do a few little things for myself. She will know doubt be very tired and won’t be able to do much initially but as long as she paces herself with watches able to do she should be fine.
There won’t be much you can sort over the weekend so take some time to rest & get yourself in a better place and start again on Monday. Maybe write a priority list & tackle them 1 at a time ticking them off as you go. I find that quite motivating as you can see progress is being made.
Thank you. No, she’s not going to be able to do much herself, especially when it comes to anything administrative, which falls within my remit. At the moment she just wants to sleep and that’s the best thing for her.
Great that Karen’s home. Your lives have changed but you’re together, and that’s something to be thankful for
On the subject of her meds, I found that communication between the hospital and my GP was very poor, and there was little clarity about what should become a repeat prescription. In the end I had to act as go-between and get a letter from the hospital to give to the surgery. I hope that your experience will be better, but be prepared.
I’ll echo @Mrs5K: pace yourself. It’s too easy to get overwhelmed, make mistakes and make yourself ill. You don’t have to do everything on day one.
So pleased for you both. I’d echo what harimunjaro says in that I found that medical ifo was not forthcoming, and I had to ask about anything of which I was uncertain eg the diabetic meds when your wife isn’t diabetic. But once I asked answers were willingly provided. They don’t know what we don’t know, so we can make it easier in process by asking.
Hi, thanks for that. I’ve asked her GP to ring me so I can go through her meds. The OT who brought her home admitted she was a little out of her depth when it came to them, so wasn’t sure which ones we would need to continue and which might be dropped.
Thank you. I noted her hba1c was 44, so just in diabetic range, but that’s the first time it’s happened. I suppose that another blood test in a month or so’s time might give another reading entirely.
I am a T2 diabetic, and confirm that lots of things affect blood glucose. I also found the hospital nurses knew very little about it, which is odd considering it’s so common. So HB1AC of44 is nothing to lose sleep over, and by a few simple diet changes can be brought right down, so no need to stress. I hve been diet controlled for several years now, and while diabetes needs to be taken seriously, it is easily managed.
Yes, I’m a type 2 myself, and very much suspect this is a one off so far as readings are concerned. I was just surprised because nobody had mentioned anything about it at the hospital.