Grungy & Grody

This is how Mom says she feels today. She's up to the bedside commode all the time, tethered to the IV, and all she wants is a shower! I reminded her that she can unplug that IV from the wall any time and go for a walk, and that if she just asks to be disconnected from the IV for about a half hour, she should be able to take a shower. These are the little things nurses can overlook, but make such a world of difference to a patient. It's easy to forget that your patient might be there long after your twelve hour shift has ended. So hopefully a shower will bring her a little extra sunshine today.

She continues to be on a clear liquid diet until the diarrhea resolves, which she hasn't been tolerating very well. Yesterday she only got down a cup of broth and some water. Her urologist, Dr. K, was by to visit this morning and he always takes a bit of extra time with Mom after the rest of the team has left. He explained that this recovery from colitis might be slow-going, but that they're doing the best they can.

Understandably, she's frustrated. Who isn't? All these problems unrelated to her surgery, and she hasn't even begun chemo yet? Hopefully that will seem like a cake walk compared to all of this.

Since she's back at St. Frannie, feel free to send her a little email through their system. She really enjoyed those last time.