SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

That’s a really good question

Is he on any antidepressant or antianxiety meds in conjunction with his routine?

If not I would ask about that. Cymbalta has shown to be really effective w/ nerve pain in multiple studies, it is an SSRI (which means if you choose to stop it, you need to wean it very slowly or you could have some wicked side effects). But I do think that a low dose of something when he is doing his moaning, and in pain thing may be helpful.

Just something to put in your hat to discuss w/ the new pain dr.

He does take Cymbalta 60mg once a day and 75mg Seroquel (Quetiapine) 3 times a day.

We are still here.

I’m all packed up with my bag on my shoulder.

He has had breakfast and meds.

Just waiting for parole. 😊

Still here. High potassium now. Only way to fix that is another bowel "cleanse" type thing - not as extensive.

Waiting for that to take effect...one or two hours.

Then more testing??? Not sure.

I’m actually going to change my address to the hospital for the Christmas card exchange!

You can’t make this sh#t up!

[This message edited by WhatsRight at 3:09 PM, October 21st (Wednesday)]

Hope you are able to leave soon.

You've been there a long time and still have your sense of humor.

Still here. Probably will be here another night.

I’m losing my sense of humor.

Sorry you're stuck there another night.

I was hospitalized for over a week a few years ago. The Dr told me he would like me to stay one more day but if I really wanted to go home he would discharge me that day. I could not get out of there fast enough. My bed felt so good that night.

Fingers crossed you get to sleep in your own bed soon.

They say his sodium was low but now potassium is high, and the way they reduce potassium is to empty the colon.

The thing is...it is already empty.

Anyway, can’t wait to get out of here!!!

[This message edited by WhatsRight at 7:59 PM, October 21st (Wednesday)]

I am at the end of my rope. 😢

A different hospitalist every day. Yesterday, sodium low. IVs all day of sodium. 4:00 AM this morning blood draw. Mid morning, we were told we were going home. Early afternoon, we find out potassium is high. Only way to lower it is a bowel movement.

Now, H has had 9 days of clear fluids with the exception of one day of oatmeal and chicken noodle soup. Until yesterday. He had a soft dinner, breakfast, and lunch today.

So this afternoon they give him something by mouth to cause the bowels to move. I ask how it’s going to work since he was totally empty with the exception of 3 light soft meals. The nurse said, “Oh, he’ll go - in between 1-2 hours.

4 hrs left and nothing. They say they are going to do it again.

Then they come in and say that potassium is back down. I ask if we’re going home. They say the dr said earlier that he was to 1. Go to the bathroom.

2. Bring potassium down

So they have given him something to make him go in 24 HOURS.

H is in a mental state. Snapping at nurses and me. Says he needs to go home or he will die from all this. Crying. Crying.

I leave the room to call my niece the nurse to get her input. Conversation went bad. She says to stay. Says this will probably be a serious problem from now forward. Maybe we should consider a colonoscopy???

I’m in the room now. He is not well mentally. The pain pill has not taken effect. He wants to leave. I tell him I don’t think he is in a place mentally to make his own decisions. I explain that if we leave against medical advice, insurance will not pay.

Maybe this is the end of me caring for him. I have no idea what to do.

I wish I had advice but I don't. Until someone smarter comes along, I can offer hugs.

(((((WR)))))

(((What’s right))) I am so sorry you are going through this. Excruciating.I wish I could help, but I’m sending mojo and hearing you. 🙏

He is screaming and crying. His next pain med isn’t for another hour, then another hour to take effect.

I’m afraid their going to take him to the psych ward. I have left the room. I can’t watch that.

He tells me not to talk to him, then cries because I do not talk to him.

I tell him to stop screaming, calm down, breathe. He says I’m being negative.

Maybe I did wrong to get him off the drugs. I don’t see how he can continue like this.

Why is he screaming? Pain? Where? Has he not gone to the bathroom yet? You said he started eating solid foods on Tuesday at dinner. Is there a blockage?

I think you did the right thing in taking him off of his pain medications. Perhaps it was hiding something else.

I'm glad he's at the hospital and not at home. Don't forget to take care of you. Walk away if you need to. Or go home for a few hours. (((WR))))

How are your sons? Do they know what's going on?

He is in pain.

I’m guessing his stomach and intestinal tract due to all the scopes, cleanses, etc. Last night after he had been screaming for 5 hours they took him down for a CT scan. Showed an unbelievable amount of gas.

Also, he has neuropathy in his abdomen associated with his spinal cord injury 46 years ago.

Showed an unbelievable amount of gas

I bet it did, after getting 2 doses of Kexolate to drop the potassium down, that stuff makes a normal person shit like a goose. He had nothing to pass, to it's going to make gas. I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I certainly hope his potassium is normal this am, and you all can get home and resume your normal routine.

One thing to consider, and ask the GI or Neuro about is providing him w/ a rectal tube when the pain starts. If he can't feel the gas building, and lacks the ability to push it out like a normal person then he may benefit from a little assistance.

Back in the day when I was a GI nurse, and also worked in ICU we would use rectal tubes when people were full of gas, and having trouble getting it out. You simply insert it into the rectum about 4-6 inches, it get's past that first sharp turn at the bottom and allows the air an easier path out. They were about a 1/2" diam and about foot long.

The other thing you absolutely should be doing when he is in pain from gas, is rolling him side to side every 5-10 minutes this allows gravity to work with you, and navigate the air out. Lastly a warm blanket or water bottle helps too to relax the bowel to make it easier for the air to come out.

I am so sorry I did not see this until this morning.

He did expel some gas early this morning.

He finally settled down about 4 AM.

Dr came in1 hour ago and said even though the potassium is down, she won’t discharge without a movement. So they are giving him lactuloce for that purpose.

Oh yes, she also let me know this was going to do nothing but get worse with age.

We will be seeing the gastrointestinal dr we were referred to in March. (Hadn’t seen him yet due to COVID)

And the neurologist on Tuesday for another nerve block.

Hey tush, could the nerve block have exacerbated the bowel issues?

[This message edited by WhatsRight at 10:24 AM, October 22nd (Thursday)]

Just asked the nurse about getting a rectal tube to help with getting gas out.

She said that “No”, that that was used for stuff like c-diff and other situations causing continuous diarrhea, not used for gas.

Is 67 too old to start nursing school so I can better take care of my H? Just venting...mostly.

If this gets progressively worse, we are in trouble.

If only the nerve block could work, and he could get his new chair, he would be up more and moving around. Surely that would help.

Robots can do brain surgery, but they can’t help my H poop. 😢 (Not robots...you know what I mean.)

Tush, how do you feel about the Southeast??? 😊

[This message edited by WhatsRight at 10:50 AM, October 22nd (Thursday)]

Just asked the nurse about getting a rectal tube to help with getting gas out.

She said that “No”, that that was used for stuff like c-diff and other situations causing continuous diarrhea, not used for gas.

Hmmmmm, I would be inclined to go with tn on this one, she's a specialist. Random nurse at your hospital probably doesn't know SHIT about this.

Zen...

Your play on words is never ending, ever uplifting, and ... well...funny as hell!!!