Last night I got home from a 3 day stretch at the hospital, where we are getting very busy again. Mom was fine when I got home, all good. Today I had off (only day due to OT again) and mom had a dentist apt. So at 10 I took a sleep aide and went to bed. Hardly ever take them, but I was exhausted and I have terrible sleep habits. At 1:30 we wake up to Mom calling for me. She is in the bathroom, horribly short of breath and all sweaty. I run for an inhaler and the pulse Ox, her sat is 85, her breathing so bad I could barely get any inhaler into her (Mine not hers but I'm a RT so its what I grab) My dang home stethoscope craps out. Called 911, they got here in 10 minutes.. her breathing a bit better but sat still 85, so off to the local hospital she goes. Only one of can go in,, so after I find her, I send hubs home. At first they thought is was a COPD exacerbation with possible UTI and they get chest Xray. I can see its wet with pleural effusions. High flow O2 started. Luckily over the next hour her Covid test comes back negitive, her color is better as is her breathing. IV antibiotics and diuretics. Foley cath. And she gets a room. So I have to call hubs to come back and get me. And I'm loopy from the sleeping pill!
So after about 3 hours of sleep I talk to her RN,,seems the ED was supposed to give me a "code " and he can't talk to me without it. I explain I have no code..mom is loopy on a good day.. here we go. And she is deaf and mostly blind! God bless him, he went to her room, wrote the code in huge numbers and had her read it to me! All good now! So at about noon I went in, still sleep deprived. She is looking a bit better, breathing alot better. Now they think it is mainly CHF, and while she will be there a few days I feel better. I'll go back in tomorrow, talk to her Dr (her nurse was awesome giving me information when I arrived) and if she is still on the mend DD will sit with her Wed so I can go back to work. I am so torn between her and my seriously short staffed hospital (I am not in a COVID unit at this time, antibody tests are negitive) I guess I really feel guilty about work since last week I had off for FIL death. My boss is great, so no problems there.. but just sitting in her 80 degree room and doing nothing if she recovering will do me in too. I hope this makes sense, I am so tired I literally can't think!
ADVERTISEMENT
May she continue to improve.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
It seems like they could take a couple of minutes to call you for an update.
I bet your pooch does miss your mom. My dog adored my mother. They were good friends.
I hope your mom is able to return home soon.
Hugs!
My poor puppers is acting depressed, she really misses mom, she is used to being with her all day watching TV! And luckily I work in neurology, and not a COVID unit at this time. We were the next to last to convert in the spring, hoping we don;t get that far this year.
Hang in there, get your rest, and remember that your mother and your hospital need you, as does your husband, and so do YOU! It's better that you stay with Mom and help her recover than work when you're physically and mentally stressed out.
But congratulate yourself on knowing how to D/X and handle the situation. You may have saved your mother's life!
Alva, I think you might be thinking of someone else in terms of a brother with problems?
So sorry that your mom isn’t doing well.
Please try to get some rest.
Keep us posted about your mom.
Your own rest to build up your strength is a first priority. You will be able to work later, when they might need you more. Take a real sick day for yourself maybe.
Sorry this is happening now.
All the best to you and Mom.
Just do what you gotta do to find balance and try not to feel guilty about it!!
I pray that your mom recovers quickly and that you get some rest.
Thank you for being on the front line.