Headnote
It’s been a year. And the help from the posters here has been immeasurable. I want to keep my original posting of the events of that time available - mainly for selfish, personal reasons. But also to tell my story. So I’m going to repost a few threads from the old boards.This is partly a memorial and partly a tribute to those who helped me though probably the hardest couple of weeks of my life. So pretty please treat it as such. I don’t need further condolences - the time for that has passed. But I also don’t want to forget these events. Hence, the reposting to hopefully keep these writings for posterity.
There is no reason to respond, although further responses are welcome. My only request is that you read through all of these reposts before responding to any of them. Lots of questions were answered, some in the thread and some in later threads. I’m not sure how many there will be, but there will be several.
There are also several side issues brought up. I’m leaving those in place as originally posted. If you want to discuss one of those side issues, I’d ask that you please start a new thread.
Author: ptheland
Date: 11/1/2021 2:57 PM
No. of Recommendations: 5
So–By Sunday evening, it was clear that DW’s fall was more than bumps and bruises. She ended up at the ER where they discovered a fractured vertebrae. They admitted her for some observation and to decide what the next steps are.
And Monday was DS’s first day back at school/work. So I find myself at home and alone. It’s kind of a weird feeling. All of the concerns are there - how is DW doing? I can’t be there because I’ve have a fever. (Covid test came back negative. Was informed of this via text message. At 2:30 in the morning. Thank you CVS.) DS is also in capable hands. But none of these hands are mine.
I’m left with no pressing physical needs to tend to personally. After dropping my son off at school, I could eat breakfast with no interruptions. I could shower without wondering if someone needed something. I put away the load of clothes I left in the dryer last night. Even the cats are unusually quiet today.
It’s a strange sense of quiet mixed with foreboding doom, not knowing what the outcome will be with DW.
–Peter
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Author: sheila727
Date: 11/1/2021 3:08 PM
No. of Recommendations: 0
It’s such a shame that this sudden moment of respite cannot be properly savored, however exquisite it might feel for moments here and there. `Re DW…when worry and concern have been one’s necessary mode for so long, it must feel weird—and worrisome—not to have her needs at arm’s length.
And I hope that osteoporosis hasn’t become a problem. Hoping for a positive report!
As for CVS’s 2am text—I would have slept right through it! But not my husband. But you’re covid-free, which is what counts!
=sheila
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Author: ptheland
Date: 11/1/2021 3:28 PM
No. of Recommendations: 4
As for CVS’s 2am text—I would have slept right through it!
Not a chance for me. I’ve had to be alert to both DW and DS nightly needs for too long. I don’t wake up at every little sound, but I don’t sleep soundly, either. And with DW in the hospital, I wasn’t sleeping the best anyway.
DS is actually pretty proficient at using tech tools to literally call me during the night on those occasions when his vocal calls aren’t sufficient. We have an Amazon Echo in his room which is tied to his cell phone. So he can use Alexa to call me and get my attention.
This is probably the first time I’ve gotten a call in the middle of the night with good news rather than bad news.
–Peter
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Author: YewGuise
Date: 11/1/2021 4:27 PM
No. of Recommendations: 0
…fractured vertebrae…
My dad was in his late 80’s when he fell and “broke his neck” (i.e., hangman’s fracture of IIRC C3).
He was released from the hospital within a couple of days, and was in a neck brace for about 7 months after that. Did fine, except he was frustrated he couldn’t drink (didn’t want to risk another fall) or drive (couldn’t look over his shoulder).
But a lot of people, especially women (more prone to osteoporosis) don’t fare as well. Crossing fingers for you and your DW.
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Author: ptheland
Date: 11/1/2021 4:33 PM
No. of Recommendations: 2
(more prone to osteoporosis)
You’re the second to mention that. DW is obese, which makes osteoporosis much less likely. Not impossible, of course, but not as likely.
And with all of the falls she’s taken in the last couple of years, I think if osteoporosis were an issue, we would have had a break before now.
–Peter
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Author: sheila727
Date: 11/2/2021 5:24 PM
No. of Recommendations: 0
Peter—how is DW doing?
A suggestion for a supplement that helps improve the speed and quality of healing—whether it’s bone or soft tissue—is high-dose vitamin C. It should be a liposomal type of C (I get Solaray), so that a larger dose can be taken and metabolized. C is critical in producing healthy new cells, and makes a significant difference in healing from injuries and surgeries. To determine the dose that one’s body needs, you start with several grams, then add 1 g each day until you have diarrhea. That signals more than your body can use, so you go back to the previous day’s dose and stick with that, eventually gradually reducing. Not many people I know have ever done it that way because they hate the thought of the diarrhea. And that would probably not be the easiest to handle with DW. But at least taking 4-5 g/day (split up across the day/evening) would be a big help…
=sheila