Thread by @Carer49

I am so tired of every govt pissing on us…so tell you what..here’s my day so far. And then, tell me what would happen if I could not continue doing what I do.
2.30am - first night time check, make sure catheter working and emptying into night bag.
4.00…☝️also for me to 1/

take pain relief (waiting for an urgent scan).
7.00am..up to give antibiotics for UTI, as hubby can’t take milk or other meds at same time.
9.00am Manage a couple of solid hours. Up. Bed bath, turn on numerous occasions to dress hubby (6ft, 13 stone). Cream etc to protect 2/

skin risk areas. 10.15…. Lift hubby into position. Get hubby sitting up to transfer. Takes quite a few goes this morning as hospital bed which helps us in some ways, makes transfers more difficult.
In hospital, all of this needs 5 + members of staff. Here? Just me. 3/

Position hubby in chair because he feels like he’s falling out. Zero balance, feels like he’s falling over. Still waiting for appt for power chair assessment after we cancelled in April when he was really ill.
Now, getting hubby to eat/drink. Make sure he gets rest of meds. 4/

I finally get to throw some breakfast down my throat and a cuppa. Washing number 1 on, dishes into dishwasher. Take pain relief because I’ve twinged my back during personal care. Go through to encourage hubby to eat, to encourage him to sit up and not slump. Looks like he 5/

has little strength today which means he will struggle with basic stuff. Might not want to shave/wash hair. Will also need to monitor for signs of BP spikes throughout the day. More to follow. 6/

Through again to top up cuppa, encourage hubby to eat. Says he has - food barely touched. Might manage a quick bath ….so off to strip bed, fold away washing, vacuum before that. 7/

Go through to take barely eaten food away. The waste breaks my heart but what can I do? Suspect antibiotics are affecting an already poor appetite…#carer tip -> Lotus Biscoff biscuits are great in this kind of situation. 8/

12:19. Go through with fresh drink. Try to get hubby to sit up straighter (tenses up = more pain). Get told to bugger off. It’s going to be one of those days. 9/

12:30 ish (lunchtime). Wonder what the hell to do for dinner if hubby has no appetite. Update online shopping order. Wait for washing machine to finish. Pray for a dry day so I can put it out. 10/

12.55 - 10 minute shower…constantly listening. Can hear the cup going down on table so I know hubby’s drinking!
(You are NEVER off call. Always listening, or waiting.)

That was 11/ ☝️

1.05 pm …go through….emergency stoma change needed. Push hubby thru to bathroom. Hear ‘bugger off’ again but get everything out and ready for change. Thank you antibiotics. 12/

1.25 pm.
Sigh. 13/

Finger nails need cut. Hubby cannot do this. Throw a swig of coke down my throat. Time for hubby’s next painkillers too….and mine.

14 ☝️☝️
Working out when next BP meds due as timing out this morning. Finally get to take my own painkillers. Start lunch. We’re running late today.
Is it bed time yet? 15/

Covid worries sneak in. Bugger. 16/

Lidocaine patch applied…much pain in hubby’s shoulders and neck today. (Arthritis, spondylisis and neuropathic pain). Hanging up washing. It’s just turned 2pm. 17/

Rehydration drink…heat up some soup to see if hubby will eat. Fingers crossed. It’s almost 2.15. Haven’t sat down yet. 18/

Top up the bird feeders…might sound an unnecessary task to you but my hubby likes to watch the birds when he’s in the living room. 19/

Hubby’s eaten the soup. I’ve cleaned the nightstand.
I still haven’t managed to get to the loo. Yep. That kind of day. 20/

Dear reader..didn’t get to the loo. Continence pads arrived. 21/

Flagging. But pads and other deliveries packed away. Got told to bugger off again. Sigh. 22/

Hubby leaning to right. This means leaning on skin which had broken before. Cushion put in place to protect. It’s almost 3.15. Still haven’t sit down. 23/

Cat box sorted. Potatoes peeled for later. Washing number two on. Number 1 back in because it was raining. Now off. Ironing next. 24/

I should do a step count on days like these……drink taken thru. A day of battling on the eating/drinking front. So far, I’m losing….25/

Cuppa for the boy. Still trying to get him to sit up straight. Not winning. 26/

Is it bedtime yet? 27/

Ironing - ✔️
Meds - ✔️
Encouraging hubby to eat/drink - ❌
Having to leave the room to have a silent scream - ✔️
28/

It’s just after 5pm. The sun’s out (briefly). Yeah! I’ve snuck out into the garden for 5 minutes. Someone else wants my attention. She won’t sit still for a minute so here’s an old picture. 29/

Five minutes. That’s my break. 30/

Forgo to charge the hoist. Bugger. 31/

Big home made chips cooking in the oven. Salmon and salad tonight (a favourite). Brother in Law just off the phone. Cat fed. At least someone’s eating! Working out hubby’s next painkiller dose. 32/

It’s raining again. 😢 33/

Another food fail. Hate when hubby won’t eat. Still not sitting up. Anti sickness pill a while ago. 😢 34/

God I’m sore.😢. Antibiotic time for hubby. He doesn’t like them. Don’t blame him…they’re huge and have side effects. 35/

Night time meds to be sorted, then pre bed stuff, personal care, transfers…..hoping for a settled night. For now, a wee bit of telly. Just wish for better times, for a quality of life that Covid and its mismanagement have ripped away from us. 36/

Finally in bed. @IAndersonShow on. Always a highlight for me and esp after a rough week.
Might be able to get a couple of solid hours sleep before the night checks. /End