Oh, Say Can You Sleep?

Still not sleeping. The lack of sleep is getting old. Still coughing. A lot. When I had pneumonia (two times), there came a point I was unable to cough. It was as if I had forgotten how. This is how my poor husband is frequently. Yesterday, Camille, our other hospice nurse came to visit. Rob had taken off his oxygen for a few minutes before her arrival. Camille took his oxygen level...it was 75%. With his oxygen levels that low, Camille is afraid that Rob will become confused about his meds or fall. Often that is what happens when one does not get enough oxygen to one's brain. Because of his lack of oxygen, his heart has to work harder. After walking back into the room, Rob's heart rate was beating 120 beats per minute. After sitting down and having the oxygen on for about five minutes, his oxygen was up to 86% and his heartrate was down to 114 bpm. On Monday, Rob weighed 153 (this is up from the previous week). Barb was a little concerned. She was worried that he might be retaining water. She told us that we needed to ring her immediately if his weight increased to 154. Well, yesterday, he weighed 155.6. It was decided that we would wait another day and see if he lost or gained any weight the following day. When we went to bed last night, Rob's ankles and feet were swollen. This morning when he weighed himself, he was 161. I rang Camille. She called Jane, the palliative care doc, and she prescribed a diuretic. This should help him lose that excess water. Camille thought it prudent to make another visit today. Wearing oxygen, his oxygen level was at 77%. Clearly, he isn't getting enough. His feet and ankles were huge when she came. His blood pressure was low yesterday and today. 108/58. Camille says that once we get the excess water out and back into his veins, his blood pressure will get higher. The new drugs should help a little with all the fluid in his lungs. So, for now this is the plan... If Rob's weight does not go up or down by Sunday, we call the on-call nurse and let him know. We have graduated from two visits a week to three. Wahoo. And last, but not least, Rob is now going to be sleeping in his very own hospital bed. It arrived today. He is especially excited about giving the kids rides on the bed. The head goes up and down as does the foot of the bed. There are even side-rails! I am quite excited about the four-inch blocks coming off our bed. I get to sleep at a 180 degree angle again!!!