In from daily visit with Honey. Excellent Speech and swallow therapist with us tonight. Honey is not able to consistently complete therapy sessions and the staffer told us that that biggest concern was the extreme lethargy and weakness that all the different clinicians are seeing. He has lost most of his muscle mass, the dialysis completely exhausts him, and he has to push to get through each aspect of his care. Hes been put on the side of the bed several times and begs to lie down because he has no core strength left and fights to balance himself. His motivation right now is to be able to enjoy a chocolate milk shake, some peanut butter pie, and of course, a rib eye steak. He wants to sit down in his recliner and hold his cats and nap. Simple dreams. He has failed the last 3 swallow studies and he is impossible to understand from time to time. Im still trying to do passive exercises with him and the therapist that was there tonight gave us a series of exercises that we will do with him every time we visit. His next swallow study will be 3 weeks from now. Until then he will get his nutrition through the doppler tube. The internal bleeding still seems to be under control, the heart rhythm is still off but more acceptable, and the central line has been successful. The staff frustration comes when he begs for a Tylenol and cant have one but asks again....and again...and again.... My question to the staff is ...cant you give him Something? But Im told that the doctor is VERY conservative in his medication choices for his patients that have swallowing or body control issues. I get the impression that no medication is supposed to be the best medication. Try some of these exercises. Stick you tongue out as far as you can, hold it down with your teeth and try to swallow. Easy?? Now stick your tongue out for 3-5 seconds and then pull it back in against the back of your mouth for the same time limit. Say each of the following words 10 times each with force (not volume)...Earl, hug, cook, walk. Last...repeat eh rapidly 4 times in a row for 10 sets...like a machine gun. Can you imagine Honey having patience with repetitions and motions like these? I told him the day after he was cleared to swallow that I would make him that peanut butter pie. He knows I dont cook...but I have a few friends who do and I think I can get some help and then lie and tell him I did it all by myself. Im sure hell believe me. I was blessed by my boss to have time off today and was able to get several hurry up chores completed before I went to the hospital. Honeys truck had a low tire and I made a quick run to check all the tires and wash the dust off. I need 3 of me. But people have been so kind and generous with their help that I feel more blessed than I ever have in my life. I have my list and am checking things off. God is good.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 03:05:48 +0000
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