Tiny baby steps

[wiseheart]

Mum-related stuff behind the tag. Feel free to ignore it.

Mum asked for potato cream soup today and ate it with relish. I was so glad that she seems to get an appetite for at least some things. It's bad enough that she gets heartburn as soon as she lies down; usually, she sleeps on her side, but right now it isn't a possibility, and she's unused to lie on her back so much. When she's up, it isn't an issue, but when lying down it's a real bother. It disturbs her sleep in the night, and that's the last thing she needs right now when she should slowly gain her strength back. *sigh*

We did most of the exercises the physiotherapist showed us today. Most of them, because I'm sure even together we couldn't remember every single one. Last time I simply watched. Next time I'll have to take notes. There's a saying in Hungarian that translated says: If you have no memory, you need a notebook. In Hungarian it sounds a lot better: Akinek nincs esze, legyen notesze.

We also tried turning Mum onto her uninjured side for a short while every time she lay down. She couldn't remain in that position longer than about five minutes, but even those five minutes did wonders for her back. She enjoyed them enormously. I hope we'll be able to lengthen these periods gradually as time goes by.

Unfortunately, we won't have the new rubber foam mattress any earlier than TWO F*CKING WEEKS, as I'm mentioned in comments to my previous entry. I'm really crushed by that fact; we so hoped that a better surface would help her with her exercises as well as with getting up from bed. Well... in the hardest early days we won't have that luxury. :((

In somewhat better news, Mum's picked up dealing with the household book-keeping again. Which is a relief, as I'm an epic failure with numbers. She's also rediscovered her interest for the telly, so she isn't bored. Me, I don't have the time to be bored. Aside from Mum duty, I also had to cook today for two days and go to the supermarket. Getting up at 7.10am that meant I had twice half an hour for myself (=collapsing on the bed) until 7pm, when we sat down in unity to watch Cake Boss. *g*

Comments

[manue7a.livejournal.com]

Now you're the one with the busy days!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

True. :)

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Yay for doing exercises!

That sucks about the mattress pad. :(

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It truly does! :(

[bk_forever]

That's some positive progress, but it's awful you don't have the mattress yet and have to wait so long to get it.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

hugs

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It is unfortunate, yes, but that's how things are going in our country.

[red-day-dawning.livejournal.com]

That wait for the new mattress sounds most inconvenient. Would slightly raising your Mum’s upper body with pillows when she’s on her back be helpful for preventing gastric reflux? We had to do that for my Dad when he was troubled with gastric reflux. His upper body was raised about 20-30 degrees, with a foam insert under the mattress.

[bk_forever]

It's not that different here. Getting things mum needed was as difficult, and we got almost no physiotherapy or speech therapy after mum's stroke.

[meathiel]

Sorry to hear it takes so long to get the foam mattress.

I've also heard that sleeping with your upper body raised helps with reflux. Is there a possibility to do that?

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

It will probably take you a few days to get into a routine. Then cat-napping will be easier. Hang in there. You're doing great.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

That is horrible!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

We'll give it a try, thanks!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I'll try to rearrange the pillows. Her bent back makes everything more complicated, though.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm trying to do my best.

[bk_forever]

It wasn't helpful, that's for sure, but the NHS is stretched so thin they just don't have the resources and we couldn't afford to pay for physio. Mum was at least mobile and able to talk, better off than many stroke patients, but I think with the right help she would have been able to do more, and have a better quality of life.

[noadvertising.livejournal.com]

Having to wait for the new mattress must be unnerving. You don´t have any DIY markets which sell different kind of foam material, like we have here? Might be an interim solution for your problem!

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

Oh, what a disappointment about the mattress.

Someone else has already mentioned having Mum elevate her upper half to relieve the acid reflux — I was going to suggest that, too. It really helps.

Also, that's a great idea for Mumm to lie on her good side for as long as she can take it, even if it's five minutes now, she will be able to go longer with time, and what a relief for her back.

Busy days, there. I hope you will have some not-as-busy days in between, so you have more relaxation time for yourself, and won't wear yourself out.

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

Such a shame about the mattress delay, that is so frustrating. Hope it all gets better for you both.