Posted by RN320 on September 1, 2006, at 16:35:11
In reply to Re: Just Checking In, posted by exquilter on September 1, 2006, at 13:00:58
My Mother's got about 20 notes from me over the years, so that might not have much meaning. When dealing with her in any situation that might bring tension we always try the "nice" way first but it always comes to the other way until it gets handled. My T says she's 81 and not going to change, but at the same time I have to do things that are more healthy for me. She's just lost her only living sister........got to give her points for that.....and for putting up with me for over a week........maybe a large plant would do for this one! Good idea- thanks!
I'm trying to do things every day, but finding it really hard. My short term memory on some things really stinks, and my balance is off. I know that I probably shouldn't be driving, but I'm staying off of freeways and sticking close to home. Today, bathing is going to be the big activity..... My BP dropped to 82/38 this week and so my antihypertensives got cut in 1/4. The other drug, which has antihypertensive effects is also used to manage/prevent further heart failure so I need to stay on it. I was so afraid that my pdoc was going to back off of the EMSAM (I'm at 9mg) but he said that we should just watch and see what happens over the next couple of weeks- I have to see him weekly anyway until this head injury thing is resolved. In answer to your question about what I think caused the fall- I have absolutely no idea. I always feel a little lightheaded in the morning, but never enough to pass out. Sometimes with the beta blockers my heart rate will go into the 30's, so I guess that's a possibility. The hypotension caused probably from a combination of factors is most likely the cause as far as I'm concerned. And then there's the fact that I'm a new onset diabetic, and at that time I wasn't checking my bloodsugar, so who knows??!!
What I do know was that my stairwell looked like a major crime had been committed there. Thank God for my wonderful neighbors who got out the Soft Scrub and had all the blood and scuff marks, etc cleaned off by the time my mom saw it. It looks like I really tried to break my fall since I actually pulled up pieces of the wooden molding, trying to hold on. So I can't have been completely unconscious. Getting the blood out of the carpeting at the end of the stairs is another story, however........
My cardiologist looked at the hospital records and was really toasted that there seemed to be no attempt on their part to find out what actually happened. It's like one minute I'm in CT, the next I'm on my way to an observation bed and then all of a sudden they're doing CPR on me and I'm off to ICU. Seen by a neurologist (who discharged me by phone the next day, which is pretty unbelieveable). My cardiologist felt strongly that if I had my own Primary Care Physician that this wouldn't have happened. Well, if that's the reason then it won't be happening again since I just found a PCP this past Monday and like her really well. She knows my pdoc and treated me like a person, not like a crazy person if you know what I mean! Turns out that she knows my immunologist, cardiologist , therapist and pdoc and they all like each other and have actually talked to each other about me this week.
Thank you for your concern about me, Exquilter. It is most appreciated. /m
poster:RN320
thread:677469
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060901/msgs/682091.html