Day Two
If it were only that easy! I wouldn't have to worry about not having any patience if I could only figure out how to get that GOOD ATTITUDE. I have a lot on my plate right now. I have people pulling at me. And people picking at me. And everyone wanting a piece of me and my time. What I want to know is HOW? How does one go about getting to be a patient person when they never have been patient. Who do I tell that they will just have to wait while I take care of the other one. And who do I tell that while I am working on becoming patient they need to leave me alone?
On Saturday my husband, who has end-stage Parkinson's disease (as all of my regular readers already know) suddenly stopped being able to empty his bladder. We got him up to commode. And he didn't go. We got him settled back into his chair. And then he needed to get up again. After we went through this for hours, I finally caved and called the Hospice nurse. Thank Goodness it was OUR nurse who was on call. Joe immediately called the doctor and came out and put a catheter in and drained off 1000 cc's of urine. That is one liter of urine. A lot for a bladder to hold. This immediately relieved his problem. And I was able to start to practice a little patience without his continued need to get up to the commode. Because now he doesn't need to. It just drains into the bag that hangs by his chair. What a wonderful gadget that is. Right?
Well you would think so. But he has dementia. The first day he asked a least a billion times (okay maybe I exaggerate "do I have a catheter still?" We repeatedly reassured him that all was being taken care of and the remainder of the weekend was pretty peaceful.
Today, however, I didn't get to practice much patience. Today he has complained all day long about the catheter. It is either hurting, burning, or pulling. I have medicated him and sat with him. And explained over and over and over. Tomorrow the Hospice nurse returns. Hopefully we will figure it out.
Now back to practicing patience!
Hi Paula. I'm praying God gives you the patience you need for today and the strength to persevere. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteThank you I needed those prayers today!
DeleteSending prayers for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kate
DeleteSending you Prayers and Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThank you April
DeleteOh gosh, this reminds me of time spent with my mother when her mind began to go. Your innards are all twisting.... and you want to feel guilty but you can't. I'm so very sorry, Paula. Perhaps you can relate to something a co-worker (who's sole caregiver to her father) shared the other day: "If one more person tells me, 'God doesn't give you more than you can handle", I'm going to whale off and smack them ... hard!".
ReplyDeleteSending hugs ... and prayers,
Myra
Absolutely Myra! Or the other comment I hear a lot (I am raising grandchildren as well) is "they will keep you young" Like heck they do. I am aging before my own eyes
DeleteI am glad to see where you progress with this. I need more patience. Definitely while driving.
ReplyDeleteCristy I don't know if I am progressing or not. It is like 5 steps forward and 10 back!
Delete